The Busan film festival wrapped up its 30th anniversary edition on Friday after a 10-day run in South Korea’s second-largest city. As a major milestone, the event launched its first-ever competitive section, solidifying its global ambitions. Notably, the newly introduced Busan Award brought fresh energy to the long-standing festival. Chinese filmmaker Zhang Lu won the Best Film honor for Gloaming in Luomu, a contemplative drama set in a small Chinese town. According to the jury, the film stood out for its emotional depth and experimental storytelling.
Remarkably, Zhang previously won at Busan in 2005 and expressed his lasting bond with the event. “I stand here again after 20 years,” he told the audience. “I hope to return when the Busan film festival celebrates its 100th year.” In terms of attendance, this year’s festival drew 175,889 attendees, up from last year’s 154,000. Visitors watched 328 films from across the globe. In addition, over 63,000 people participated in festival-related programs held throughout Busan.
Organizers emphasized that, these figures reflect the event’s rising influence in global cinema. Festival Director Jung Han-seok called the competitive section “a successful first step” toward greater international prestige. Meanwhile, the Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM), a key part of the festival, also broke participation records. More than 30,000 industry professionals from 54 countries joined the four-day business event.
Furthermore, ACFM Director Kim Young-deok noted that 60 percent of attendees came from overseas. “This proves ACFM’s strength as the most global platform in Asia,” Kim said. However, despite these achievements, concerns about financial stability remain. The festival’s 13 billion won ($9.2 million) budget now receives less than 4 percent in government support. By comparison, that’s a sharp drop from 20 percent just three years ago.
In response, BIFF Chair Park Kwang-su urged public agencies to step up. He noted that global events like Cannes and Venice receive over 50 percent of their funding from governments. Therefore, to sustain growth, the Busan film festival is turning to private sponsors like Chanel, Netflix, and Genesis. Organizers said external support is now critical to keep the festival competitive on the world stage. Looking ahead, the festival plans to build on this year’s momentum. Organizers aim to enhance its global profile and expand competitive categories. In conclusion, the success of the 30th edition sets a strong foundation for future editions.
