Blackpink’s Lisa, ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Director Maggie Kang, Lee Byung-hun and Guillermo Del Toro Bring Star Power to Busan Film Festival Opening Night

The 30th Busan International Film Festival kicked off with a nearly two-hour red carpet that mixed K-pop royalty, Asian auteurs, and Hollywood legends before unveiling Park Chan-wook’s “No Other Choice” as the opening film.

Lisa from Blackpink set off a frenzy among fans, joined by “KPop Demon Hunters” director Maggie Kang, Guillermo del Toro (who entertained photographers with playful faces), and Korean superstar Lee Byung-hun, who not only co-hosted the ceremony but later returned to present Park’s black comedy with castmates Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Yum Hye-ran, and Lee Sung-min.

The guest list underscored Busan’s global reach: Indonesian star Dian Sastrowardoyo, Malaysian filmmaker Woo Ming Jin, Indian producer Shiladitya Bora, and India’s “Full Plate” team of Tannishtha Chatterjee and Kirti Kulhari were among the international contingent, while Hong Kong legend Tony Leung Ka-fai arrived with producer Victoria Hon and director Larry Yang for “The Shadow’s Edge.”

Japanese cinema was represented by Nishijima Hidetoshi and Gwei Lun-mei for Mariko Tatsuya’s “Dear Stranger,” as well as Watanabe Ken, Takaguchi Kentaro, Okada Junichi, and Miyake Sho. Korean stars included Kim Minha, Jeon Jong-seo, Han So-hee, Lee Jin-wook, Yoo Ji-tae, Lee Hye-young, Jo Woo-jin, and Park Ji-hwan, while Michael Mann added Hollywood clout. Iranian auteur Jafar Panahi, present for his Asian Filmmaker of the Year award, was warmly welcomed.

Sylvia Chang was presented with the Camellia Award, reflecting on her decades balancing filmmaking with motherhood. Veteran director Chung Ji-young accepted the Korean Cinema Award, saluted for a 50-year career that spanned censorship, dictatorship, and corporate upheaval.

One of the night’s most emotional moments came when Jafar Panahi received the Asian Filmmaker of the Year award. “I am grateful to the Busan Film Festival for this honor,” he said. “When I first came to Busan with my debut film, I promised myself I would return. But for 17 years I was unable to leave my country. Korea has constantly strived and fought for freedom in cinema, and this award is dedicated to all independent filmmakers on the front lines of that struggle. We must go all the way to the end for freedom of expression.”

Festival leaders, including Korean Film Council chair Han Sang-jun, Busan mayor Park Heong-joon, and BIFF’s new executive director Jung Won-seok, emphasized the symbolic weight of the festival’s 30th anniversary. The ceremony even opened with a song dedicated to Lee Byung-hun, adding a personal flourish to the evening.

The evening also introduced the festival’s main competition jury. Korean director Na Hong-jin serves as jury president, joined on stage by Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Ka-fai, Indian filmmaker Nandita Das, Iranian director Marzieh Meshkini, filmmaker Kogonada, Indonesian producer Yulia Evina Bhara, and Korean actress Han Hyo-joo. Their presence underscored Busan’s expanded global ambitions as it marked its 30th anniversary.