The 28th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) unveiled the films and series for the “Korean Cinema Today-Special Premiere” and “On Screen” sections.
The BIFF, one of the most popular film festivals in Asia, will be held this year from Oct. 4 to 13 in Busan, South Korea.
Three films were chosen for “Korean Cinema Today-Special Premiere,” which will showcase Korean commercial films. These are “Believer 2,” “Ballerina” and “Hopeless.”
“Believer 2” will have its world premiere at BIFF. It stars Cho Jin-woong, Cha Seung-won, Han Hyo-joo and Oh Seung-hoon and is a sequel to the 2018 film “Believer.”
“Ballerina,” starring Jun Jongseo, will also have its world premiere at the festival. “This film depicts a tale of revenge, centered around a protagonist with a past as a guard, driven by the pursuit of retribution for his late friend who had been unjustly accused,” according to BIFF.
“Hopeless” will have its Asian premiere at BIFF and stars Hong Xa-bin and Song Joong-ki. The film was chosen for the Un Certain Regard at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.
On the other hand, six series have been selected for the “On Screen” section, which showcases OTT series.
These are:
“The Deal” from Korean streaming service Waave “unveils a riveting tale of criminal intrigue, in which two young men happen to kidnap their friend and demand ten billion won as ransom.” It stars Yoo Seung-ho, Kim Dong-hwi, Yoo Su-bin, and Lee Jooyoung.
“I Am A Running Mate” from TVING is about “an ordinary student trying to become student president marks.” This is the directorial debut of Han Jin-won, who won for Best Original Screenplay at the 2020 Academy Awards for “Parasite.” It stars Yoon Hyun-soo, Lee Jung-sic, Choi Woo-sung, Hong Hwa-yeon and Lee Bong-jun.
“Vigilante” from Disney+ is about “a scholarly student from the police academy who dispenses justice to crafty adversaries eluding legal boundaries.” It stars Nam Joo-hyuk, Yoo Ji-tae, Lee Jun-hyuk and Kim Sojin.
Netflix’s “Cigarette Girl” from Indonesia is about a mystery involving a cigarette. Set in Indonesia in the 1960s, it showcases “a female protagonist, tenaciously pursuing her aspirations despite obligations to her family and society during a turbulent era.”
“A Bloody Lucky Day” from TVING focuses on “a happy-go-lucky taxi driver crossing paths with a young murderer as a long-distance passenger.” It stars Lee Sung-min, Yoo Yeon-seok and Lee Jung-eun.
“LTNS” from TVING “is a whimsical comedy that delves into the intricacies of human nature, unveiling the journey of a young couple’s transformation from indifference to becoming an unlikely ‘cheaters blackmailing duo,’ anticipating a life-altering opportunity.” It stars E Som of “Taxi Driver” and “Samjin Company English Class,” and Ahn Jae-hong of “Reply 1988.” 
"LTNS" (All photos from BIFF)