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Actor Son Ye-jin walks down the red carpet before the opening ceremony for the 30th Busan International Film Festival held at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae District on Sept. 17. [YONHAP]<\/p>\n
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BUSAN \u2014\u00a0The hot, humid weather did not deter cinephiles as Korea’s second city basked in glamour, applause and moments of honor when the 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) opened on Wednesday, starting with a red-carpet event, a tribute to filmmakers, and emotional celebrations from actors on Asia\u2019s biggest cinema stage.\u00a0
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To mark the milestone, filmmakers and actors from around the world, including a surprise K-pop star guest, Blackpink\u2019s Lisa, came to Busan to join the celebration and kick off the special occasion on Wednesday.\u00a0\u00a0
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People eagerly lined the streets, hoping for a glimpse of the celebrities and filmmakers as their cars made their way to the red carpet. Stars like Han So-hee and Jung Woo waved and interacted with fans through the car windows, prompting squeals of delight.\u00a0
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And when Lisa stepped out of her car onto the red carpet before the opening ceremony, a roar of cheers echoed through the venue, as the crowd was stunned by the unexpected appearance of the global K-pop star at a film festival.
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People lined the street to get a glimpse of the celebrities and filmmakers as their cars made their way to the red carpet. [KIM JI-YE] <\/p>\n
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The excitement continued as world-renowned filmmakers and actors such as \u201cKPop Demon Hunters\u201d director Maggie Kang, director Guillermo del Toro, this year’s Cannes-winner Jafar Panahi and actor Milla Jovovich greeted fans.
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Korean stars such as Son Ye-jin, Han Hyo-joo, Lee Jin-uk and Yoo Teo also graced the red carpet, further heightening the festivities.
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\u201cThe 30th celebration is only just beginning,\u201d declared Busan Mayor Park Hyoung-joon, officially kicking off BIFF.
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Blackpink’s Lisa poses for the red carpet at the opening ceremony of the Busan International Film Festival at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae District, Busan, on Sept. 17. [YONHAP]<\/p>\n
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Director Guillermo del Toro, center, walks down the red carpet before the opening ceremony for the 30th Busan International Film Festival held at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae District on Sept. 17. [YONHAP]<\/p>\n
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The opening ceremony took place at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae District, filling the 5,000-seat outdoor venue as the 10-day event began. This year’s event was hosted by actor Lee Byung-hun.
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\u201cThere is a saying from Confucius: \u2018At 30, one stands firm\u2019 \u2014 meaning one finally finds their footing by 30,\u201d said Lee, acknowledging the festival’s three-decade-long journey.\u00a0\u00a0
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\u201cBalzac also said, ’30 is the noon of life.\u2019 Perhaps that\u2019s why, only after 30 years, I finally feel like I\u2019m starting to resemble an actor. But what\u2019s truly remarkable is that BIFF began around the same time as me. We\u2019ve essentially grown up together.\u201d
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Commemorating its 30th anniversary, this year\u2019s lineup also welcomed those who were part of BIFF\u2019s earliest days, including Panahi, who received the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award for his exceptional contributions to Asian cinema and culture.
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The cast and director Park Chan-wook of \u2033No Other Choice\u2033 walk down the red carpet before the opening ceremony for the 30th Busan International Film Festival held at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae District on Sept. 17. \u2033No Other Choice\u2033 was selected as the opener for this year’s festival. [YONHAP]<\/p>\n
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\u201cI was here from the very first year of the film festival, and I\u2019m very happy that after many ups and downs, I’m still here for the 30th BIFF,\u201d he said after receiving the award with a standing ovation from the audience.\u00a0\u00a0
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\u201cFor the very first time that I came to BIFF, I went back home and wrote that I\u2019m coming from a festival that one day would be the best of Asia,\u201d he said. \u201cFor 17 years, unfortunately, I couldn\u2019t come to this festival because sometimes I was in jail and sometimes I was forbidden to leave the country, so I couldn\u2019t come here and see how gorgeous this festival has become.\u201d
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Other honors were also awarded: the Camellia Award, presented to director Sylvia Chang for advancing women\u2019s roles in cinema, and the Korean Cinema Award, given to Chung Ji-young for bringing Korean cinema to international audiences.
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The opening ceremony for the 30th Busan International Film Festival was held at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae District on Sept. 17. [YONHAP]<\/p>\n
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Chang gave an inspiring speech, recalling her journey as she received her award. \u201cI fell in love with filmmaking on the first day I walked into a film set, and that was the year 1972. Ever since, I have worked very hard and passionately and nonstop. I also got married, had kids, raised three boys, but I never walked away from filmmaking,\u201d she said.\u00a0\u00a0
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\u201cIt\u2019s tough for a woman to do all that,” she said. “But I was more involved with writing scripts, directing and producing. The challenge just became my drive.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0
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She added that her latest film, \u201cMeasure in Love,\u201d screening at BIFF, is a \u201cgreeting to all the film lovers in BIFF and also a reminder to all of you that I\u2019m still here and I\u2019m still working.\u201d
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As the ceremony came near its end, director Park Chan-wook took the stage to introduce his latest film, \u201cNo Other Choice,\u201d the opener of this year\u2019s annual event, along with its cast.
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With Park’s film making its Korean premiere, actor Son Ye-jin, who appeared in the movie, shared her feelings. \u201cIt\u2019s been a while since I last came to BIFF, and having my film selected as the opening piece is truly unforgettable. I feel even more nervous and excited than when it was screened in Venice.\u201d
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The Busan Cinema Center outdoor venue is filled with audiences for the opening ceremony of the 30th Busan International Film Festival was held at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae District on Sept. 17. [YONHAP]<\/p>\n
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The 30th BIFF will run through Sept. 26, with a total of 328 films screening. Numerous programs, special screenings and world premieres are scheduled during the festival, including Korea\u2019s first-ever sing-along event for Netflix\u2019s hit animated film \u201cKPop Demon Hunters.\u201d
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BIFF has introduced a Competition section to shed light on Asian films and present a fresh perspective on Asian cinema through the eyes of the continent. The winner, along with honors such as Best Actor and the Special Jury Prize, will be announced at the closing ceremony held on Sept. 26.
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