Discussing Possibilities of Contemporary Cinema... BIFF to Host Forum for Four Days Starting October 8

The Jiseok Film Institute of the Busan International Film Festival will host Forum BIFF for four days from October 8 (Thursday) to October 11 (Sunday) at the Visual Industry Center.

Held during the 31st Busan International Film Festival, this year's forum will examine the current state of cinema amid rapidly changing industrial, technological, and policy environments under the theme "Discussing Possibilities of Contemporary Cinema."

Focusing on four key areas: Industry, AI & Creation, System & Policy, and Region & Environment, the event will address questions spanning the contemporary film industry across 4 categories and 8 sessions, covering mid-budget films, Asian animation, generative AI, creators' rights, public support for film festivals, regional film policies, and eco-friendly transitions.

◆ Disappearing Mid-Budget Films and Rising Animation

As South Korean mid-budget films gradually vanish from shrinking theater box offices, Asian animation centered around Japan and China is emerging as a new box office driving force. The session "The Vanishing Middle: Can Mid-Budget Films Cross Borders?" questions whether international co-productions can become a new option for mid-budget films, while "The Leap of Asian Animation: What Completes It?" explores the potential of the South Korean industry amid the rapid advancement of Asian animation.

◆ Who Makes Films After AI - From Technological Possibility to the Place of Humans

As generative AI spreads throughout film production, attention is shifting beyond the technology itself to the subjects of creation and the roles of artists. While Forum BIFF's session "The Future of AI Cinema: Can AI and Artists Coexist?" examines the new relationship between technology and art, Dongseo University's session "New Creativity in the AI Era: Asking for the Human Place" will expand the question to the position of humans and the meaning of creativity.

◆ The Sustaining Power of Korean Cinema - Creators' Rights and Public Support for Film Festivals

The foundations of people and systems required to continue making films and meeting audiences will also be addressed as major topics. The Filmmakers' Union session "Everyone is Fighting to Keep Making: Creators' Rights and Sustainability" focuses on filmmakers' rights such as contracts, compensation, and copyright, while the Film Festival Policy Group's session "How Should Film Festival Support Change in the New Film Policy Environment?" exchanges diverse opinions on the public roles of film festivals and stable support systems.

◆ How Cinema City Busan Sustains Itself

Finally, Forum BIFF's gaze turns to the film city of Busan. Through the Busan Film Policy Network session "New Governance for Regional Cinema: How Should the Field and Administration Go Together?", methods of public-private cooperation in regional film policies will be examined, while UNESCO Creative City of Busan's session "Strategies for Sustainable Film Ecosystem Transition and Carbon Reduction" will gauge the roles and practical possibilities that a film city can undertake in the era of the climate crisis.

From changes in industry and technology to people, systems, regions, and the environment, the 2026 Forum BIFF will connect questions originating from different fields under the single theme of "Possibilities of Contemporary Cinema." It is expected to serve as a dialogue platform where participants share their respective experiences and perspectives to reflect on where cinema stands today and discuss the possibilities to be unlocked in the future.

 

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