Bucheon: The Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) is set to begin next month, featuring nearly 220 genre movies. The festival, an annual event celebrating genre films globally, will screen 217 short and feature films from 41 countries in Bucheon, located about 19 kilometers west of Seoul, during its July 3-13 run, as announced by the organizers on Tuesday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Shin Cheol, the festival's director, addressed the current challenges faced by Korean cinema due to platforms like YouTube and streaming services at a press conference on Tuesday. He emphasized that BIFAN aims to foster competition driven by imagination and passion rather than capital. The festival's new direction seeks to explore fresh possibilities beyond traditional boundaries, as reflected in its slogans, "Stay Strange" and "Expand Your Frame."
The festival will commence with Polish director Piotr Winiewicz's film, "About a Hero," which delves into the role of artificial intelligence in cinematic creation. The closing film, "Go-To Restaurant," directed by South Korean Han Jay, will explore themes of community, communication, and trust in a time of increasing individualism.
A special section will feature South Korean actor Lee Byung-hun, showcasing his 30-year filmography. Lee is recognized as one of South Korea's leading actors, known for his roles in popular films such as "Joint Security Area" (2000), "Inside Man" (2015), and "The Match" (2025).
BIFAN is also planning to expand its AI-related programs for its 29th edition. Following last year's introduction of a new award category for AI-generated films, the festival will host its second AI conference and an AI filmmaking workshop. The festival aims to train 10,000 AI content creators in the coming years, marking a pioneering move in recognizing the significance of AI technology in cinema.
Founded in 1997, BIFAN has grown into South Korea's largest genre film festival, held annually in Bucheon.