Na Hong-jin to Lead Star-Studded Jury for Busan’s Inaugural Competition Section

The Busan International Film Festival has assembled a heavyweight jury for its newly launched competition section, tapping Korean auteur Na Hong-jin as president alongside six international cinema luminaries for the festival’s landmark 30th edition.

Na Hong-jin, the visionary behind genre-bending thrillers “The Chaser,” “The Yellow Sea” and “The Wailing,” will preside over a seven-member panel that reads like a who’s who of global cinema. Joining the Korean filmmaker are Hong Kong acting legend Tony Leung Ka-fai, Indian actor-filmmaker Nandita Das, Iranian New Wave director Marziyeh Meshkiny, celebrated American helmer Kogonada, Indonesian producer Yulia Evina Bhara, and Korean star Han Hyo-joo.

The expanded jury — up from the traditional five members — will evaluate 14 Competition titles representing what organizers are calling “some of the year’s most outstanding Asian films.” Winners will be announced at the closing ceremony, with the newly minted Busan Award carrying a total cash prize of KRW110 million ($79,000) across five categories: best film, director, actor, special jury prize, and artistic contribution.

“Since this is a newly launched section, we sought to appoint jury members with discerning eyes, bold perspectives, and international influence,” said BIFF festival director Jung Hanseok. “To broaden the scope of deliberation, the Busan International Film Festival has expanded the panel from five to seven members this year. I am genuinely looking forward to seeing which of the year’s most outstanding Asian films will be selected by these distinguished members, led by jury president Na Hong-jin.”

Na Hong-jin brings considerable international credibility to the president’s chair. His 2016 supernatural thriller “The Wailing” earned widespread critical acclaim. The filmmaker recently expanded his producing portfolio with the Thai-Korean co-production “The Medium” and is currently in post-production on “Hope,” starring Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung and “Squid Game” breakout Hoyeon, with Alicia Vikander and Michael Fassbender also aboard.

Tony Leung Ka-fai brings decades of Hong Kong cinema expertise, having launched his career as the youngest-ever Hong Kong Film Award winner for best actor with 1983’s “Reign Behind a Curtain.” His nearly 200-film resume spans classics like “Dragon Inn,” “Ashes of Time” and the “Cold War” franchise, with current titles including “Sons of the Neon Night” and “The Shadow’s Edge.”

Nandita Das offers both acting and directing perspectives, having appeared in over 40 features including Deepa Mehta’s “Fire” and “Earth.” Her directorial efforts include Cannes Un Certain Regard selection “Manto” and Toronto Film Festival premiere “Zwigato,” which also played at Busan. She was honored with France’s Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and has served on juries at Cannes twice.

Marziyeh Meshkiny represents Iranian cinema’s New Wave movement. A Makhmalbaf Film School graduate, she broke through with “The Day I Became a Woman,” which won multiple Venice prizes and BIFF’s New Currents Award in 2000.

Kogonada brings American indie sensibilities with acclaimed features “Columbus” (Sundance 2017) and “After Yang” (Cannes 2022), plus his work on Apple TV+’s “Pachinko.” His upcoming “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” starring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell hits U.S. theaters Sept. 19.

Indonesian producer Yulia Evina Bhara represents Southeast Asian cinema through her KawanKawan Media banner, with credits including Venice winner “Autobiography,” Cannes winner “Tiger Stripes,” and this year’s Cannes entry “Renoir.” Variety named her one of its Impactful International Women in 2023.

Rounding out the panel is Han Hyo-joo, whose career spans from breakout historical drama “Dong Yi” to recent global streaming hits including Disney+’s “Moving” and Netflix’s “Romantic Anonymous,” demonstrating Korean entertainment’s expanding international reach.

The 30th Busan International Film Festival runs Sept. 17-26 at the Busan Cinema Center and venues throughout the port city. The concurrent 20th Asian Contents & Film Market takes place Sept. 20-23.