Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BiFan)is Korea's most important film festival specialized in genre film. First held in 1997, it aims to present the latest fantasy, horror and thrillers films from Korea, East Asia and Southeast Asia. It has continuously grown for the last 20 years with the addition of an industry-based program, B.I.G (BIFAN Industry Gathering), and Beyond Reality, a new media XR program, which has shown stable growth for the last six years. Through popular, creative and progressive programming, BiFan is highly ranked by the audiences and film professionals alike and has confirmed its own unique identity by the variety of points of views it features. Furthermore, with its cooperation with Yubari Fantastic Film Festival in Japan and the European Fantastic Film Federation among others, BiFan is widely accepted as one of the biggest celebrations of genre film in Asia.
In addition to the Network of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF), inaugurated in 2008 as the first-ever genre-specific film industry program to discover Asian new talents of genre films, BIFAN launched B.I.G (BIFAN Industry Gathering,) a new program at the festival’s 20th edition in 2016 to expand and strengthen its industry program. B.I.G is composed of following four programs: the aforementioned NAFF; Korea Now - a brand new program to promote Korean fantastic films & industry; Made In Asia - a yearly summary of leading films from every Asian countries; and New Media - an in-depth look at the groundbreaking new technologies and their cinematic applications.
City
Program
Opening / Closing Film
Bucheon Choice
The International Competition section (Features and Shorts) of the festival, it presents works showing innovative, experimental spirit with unique visions and styles.
Korean Fantastic
Korean Competition section (Features and Shorts).
Mad MaxX
A selection of the latest works by great directors from all over the world.
Adrenaline Ride
A selection of contemporary genre titles that feature hardcore horro and extreme action.
Family Zone
A selection of films that the whole family can enjoy.
Metal Noir
A section for science-fiction films, thrillers and dark comedies.
Merry-Go-Round
Feel-good comedies, fantastic drama films and heartwarming stories.
Odd Family
A selection of films for all ages.
Strange Hommage
Retrospective section featuring digitally remastered films and recently reappraised gems.
XL
A selection of short yet fantastic masterpieces from around the world. The future leaders of genre film industry are here.
Master CHOI MIN SIK
Retrospective of Choi Min-sik's films.
Folk Horror: Lands of Cruelty, Beliefs of Terror
A selection to introduce the spectators to the new subgenre of "folk horror".
Night of the Living 'Duk-hu'
A special screening of Killing Romance just for the fans.
B My Guest
A section revolving around unique guests.
TEZKA Macoto, Visualism
Five short films by Tezka Macoto.
Konaka Kazuya, from Ultraman to Single 8
Special presention of Konaka Kazuya's short that inspired Single 8.
BIFAN X WATCHA Online Screenings
Films available in VOD, in partnership with Korea-based streaming service Watcha
Awards
Bucheon Choice competition
Best of Bucheon (KRW 20,000,000)
Best Director Choice (KRW 5,000,000)
Jury’s Choice (KRW 5,000,000)
Audience Award
Best Short Film (KRW 5,000,000)
Jury’s Choice for Short Film (KRW 3,000,000)
Audience Award for Short Film
Korean Fantastic competition
- Features
Best Korean Fantastic Film (KRW 10,000,000)
Korean Fantastic Best Director (KRW 5,000,000)
Fantastic Actors: Two awards acknowledging the best acting performances in the feature film of the section.
Korean Fantastic Audience Award
Nonghyup Award (KRW 10,000,000): Distribution award
Watcha New Talent Award (KRW 3,000,000 each)
Best Korean Short Film (KRW 5,000,000)
Audience Award for Korean Short Film
Watcha New Talent Award (KRW 1,000,000 each): awarded to 2 films
Others
Melies International Festivals Federation (MIFF) Award for Best Asian Film: Awarded by a jury representing the MIFF to the best Asian fantastic film in the World Fantastic Red section.
NETPAC Award: Awarded by film professionals members of the NETPAC to the best Asian film in the World Fantastic Blue section."
Odd Family Award: awarded by a jury made of children from Bucheon.
