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The 30th BIFF Launches a Special Forum: ‘Revisiting the Path of Asian Cinema’

This year’s forum highlights two key topics: ‘OTT’ and ‘international co-production’. One session, ‘Is OTT Empowering or Undermining Asian Cinema’, will bring together industry professionals and policymakers from across Asia to explore how OTT platforms are transforming film development, production and the distribution systems. Another core session, ‘Asian Cinema: A New Chapter in Co-Productions’, will review recent aesthetic innovations and business strategies have emerged through international collaboration.

A session reflecting on the past and exploring the future of Korean cinema will also be in the spotlight. ‘Flashback to 1996: Gains and Losses of Korean Cinema’ will examine the structural crises and aesthetic limitations behind three decades of rapid industry growth. Another session, ‘What Does Korean Independent Cinema Dream Of’ will delve into their milestones, survival strategies, and practical approaches to building a sustainable production environment.

The forum will be co-presented in partnership with Dongseo University, the Korean Film Archive (KOFA), the School of Film, TV & Multimedia at Korea National University of Arts (K-Arts), Korean Filmmakers’ Solidarity, and the Film Festival Policy Network. This session will address fundamental questions surrounding digital transformation, the future of film education in Asia, and strategies for overcoming crises through greater solidarity within the Korean film industry.

This year’s Forum BIFF will spotlight pressing and emerging issues in cinema while presenting fresh perspectives from experts across various fields. It aims to foster a series of thought-provoking discussions between audiences and filmmakers on the future direction of cinema in a rapidly changing era.