Busan, South Korea – The 30th edition of the Busan International Film Festival, one of the most important film festivals in Asia and one of the largest film markets in the world, kicks off today. The festival will run for 10 days.

With 241 films participating, the festival is introducing a full competitive section this year for the first time, enhancing its global standing and competitiveness. The section includes 14 films celebrating Asian cinema, and the winner of the Best Film Award will be the festival’s closing film.

Additional awards include Best Director, Best Actor or Actress, Special Jury Award, and Artistic Contribution Award.

Ten of the 14 films will have their world premiere during the festival.

Five Korean films will also be premiered as part of the “Korean Cinema Today” program, which focuses on notable recent Korean films: “The Great Flood” by Kim Byung-woo; “Boss” by Ra Hee-chan; “The People Upstairs” by Ha Jung-woo; “Audition 109” by actor Jung-woo and director Oh Seung-ho; and “Project Y” by director Lee Hwan.

The festival highlights the works of world cinema icons, including Italian director Marco Bellucci, whose career spans more than six decades, and French actress Juliette Binoche.

Films by prominent cultural figures will also be screened in the Black Card section, including Academy Award-winning director Bong Joon-ho for Shinji Aoyama’s Eureka! (2000). Maggie Kang, co-director of the global hit K-pop group Demon Hunters, has selected Bong’s film The Host (2006).

The festival will also showcase a number of independent Asian films by emerging and mid-career directors in the “Vision 23” section.