By Lina Hope 
The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), Asia’s premier cinematic gathering, has officially unveiled the highly anticipated lineups for its Master Class, Cine Class, and Special Talk programs. As the festival prepares for its 31st iteration—scheduled to take place from October 6 to 15—this year’s curated sessions promise to bridge the gap between historical preservation and the cutting edge of contemporary visual storytelling.
With the Busan Cinema Center serving as the primary hub, the festival will once again transform the port city into a global epicenter for film discourse, industry networking, and cultural exchange. The announcement of these programs signals a deliberate effort by organizers to foster deep intellectual engagement, moving beyond mere screenings to provide a holistic understanding of the artistic and ethical challenges facing modern cinema.
Master Class: Deconstructing the Creative Impulse
The Master Class series remains the crown jewel of BIFF’s educational offerings, providing an intimate setting for audiences to interrogate the creative methodologies of the world’s most influential filmmakers. This year, the festival has curated a quartet of directors whose bodies of work span decades, genres, and distinct visual philosophies.
Leading the charge is South Korean powerhouse Na Hong-Jin. Following the global anticipation surrounding his latest project, Hope, Na is expected to peel back the layers of his rigorous creative vision. Known for his unflinching exploration of human desperation and dark thematic undercurrents, Na’s session will serve as a deep dive into the technical and psychological preparation required to execute his signature suspense-driven narratives.
International perspectives are anchored by Filipino auteur Lav Diaz and French visionary Bertrand Mandico. Diaz, a titan of slow cinema known for his meditative, multi-hour explorations of history and trauma, brings a philosophical weight to the program. Conversely, Mandico—celebrated for his avant-garde, surrealist, and gender-fluid visual aesthetic—offers a stark stylistic contrast, ensuring that the Master Class remains a dialogue between vastly different schools of filmmaking.
Perhaps most noteworthy is the return of Japanese animation veteran Rintaro. Returning to Korea for the first time in 17 years, the director of seminal works like Galaxy Express 999 (1979) and the breathtaking Metropolis (2001) will discuss the evolution of the medium. For animation enthusiasts and industry professionals alike, Rintaro’s presence is a rare opportunity to engage with a legend whose influence helped define the global trajectory of Japanese anime.
Cine Class: A Mosaic of Modern Industry Perspectives
Launched only last year, the Cine Class program has quickly established itself as a vital forum for interdisciplinary discussion. By gathering six creators from diverse facets of the film industry, BIFF aims to dismantle the barriers between directors, producers, actors, and critics.
The session opens with Zhang Lu, who enters the fold following his major win at BIFF 2025, where he received the Busan Award for Best Film for Gloaming in Luomu. Zhang’s discourse will center on the symbiotic relationship between cinema and the lived experience, a theme that permeates his filmography.
The program also embraces historical memory through documentarian Seifollah Samadian, who will offer a poignant look at his three-decade friendship with the late Iranian master Abbas Kiarostami. This session is expected to be a highlight for cinephiles, providing personal, behind-the-scenes insights into the life of one of the 20th century’s most revered auteurs.
In a move that underscores the festival’s commitment to social progress, Judith Godrèche joins the lineup. Her courageous public disclosures regarding abuse within the French film industry sparked a reckoning in Europe, and her participation at BIFF reflects the festival’s dedication to amplifying the voices of those who have paved the way for safer, more inclusive working environments in film.
Complementing these thematic discussions are industry stalwarts: producer Billy Acumen, the force behind the Roundup franchise and the 2026 film The King’s Warden, will provide a pragmatic look at the mechanics of commercial success. Director Bi Gan, celebrated for his dreamlike, non-linear visual storytelling, and actor Shim Eun-kyung, whose career serves as a masterclass in cross-border professional adaptability, complete a session that is as varied as it is intellectually rigorous.
Special Talk: Honoring History and Embracing the Future
The Special Talk program serves as the bridge between BIFF’s past, present, and future. This year’s programming is anchored by three distinct sessions, each focusing on a different pillar of the cinematic ecosystem.
Producer Kim Tae-ho will lead a session tied to the screening of the 2026 release Mother Mary. Kim’s transition into film acquisition and distribution has been a major talking point in the Korean industry, and his presence reflects the shifting dynamics of film financing and market reach.
The festival will also honor the illustrious career of Ann Hui, the recipient of this year’s Camellia Award. As one of the most prominent figures of the Hong Kong New Wave, Hui’s career—characterized by a deep empathy for the marginalized and a keen observational eye—will be celebrated as a testament to the enduring power of humanist filmmaking.
Finally, the festival will pay tribute to the late actor Ahn Sung-ki. Renowned critic Jung Sung-il will lead a special session following a screening of the 1996 classic Festival. By analyzing Ahn’s body of work, the session will function as a broader examination of the evolution of the Korean film industry, tracing the arc of a performer whose career mirrored the nation’s own cinematic renaissance.
Chronology and Logistics: The 31st Edition Roadmap
The 31st Busan International Film Festival is scheduled to unfold over ten days of intensive screenings, workshops, and industry forums. The festival’s operational structure is designed to maximize engagement, with the main event running from October 6 through October 15.
Crucially, the 21st Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) will run concurrently from October 10 to 13. This overlap is strategic; by hosting the market during the heart of the festival, BIFF ensures that creative discussions in the Master and Cine classes are immediately complemented by the pragmatic realities of global distribution, co-production deals, and intellectual property acquisition.
Venues will be scattered throughout the city, but the Busan Cinema Center—the iconic architectural marvel that serves as the festival’s heart—will host the primary sessions and galas. Attendees are encouraged to map out their schedules in advance, as the high-demand nature of these intimate talks often leads to capacity-limited attendance.
Implications for the Global Film Landscape
The programming for the 31st BIFF suggests a festival that is increasingly concerned with the ethics of cinema as much as its aesthetics. By including sessions that touch on industry abuse, the legacy of deceased masters, and the technical challenges of the digital age, BIFF is positioning itself as a central hub for the "future-proofing" of film culture.
The inclusion of both commercial powerhouses like Billy Acumen and avant-garde pioneers like Bertrand Mandico demonstrates a desire to foster a balanced ecosystem. In an era where streaming platforms and theatrical releases are locked in a complex negotiation for audience attention, BIFF is asserting that the experience of cinema—the act of gathering to discuss, analyze, and debate—is more vital than ever.
Furthermore, the focus on international collaboration, particularly the inclusion of European and Middle Eastern voices alongside Asian legends, reinforces Busan’s status as a gateway for cultural diplomacy. As the Asian market continues to exert greater influence on the global stage, the 31st BIFF stands ready to define the narratives that will shape the industry for the coming decade.
Conclusion
As the countdown to October begins, the 31st Busan International Film Festival promises a rich tapestry of intellectual and artistic experiences. Whether through the lens of Rintaro’s animation, the social advocacy of Judith Godrèche, or the historical retrospectives of Ann Hui, this year’s lineup is designed to challenge, inspire, and educate. For those who believe in the transformative power of film, the upcoming gathering in Busan is not merely an event to be attended, but a movement to be part of.
Layla Zulfa 
Evan Lee Salim 
Nila Kartika Wati 