The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) opens its 31st edition today with a renewed sense of relevance and prestige as it celebrates its newly minted status as an A-list festival accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). This globally recognised industry benchmark “gives us clear and tangible external validation”, says Busan festival director Jung Han-seok in an email interview with the South China Morning Post.
“BIFF’s international standing and value as a film festival have long been widely recognised … I hope this recognition will further strengthen the confidence that international film professionals and filmmakers have in BIFF.”
Even more significantly, as of this year, BIFF will be one of only six major festivals – and the only one from Asia – to provide a pathway of eligibility for the Academy Award for best international feature film.
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