The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), formerly the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), held annually in Haeundae-gu, Busan (also Pusan), South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. The first festival, held from 13 to 21 September 1996, was also the first international film festival in Korea.

The main focus of the BIFF is to introduce new films and first-time directors, especially those from Asian countries. Another notable feature is the appeal of the festival to young people, both in terms of the large youthful audience it attracts and through its efforts to develop and promote young talent.

The Beginning of the Busan International Film Festival:
On September 13, 1996, the first opening ceremony was held with the desire to create a 'small but prestigious film festival'. The first international film festival in Korea took its first step amidst many concerns about holding an 'International Film Festival' in Busan, and not Seoul. In the first festival, 169 works from 31 countries were invited and screened in a total of 6 theaters.

Busan International Film Festival now:
The Busan International Film Festival has grown from Korea's first international film festival to Korea's largest, and has become a film festival loved by many filmmakers and audiences not only in Asia but also in the world. As of 2019, 299 works were invited from a total of 85 countries, and the number of theaters that started with 6 has increased to 37. In addition, the ‘Busan Cinema Center’ opened in 2011, which is an exclusive venue of the Busan International Film Festival and has become a landmark in Busan.

Busan International Film Festival

Send Message to Busan International Film Festival

Gallery

Recent Awards

Stay ahead of the curve