Best 6 Film Festivals in Korea During 2023

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The entertainment industry has certainly helped put South Korea on the map these past few years. With an estimated $10 billion of money being generated thanks to the K-POP industry alone, this ever-growing number and its influence make South Korea and its artists one of the most powerful entertainment industries right now, a phenomenon now commonly called the K-Wave, or Hallyu. 

But the country does not only possess a booming music industry. Its film productions are also top-notch these days and have been of high quality for a long time now. So if you want to lengthen your movie culture and watch the best films out there, here is the best advice you could get: go and attend a film festival! Indeed, what is the best way to discover new and great Korean films, well there is in fact nothing that beats attending a film festival, and Korea possesses a great variety of them, all year round! Sounds great, right? 

What are film festivals exactly? They take place over the course of a few days, usually in theaters or during outdoor screening if the weather allows it. The films screened at these festivals are typically independent and non-mainstream films that would not otherwise be shown to larger audiences.

Film festivals are a great immersive experience in the cinematic world, where you can not only watch a great movie on the big screen but also have the chance to meet the crew and often the cast of said films! Seeing up close your favorite K-actors or Korean directors, think about that!

But with so many film festivals out there, how do you choose the best film festivals? Don’t worry. This article will help you figure it all out. You will just need to make up your mind and schedule! 

Here is a list of the top best film festivals in Korea:

1. Busan International Film Festival - BIFF (September - October)

One of the most famous festivals in South Korea is certainly the Busan International Film Festival which has been the sound since 1996! It’s a true establishment in the country and is widely known to project high-quality films and welcome high-ranked guests from the Asian film industry and beyond. The Festival takes place in autumn, mainly in October. If you want to book a ticket for a screening, the fee is 8,000 KRW, and to be able to see the opening and closing ceremony, it is 30,000 KRW. The website is entirely in English and very easy to use, so don’t hesitate to check it out. 

2. SEOUL International Women's Film Festival - SIWFF (August 26 - September 1)

Photo Credit: SIWFF

If you want to see films by women, for women, and of women, here is the right festival for you! With an inclusive and refreshing concept that the cinematic world often omits, the International Women’s Film Festival of Seoul is an amazing place to explore feminine films, and it’s also mainly with English subtitles which is great for us expats, of course! Tickets are also KRW 8,000, and the star/guests talks are priced at KRW 11,000. The screenings are also mainly outdoors, which is the perfect date idea for this summer, so bookmark their website asap! 

3. Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival - PiFan (June - July)

Photo Credit: screen daily

Are you a fan of the fantasy and thriller or even horror genre? The Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival is your best pick, then. The festival, which awarded Squid Game last year, does not have its schedule out yet, but don’t hesitate to take a look at its website to familiarize yourself with its festivities! The festival, which launched in 1997, even possesses  immersive VR and XR content and is well known for promoting unusual films that you don’t see every day in your neighborhood’s cinema. You are in for a unique cinematic experience for sure, so keep yourself updated about their program via their website too!  

4. Busan International Short Film Festival - BISFF (April 27 - May 2)

Another cinematic gem of Busan is its International Short Film Festival. Less famous than its big brother, the BIFF, but nonetheless a big reference in the festival scene of the country. For only 7,000 KRW, you can get yourself a ticket and watch a short film in one of this year’s themes: 'Hub of Asia,' '3D Shorts,' and 'Interactive Shorts.' carefully selected and in concordance with this year’s catchphrase "Expanding Film." Here is this year’s program via their website!

5. Jeonju International Film Festival - JIFF (April 27 – May 6, 2023)

“Film Goes On.” is this year’s slogan for the Jeonju International Film Festival, and as its name implies, you get to see a variety of alternative films from all over the globe, with a total of 217 movies from 57 countries! For a general screening, the ticket is KRW 7,000: here is their website for more information. Don’t hesitate to attend if you want to explore the independent and alternative movie scene of South Korea and discover its new talents and upcoming big names. The festival is well known for putting the spotlight on promising artists! 

6. Jeju’s French Film Festival - FFF - (November)

Are you a fan of French and francophone films? For the past thirteen years, Jeju island has hosted a French Film Festival that displays high-ranked French movies of various genres (fiction, documentary, animation…) and length, as the festival broadcasts both short and long films. Find more information about this unique festival via their facebook page and their website. 

Now you are all set for a thoroughly cinematic experience here in Korea, thanks to this diverse and abundant list of the best film festivals here. Let’s grab popcorn and see you there very soon!