30th BIFAN Draws Over 50,000 Visitors in Opening Weekend, Gains Momentum with Expansion and Innovation

The 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) has announced a strong start, attracting over 50,000 visitors during its opening weekend. The number of attendees represents a 51% increase compared to the previous year (the cumulative number of visitors on the fourth day of the 29th BIFAN was 15,331, while the 30th BIFAN recorded 23,196 visitors by the same day).

Four global film stars gathered in Bucheon. From the opening ceremony red carpet to the 30th-anniversary special award recipients, director Yuen Woo-ping and actors Fan Bingbing, Isabelle Huppert, and Josie Ho each held press conferences on July 3. They shared their perspectives on cinema, behind-the-scenes stories, and their thoughts on AI as creators. They also met with audiences through various program events, including Guest Visits (GV), masterclasses, and stage greetings as guests for the 30th BIFAN screenings.

Various program events held following the film screenings added vitality to the festival. On July 4, the masterclass featuring Asian genre masters included director Yuen Woo-ping and Josie Ho with the Pang brothers. Director Takashi Miike is scheduled to visit Bucheon on July 8. The extended GV program Mega Talk and BIFAN’s signature program B My Guest attracted audiences with fresh combinations and stories, including a world-building talk with the cast of the Netflix series Girigo and a conversation between action masters Yuen Woo-ping and Jung Doo-hong.

In addition, the open talk program Bu-Man-Talk, held at the FunFun Arcade—a space for audiences and guests—adds excitement to the festival by offering games and meet-and-greets that anyone can participate in without advance booking.

The Visiting Neighborhood Cinema is an ambitious BIFAN program that Bucheon citizens and audiences can enjoy for free. Starting with the screening of Barefoot Ki-bong on July 3, the program revisits Korean films that have captured the hearts of many, including My Name Is, Great Family, Ditto, Pagwa, and The Man Who Lives with the King. Since the opening, the festival has been enriched by a star-studded guest lineup for audience dialogues, including directors Chung Ji-young, Kim Jung-kwon, Min Kyu-dong, Jang Hang-jun, and Kim Min-ha, as well as actors Shin Hyun-joon, Yeom Hye-ran, Lee Seung-gi, Joo Won, Yoo Ji-tae, and Kim Ha-neul.

BIFAN+, which covers industry support, creative development, and the future of film, kicked off on July 4 (Saturday). The festival accelerated its momentum with the launch of the Bucheon AI Content Summit, the 2026 Beyond Reality program themed around Cosmic Cinema, and the 2026 NAFF Project Market, which showcases 32 projects from 29 countries this year.

The July Carnival, held around the Bucheon City Hall lawn plaza and the Sohyang-ro area, signaled the start of summer alongside the opening of BIFAN. Events such as the Peculiar Shop, Local Win-Win Market, Bucheon We-Joy Chicken & Beer Festival, Peculiar Lawn Concert, Horror Night, and Peculiar Treasure Hunt attracted approximately 29,000 visitors through the weekend.

The 30th BIFAN, which has heated up Bucheon City throughout its first weekend, will run until July 12.



(SBS Entertainment News, Reporter Kim Ji-hye)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.