Cover Read on to find out the full program list of the Busan International Film Festival 2021

The Busan International Film Festival 2021 boasts a stellar lineup of more than 200 films from 70 countries. Read on to find out the full program list

The Busan International Film Festival, one of Asia’s biggest film festivals, is taking place from October 6–15 featuring a stellar lineup of more than 200 films from 70 countries, which will be screened in six theatres across Busan. This year, the festival will take place in a hybrid format that mixes online and in-person events which includes an opening talk, master class, handprint ceremony and many more.

Korean actor Song Joong-ki and actress Park So-dam have been selected to be the co-hosts for this year’s edition. Song has been a continuous rise this year when he made his Korean drama comeback in Vincenzo and starred in Space Sweepers. Meanwhile, Park So-dam has captured the hearts of the worldwide audience thanks to her role in the Academy Award-winning movie, Parasite.

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The 223-strong lineup features the works of master directors such as Paul Verhoeven, Jane Campion, Zhang Yimou and Brilliante Mendoza as well as being international film festival award recipients including Palme d’Or-winning film, Titane by Julia Ducournau, Silver Bear recipient, Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy by Hamaguchi Ryusuke and many more. This year, the festival is also showcasing breakout films such as Mona Lisa and the Blood starring Jeon Jong-seo, the Japanese smash hit, Tokyo Revengers, Blue Bayou by Korean American director Justin Chon and many more.

As one of Asia’s most renowned film festivals, the lineup also features noteworthy feats from Asia and a diversified selection of Korean films that includes traditional master directors and up and coming talents. A number of awards will be given this year including the Actor and Actress of the Year, the Fipresci Award, the Sonje Award, the BIFF Mecenat Award, the Kim Jiseok Award, the Korean Cinema Award and the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award.

Read on to find out the full program list below.

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1. Opening and Closing Films

Opening Film

Heaven: To the Land of Happiness by Im Sang-soo (South Korea)

Closing Film

Anita by Longman Leung (Hong Kong)

2. Gala Presentation

The Gala Presentation welcomes influential filmmakers and actors to present their films in order to celebrate their artistic achievements.

  • Annette by Leos Carax (France)
  • Drive My Car by Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Japan)
  • Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy by Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Japan)

3. Icons

The Icons section is a showcase of the latest films of contemporary iconic filmmakers from around the world.

  • Ahed's Knee by Nadav Lapid (Israel, France, Germany)
  • Bergman Island by Mia Hansen-Løve (France, Belgium, Germany, Swedan, Mexico)
  • Cow by Andrea Arnold (UK)
  • Deception by Arnaud Desplechin (France)
  • Everything Went Fine by François (France)
  • France by Bruno Dumont (France, Germany, Belgium)
  • The French Dispatch by Wes Anderson (USA)
  • Funny Boy by Deepa Mehta (Canada)
  • The Hand of God by Paolo Sorrentino (Italy)
  • A Hero by Asghar Farhadi (Iran, France)
  • In Front of Your Face by Hong Sang-soo (South Korea)
  • Introduction by Hong Sang-soo (South Korea)
  • Lingui The Sacred Bongs by Mahamet-Saleh Haroun (Chad, France, Belgium, Germany)
  • Marx Can Wait by Marco Bellocchio (Italy)
  • Memoria by Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Colombia, Taiwan, France, Germany, Mexico, Qatar)
  • Once Second by Zhang Yimou (China, Hong Kong)
  • The Power of the Dog by Hane Campion (New Zealand, Australia)
  • Red Rocket by Sean Baker (USA)
  • Sundown by Michael Franco (Mexico, France, Sweden)
  • Three Floors by Nanni Moretti (Italy, France)
  • The Tsugua Diaries by Mareen Fazendeiro and Miguel Gomes (Portugal, France)
  • Vortex by Gaspar Noé (France)
  • Yanagawa by Zhang Lu (China)

4. New Currents

The New Currents section is a competition among up-and-coming Asian filmmakers’ first or second features that bestows two films with a New Currents Award. All the films are either World Premiere or International Premiere.

  • The Absent Director by Arvand Dashtaray (Iran)
  • The Apartment with Two Women by Kim Se-in (South Korea)
  • Asteroid by Mehdi Hoseinivand Aalipour (Iran)
  • Farewell My Hometown by Wang Er Zhou (China)
  • House of Time by Rajeep Paul and Sarmistha Maiti (India)
  • Memoryland by Kim Quy Bui (Vietnam, Germany)
  • Missing by Katayama Shinzo (Japan, South Korea)
  • Pedro by Natesh Hedge (India)
  • Photocopier by Wregas Bhanuteja (Indonesia)
  • Red Pomegranate by Sahripa Urazbayeva (Kazakhstan)
  • Seire by Park Kang (South Korea)

5. Kim Jiseok Award Nominees

The Kim Joseok Award was established in memory of late program director, Kim Ji-seok. It will be given to the most attractive films that reflect the contemporary standing of Asian cinema in accordance with the late Kim’s intent. Two awards recipients will be chosen by jurors.

