The 28th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN, Festival Director Shin Chul), which attracted the attention of the media and the film industry with the official announcement of its new AI division, concluded the festival’s official press conference revealing what’s behind ‘BIFAN+ AI’, unveiling the identity film, and the complete line-up of this year’s edition including the opening and closing film.
Love Lies Bleeding to open and Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In to close the festival
255 films from 49 countries to screen in cinemas and streamed on WAVVE from 4-14 July
“An era of equal competition will come, in which imagination, not the size of budget, is the most important factor.” Festival Director Shin Chul
Special programs to focus on the ‘One and Only Son Yejin’, Mitani Koki, Kim Sung-soo and many others
Public Events to include ‘Carnival in July’, ‘BIFAN Eve Cinema Music Concert’ and more
▲ From left to right: programmer Jongsuk Thomas NAM and Jin PARK, organizing committee chairman Chung Jiyoung, festival director SHIN Chul, programmer MO Eunyoung, an XR curator Jay KIM
The 28th BIFAN will open with Love Rises Bleeding by Rose Glass and close with Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In by Soi Cheung. The opening film, Love Rises Bleeding, is a highly anticipated ‘crazy love story’ that once again showcases the exceptional flair and talent of Rose Glass, who gained global attention for h feature debut, Saint Mode (2019). The closing film, Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In is the latest film from Soi Cheung, whose films have screened at many of the world’s leading international film festivals. The nostalgic and action-packed film from the heyday of Hong Kong cinema in the 90s, is a must-see.
The 28th BIFAN will screen 255 features and shorts from 49 countries. Of these, 67 are world premieres. The films will be screened at Bucheon City Hall Lawn Plaza, Korean Cartoon Museum, CGV Sopung, and Bucheon Art Bunker B39, and online on the OTT platform wave. Citizens will also be able to enjoy screenings at the ‘Visiting Local Movie Theater” (Ojeong Art Hall, Solan Art Hall).
BIFAN 2024 Overview
First: rebranding of ‘BIFAN+’ in the age of content revolution
‘BIFAN+’ is a new brand that integrates the newly launched AI section, the existing industry program B.I.G, the XR content section Beyond Reality, and the IP development incubator Goedam Campus. In line with AI, which has emerged as a megatrend in the global film industry, this year’s BIFAN+ will introduce Korea’s first international competition category for AI films, and will host an international AI conference, where one can get the latest information on AI film production and insights from pioneers around the world. In addition, the festival will host the ‘Al Filmmaking Workshop’, a hackathon-style workshop that provides an opportunity to see the reality and possibilities of AI and challenge existing limitations.
Second, the opening ceremony at Bucheon Arts Centre and BIFAN Eve Cinema Music Concert with the Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra
BIFAN will hold its opening ceremony on July 4 at the Bucheon Arts Center for the first time. The center, which opened in May last year, is a new landmark in the city of Bucheon with one of the best building acoustics in Korea. With its 4,576-pipe pipe organ it is the first hall dedicated to classic built by a local government. The opening ceremony with the red carpet, receptions and major events will all be held here, and as this year’s special event the Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra BIFAN Eve Cinema Music Concert with take place in the Bucheon Arts Center.
Third, a festival with cinema legends like the One and Only Son Yejin, Johnnie To, Mitani Koki and Kim Sung-soo!
In 2024, BIFAN is preparing to meet with special guests whose names alone will make film fans’ blood boil and hearts race. Every year, BIFAN has created special moments with actors and actresses who represent today’s Korean cinema. This year, the festival has chosen Son Yejin as the star of its actress retrospective ‘One and Only SON Yejin’. The retrospective will highlight her 23-year acting career with a variety of events. There will also be interactions with genre master and ‘Hong Kong noir’ director Johnnie To, the king of laughter and Japanese film legend Mitani Koki, and director Kim Sung-soo, who has been at the forefront of Korean cinema for 30 years. Notable Japanese guests include J-horror legend Hideo Nakata, who will unveil his latest work in a world premiere in Bucheon.
Fourth, BIFAN’s brand ‘Carnival in July’! From spot tours to ‘fanterviews’
For 27 years, BIFAN has provided a distinctive and varied genre film content platform for audiences to enjoy, stimulating genuine film-loving moments. This year, BIFAN is preparing even more diverse audience events with its brand ‘Carnival in July,’ a three-day outdoor event where anyone can participate and enjoy, transforming the area around Sohyang-ro near Bucheon City Hall into a festival site. Various entertaining events, including dance parties, water gun fights, interactive playgrounds, dressing rooms, and treasure hunts, will welcome everyone. In addition, there will be plenty of events such as the ‘Spot Tour: Celeb Paparazzi’, where everybody can become a celebrity by taking pictures of every corner of the BIFAN venue, and ‘BIFAN Street: Fanterview’, where the audience can meet festival guests on the outdoor stage. Free screenings for citizens, such as ‘A Visiting Local Movie Theater’ and ‘A Midsummer Night Cine Fiesta, will offer family-friendly films.
At the press conference, organizing committee chairman Chung Jiyoung said: “This year will be special as BIFAN will take a new leap forward. We will prepare a festival that both audiences and citizens can enjoy, as we have planned various programs and audience events along with AI” asking for a lot of interest and expectations.
Festival director Shin Chul commented: “The main issue of this year’s BIFAN is “BIFAN+ AI”. Generative AI can be used as an innovative and revolutionary tool to meet the world with one’s talent through minimal expenses. I believe that with the help of generative AI an era of equal competition will come, in which imagination, not the size of budget, is the most important factor”. He went on in saying: “BIFAN will take the lead in creating a breeding ground where our creators can take their visions to the world without being held back by budget limitations.”
The official press conference was held at the Fantastic Cube inside Bucheon City Hall at at 10am, and at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul 2pm. Organizing Committee chairman Chung Ji-young, festival director Shin Chul, programmers Jongsuk Thomas Nam, Mo Eun-young, and Jin Park, XR curator Jay Kim, and the event director of ‘Carnival in July’, Cho Young Shin attended the conference.
- Name: 28th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN 2024)
- Date: July 4 (THU) ~ 14 (SUN), 2024, 11 days
- Venues: Bucheon Arts Center, Bucheon City Hall, Korea Manhwa Museum, Bucheon Art Bunker B39, Webtoon Convergence Center, CGV Sopung etc.
- Characteristics: Non-competitive international film festival with a competitive section
