By Charles Audouin

The 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) ran from Oct. 6-15 at and around Busan Cinema Center in the city's Haeundae-gu District, attracting about 270,000 visitors.

The atmosphere was all the more vibrant thanks to the attendance of leading filmmakers and actors from all over the world. This photo essay captures BIFF's unforgettable moments ranging from the dazzling red carpet and on-site talk shows to the closing ceremony.

The BIFF jury on Oct. 6 poses on the red carpet at the opening ceremony held at Busan Cinema Center. From left are director July (Joo-ri) Jung (Korea), actor Samal Yeslyamova (Kazakhstan), producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc (Vietnam), directors Zhang Yimou (China), Kei Ishikawa (Japan) and Bi Gan (China), and actor Choi Hee-seo (Korea). (BIFF)

American actor-director Maggie Gyllenhaal on Oct. 7 speaks at a talk held at Busan Cinema Center. At this year's festival, she presented her short film "Flesh Impact," which she directed to mark the centennial birthday of Marilyn Monroe. (BIFF)

Malaysian actor Michelle Yeoh (right) and Hong Kong director Ann Hui on Oct. 6 watch the festival's opening ceremony at Busan Cinema Center. BIFF named Yeoh this year's Asian Filmmaker of the Year and Hui earned the Camellia Award for her contributions to advancing women's status in cinema. (BIFF)

Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron on Oct. 8 attends a master class at Busan Cinema Center. Best known for "Gravity" (2013), he spoke with audiences in his first visit to Korea and covered his directing philosophy, cinematic choices and filmmaking techniques. (BIFF)

The director and cast of the acclaimed film "Possible Love" on Oct. 6 pose for a group snapshot on the red carpet at the festival's opening ceremony at Busan Cinema Center. From left are actors Zo In-sung, Cho Yeo-jeong, Sul Kyung-gu and Jeon Do-yeon and director Lee Chang-dong. (BIFF)

French actor Charlotte Gainsbourg (right) on Oct. 8 gives the finger heart gesture next to actor Jung Eun-chae at a session on acting at Busan Cinema Center. Jung appeared alongside Jane Birkin, Gainsbourg's mother, in director Hong Sang-soo's 2013 film "Nobody's Daughter Haewon." (BIFF)

French star Isabelle Huppert on Oct. 13 speaks at an open talk held at Busan Cinema Center. Having appeared in three films by director Hong Sang-soo, she presented French director Marc Fitoussi's latest film "All About Corinne" at this year's BIFF. (Yonhap News)

The production team behind "Ibuku," an Indonesian-Japanese co-production that won the Busan Awards' Special Jury Prize, on Oct. 15 poses on the red carpet at the festival's closing ceremony at Busan Cinema Center. From left are producer Shin Yamaguchi (Japan), actor Christine Kim (Korea) and director Eddie Cahyono (Indonesia). (BIFF)

Iranian director Majid Majidi on Oct. 15 delivers his acceptance speech after receiving the Busan Award for Best Film -- the festival's top honor -- for "Midday Meal" at the closing ceremony at Busan Cinema Center. The prize automatically made his work eligible for consideration for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. (BIFF)

caudouin@korea.kr