Zhang Yimou appointed as chairman of Busan main competition jury

The 31st Busan International Film Festival has announced the list of the main competition jury, with Zhang Yimou as chairman.This is the second judging session after the establishment of the main competition unit of the film festival. The seven judges will watch the 13 shortlisted films and judge five awards during the film festival.For Busan, which will be held in October, this list also officially finalizes the lineup of the main competition unit.

The Busan International Film Festival has adjusted its competition structure in recent years, and the main competition unit has become an important highlight of the festival.The chairperson of the jury coordinates the discussion and will work with the other judges to complete the final vote.Zhang Yimou was invited this time with a very clear identity: to lead the jury to complete the selection work of this year's main competition.

Zhang Yimou is no stranger to Busan.In 2010, his film "Hawthorn Tree Love" was screened as the opening film of the Busan International Film Festival.Now that I'm back here, my job has changed from bringing new films to the audience, to sitting on the jury and watching new films from different regions. The position has changed, and the connection with the film festival has also continued.

According to official information, Zhang Yimou has won awards at three major European film festivals.《Red Sorghum》won the Golden Bear in Berlin,《Qiu Ju Litigation》and《No One Less》-won the Golden Lion in Venice, and《Alive》won the Grand Jury Prize in Cannes.His work has also been nominated for Oscars and Golden Globes.He also served as the chief director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics and the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

The seven-member jury is made up of Asian filmmakers

In addition to Zhang Yimou, this year's jury also includes director Bi Gan, Korean actor and director Choi Heisu, Japanese director Kei Ishikawa, Korean director Jung Julie, Vietnamese producer Tran Thi Bich, and Kazakh actor Samar Yeslyamova.The professional backgrounds on the list are not the same. Some are directors, some have been engaged in acting or producing for a long time, and some have film festival judging experience.

Bi Gan participated in the newly established main competition in Busan last year with "Wild Times" and won the Artistic Contribution Award.His previous films Roadside Picnic and The Last Night on Earth also attracted attention at international film festivals.Kei Ishikawa's film career started at the Venice Film Festival, while Julie Zheng entered Cannes with multiple works.The jury members come from China, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam and Kazakhstan. They were faced with the same film list when watching the films, and they brought different experiences to the discussion.

There are 13 films in this year’s main competition.The jury will award five awards: Best Film, Best Director, Special Jury Prize, Best Actor and Artistic Contribution, with a total bonus of 110 million won.The award setting combines the judgment of the overall completion of the film with the recognition of individual creation and performance. The final results will be announced during the film festival.

One change this year has attracted particular attention from the industry.The Busan International Film Festival was recognized by the International Film Producers Association and entered the ranks of Class A film festivals.According to the rules announced this year, the best film in the main competition will directly be eligible to apply for the Oscar for Best International Film.This adds a layer of practical weight to the jury's selection, and the international distribution and awards season path of the winning works will also attract more attention.

Film festival held in Busan in October

The 31st Busan International Film Festival is scheduled to be held from October 6th to 15th at the Busan Film Center and various venues in the city.Asian content and film market events related to the film festival will be held from October 10th to 13th.Film screenings, reviews and marketing activities will be concentrated during this time, and creators, buyers and fans from all over the world will also gather in Busan.

The main competition has just entered its second session, and every member of the jury will be discussed by the audience.Zhang Yimou's appointment as chairman is the most intuitive new news at present. The remaining suspense will slowly emerge after the 13 competition films are actually unveiled.For film festival goers, the film viewing schedule in October and the final list of winners are worth paying attention to.