The Independent Film Festival BUSAN was first held in May 1999 as the "Made in Busan Independent Film Festival." In 2015, it transformed into the Independent Film Festival BUSAN, becoming the regular film festival of the Busan Independent Film Association. Initially screening works by independent film directors based in Busan, the festival expanded its scope from 2001 to encompass not only directors affiliated with the Busan Independent Film Association but also the graduation works of film school students and pieces by high school students.
The festival aims to be a cultural platform where independent films from the Busan region can meet and exchange with local citizens, providing a space for filmmakers active in the region to gather, reflect on the achievements and significance of independent cinema, and explore the future of local films. It aspires to serve as a forum for introspection and envisioning the future of regional cinema.
City
Busan
Program
Made in Busan Competition
Competition of short and feature-length movies made in the Busan region
Spectrum Busan
Showcase of independent feature films made in Busan and its region, with the Now subsection being dedicated to new works by upcoming or established directors, some of them made with the support of the festival, and the Rewind subsections to look back at older works.
Special Screenings
Deep Focus
A section that offers every year a restrospective on a different filmmaker. This year: documentary director Kim Young-jo.
Local to Local
A program of independent films produced in other region of Korea beyond Busan.
Forum-Indicracy: The Stranded Ever Given
A section for films made in the Busan region that look into some of the most important issues of the past year.