The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) kicked off on Oct. 6 in grand style at the outdoor theater of Busan Cinema Center in Busan's Haeundae-gu District, with "Pachinko" actor Kim Minha as host. (BIFF)

By Xu Aiying

Autumn in Busan sports the colors of cinema.

The number of people heading to Busan Cinema Center in the city's Haeundae-gu District has surged, with those wearing badges of the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) commonly seen on streets. Others check screening times or discuss movies in several languages.

On the gala's opening day on Oct. 6, the fall night in Busan came alive quickly around the center. Ahead of the opening ceremony, fans and media personnel began gathering in the surrounding area well in advance.

The most eye-catching moment was the red carpet event. As actors and directors appeared, the venue was filled with the sounds of cheers and camera shutters in signaling the start of the festival.

To run through Oct. 15, BIFF is holding events beyond theaters to locations throughout Busan.

Attendees on Oct. 7, the second day of this year's Busan International Film Festival, pose for photos at a news conference for the Competition section at Busan Cinema Center in Busan's Haeundae-gu District. From left are jury president Zhang Yimou, directors Bi Gan and July Jung, actor Samal Yeslyamova, directors Kei Ishikawa and Tran Thi Bich Ngoc, and actor Choi Hee-seo. (Xu Aiying)

The BIFF schedule began on Oct. 7. Directors and actors at news conferences shared stories about their works, while reporters inquired about the production process, actor performances, themes of the films and other topics. The movies that fans watched for hours at theaters were brought to life again through the voices of their creators.

Audiences were seen planning their daily schedules at the festival, hoping to watch their choices and later meeting the filmmakers.

A diverse lineup of programs includes master classes on the creative worlds of filmmakers, meetups with actors discussing their performances and works with audiences, Open Talks and Outdoor Stage Greeting.

Master classes from Oct. 8-10 feature Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron, who is on his first visit to Korea, and Japanese animation extraordinare Shigeyuki Hayashi, better known as Rintaro. Special Talks from Oct. 7-12 will have French actor Charlotte Gainsbourg and American actor-director Maggie Gyllenhaal.

For international lovers of Korean cinema, the program Actors' House features cast members interacting with fans. Popular stars Kim Goeun, Kim Minha, Ju Jihoon and others will share insights into their careers and projects.

These events run from Oct. 8-10, with advance tickets available for each.

The production team of the film "Bedford Park" on Oct. 7 attends its Outdoor Stage Greeting at Busan Cinema Center in Busan's Haeundae-gu District.

Visitors can also spot a director on the way to an event or strike up a conversation with the person next to them while waiting for a screening, exchanging thoughts about the films they just watched.

As audiences stroll around Busan Cinema Center ahead of the next screening, Open Talks and Outdoor Stage Greeting at the outdoor theater offer a close-up view of the festival atmosphere.

The distance between the stage and the audience is minimal. The directors and actors of invited films stand before the crowd, who break into applause and asks questions.

Open Talks run from Oct. 7-13 and Outdoor Stage Greeting from Oct. 7-11. Held frequently in between screenings, both events are free with no advance registration required.

Visitors to the Busan International Film Festival on Oct. 7 walk past movie billboards around Busan Cinema Center in Busan's Haeundae-gu, Busan. (Xu Aiying)

Outside the center, the festival's atmosphere seamlessly blends into everyday life in Busan. The program "Neighborhood BIFF" is being held at 18 locations including Busan, Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, and Seoul.

For first-time visitors to the festival, choosing which works to see can prove overwhelming. Thus a good place to start is "Gala Presentations," a showcase of new and popular works by globally renowned directors; "World Cinema," which offers a broad selection of productions from around the globe; and "Open Cinema," which features outdoor screenings.

The Busan Award for Best Film is the top honor in the festival's Competition section. From this year, the winner of this prize is eligible for submission to the Best International Feature Film category of the U.S. Academy Awards.

xuaiy@korea.kr