The 31st Busan International Film Festival opened on October 6 and runs through October 15 for ten days. This marks the festival's first year officially recognized as an 'A-list' festival alongside Cannes, Berlin and Venice. 246 films from 59 countries arrive in Busan. The opening film is Kim Jong-kwan's 'The Table: Day and Night'. From summer into autumn, four couples pass through a single cafe in Seoul. A chance encounter, a long-awaited reunion, a first meeting that sparks. With no grand drama, only conversation, the film traces the subtle tremors of relationships. A follow-up to Kim Jong-kwan's 'The Table', and the film that opens this year's festival.
Hirokazu Kore-eda's 'Look Back' is a Venice competition title, and the director arrives in Busan with both lead actors. Two girls, Fujino and Kyomoto, brought together by manga. A story of their dreams, their friendship and the crossroads they come to. Master filmmaker Kore-eda brings to life the manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, creator of 'Chainsaw Man'. Hong Sangsoo brings 'Nowhere to Lay My Eyes' to Busan after winning Best Director at Locarno. Sang-hee visits the house in Jeju where her mother and younger brother live. The mother she hasn't seen in years now has a new family. Amid awkward ties, Sang-hee looks back on herself and her family.
Kim Hye-ja returns to the screen after nine years. 'Still Shining' is set in a nursing home and draws the solidarity of people with different ages, different memories. It is director Chung Ji-young's new film, reunited with Kim Hye-ja by choice. Isabelle Huppert, Michelle Yeoh and Maggie Gyllenhaal are coming to Busan in person. Huppert appears in 'Fly', the new film by Um Tae-hwa, director of 'Concrete Utopia'. Yeoh stars in 'Flesh and Blood', Gyllenhaal in her directorial debut 'The Bride'.
The Korean animation 'Long Long Night' is directed by Kim Soo-jung and entered in the Busan Award competition section. It depicts the bond and escape of 'Koala', a brown bear, and 'Pen', a penguin, from a zoo. Actors Jo Jin-woong, Jin Ki-joo and Choi Min-sik lend their voices. Swipe through to see the nine titles PAP picked. Which one will you watch first?
Hirokazu Kore-eda's 'Look Back' is a Venice competition title, and the director arrives in Busan with both lead actors. Two girls, Fujino and Kyomoto, brought together by manga. A story of their dreams, their friendship and the crossroads they come to. Master filmmaker Kore-eda brings to life the manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, creator of 'Chainsaw Man'. Hong Sangsoo brings 'Nowhere to Lay My Eyes' to Busan after winning Best Director at Locarno. Sang-hee visits the house in Jeju where her mother and younger brother live. The mother she hasn't seen in years now has a new family. Amid awkward ties, Sang-hee looks back on herself and her family.
Kim Hye-ja returns to the screen after nine years. 'Still Shining' is set in a nursing home and draws the solidarity of people with different ages, different memories. It is director Chung Ji-young's new film, reunited with Kim Hye-ja by choice. Isabelle Huppert, Michelle Yeoh and Maggie Gyllenhaal are coming to Busan in person. Huppert appears in 'Fly', the new film by Um Tae-hwa, director of 'Concrete Utopia'. Yeoh stars in 'Flesh and Blood', Gyllenhaal in her directorial debut 'The Bride'.
The Korean animation 'Long Long Night' is directed by Kim Soo-jung and entered in the Busan Award competition section. It depicts the bond and escape of 'Koala', a brown bear, and 'Pen', a penguin, from a zoo. Actors Jo Jin-woong, Jin Ki-joo and Choi Min-sik lend their voices. Swipe through to see the nine titles PAP picked. Which one will you watch first?
FAQ
When is the Busan International Film Festival 2026?
The 31st Busan International Film Festival opens Tuesday, October 6, 2026, and runs for ten days through Thursday, October 15. It takes place at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan.
Why was the Busan International Film Festival recognized as an A-list festival?
This year marks the first time BIFF has been officially recognized as an A-list festival alongside Cannes, Berlin, and Venice. Its global stature was confirmed with 246 films from 59 countries screening in Busan.
What is the opening film of the Busan International Film Festival 2026?
The opening film is Day and Night Belong to Each Other by director Kim Jong-kwan. It portrays subtle relational tremors through long conversations between four couples who spend summer through fall at a Seoul café.
