The Busan International Film Festival announced that Kim Dong-ho, the festival’s founder, will receive the Korean Cinema Award during the event’s opening ceremony on Oct. 6. The award recognizes individuals who have significantly advanced Korean cinema’s international standing and profile.
Kim established BIFF in 1996 and directed the festival for its first 14 years. His early leadership proved consequential for Korean cinema. When the festival launched, Korean films were required to undergo government censorship before public screening. Kim declined to submit BIFF’s program to this process, a decision that established the festival’s editorial independence and helped build confidence among regional filmmakers. This approach enabled the fledgling festival in a Korean port city to develop into Asia’s leading cinema venue and provided a crucial platform for the directors who would achieve significant international success in the early and mid-2000s.
Throughout his career, Kim combined government experience with deep cinematic knowledge. He spent approximately three decades at South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, eventually serving as vice minister, and also held leadership positions at the Korean Film Council and Seoul Arts Center. After leaving his festival director role in 2010, Kim remained active in cinema, including academic work as dean at Dankook University’s Graduate School of Cinematic Content and jury service at major festivals including Cannes, Rotterdam, and Fukuoka.
At age 85, Kim began directing his first feature film. His documentary debut, Mr. Kim Goes to the Cinema, premiered at BIFF’s 30th edition and subsequently released in Korean theaters when he was 88. The film documents conversations with prominent filmmakers about cinema’s contemporary relevance. He had previously directed a short film and was the subject of a 2024 documentary that screened at Cannes.
The 31st Busan International Film Festival runs Oct. 6-15. The opening ceremony will also present the Asian Filmmaker of the Year award to Michelle Yeoh and the Chanel-backed Camellia Award to Ann Hui, with Kim Minha hosting.
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