Hong Kong movie star Tony Leung to attend BIFF next month

This year’s BIFF, which will be held from Oct. 5 to 14, will return to its pre-pandemic full scale in three years with 243 films from 71 countries.

Published : Sept 12, 2022 - 13:59 Updated : Sept 12, 2022 - 13:59

In the mood for love: "In the Mood for Love" starring Hong Kong movie star Tony Leung (BIFF)

Hong Kong movie star Tony Leung Chiu-wai will attend the 27th Busan International Film Festival to receive the Asian Filmmaker Of The Year.

The award will be presented to the actor during the opening ceremony on Oct. 5 at the Busan Cinema Center.

"Since his 'City of Sadness' won the Golden Lion Award at the 1989 Venice International Film Festival, he has been one of the greatest actors of our time for over 30 years,” BIFF director Huh Moon-young said of Leung during an online press conference Wednesday.

The Asian Filmmaker Of The Year award is presented to the Asian filmmaker or organization that has made the most significant contributions to the advancement of the Asian film industry. Last year, Korean legendary director Im Kwon-taek was the winner of this award.

“The Longest Nite” starring Hong Kong movie star Tony Leung (BIFF)

Six of his films that the Hong Kong actor selected, including "Happy Together" (1997), “The Longest Nite” (1998), "In the Mood for Love" (2000) and "2046" (2004), will be screened during the festival.

Meanwhile, BIFF director Huh on Wednesday presented details of this year’s festival, which is set to return to its pre-pandemic full scale in three years.

A total of 243 films from 71 countries will be screened during this year’s film festival, which will be held from Oct. 5 to 14.

This year’s opener will be Iranian director Hadi Mohaghegh's "Scent of Wind" and Japanese director Ishikawa Kei's "A Man" will close the festival.

The event organizer highlighted that all the seats in theaters will be filled without distancing and Asian film support programs, including the Asia Cinema Fund, will resume this year after three years of hiatus.

The BIFF director also said that the festivals will only screen Russian movies made by dissident directors.

“We will not screen Russian government-funded films and films directed by directors who support the war,” Huh said.

He added that there would be a special time allocated for Kang Soo-youn, the iconic Korean movie star who brought home the nation’s first acting award from the Venice film festival, during BIFF.

Kang, who served as co-executive director of the BIFF from 2015 to 2017, died of a brain hemorrhage in May.

Lee Jun-ik’s “Yonder,” which will be screened during Busan International Film Festival's On Screen program. (BIFF)

BIFF will also expand On Screen program, which was launched last year, and screen upcoming nine highly anticipated OTT streaming series content, including Lee Jun-ik’s “Yonder,” Jung Ji-woo’s “Somebody,” Miike Takashi’s “Connet” and Lars von Trier’s “The Kingdom Exodus.”

Last year, this new section was added to reflect the expansion of streaming platforms and their content’s influence on the global market.

Three series contents-- Hellbound,” directed by Yeon Sang-ho, “My Name,” directed by Kim Jin-min, and “Forbidden,” co-directed by Anucha Boonyawatana and Josh Kim – were screened last year.

By Song Seung-hyun (ssh@heraldcorp.com)