Jung Hanseok Leads BIFF as a New Director

Film Programmer Jung Hanseok, an alumnus of the School of Film, TV & Multimedia, was appointed as the new Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) director.

On March 20 after the third board of directors meeting and the second extraordinary general meeting, BIFF finalized Jung Hanseok as the new director among all candidates.

Jung was the only candidate who was recommended by the BIFF Executive Recommendation Committee, as he was considered highly qualified with his deep understanding of the festival’s internal and external environments.

New Director Jung Hanseok has scrutinized the film industry and films as a film reporter and critic for Cine 21 since his debut in 2002, the year he won the Cine 21 Film Criticism Award. He has served as the Korean film programmer at BIFF since 2019, providing insights into Korean film trends and bridging the domestic film industry with BIFF.

Jung was also a jury member for the Buil Film Awards, Jeonju International Film Festival, and Seoul Independent Film Festival. Additionally, he served as an advisor for the Florence Korea Film Fest and the Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong, building an extensive international network in the field.

Jung Hanseok’s term of office lasts 4 years beginning on March 21.