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Director Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice, starring Lee Byung-hun, has been selected as the opening film of the 30th Busan International Film Festival, which kicks off Sept. 17. / Source: CJ ENM

The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) opens its 30th edition on Wednesday, running through Sept. 26 with a record 241 official selections from 64 countries, plus 87 community screenings. Alongside its expanded scale, the festival signals a shift with its first-ever competition section, a lineup of global award winners, and interactive K-pop content.

1. Inaugural “Busan Award”

For the first time, BIFF has introduced an official competition program, the “Busan Award,” reflecting a philosophical shift as the festival enters its fourth decade. Fourteen films will compete, including Im Sun-ae’s The 7 a.m. Breakfast Club for the Brokenhearted starring Suzy and Lee Jin-wook; Sho Miyake’s Two Seasons, Two Strangers featuring Shim Eun-kyung; Zhang Lu’s Twilight in Luomu; Bi Gan’s The Wild Age; and actress Seo Ki’s directorial debut Girl.

The jury is led by acclaimed director Na Hong-jin (The Wailing, The Chaser), with winners to be announced at the closing ceremony on Sept. 26. Honorees will receive a specially designed trophy by Thai auteur Apichatpong Weerasethakul.

2. From Park Chan-wook’s opener to Cannes and Berlin winners

This year’s opening film is No Other Choice, the latest from Park Chan-wook, starring Lee Byung-hun as a father grappling with real-life struggles. The film drew praise at the Venice International Film Festival earlier this month and went on to win the new International Audience Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Other highlights include Berlin Silver Bear winner Voice of Hind, Radu Jude’s Dracula, and Cannes Palme d’Or winner It Was Just an Accident. These screenings give Korean audiences a chance to experience the year’s most talked-about global films firsthand.

3. K-pop meets cinema: “Demon Hunters” singalong

Netflix’s hit animation K-pop Demon Hunters will be screened in Korea for the first time in a singalong format, allowing audiences to join in by singing featured tracks. Director Maggie Kang will attend to engage with fans, reinforcing BIFF’s identity as a festival centered on audience participation.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, BIFF is positioning itself not merely as a commemorative event but as a launching pad for the next three decades. By embracing competition and expanding interactive programming, the festival aims to establish itself as a truly global contender.