'Zero Production Cost' AI Films Available... Bucheon Film Festival Introduces AI Film Competition Section

Held from July 4 to 14

The 28th Bucheon Fantastic Film Festival (hereinafter BIFAN), held from the 4th to the 14th of next month, has chosen artificial intelligence (AI) as its main theme. Shin Cheol, BIFAN Executive Chairman, and Jung Ji-young, Organizing Committee Chairman, among others, held a press conference on the afternoon of the 12th at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul to explain the opening and closing films as well as this year’s features.

This year, the opening ceremony, red carpet, reception, and major events will be held at the Bucheon Art Center. The opening film is 'Love Lies Bleeding' (directed by Rose Glass), and the closing film is 'Guryong Fortress: Lawless Zone.' During the festival, 255 feature and short films from 49 countries will be screened. Among them, 67 films will be world premieres. Screenings will take place at Bucheon City Hall Lawn Plaza, the Korea Manhwa Museum, CGV Sopung, and Bucheon Art Bunker B39. Online streaming service Wave will showcase online screenings, and films can also be viewed at the ‘Visiting Neighborhood Cinema’ venues.

The biggest highlight is the 'AI section.' BIFAN stated, "In line with AI emerging as a mega trend in the global video industry, we are introducing the country’s first ‘AI Film International Competition’ and hosting an ‘AI International Conference’ where the latest information on AI video production and insights from global pioneers can be gained." They will also hold an ‘AI Filmmaking Workshop’ in a hackathon format, providing an opportunity to explore the reality and potential of AI and challenge existing limitations.

BIFAN has selected Son Ye-jin as the star of this year’s ‘Actor Special Exhibition.’ Meetings will also take place with genre master, Hong Kong noir director Derek Tsang, the king of comedy Japan’s Mitani Koki, and director Kim Sung-soo, who has been at the forefront of Korean cinema for 30 years, along with fans.

Jung Ji-young, Organizing Committee Chairman, said, “This year will be a special year of new leaps,” adding, “With AI and various programs and audience events, we are preparing a festival that everyone can enjoy.”

Shin Cheol, Executive Chairman, who named 'AI' as the main issue, said, “Generative AI will be used as an innovative tool to connect with the world with minimal cost and talent,” and “An era of equal competition will open where imagination, not the size of capital, is the most important factor.” He continued, “In this new environment, creators will not be frustrated by capital and will stand at the center of a platform to present their own visions.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.