  • 24 by Royston Tan (Singapore, Thailand)
  • The Bargain by Wang Qi (China)
  • Gensan Punch by Brilliante Mendoza (Philippines, Japan)
  • No Land's Man by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki (US, India, Australia, Bangladesh)
  • The Rapist by Aparna Sen (India)
  • Riverside Mukolitta by Ogigami Naoko (Japan)
  • Sughra's Sons by Ilgar Najaf (Azerbaijan, France, Germany)

6. A Window on Asian Cinema

This section is a peek into the various styles and visions within Asian cinema. It highlights the films of this year’s most talented Asian filmmakers as well as the work of directors already well-established within the industry.

  • Anatomy of Time by Jakrawal Nilthamrong (Thailand, France, Singapore, Netherlands)
  • Annular Eclipse by Zhang Chi (China)
  • Are You Lonesome Tonight by Wen Shipei (China)
  • Ballad of a White Cow by Behtash Sanaeeha and Maryam Moghadam (Iran, France)
  • Days Before the Millennium by Chang Teng-Yuan (Taiwan)
  • Deep6 by Madhuja Mukherjee (India)
  • The Exam by Shawkat Amin Korki (Iraq, Germany, Qatar, Kurdistan)
  • The Falls by Chung Mong-Hong (Taiwan)
  • Farha by Darin J. Sallam (Jordan, Sweden, Saudi Arabia)
  • Fire by Aizhana Kassymbek (Kazakhstan)
  • Haruhara-san's Recorder by Sugita Kyoshi (Japan)
  • Huda's Salon by Hany Abu-Assad (Palestine, Egypt, Netherlands)
  • In the Wake by Zeze Takahisa (Japan)
  • Increasing Echo by Chienn Hsiang (Taiwan)
  • Inu-Oh by Yuasa Masaaki (Japan, China)
  • Moneyboys by C.B. Yi (Austria, France, Belgium, Taiwan)
  • A New Old Play by Qiu Jiongjiong (Hong Kong, France)
  • No Ground Beneath the Feet by Mohammad Rabby Mridha (Bangladesh)
  • On the Job: The Missing 8 by Erik Matti (Philippines)
  • Rehana by Abdullah Mohammad Saad (Bangladesh, Singapore, Qatar)
  • The Road to Kuthriyar by Bharat Mirle (India)
  • Shankar's Fairies by Irfana Majumdar (India)
  • Taste by Le Bao (Vietnam)
  • Tengiz by Mansur Abdukhalikov (Uzbekistan)
  • Vengeance is Mine, All Others Pay Cash by Edwin (Indonesia, Singapore, Germany)
  • White Building by Neang Kavich (Cambodia, France, China, Qatar)
  • Yuni by Kamila Adndini (Indonesia, Singapore)

7. Korean Cinema Today

The Panorama section is an introduction to the year’s most significant and popular Korean films, from commercial blockbusters to art-house favourites.

Panorama

  • The Book of Fish by Lee Joon-ik
  • The Cave by Lee Young-ah
  • Chun Tae-il by Hong Jung-pyo
  • The Contorted House by Kang Dong-hun
  • The Cursed: Dead Man's Prey by Kim Yong-wan
  • Fairy by Shin Tack-su
  • The Girl on a Bulldozer by Park Ri-woong
  • Last Film by Jeon Soo-il
  • New Year Blues by Hong Ji-young
  • Night in Paradise by Park Hoon-jung
  • Sinkhole by Kim Ji-hoon
  • Space Sweepers by Jo Sung-hee
  • Unframed by Park Jeongmin, Son Suk-ku, Moon Choi, Lee Je-hoon
  • Usu by Oh Se-hyeon

The Vision section introduces the latest Korean independent films with outstanding cinematic quality and originality that presents the vision of contemporary Korean cinema.

Vision

  • A Bit Different by Lee Woo-dong
  • Chorokbam by Yoon Seo-jin
  • The Conversation by Kim Duk-joong
  • Doom Doom by Jung Won-hee
  • Film for the Coming Winter by Kim Kyung-rae
  • Hot in Day, Cold at Night by Park Song-yeol
  • A Lonely Island in the Distant Sea by Kim Mi-young
  • No Surprise by Shin Sun
  • Nobody's Lover by Han In-mi
  • Not One and Not Two by Seo Bo-hyung
  • Sophie's World by Lee Jae-han
  • Through My Midwinter by Oh Seong-ho

8. World Cinema

The World Cinema section is a showcase of the year’s non-Asian narrative, featuring the latest works from well-known filmmakers and international film festival awardees.

