To celebrate its 30th year, the Busan International Film Festival is rolling out a one-time showcase called Carte Blanche.
French for “blank check,” Carte Blanche hands the mic to tastemakers, letting them program a personal favorite. For the first time, BIFF is partnering with the Korean Film Archive to invite major voices across film and culture to screen their picks and dive into post-show conversations with the audience.
Kicking off the inaugural edition are five of Korea’s most influential figures: director Bong Joon-ho, director Maggie Kang, actor Gang Dong-won, novelist Eun Hee-kyung and journalist Sohn Suk-hee. Each will present a film close to their heart and stick around for a talkback after the screening.
◆ Director Bong Joon-ho x ‘Eureka’ by Aoyama Shinji
Bong Joon-ho ― the Palme d’Or winner for "Parasite" (2019) and a four-time Oscar winner in 2020 ― who’s expanding his universe with "Mickey 17," taps Shinji Aoyama’s "Eureka" (2000).
A Cannes Competition title in 2000, "Eureka" follows a quiet, restorative road trip after a shocking tragedy, showcasing Aoyama’s exquisite psychological precision. “It sneaks up on you, seeps in, and ultimately rattles you to the core ― a masterpiece from the late Aoyama Shinji,” Bong says.
◆ Director Maggie Kang x ‘The Host’ by Bong Joon-ho
Maggie Kang, the creative force behind Netflix’s animated feature "KPop Demon Hunters" that sparked global buzz, chose Bong Joon-ho’s "The Host" (2006).
“Before "The Host," I didn’t realize one film could travel through so many tones,” Kang says. “It taught me that multiple moods can coexist ― and that getting the balance right is everything.”
◆ Actor Gang Dong-won x ‘Jeon Woochi: The Taoist Wizard’ by Choi Dong-hoon
Genre-bending star Gang Dong-won spotlights "Jeon Woochi" (2009), the Korean-style superhero adventure he led.
Inspired by a classic folktale, "Jeon Woochi" unleashes a Taoist wizard from the Joseon era into modern-day Seoul for a rollicking action ride. “People often call it the OG K-superhero movie,” Gang says. “I can’t wait to experience it together on the big screen again.”
◆ Novelist Eun Hee-kyung x ‘Small, Slow but Steady’ by Miyake Sho
One of Korea’s leading literary voices, Eun Hee-kyung selects "Small, Slow but Steady" (2022) by Miyake Sho.
Premiering in Berlin’s Encounters section in 2022, the film centers on Keiko, a boxer born with a hearing impairment, charting her inner shifts with luminous restraint. “It’s a film that listens to silence, writes in the air, and lets people who have hurt each other exchange greetings by the river,” Eun says.
◆ Journalist Sohn Suk-hee x ‘Dog Day Afternoon’ by Sidney Lumet
Renowned journalist Sohn Suk-hee goes with Sidney Lumet’s "Dog Day Afternoon" (1975), a blistering heist drama about two men who rob a bank on a sweltering New York day to pay for gender-affirming surgery ― crackling with psychological nuance and gritty immediacy.
“It’s the 50th anniversary,” Sohn notes. “A true story, social outsiders, tragedy ― and a scorching critique of the media. It wasn’t easy to access here back then, but there are so many reasons to watch it now. Above all, Al Pacino.”
The 30th Busan International Film Festival runs Sept. 17 (Wed) through Sept. 26 (Fri) at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)