Park Chan-wook, Bong Joon-ho, and K-pop Demon Hunters’ Maggie Kang Among Star-Studded Guests for 30th Busan International Film Festival

At a press conference held on the afternoon of the 26th at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Jung-gu, Seoul, the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) unveiled its first wave of major invited guests for its milestone 30th edition.

The festival’s executive committee announced this year’s opening film, the number of invited works, and the overall vision for the event.

For 2025, the Busan International Film Festival will feature a total of 241 official screenings—an increase of 17 films compared to last year. Including Community BIFF and other special programs, the grand total rises to 328 films, promising an even richer cinematic experience.

A dazzling lineup of guests was also revealed. Renowned Korean directors Park Chan-wook, Bong Joon-ho, Lee Chang-dong, and Lee Sang-il will be in attendance, alongside celebrated actors such as Youn Yuh-jung and Kang Dong-won.

International stars are also set to grace the festival. Maggie Kang, director of 'K-pop Demon Hunters,' will join the festivities, along with Taiwanese director and actress Sylvia Chang, Taiwanese actors Gwei Lun-mei and Greg Hsu, and Japanese actors Shun Oguri and Kentaro Sakaguchi, all making their way to Busan.



This year’s Asian Filmmaker of the Year award goes to Iranian director Jafar Panahi. The Korean Cinema Award will be presented to director Chung Ji-young, while the Camellia Award will honor director Sylvia Chang.

Jung Han-seok, Executive Director of the Busan International Film Festival, shared, “The enthusiasm among Korean filmmakers to participate in this year’s festival is truly remarkable,” hinting at a record-breaking turnout. He also expressed confidence that the international guest lineup, befitting the festival’s 30th anniversary, will be the most impressive yet, with acclaimed directors and actors from across Asia set to gather in Busan.

The 30th Busan International Film Festival will take place from September 17 (Wednesday) to September 26 (Friday), spanning ten days in and around the Busan Cinema Center.

Photo Credit: Busan International Film Festival, Yonhap News Agency

This article is a translated version of the original Korean article published by Xportsnews, originally written by Oh Seunghyun. This article was translated from Korean using AI-assisted tools and human review to deliver an accurate and culturally appropriate version for international readers.