Busan International Film Festival Surpasses 200,000 Visitors for First Time in 11 Years

[Financial News] As the 31st Busan International Film Festival, marking its 30th anniversary, prepares to close on the 15th, visitor numbers have topped 200,000 for the first time in 11 years.
The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) Secretariat announced the figures at a wrap-up press conference for the 31st BIFF, held at 10 a.m. on the 15th at BIFF Hill at the Busan Cinema Center.

According to figures released by the BIFF Secretariat, a total of 200,043 people attended the festival to watch films. Screenings at the festival drew 185,239 viewers, while Community BIFF drew 5,186 and Neighborhood BIFF 9,168.
The festival surpassed 200,000 attendees for the first time since 2015, about 11 years ago. Including audiences who took part in various program events and accompanying activities that packed the festival in its early days, this year's Busan International Film Festival drew nearly 272,027 people in total. Total attendance was also up by about 40,000 from last year.
The festival's efforts this year to change the opening date and expand screening capacity are believed to have produced positive results, including a strong audience response and a sharp rise in attendance. For the first time, organizers broke with the tradition of opening on a Wednesday and moved the opening to Tuesday. They also increased the number of screenings per day from four to five from Thursday through Sunday. The festival said this gave office workers and others who took time off to attend more opportunity to stay in Busan from Tuesday through the weekend and enjoy the films.
A total of 315 films were screened at eight theaters across Busan during the festival. There were 246 official selections, including 94 world premieres shown for the first time anywhere in the world.
The Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM), a film-industry platform held at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO) in Haeundae-gu, drew 30,484 visitors. A total of 339 companies from 32 countries took part, with 129 booths set up. This was a 13.5% increase from the previous year, reflecting ACFM's continued growth.
The Busan Award, the competition section entering its second year as BIFF was elevated to an “A-list film festival,” demonstrated its stronger international standing. Thirteen films produced across Asia were selected as Busan Award nominees and drew a positive response from audiences during the festival.
Visits by world-renowned filmmakers and stars also added luster to the festival. Many leading directors and actors from around the world traveled to Busan, including Michelle Yeoh, this year's recipient of the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award; director Ann Hui, recipient of the Camellia Award; and Kim Dong-ho, recipient of the Korean Cinema Award and former BIFF board chair. Also attending the festival were director Alfonso Cuarón, making his first official visit to Korea, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Charlotte Gainsbourg, as well as Isabelle Huppert, Zhou Xun, Fan Bingbing, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Majid Majidi, Lav Diaz and Rintaro.
The festival will conclude its full program with the closing ceremony at the Busan Cinema Center this afternoon.
[email protected] Byeon Ok-hwan Reporter