Industry

Formatbiz is covering BIFF 2026 with our journalist Marilena Tesero on the ground in Busan, bringing further insights from the festival and its industry events.
The 31st edition attracts over 277,000 attendees, while the Asian Contents & Film Market strengthens its role in international investment, co-production and IP development.

The 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), held from October 6 to 15, 2026, concluded with impressive results, confirming its position as one of Asia’s leading cinema events. According to the festival’s final report, total attendance reached 277,027, approximately 40,000 more than last year, while film audiences exceeded 200,000 for the first time since 2015.

The festival presented 315 films, including 246 official selections from 59 countries and 104 world and international premieres. This year's edition also marked BIFF's first year as a FIAPF-recognised A-list festival, further strengthening its international profile.
Among the prominent international guests were Michelle Yeoh, Alfonso Cuarón, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Isabelle Huppert, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Fan Bingbing and Hirokazu Kore-eda, alongside leading figures from Korean cinema.
Beyond the screenings, the festival hosted 304 guest visits and 72 special programme events, reinforcing its close relationship with audiences.

A major highlight for the international audiovisual industry was the 21st Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM), held from October 10 to 13 at BEXCO. The market welcomed 30,484 visitors and 3,158 registered professionals representing 1,266 companies from 58 countries.
Under the theme "Core and Expansion", ACFM continued to evolve beyond traditional film sales, embracing television series, intellectual property, documentaries, emerging technologies and investment opportunities.
The Asian Project Market generated 742 business meetings, while the Busan Story Market recorded 520 meetings, highlighting growing international demand for original stories and adaptable IP.

One of the most significant developments was the launch of the Investors' Summit, bringing together Asian and international financiers to explore new investment models. Meanwhile, Korean investment firm Solaire Partners and Japan's Questry signed an agreement to establish a KRW 100 billion Korea-Japan content fund.
The market also strengthened its international partnerships, with the Producers Guild of Korea signing cooperation agreements with Italy's CNA and the Sakha Filmmakers' Union, while joining forces with regional partners to establish the Asian Producers Alliance.

Technology emerged as another central theme. Through InnoAsia, companies including Kling AI, Alibaba and BytePlus explored the impact of artificial intelligence on production, post-production and microdramas, reflecting the rapid transformation of the Asian audiovisual landscape.

Forum BIFF also addressed some of the industry's most pressing challenges, from AI-driven creativity and international co-production to the future of mid-budget films and the growth of Asian animation.