Busan is good

Opening of the 43rd Busan International Short Film Festival on April 23 under the Theme “Cinema & Lumière”

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Park Heong-joon, announced that the 43rd Busan International Short Film Festival (hereinafter referred to as the “Festival”), marking the beginning of Busan’s spring film season, will open tomorrow (the 23rd).

The Festival, the largest international short film festival in Korea, was launched in 1980 and celebrates its 43rd edition this year. It is sponsored by the City and organized and hosted by the Busan International Short Film Festival. The Festival will take place across Busan, including the Busan Cinema Center and BNK Busan Bank Art Cinema.

Under the theme “Cinema & Lumière,” this year’s Festival will explore the fundamental elements of cinema—light and moving images—while examining both the origins and the expansion of film.

In particular, this year’s Festival has expanded in scale compared to last year, receiving 5,966 submissions from 124 countries, reaffirming its global standing. Through a rigorous selection process, 40 films for the International Competition and 20 films for the Korean Competition have been chosen, further enhancing the artistic quality and completeness of this year’s competition lineup.

Additionally, in celebration of the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France, France has been selected as the Guest Country of Honor, and a wide range of French films will be presented.

France was also the first Guest Country of Honor when the system was introduced in 2012, and its selection again this year adds further significance. Special programs such as “Korea–France Crossed Perspectives,” along with the “Cinémathèque Française Special Screening” and “The Light of the Nouvelle Vague,” will offer audiences a broad view of the history and artistry of French cinema.

The opening ceremony will be held tomorrow (the 23rd) at 19:00 at Busan Cinema Center, where a total of four opening films will be screened: There’s Always Something Missing to Forget (France), The Apple Doesn’t Fall (China), The Cinema That Never Was (Germany), and Fanny (Netherlands).

In addition, a special performance by singer-songwriter Yuval will take place during the opening ceremony, creating a unique stage where film and music come together.

During the Festival period, various side events such as BISFF Talks and roundtable discussions will be held, providing opportunities for audiences and filmmakers to engage and communicate. These programs are expected to further expand opportunities for exchange and interaction between participants.

Starting this year, the schedule for the short film production support program will be advanced, with public pitching sessions to be held on April 25 during the Festival. The final selected projects will be announced at the closing ceremony.

The closing ceremony will take place on April 28 at 19:00 at Busan Cinema Center, where award-winning films, including the Grand Prize winners in each category, will be announced.

As Korea’s first Academy Award–qualifying film festival, the Busan International Short Film Festival automatically recommends the top films from the International and Korean Competition sections for nomination in the Short Film categories of the Academy Awards.

Further details, including ticket reservations and screening schedules, are available on the Busan Cinema Center website (https://www.dureraum.org/) and the Busan International Short Film Festival website (https://www.bisff.org/). For inquiries, contact the Festival Secretariat at 051-742-9600.

Cho Yoo-jang, Director General of the Culture Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, stated, “Through this Festival, which designates France as the Guest Country of Honor in celebration of the 140th anniversary of Korea–France diplomatic relations, audiences will be able to experience both the global trends and artistic depth of cinema. We will continue to strengthen Busan’s status as a leading global film city.”