Yuen Woo-ping, Fan Bingbing, Isabelle Huppert, and Josie Ho to Attend the 30th BIFAN

The 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN, Festival Director Shin Chul) is set to embark on its grand journey with the opening ceremony on Thursday, July 2.

Following last year, director Song Seung-hwan will serve as the general director for this year's opening ceremony. He plans to present an innovative and moving stage under the theme of "the coexistence of humanoid robots and humans." Veteran actor Kang Seok-woo, known for his profound acting skills across both film and television, will host the ceremony, opening the festival with elegance.

The 30th BIFAN opening ceremony will be graced by world-renowned film stars, starting with director Yuen Woo-ping of the opening film, "The Shadow Boxer." In celebration of its 30th anniversary, BIFAN will hold a special awards ceremony this year to solidify its international status.

First, the "Fantastic Icon Award" will be presented to actor Josie Ho, who has showcased unparalleled acting skills and individuality in the genre film scene. This award recognizes her as an individual who best represents the experimental values and boldness that BIFAN pursues. Next, the "Global Icon Award" will be awarded to actor Fan Bingbing, who has captivated the world with her unique iconic presence and star power. Finally, the "Lifetime Achievement Award" will be presented to Isabelle Huppert, who has had a profound influence on world cinema, as a gesture of respect and honor. The award recipients—Josie Ho, Fan Bingbing, and Isabelle Huppert—are scheduled to attend the red carpet and the opening ceremony to meet with Bucheon citizens and audiences.

This year's red carpet will be attended by a large number of directors and actors representing the Korean film industry. Director Lee Joon-ik of "The King and the Clown," director Lee Sang-min of "Salmokji," director Kwak Kyung-taek and actors Yoo Jae-myung, Oh Dal-su, and Lee Si-eon of "My Dad is a Zombie," director Kim Min-ha of "Student Teacher," and director Chung Ji-young and actor Yeom Hye-ran of "My Name Is" have confirmed their attendance, adding to the excitement.

The red carpet for the 30th BIFAN opening ceremony will take place at the Bucheon City Hall lawn plaza starting at 17:20, followed by the opening ceremony at the Bucheon Art Center Concert Hall at 19:00. The live broadcast of the opening ceremony, including the red carpet, will be available via Naver Chzzk.

This year's BIFAN will be held for 11 days from July 2 to July 12 across the Bucheon area.



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