BIFAN 2023: Korean Film Lineup
| No. |
Title |
Director |
Country |
Year |
Min |
| Bucheon Choice: Shorts |
| 1 |
Delivery Dancer's Sphere |
Kim Ayoung |
Korea |
2023 |
25 |
| Korean Fantastic: Features |
| 1 |
2035 |
Park Jae-in |
Korea |
2023 |
105 |
| 2 |
Abroad |
Giovanni Fumu |
Korea, USA |
2023 |
85 |
| 3 |
Helpless |
Jeon Seung-pyo |
Korea |
2023 |
85 |
| 4 |
Her Hobby |
Ha Myung-mi |
Korea |
2023 |
118 |
| 5 |
I Haven't Done Anything |
Park Sang-min |
Korea |
2023 |
80 |
| 6 |
Immortal |
Kim Sang-hoon |
Korea |
2022 |
78 |
| 7 |
IRON MASK |
Kim Sung Hwan |
Korea |
2023 |
100 |
| 8 |
Risk Society |
Kim Byung Jun |
Korea |
2023 |
107 |
| 9 |
Toxic Parents |
Kim Suin |
Korea |
2022 |
104 |
| 10 |
Unknown Narrative: Skyrocket Junipers Under the Crescent |
Yang Gun-young |
Korea |
2023 |
75 |
| Korean Fantastic: Short |
| 1 |
Deposit |
An E Seul |
Korea |
2022 |
25 |
| 2 |
Home |
Jeong Jaehee |
Korea |
2023 |
13 |
| 3 |
The Lee Families |
Seo Jeong-mi |
Korea |
2023 |
26 |
| 4 |
The New Tale of Rat Wife |
Kim Yoon-sun |
Korea |
2023 |
19 |
| 5 |
Blades |
Jung Jae-yong |
Korea |
2022 |
30 |
| 6 |
Last Stand |
Kim Dongha |
Korea |
2023 |
21 |
| 7 |
Tiktok |
Kang Da-yeon |
Korea |
2023 |
20 |
| 8 |
You know, there are ghosts under the tree |
Lee Ruri |
Korea |
2023 |
14 |
| 9 |
Birth |
Nam Soona |
Korea |
2023 |
16 |
| 10 |
HOIST |
GukJa |
Korea |
2023 |
30 |
| 11 |
Judgment |
Nam Yoon-hee |
Korea |
2022 |
17 |
| 12 |
MY HEART IS GOING TO EXPLODE! |
Jung Inhyuk |
Korea |
2023 |
20 |
| 13 |
Get Thee on the Dance Floor |
Hyun Hahn |
Korea |
2022 |
26 |
| 14 |
Jeong-dong |
Choi Woo Gee |
Korea |
2023 |
23 |
| 15 |
Last Order |
Jo Hang-jin |
Korea |
2023 |
11 |
| 16 |
MICROWAVE LOVE |
Kwon Chan-young |
Korea |
2023 |
27 |
| Korean Fantastic: Cinema + K-pop |
| 1 |
Finding Ppong |
Beasts And Natives Alike |
Korea |
2023 |
85 |
| 2 |
j-hope IN THE BOX |
Park Jun-soo |
Korea |
2023 |
85 |
| 3 |
SUGA: Road to D-DAY |
Park Jun-soo |
Korea |
2023 |
81 |
| Merry-Go-Round |
| 1 |
Dauren's Wedding |
Lim Chanik |
Korea |
2023 |
83 |
| 2 |
Rewind, Pause, Then, Play |
Seo Won-tae |
Korea |
2023 |
62 |
| 3 |
Sandstorm |
Park Jaemin |
Korea |
2023 |
78 |
| 4 |
The K-Pop Story |
Yun Jae-yeon |
Korea |
2023 |
85 |
| Odd Family |
| 1 |
Battery Mommy |
Jeon Seungbae |
Korea |
2023 |
9 |
| 2 |
Burger Song Challenge |
Kim Min-ha |
Korea |
2023 |
22 |
| Strange Hommage |
| 1 |
Invisible Man |
Kim Gi-chung |
Korea |
1986 |
90 |
| XL |
| 1 |
Forest of Echos |
Lim Yoo-ri |
Korea |
2023 |
22 |
| 2 |
Knitting My Heart |
Oh Ji-hyeon |
Korea |
2023 |
11 |
| 3 |
The Sea on the Day When the Magic Returns |
Han Jiwon |
Korea |
2022 |
24 |
| 4 |
Hamjinabi |
Lee Sang-min |
Korea |
2023 |
25 |
| 5 |
A Long Alone |
Yeo Eun-a |
Korea |
2023 |
8 |
| 6 |
Please Be My Ear |
Jang Dong-yoon |
Korea |
2023 |
21 |
| 7 |
ACCOMPANY |
Um Munsuk |
Korea |
2023 |
32 |
| 8 |
The Closest to the Heart |
Choe Hoon |
Korea |
2023 |
24 |
| 9 |
English Tutor |
Koo Jaho |
Korea |
2023 |
10 |
| 10 |
LEDIEE |
Choi Sang-hun |
Korea |
2023 |
