 
The 30th Busan International Film Festival takes place from September 17 to September 26, 2025, at the Busan Cinema Center in Busan, South Korea. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the festival opened with a screening of Park Chan-wook’s black comedy thriller No Other Choice.
In a symbolic step forward, the BIFF has entered into a new edition of the Competition section, combining the previous New Currents and Kim Jiseok sections, which is featuring approximately 14 Asian films. The total number of films screened has expanded as well: this year there will be 241 films, up from the 224 films screened at earlier editions. The Midnight Passion portion of the program has increased to four nights from two nights, and the Vision category has undergone a complete reworking.
Programming, Events & Highlights
In addition to its competition program, BIFF’s program consists of sections like Gala Presentation, Icons, World Cinema, Korean Cinema Today, Flash Forward, Wide Angle, Open Cinema, and Midnight Passion. Special events include a K-Pop Demon Hunters sing-a-long screening, a stamp album launch with Korea Post, and Actors House sessions where actors share behind-the-scenes stories. The “Forum BIFF” runs from September 18-21, and invites industry professionals for discussions on the future of the Asian cinema landscape with all of the shifting happening globally. Screenings all occur at the Busan Cinema Center, as well as other satellite sites like CGV Centum City, Lotte Cinema, and uni theaters throughout the city.
Awards, Jury & Legacy
The Competition Jury this year is led by director Na Hong-jin, along with participants Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Nandita Das, Marzieh Meshkini, Kogonada, Yulia Evina Bhara, and Han Hyo-joo. The festival continues to honor its New Currents Award for debut features by first-time directors selected from the competition and vision sections. Opening and closing ceremonies have been reimagined, with the closing event now incorporating awards presentations and ending with a screening of the Best Film feature rather than a separate closing film. As BIFF celebrates its 30th year, we are continuing to develop as a festival — recognizing its history and yet striving for renewal — while also continuing to be an important exhibition forum for Asian and world cinema. click here for the source