  • (Im)Patient by Constanza Fernàndez (Chile)
  • After Blue (Dirty Paradise) by Bertrand Mandico (France)
  • Ali & Ava by Clio Bernard (UK)
  • Amparo by Simón Mesa Soto (Colombia, Sweden, Qatar)
  • As in Heaven by Tea Lindeburg (Denmark)
  • Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn by Radu Jude (Romania, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Croatia)
  • The Blind Mind Who Did Not Want to See Titanic by Teemu Nikki (Finland)
  • Blue Bayou by Justin Chon (USA)
  • Bridgitte Bardot Forever by Lech Majewski (Poland)
  • Captain Volkonogov Escaped by Natasha Merkulova and Aleksey Chupov (Russia, Estonia, France)
  • A Chiara by Jonas Carpignano (Italy)
  • Cop Secret by Hannes Thór Hallórsson (Iceland)
  • Deserted by Kadri Kõusaar (Estonia, Sweden, Finland)
  • Dusk Stone by Iván Fund (Argentina, Chile, Spain)
  • Fabian – Going to the Dogs by Dominik Graf (Germany, France)
  • The Family by Dan Slater (Canada)
  • The Girl and the Spider by Ramon Ramon Zürcher and Silvan Ramon Zürcher (Switzerland)
  • Good Mother by Hafsia Herzi (France)
  • Great Freedom by Sebastian Meise (Austria, Germany)
  • Hive by Blerta Basholli (Kosovo, Switzerland, Macedonia, Albania)
  • Hold Me Tight by Mathieu Amalric (France, Germany)
  • House Arrest by Aleksey German Jr. (Russia)
  • II Buco by Michelangelo Frammartino (Italy, Germany, France)
  • Întregalde by Radu Muntean (Romania)
  • The Island by Anca Damian (Romania, Belgium, France)
  • Magnetic Beats by Vincent Maël Cardona (France)
  • Nitram by Justin Kurzel (Australia)
  • The Odd-Job Men by Neus Neus Ballús (Spain)
  • Passing by Rebecca Hall (US)
  • Reflection by Valentyn Vasyanovych (Ukraine)
  • Small Body by Laura Samani (Italy, France, Slovenia)
  • The Souvenir Part I by Joanna Hogg (UK)
  • The Souvenir Part II by Joanna Hogg (UK)
  • A Taste of Love and Desire by Leyla Bouzid (France)
  • Titane by Julia Ducournau (France)
  • Vanishing by Denis Dercourt (France, South Korea)
  • The Worst Person in the World by Joachim Trier (Norway)

9. Flash Forward

The Flash Forward section is a competition among non-Asian filmmakers’ first or second features that take on an innovative approach to cinema. The winner is selected by the audience and awarded the Flash Forward Audience Award.

  • Compartment No.6 by Juho Kuosmanen (Finland, Germany, Estonia, Russia)
  • El Planeta by Amalia Ulman (Spain)
  • Feathers by Omar El Zohairy (France, Egypt, Netherlands, Greece)
  • Freaks Out by Gabriele Mainetti (Italy, Belgium)
  • Jockey by Clint Bentley (USA)
  • Mass by Fran Kranz (USA)
  • Onoda – 10 000 Nights in the Jungle by Arthur Harari (France, Japan, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Cambodia)
  • Prayers for the Stolen by Tatiana Huezo (Mexico, Germany, Brazil, Qatar)
  • What Do We See When We Look at the Sky by Alexandre Koberidze (Georgia, Germany)

10. Wide Angle

The Wide Angle section is dedicated to showing outstanding short films and documentary films that offer broad cinematic viewpoints and a distinct vision.

Korean Short Film Competition Section

  • All is Well, Fighting by Kim Jun-seok
  • Anthill by Lee Sol-hui
  • The Blank by Shin Si-jeong
  • Errand by Lee Young-woong
  • Gut: Exorcism by Park So-e
  • Outing by Lee Yu-jin
  • Source of the Odour by Kim Hyo-eun
  • Stay Over Night by Lee Ji-hoo
  • Suicidal Student by Park Jun-hyeok
  • Take Me Home, Country Roads by Jeon Shi-hyoung
  • We Have to Love Each Other by Lee Ru-ri
  • A Winter Glove by Lee Hyeong-ju

