BLACKPINK’s Lisa, Milla Jovovich, and Son Ye-jin Shine at the 30th Busan International Film Festival

Star-studded red carpet marks the grand opening of BIFF 2025 with global celebrities, K-pop icons, and top filmmakers in Busan.

Busan, South Korea — The 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) officially opened on September 17, transforming South Korea’s southern port city into the epicenter of global cinema and pop culture. This year’s milestone edition welcomed Hollywood actors, world-renowned directors, and some of Asia’s biggest stars—including K-pop royalty—onto its dazzling red carpet.

Leading the evening was legendary actor Lee Byung-hun, who made history as the first male actor to host BIFF’s opening ceremony solo. Reflecting on his three-decade career, Lee shared, “I debuted in 1991, made my first film in 1995, and now celebrate 30 years as an actor—just like BIFF marks its 30th anniversary. It’s incredible how what started as a small dream in Busan has become one of Asia’s most important film festivals.”

The red carpet delivered major star power. Lisa from BLACKPINK, making one of her rare Korean public appearances this year, instantly set social media on fire as fans packed the venue and flooded online platforms with photos and videos. Hollywood icon Milla Jovovich, famous for the Resident Evil series, brought international glamour, while Son Ye-jin returned to Korea straight from her Venice Film Festival appearance, adding elegance to the night.

Korean film and OTT stars Park Hee-soon, Han So-hee, Jeon Jong-seo, and Yoo Ah-in also turned heads, representing the global rise of Korean cinema and streaming dramas. Their presence reflected BIFF’s role as both a prestigious film platform and a pop culture bridge connecting Hollywood, K-pop, and Asian entertainment.

The opening film, “No Other Way” (어쩔 수가 없다), directed by acclaimed filmmaker Park Chan-wook, had its Asian premiere after making waves at the Venice International Film Festival and winning the International Audience Award at Toronto. The star-studded cast includes Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, and Yeom Hye-ran, and is already generating major awards buzz.

Beyond glamorous premieres, BIFF 2025 will host the Asia Content & Film Market from September 20–23 at BEXCO’s Second Exhibition Hall, alongside an online marketplace for international industry professionals. The full festival runs through September 26, featuring hundreds of films, panel discussions, and industry events celebrating both Asian independent cinema and global blockbusters.

As the spotlight shifted from the red carpet to the big screen, one thing became clear: the Busan International Film Festival continues to grow as a global powerhouse, blending the worlds of film, music, and pop culture while attracting the brightest stars from Hollywood to K-pop.