1 of 11 | The 30th Busan International Film Festival kicked off on Wednesday. It will screen 241 official entries from 64 countries, including 90 world premieres. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI
BUSAN, South Korea, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- As South Korea's domestic film industry struggles through its most challenging year since the pandemic, the 30th Busan International Film Festival struck a note of resilience Wednesday with a star-studded opening ceremony.
Asia's largest film festival runs through Sep. 26 and features 241 official entries from 64 countries, including 90 world premieres.
Star power has been turned up this year, with top Korean actor Lee Byung-hun hosting the opening ceremony and auteur Park Chan-wook's No Other Choice serving as the festival's opening film. Park's black comedy has been a standout on the festival circuit, winning plaudits at Venice and Toronto in recent weeks.
Wednesday night's ceremony featured red carpet appearances by luminaries such as Guillermo del Toro, Blackpink's Lisa and director Maggie Kang of KPop Demon Hunters fame. Iran's Jafar Panahi, who won the Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes, received the Asian Filmmaker of the Year award at the event.
