For a difficult movie...Thirty-year-old rich festival reborn as a competitive film festival (Roundup)

By Soyoon, Ahn

Apr 29, 2025

For a difficult movie...Thirty-year-old rich festival reborn as a competitive film festival (Roundup)
The 30th Busan International Film Festival. Photo courtesy = Busan International Film Festival



The Busan International Film Festival, which marks its 30th anniversary this year, has taken the first step toward a new leap forward.

The 30th Busan International Film Festival (hereinafter referred to as the Deputy International Film Festival) press conference was held in the conference room on the 3rd floor of Beef Hill at the Film Hall in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the 29th, and was broadcast live online. Chairman Park Kwang-soo, new executive chairman Jeong Han-seok, and senior programmer Park Ga-eon attended the site.

For a difficult movie...Thirty-year-old rich festival reborn as a competitive film festival (Roundup)
Park Kwang-soo, chairman of the Busan International Film Festival. Photo courtesy = Busan International Film Festival
At the meeting, Chairman Park, new executive chairman Chung, and senior programmer Park had time to introduce the new changes and future directions of the wealth system. First of all, Chairman Park said, `When I finalized the festival after last year's festival, I told you that the rich festival will change from non-competitive film festivals to competitive film festivals starting this year. Since all domestic film festivals are modeled on the rich festival, almost all of them are non-competitive film festivals. We also put a lot of thought into preparing for the competition film festival" he said.




The deputy festival has been running the film festival for two years in the absence of its chief since former executive chairman Huh Moon-young resigned in May 2023 after being named a sexual harassment perpetrator in the workplace. Later, through the 3rd board meeting and the 2nd extraordinary general meeting held on March 20, Jeong Han-seok, a Korean film programmer, was finally elected as the new executive chairman. Through the recommendation, the Deputy International Executive Recommendation Committee said "The right person with a thorough understanding of the film festival's internal and external environment and various circumstances and the ability to take the film festival to the next level."

For a difficult movie...Thirty-year-old rich festival reborn as a competitive film festival (Roundup)
Jeong Han-seok, the new executive chairman of the Busan International Film Festival. Photo courtesy = Busan International Film Festival
Regarding the background of the final election of the new executive chairman Chung, Chairman Park explained, `As you know well, we have been running the vice-presidential system for two years without the executive chairman,' `We have held a total of four contests for the executive chairman so far this year, and finally selected Jeong Han-seok, the vice-presidential Korean film programmer.'

Chung, the new executive chairman, said "I started my work on March 21st and counted the dates, and only a month and a week have passed. "I was proud to know everything about the festival as a Korean film programmer after working at the festival for many years, but from the chairman's job, I felt that there was a lot more to learn and grasp."




As for the newly changed operating stance, "As a representative film festival in Asia, we plan to look back on the memories and solidarity of the rich international festival and Asian films together, diagnose major current issues, and explore future development directions."We will also set up various programs and forums to examine the crises facing Korean films and find practical solutions to overcome them."," he stressed.

The wealth system is also struggling with budget shortages. The Film Council drastically cut the budget for the festival support project from 5.2 billion won in 2023 to 2.4 billion won last year. This year's subsidy was set at 3.2 billion won, but it is still far below the previous budget.

Senior programmer Park said "I came in as a deputy international employee in 2010, and the total budget at that time and the current budget are not much different. However, the proportion of state funds has decreased considerably. Compared to the state expenditure in 2010, the state expenditure confirmed this year has been cut by one-third.




Then "If it's not difficult, it's a lie. With prices rising so much, and the cost of hosting a film festival rising so fast, the budget has dropped quite a bit"Of course, it's not just us, it's going to be hard for everyone who holds events in Korea. At the same time, the Korean film industry is also having a difficult time, so the situation is not good."

Senior programmer Park said he plans to continue to seek ways to run the festival in the long term. He said, `Last year, I was able to take a breather by actively attracting sponsors. I have a lot of worries because the economy is so bad this year." "We are struggling to run the festival efficiently within a limited budget. Still, I said that the festival was difficult, but many people recognized it as really difficult. I am grateful for that. Even in a difficult situation, the ultimate goal is to produce good results, so I will do my best without using this as an excuse"I vowed.

For a difficult movie...Thirty-year-old rich festival reborn as a competitive film festival (Roundup)
Opening film of the 29th Busan International Film Festival 'Jeon, Lan'Photo by Yonhap News
Finally, he also expressed his position on the controversy over the selection of OTT opening films. Last year, the Bu Gukje Festival drew keen attention by selecting the first OTT film ever and Netflix film 'Jeon, Lan', which is rated as a youth-free movie. In response, Chung, the new executive chairman, said "As the Korean film industry is in a difficult situation, we are sympathizing and realizing it. However, there are probably no people here who don't watch OTT. It is rather strange to exclude and turn away OTT, which is already widely located in Korean culture. "I don't intend to exclude OTT works unconditionally in the future." I intend to consider focusing on the importance and value of the work. Also, the opening film does not represent the entire festival. Last year, there was controversy over OTT films being the opening film, but for the festival, I think all 240 films, including 14 new competition categories, are important, not one opening film," he said.

Meanwhile, the 30th Bu-guk Festival will be held from September 17 to 26 at the Film Hall in Haeundae-gu, Busan.



antahn22@sportschosun.com