Asian Short Film Competition Section

  • Cloudy Man by Shahin Jalali (Iran)
  • Good Day by Zhang Zhi-Teng (Taiwan)
  • Paanha by Hemant Kudale (India)
  • Salvador Dali by Eldiar Madakim (Kyrgyzstan)
  • Sarira by Li Mingyang (China)
  • The Sea Calls for Me by Tumpal Tampubolon (Indonesia)
  • The Third Solar Term by Song Zhanfei (China, UK)
  • Why is the Sky Dark at Night by Kelzang Dorjee (Bhutan)
  • Windows by Shigaya Daisuke (Japan)
  • Yet Another Winter by Kiran Shrestha (Nepal)

Documentary Competition Section

  • 206: Unearthed by Heo Chul-nyung (South Korea, Thailand)
  • Crossing's End by Shih Yu-Lun (Taiwan)
  • Fanatic by Oh Se-yeon (South Korea)
  • Kim Jong-boon of Wangshimni by Kim Jin-yeoul (South Korea)
  • Ladies Only by Rebana Liz Jogn (Germany, India)
  • Names of Revolution by Lee Dong-yun (South Korea)
  • Piano Prism by Oh Jae-hyeong (South Korea)
  • Self-Portrait: Fairy Tale in 47KM by Zhang Mengqi (China)
  • Taste of Wild Tomato by Lau Kek-Huat (Taiwan)
  • The Unnameable Dance by Induo Isshin (Japan)

Documentary Showcase (Busan Cinephile Award Nominees)

  • An Actor Prepares by Gi Gukseo by Wang Cheolmean (South Korea)
  • Faceless by Jennifer Ngo (Hong Kong, USA)
  • I am More by Lee II-ha (South Krorea)
  • I'm So Sorry by Zhao Liang (Hong Kong, France, Netherlands)
  • Map Without Island by Kim Sung-eun (South Korea)
  • A Night of Knowing Nothing by Payal Kapadia (India, France)
  • Odoriko by Okutani Yoichiro (Japan, US, France)
  • Poets' Window by Kim Jeon-han (South Korea)
  • Pain in 2020 by Lee Yong Chao (Taiwan, Myanmar)
  • Steel Boat by Kim Ji-gon (South Korea)
  • Target by Nishijima Shinji (Japan)

Documentary Showcase

  • A.rtifical I.mmortality by Ann Shin (Canada)
  • Django & Django by Luca Rea (Italy)
  • The First Wave by Matthew Heineman (USA)
  • Flee by Jonas Poher Rasmussen (Denmark, France)
  • For Lucio by Pietro Marcello (Italy)
  • Mariner of the Mountains by Karim Aïnouz (Brazil, France, Germany)
  • Returning to Reims (Fragments) by Jean-Gabriel Périot (France)
  • Summer of Soul (...Or When the Revolution Could Not be Televised) by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson (USA)

11. Open Cinema

This section is a collection of new and internationally acclaimed films that offer an ideal mix of the popular with the artistic.

  • Benedetta by Paul Verhoeven (France, Belgium, Netherlands)
  • Inexorable by Fabrice Du Welz (Belgium, France)
  • Infernal Affairs (4K Restoration) by Andrew Lau and Alam Mak (Hong Kong)
  • Last Night in Solo by Edgar Wright (UK)
  • Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon by Ana Lily Amirpour (USA)
  • Tokyo Revengers by Hanabusa Tsutomu (Japan)
  • What She Likes... by Kusano Shogo (Japan)

12. On Screen

This section screens highly anticipated drama series that will be available over online video streaming platforms and will be the first launch of such a program in Asia.

  • Forbidden by Anucha Boonyawatana and Josh Kim (Thailand)
  • Hellbound by Yeon Sang-ho (South Korea)
  • My Name by Kim Jin-min (South Korea)

13. Special Program in Focus

This section is a special showcase of films by notable filmmakers or those working within a specific topic. The first one is a celebration of films by female filmmakers while the other is a showcase of films by Chinese directors.

Wonder Women’s Movies

  • Salaam Bombay by Mira Nair (India)
  • Blackboard by Samira Makhmalbaf (Iran)
  • A Simple Life by Ann Hui (Hong Kong)
  • The Murmuring by Byun Young-joo (South Korea)
  • Suzaku by Kawase Naomi (Japan)
  • The Day I Became a Woman by Marziyeh Meshkiny (Iran)
  • Take Care of My Cat by Jeong Jae-eun (South Korea)
  • Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts by Mouly Surya (Indonesia, France, Malaysia, Thailand)
  • Capernaum by Nadine Labaki (Lebanon)
  • Wadjda by Haifaa Al Mansour (Saudi Arabia, Germany)

New Voices, Chinese Films

  • Black Coal, Thin Ice by Diao Yinan
  • Kaili Blues by Bi Gan
  • Walking Past the Future by Li Ruijun
  • Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains by Gu Xiaogang
  • The Cloud in Her Room by Zheng Lu Xinyuan
  • The Calming by Song Fang
  • Ripples of Life by We Shujun

 

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