Bifan 2023 kicks off with hundreds in attendance despite weather

The 27th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival kicked off Thursday amid rains and heavy clouds, but the weather was not enough to lessen the enthusiasm of cinephiles who gathered at Bucheon City Hall in Bucheon, Gyeonggi, for the event...

Actors, directors and film industry professionals attend the red carpet event during the opening ceremony of the 27th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival at Bucheon City Hall in Bucheon, Gyeonggi, on Thursday. [NEWS1]

The 27th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (Bifan) kicked off Thursday amid rains and heavy clouds, but the weather was not enough to lessen the enthusiasm of cinephiles who gathered at Bucheon City Hall in Bucheon, Gyeonggi, for the event.

"Bifan is the biggest event for Bucheon residents," Choi Ji-won, a university student and film lover who lives in Bucheon, said. "I have waited for this event since the beginning of the year. I am excited to see all the celebrities gathered tonight and look forward to watching 'Beau Is Afraid' [the opening film]."

Actors, directors and film industry professionals attend the red carpet event during the opening ceremony of the 27th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival at Bucheon City Hall in Bucheon, Gyeonggi, on Thursday. [YONHAP]

Hundreds were present at the city hall, and many were excited for the chance to see films in an offline, face-to-face film festival.

"During the pandemic, the festival had to be held online," Park Jae-hwan, an office worker who had come from Seoul for the event, said. "Bifan is different from other film festivals because they screen many genre films — fantasy, sci-fi and horror. Now that the pandemic is over and genre films also seem to be making a comeback, I can enjoy Bifan better."

Actors Ahn Sung-ki and Park Joong-hoon pose for a photo at the opening ceremony of the 27th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival at Bucheon City Hall in Bucheon, Gyeonggi, on Thursday. [NEWS1]

The festival's opening ceremony hosts were actors Park Ha-sun and Seo Hyeon-woo. Veteran actors and household names such as Choi Min-sik — for whom a special exhibition screening is being held — Ahn Sung-ki and Park Joong-hoon, directors Yoon Je-kyoon and Ari Aster were also in attendance.

"Bifan is a festival made together with the citizens of Bucheon and film audiences," Bucheon Mayor Cho Yong-eek said during the ceremony. "As this is the 50th anniversary of Bucheon being recognized as a city, we have prepared even more festivities and programs than usual for everyone to enjoy."

Main poster for the 27th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival [BIFAN]

Chung Ji-young, Bifan's organizing committee chairperson, said at the event, "We thank everyone who has visited Bifan this year, even during these times of hardship for the film industry. All of your pure love and support for films keeps the festival afloat. Please enjoy the films we have prepared for you [that have unique voices]."

American director Ari Aster, whose film "Beau Is Afraid" screened as the opening film on Thursday, also congratulated and commented on the festival's characteristics as a genre film festival.

"I heard this is the festival for weird movies made by sick and lonely people, so I'm happy to kick it off with a movie about a sad and lonely man," Aster said at the event.

American director Ari Aster speaks during the opening ceremony of the 27th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival at Bucheon City Hall in Bucheon, Gyeonggi, on Thursday. [BIFAN]

Aster's film "Beau Is Afraid" is about a man named Beau who suffers from anxiety who goes on a journey to attend his mother's funeral.

"This movie has been splitting audiences down the middle, so half of you will like it, and half of you will hate it. I hope you find each other after the film and fight, and I hope the people who like it win."

The first prize of this year's Bifan was presented during the ceremony, which went to the Netflix series "D.P.," (2021-), winning the Series Film Award.

Han Jun-hee, the showrunner, picked up the award in person.

After the opening ceremony, the hundreds gathered inside a huge tent outside the Bucheon City Hall building and tuned into "Beau Is Afraid," with loud gasps puncturing the sounds from the film here and there throughout the screening.

"I think this movie was a great choice for the opening film," Park Jae-hwan said after the screening. "It was weird, disturbing and provocative, just what we hope works shown at Bifan are to be."

Throughout Friday and the weekend, cinephiles from all over the country gathered at Bucheon City Hall to see more of the 262 feature films and short films screened at Bifan until July 11.

"I wanted to come here earlier for the opening film, but the tickets were sold out within seconds," Lee Hye-ji, a student from Paju, Gyeonggi, said on Friday. "At least I got a couple of tickets for today and Saturday. There are not many large film festivals happening in the Gyeonggi area, so I wanted to grab this opportunity."

Attendees cheer as actors, directors and film industry professionals attend the red carpet event during the opening ceremony of the 27th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival at Bucheon City Hall in Bucheon, Gyeonggi, on Thursday. [YONHAP]

The weather was better during the weekend in Bucheon, and many festivalgoers could be seen lounging around the lawn of the Bucheon City Hall, waiting for the films to screen or talking among one another.

"A festival like this is also a great way for ordinary cinephiles like me to meet industry people," Lee said. "I can ask what the film scene is like nowadays, talk to directors and actors, and get answers to questions that I had about the industry."

The 27th Bifan will continue until July 11. Japanese director Takashi Shimizu's "Sana" will close the festival. "Sana" centers on a young girl who can haunt people with a cursed melody. Shimizu is expected to attend the closing ceremony of Bifan.

Shimizu previously directed "Ju-on: The Curse" (2000) and its sequel "Ju-on: The Grudge" (2002), and is known globally for his fantasy and horror films.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]