Film director Park Kwang-su appointed as new chairman of BIFF

Veteran film director Park Kwang-su has been appointed as the new chair of the Busan International Film Festival.

Via a general meeting held at the Busan Cinema Center on Thursday, Park was designated to lead the annual film festival for the next four years. Park’s four-year term began Friday, and can be extended for one additional term.

The appointment comes as the BIFF Executive Recommendation Committee unanimously nominated Park as the sole candidate for the position on Dec. 22, 2023, following former Chair Lee Yong-kwan's resignation in November 2023.

Park was a founding member of BIFF and served as the festival’s deputy director for three consecutive years, starting in 1996.

He has also served as the founding director of the Busan Film Commission and as a professor at the School of Film, TV & Multimedia at Korea National University of Arts.

As a director, he helmed "Chilsu and Mansu" (1988), "Black Republic" (1990) and "A Single Spark" (1995).

Park also established the Asian Project Market, a co-production platform that offers emerging filmmakers in Asia the opportunity to meet international leading film professionals.

He also found the Asian Contents & Film Market, which is an exclusive industry event that invites film, audiovisual and entertainment experts from 45 countries.