European films and talent take centre stage at BIFF 2024

This year’s line-up of the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) includes more than 60 European films to be presented to an enthusiastic Korean audience, while 28 world sales companies will be joining the EUROPE! Umbrella at the Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM).

EFP is an international network of film institutions from 37 European countries, promoting the diversity and spirit of European films and talent. The 29th BIFF presents 63 European films that have garnered attention globally, with filmmakers from all parts of Europe scheduled to visit be present at Busan. Furthermore, EUROPE! Umbrella will bring 28 world sales companies to the 2024 Asian Contents & Film Market.

The BIFF will present the entire body of feature films by renowned Portuguese director Miguel Gomes through a dedicated Special Program in Focus. In addition, this year’s selection of European cinema shows a noticeable rise in female filmmakers’ features, including Harvest and The Substance. Several female directors will be visiting Busan from Europe to meet the festival’s audience, including Patricia Mazuy of Visiting Hours, Marie-Magdalena Kochová of The Other One, Margherita Vicario of Gloria!, and Dea Kulumbegashvili of April.

The BIFF’s programmer Seo Seunghee remarks, “It is our greatest pleasure to present so many brilliant European films at Busan International Film Festival this year. The Special Program in Focus ‘Miguel GOMES: a filmmaker of Joyful Melancholy’ will most definitely be an invaluable opportunity to meet and converse with one of Europe’s finest cineastes, Miguel Gomes. This year, the European artistic delegation, including more than 30 filmmakers and producers will visit Busan to converse with BIFF audiences. Notably there is a significant rise in the number of female directors attending compared to previous years, adding an important highlight to this year’s festival.”

European Directors Highlighted in the Flash Forward Section

The Flash Forward section showcases innovative and original first or second features of non-Asian directors. Out of the 11 directors whose works are showcased in this section, nine are from Europe, including Rungano Nyoni of On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, Jonathan Millet of Ghost Trail, Tallulah H. Schwab of Mr. K, and Jethro Massey of Paul and Paulette Take a Bath.

Directors Laurynas Bareiša of Drowning Dry, Louise Courvoisier of Holy Cow, Milad Tangshir of Anywhere Anytime, Antonella Sudasassi Furniss of Memories of a Burning Body, and others will be visiting Busan in person this year.

Special Networking Event with European Talents

The EUROPE! Cocktail, hosted in collaboration with BIFF and Cinecittà, will bring European talents —including directors, actors, and producers together with South Korean and Asian industry. Attendees include Miguel Gomes, Leos Carax (It’s Not Me), Magnus von Horn (The Girl with the Needle), Göran Hugo Olsson (Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989), and Mo Harawe (The Village Next to Paradise), to name a few.

“We are thrilled to witness such a strong representation of European films across eight sections of the BIFF’s programmes. This festival plays an essential role in extending the reach of European cinema beyond its borders. The enthusiastic reception from the festival’s audience highlights its importance as a key platform for European films in the region. Both the festival and the Asian Contents & Film Market serve as crucial hubs for promoting European films globally,” says Jo Mühlberger, Deputy Managing Director of EFP.

The 29th Busan International Film Festival will be taking place for ten days, from Oct 2 (Wed) to Oct 11 (Fri), at Busan Cinema Center and its surrounding areas.

The 29th Busan International Film Festival | Oct 2 (Wed) – Oct 11 (Fri)

The 19th Asian Contents & Film Market | Oct 5 (Sat) – Oct 8 (Tue)