8 |
| 11 |
Silence |
Bae Jun-won |
Korea |
2023 |
30 |
| 12 |
Syndrome |
Roh Jin |
Korea |
2023 |
21 |
| 13 |
Paranoia |
Lee Sunkyung |
Korea |
2022 |
18 |
| 14 |
Sea Squirt |
Kim Solbie |
Korea |
2023 |
3 |
| 15 |
Voice Club |
Kim Tae-young |
Korea |
2023 |
27 |
| 16 |
Ghwa the Last Name |
Yoo Jae-in |
Korea |
2023 |
32 |
| 17 |
The Light |
Chae Han-young |
Korea |
2023 |
15 |
| 18 |
What Are You Thinking About |
Hwang Yeon-sung |
Korea |
2023 |
19 |
| 19 |
Car Camping |
Jung Hae Sim |
Korea |
2022 |
16 |
| 20 |
Promise |
Song Hayeon |
Korea |
2022 |
4 |
| 21 |
Report the the Class |
Nam Seo Jeong |
Korea |
2023 |
26 |
| 22 |
Apocalypse vs. Love |
Jeon Subin |
Korea |
2023 |
32 |
| 23 |
Baby Bathtub |
Choi Beom-seok |
Korea |
2023 |
15 |
| 24 |
Courtroom |
Han Chang-hee |
Korea |
2023 |
22 |
| 25 |
DAJEONG 2.0 |
Kim Yoon-beom |
Korea |
2023 |
16 |
| 26 |
Don't Die |
Park Yuseon |
Korea |
2023 |
5 |
| 27 |
Woori's Tomorrow |
Kwon Han-soo |
Korea |
2023 |
25 |
| 28 |
DRM |
Lee Ha-eun |
Korea |
2023 |
19 |
| 29 |
Magical Nara |
Kwon Hansl |
Korea |
2023 |
7 |
| 30 |
MoonParkJiHo |
Kim Dong-min |
Korea |
2022 |
31 |
| 31 |
Battery Mommy |
Jeon Seungbae |
Korea |
2023 |
9 |
| 32 |
Doppelgänger |
Lee Ji-hyang |
Korea |
2023 |
17 |
| 33 |
TEL1717-1771 |
Jo Yunji |
Korea |
2023 |
28 |
| 34 |
Burger Song Challenge |
Kim Min-ha |
Korea |
2023 |
22 |
| 35 |
NANI GA MIEH RU! |
Jang Jae-woo |
Korea |
2023 |
12 |
| 36 |
The Rooms |
You Hee-ryun |
Korea |
2023 |
29 |
| 37 |
The Curse of X |
Kim Hee-soo |
Korea |
2023 |
19 |
| 38 |
Nest |
Park Chang-hwan |
Korea |
2023 |
15 |
| 39 |
The Nightmare |
Han Seung-won |
Korea |
2023 |
19 |
| 40 |
-196°C |
Hwang Hyein |
Korea |
2023 |
15 |
| 41 |
The Answer |
Shin Ji-hoon |
Korea |
2022 |
27 |
| 42 |
The Strange Case of Neptune |
Jeong Ki-yeon |
Korea |
2023 |
36 |
| 43 |
A Peaceful Mind Is Not Stillness |
Yu Jun-sang |
Korea |
2022 |
27 |
| Master CHOI MIN SIK |
| 1 |
Vapor |
Choi Bo-young |
Korea |
1988 |
21 |
| 2 |
On The Way To The Winter |
Hong Jun Seok |
Korea |
1989 |
23 |
| 3 |
Our Twisted Hero |
Park Jong-won |
Korea |
1992 |
119 |
| 4 |
Swiri |
Kang Je-kyu |
Korea |
1999 |
120 |
| 5 |
Happy End |
Jung Ji-woo |
Korea |
1999 |
99 |
| 6 |
Failan |
Song Hae-sung |
Korea |
2001 |
116 |
| 7 |
Old Boy |
Park Chan-wook |
Korea |
2003 |
120 |
| 8 |
Springtime |
Ryu Jang-ha |
Korea |
2004 |
128 |
| 9 |
I Saw The Devil |
Kim Jee-woon |
Korea |
2010 |
144 |
| 10 |
Nameless Gangster: Rules of Time |
Yoon Jong-bin |
Korea |
2012 |
133 |
| 11 |
Forbidden Dream |
Hur Jin-ho |
Korea |
2019 |
133 |
| 12 |
In Our Prime |
Park Dong-hoon |
Korea |
2022 |
117 |
| Folk Horror: Lands of Cruelty, Beliefs of Terror |
| 1 |
Evil Spirit |
Kim In-soo |
Korea |
1974 |
78 |
| Night of the Living 'Duk-hu' |
| 1 |
Killing Romance |
Lee Wonsuk |
Korea |
2023 |
107 |
| B My Guest |
| 1 |
The Eighth Sense |
Baek Inu, Werner du Plessis |
Korea |
2023 |
118 |
| 2 |
HappyMerryEnding |
Min Chae-yeon |
Korea |
2022 |
108 |
| 3 |
Jango: Uncharged |
Baek Seung-kee |
Korea |
2022 |
108 |
