26th Busan International Film Festival

26th Busan International Film Festival
BIFF official poster
Opening filmHeaven: To the Land of Happiness
by Im Sang-soo
Closing filmAnita
by Longman Leung
LocationBusan Cinema Center
Founded1995
Awards
  • New Currents Award
    • The Apartment with Two Women
    • Farewell, My Hometown
  • Kim Jiseok Awards
  • Korean Cinema Award
    • Lee Choon-yun
  • The Asian Filmmaker of the Year
Hosted by
No. of films223 films from 70 countries
Festival dateOpening: October 6, 2021 (2021-10-06)
Closing: October 15, 2021 (2021-10-15)
WebsiteBIFF 2021
Busan International Film Festival

The 26th Busan International Film Festival opened on October 6 at the Busan Cinema Center in Busan, South Korea[1][2] with South Korean film Heaven: To the Land of Happiness by Im Sang-soo.[3] Park So-dam and Song Joong-ki hosted the opening of the festival, which was streamed live on YouTube.[4]

In 26th edition, 223 films from 70 countries were officially invited to the festival. 63 community service screenings were also part of the festival.[5] In addition, this year BIFF opened two special programs, ‘New Voices, Chinese Films’ dedicated to emerging, talented Chinese directors,[6] and the best Asian films by female directors, ‘Wonder Women Movies’, to highlight the contribution of female directors to the world of cinema.[7] This edition of festival has constituted a new award 'Watcha Award' to be awarded to two selected films screened in the 'New Currents' section and the 'Korean Cinema Today-Vision' section.[8] 22 short films official invited to the 'Wide Angle' competition section were screened online on YouTube and Naver.[9]

'Vision Night' awards ceremony was held on October 14 in which winners of 'Korean Cinema Today - Vision Section' were announced.[10] On October 15 in an online press conference the winners of 'New Currents' and other awards were announced and it was informed that 76,072 people visited the film festival in ten days.[11] The festival closed on October 15 with closing ceremony hosted by Lee Joon-hyuk and Lee Joo-young and screening of film Anita by Longman Leung. South Korean film The Apartment with Two Women by Kim Se-in won five awards, including New Currents award.[12]

  1. ^ Nadilo, Sabastian (May 27, 2021). "26th Busan International Film Festival – Call for Entry 2021". Asian Film Festivals. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  2. ^ "Busan International Film Festival (BIFF)". Busan Go. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  3. ^ Kim Ji-won (September 2, 2021). "[공식] 최민식X박해일 '행복의 나라로', 부산국제영화제 개막작 선정" [[Official] Choi Min-sik X Park Hae-il's 'To the Land of Happiness' was selected as the opening film of the Busan International Film Festival]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  4. ^ Choi Young-joo (September 16, 2021). "부국제 개막식 사회자에 송중기·박소담 선정" [Song Joong-ki and Park So-dam selected as hosts for the opening ceremony of the Busan International Film Festival]. CBS No Cut News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  5. ^ Lee Yoo-na (September 15, 2021). "[26th BIFF] 박형준 부산시장 "부국제, 코로나 속 최선 다해 지원할 것"" [[26th BIFF] Busan Mayor Hyung-Jun Park "We will do our best to support Bukuk in the midst of Corona"]. YTN (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  6. ^ "The 26th Busan International Film Festival's Special Program, 'New Voices, Chinese Films'". Acrofan. August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  7. ^ "BIFF, A Special Program: The Best Asian Films by Female Directors, 'Wonder Women Movies'". Acrofan. June 28, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference award:newsis was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Choi Young-joo (October 3, 2021). "제26회 BIFF, 네이버 시리즈온·유튜브 영화서 단편 상영" [The 26th BIFF, Short Screened in Naver Series On YouTube Movies]. CBS No Cut News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  10. ^ Kang Min-ji (October 14, 2021). "부산국제영화제 '비전의 밤' 시상식" [Busan International Film Festival 'Vision Night' Awards Ceremony]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  11. ^ Kim Ji-eun (October 15, 2021). "[26th BIFF]열흘간 7만6072명…감염 사례는 1건(종합)" [[26th BIFF] 76,072 people in 10 days… 1 case of infection (total)]. Newsis (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  12. ^ Son Bong-seok (October 15, 2021). "'제 26회 부산국제영화제'(BIFF) 성료" ['The 26th Busan International Film Festival' (BIFF) completed]. Sports Trend (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved October 15, 2021.