The 30th Busan International Film Festival began with a nearly two-hour red carpet mixing K-Pop royalties, Asian Authers and Hollywood legends.
Blackpink’s Lisa caused a frenzy among fans, featuring director Maggie Kang of “Kpop Demon Hunters,” Guillermo Del Toro (who entertained the playful faced photographer), and Korean superstar Lee Byung-Hun. Sungmin.
The guest list highlights Busan’s global reach: Indonesia’s Star Diane Sastro Waldayo, Malaysian filmmaker Uminjin, Indian producer Siraditya Bora, and Indian “Full Plate” team Tanishta Chatterjee and Kiltekluhari highlight the arrival of international continents and Hong Kong legend Tony Len Young’s Vitaly Vitaly Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Via Vi corner. ”
Japanese cinemas were represented by Nishijima’s “Dear Stranger,” Watanabe Ken, Taguchi Kentaro, Okada Junichi, Miyata Sho, as well as Nishijima and Gwei Lun-Mei. Korean stars include Kim Min Ha, Jong Jung The-Oh, Han So-Hee, Lee Jin Wook, Yoo Ji-Tae, Lee Hae-young, Jo Woo-jin and Park Ji-Huwan, with Michael Mang adding Hollywood influence. Iranian Autjafarpanahhi was warmly welcomed, attending his Asian Filmmakers Award.
Sylvia Chan was awarded the Camellia Award and looked back on her decades in balancing filmmaking and motherhood. Veteran director Jung Ji-young accepted the Korean film awards and paid tribute to his 50-year career spanning censorship, dictatorship and corporate upheaval.
One of the most emotional moments of the night came when Jafarpanahi won the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award. “I am grateful to the Busan Film Festival for this honor,” he said. “When I first came to Busan for my debut film, I promised that I would come back. However, for 17 years I was unable to leave my country. Korea has been constantly striving and fighting for the freedom of film.
Festival leaders, including Korean Film Council Chairman Han Sang-jun, Busan Mayor Jong Jun, and Biff’s new executive director Jung Won Seok, highlighted the iconic weight of the festival’s 30th anniversary. The ceremony even opened with a song dedicated to Lee Byung-han, adding personal prosperity to the evening.
In the evening, we also featured the festival’s major competition judges. South Korean director Na Hong-Jin has been the ju judge and has joined Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Indian filmmaker Nandita Das, Iranian director Marzieh Meshkini, film director Kogonada, Indonesian producer Yulia Evina Bala and Korean actress Han Hai-Ju. Their presence emphasized that it expanded Busan’s global ambitions, marking its 30th anniversary.
