BIFAN turns 30 with 66,128 fans, AI films and a packed red carpet

Audience Surpasses 66,000 as Lineup Expands with AI and XR Content

The 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) concluded its 11-day journey from the 2nd to the 12th. A total of 66,128 spectators attended the festival this year, marking an approximately 27% increase compared to last year (52,024). The total number of people visiting Bucheon during the festival period reached approximately 137,000.

The scale of the screening programs also grew. 321 invited films from 50 countries (170 features, 85 shorts) met with audiences, and the lineup expanded by approximately 45% compared to last year, including 38 AI films and 28 XR contents. Notably, 93 films made their world premieres through this festival.

Technical experimentation was also prominent. The newly established 'Bucheon AI Content Summit' and 'AI Frontier' sections recorded sell-outs for all seats, and the AI International Conference also sold out during the pre-reservation stage. The XR program '2026 Beyond Reality,' which has continued for over 10 years, showcased a combination of VR screenings, dome theater, and exhibitions.

From Red Carpets to Neighborhood Cinemas: A Meeting of Filmmakers and Citizens

Global film figures including Won Hua-ping, Fan Bingbing, Isabelle Huppert, and Josh Ho attended the opening ceremony red carpet. Director Adrian Kiarlella's won both the 'Bucheon Choice World: Feature' Best Film award and the Audience Award, while Director Jung Bum-kyoon's received the 'Bucheon Choice Korean: Feature' Best Film award. In the AI film category, Director Lim Ye-jun's took home the TimeTree Technology Award.

Communication programs with the audience were also abundant. Events included a masterclass by director Miike Takashi, 'Mega Talk' featuring director Choi Dong-hun and actor Yoo Hae Jin, a GV for attended by Ryu Seung Ryong and Gong Myoung, and a GV for attended by Tiffany Young. For the 'Visiting Neighborhood Cinema' program, Kim Yoon-seok, Kim Sung-ryung, Lee Seung Gi, Kim Ha-neul, Yoo Ji Tae, director Chung Ji-young, and Yeom Hye-ran participated to meet with citizens.

Approximately 30,000 visitors flocked to the 'July Carnival' held at the Bucheon City Hall lawn plaza and the Sohyang-ro area. The opening film sold out as soon as reservations opened, followed by various events such as lawn concerts, Horror Night, and the Bucheon Fake Ichimac Festival. Marking its 30th anniversary, BIFAN expressed its intention to grow into a platform connecting film and industry by simultaneously expanding both screening and industrial programs.