The seven-member jury for the main competition at this year’s Busan International Film Festival, running October 6–15, is headed by Chinese director Zhang Yimou. His panel covers China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam and Kazakhstan.
The remaining jurors consist of Chinese filmmaker Bi Gan, whose 2025 film Resurrection was part of the Busan competition last year; Korean actress Moon Choi, who both produced and starred in Bedford Park, which is showing at the festival this year; Japanese director Kei Ishikawa (A Pale View Of Hills); Korean director July Jung (Dora); Vietnamese producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc (Skin Of Youth); and Kazakh actress Samal Yeslyamova (Ayka).
Five awards will be given out by the jury after they view the pre-announced selection of 13 features. The categories include Best Film, Best Director, Special Jury Prize, Best Actor, and Artistic Contribution. The total prize money is $80,000 (KRW110m).
A New Competition Section
Last year, Busan held a full competition section for the very first time, and the Busan Award for Best Film went to Zhang Lu’s Chinese title Gloaming In Luomu.
Following changes to the Academy Awards’ criteria for Best International Feature, introduced in May this year, films that win Busan’s Best Film Award will be automatically submitted to the Best International Feature category.
The top prize at the festival actually holds more than local prestige. A Best Film win at Busan now moves straight into the Oscar race.
Other Juries Announced
The festival has appointed juries for its Vision – Asia section as well. The NETPAC jury is made up of Nina Kochelyaeva, Matthew Poon and Lee Dongha. The FIPRESCI jury comprises Ma Xingxu, Teresa Vena and Roh Chul-Hwan.
Three jurors make up the BIFF Mecenat Award jury in the Feature Documentary Competition: Rintu Thomas, Kim Taeil and Zhou Hao. A separate panel of three reviews the Sonje Award entries, with Anuparna Roy, Abinash Bikram Shah and Lee Ranhee named to it.
The Jury Composition
The festival has gained significant international prestige through Zhang Yimou’s appointment as Jury President. The panel he joins includes Bi Gan, Moon Choi, Kei Ishikawa, July Jung, Tran Thi Bich Ngoc and Samal Yeslyamova, and their collective experience spans production, direction and performance.
While the cash on offer falls short by Western standards — $80,000 split among five categories — it carries real weight for a regional event. This demonstrates that Busan is prepared to back up its honors with actual funding.
“Films that win Busan’s Best Film Award will be automatically submitted to the Best International Feature category.”
That quote, from the festival’s announcement, captures the structural change at the heart of this year’s edition. A Best Film win at Busan is no longer a local accolade; it is a ticket to the Oscars.
The Vision – Asia section juries add depth to the festival’s programming. NETPAC and FIPRESCI are both established networks, while the Mecenat and Sonje Award juries round out the festival’s competitive structure.
That Busan operates across several layers comes through in its jury setup. The main competition jury reaches outward to a global scale, whereas the Vision juries keep their focus narrow, concentrating on particular regions and genres.
The Bottom Line
The city has long been known for its high-quality film programming, and this year’s jury choices help keep that reputation intact. Zhang Yimou heading the main competition is a major win, while the new Oscar tie-in gives added weight to the Best Film prize.
A festival that is clearly thinking about how it positions itself within the wider Asian cinema landscape is rounded out by the Vision juries.
The festival runs October 6–15, and the full competition lineup has already been announced. The jury’s verdict will come at the end of the event, but the panel’s credentials are already doing the work.
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