Crash Landing on You fame Son Ye-jin makes a show stopping appearance at the BIFAN’s opening ceremony

On July 4, 2024, veteran actor Son Ye-jin attended the 28th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) in a stunning white floral gown. The event, held at Bucheon Art Center, started with a red carpet at 6 PM KST and an opening ceremony at 7 PM, where Son Ye-jin's career was honored.

She was named the main character of the 2024 BIFAN Actor Special Exhibition, becoming the youngest honoree. Previous honorees include Kim Hye-soo (2019), Sol Kyung-gu (2022), and Choi Min-sik (2023).

Titled "One and Only, Son Ye-jin", the honorary exhibition cast a special light on the actor's 23 illustrious years in the industry. They did so by showcasing a moving introductory montage of several scenes from the actor's oeuvre, with words to describe her journey thus far. A line from the video tribute says—

"With her unforgettable glances and profound emotions neatly sealed in a single scene, she created a distinctive melodrama brand bearing her name."

The emotional clip ends with the—

"To the world that she created, she continues the brilliant journey."

After the montage tribute, the 42-year-old walked up on stage and shared a few words about her career—

"It was very simple. I wanted to be an actor that didn’t have to audition. Due to personality I can’t read a script in front of an unknown audience & sell myself. I hoped my name would get out there & would just get casted. It came true."

BIFAN unveiled Son Ye-jin's retrospective 2024 on May 20, introducing it as a "Retrospective dedicated to outstanding actors and actresses in Korean cinema today." The exhibition was further described as the actor's representative films, with an additional publication of a commemorative booklet, a mega talk session, and a picture exhibition, packing together a comprehensive celebration of her notable career.

Furthermore, the red carpet event garnered attention due to a star-studded assembly of around 150 celebrities and prominent names, who paused in front of the photo wall to pose for the flashing cameras. The red carpet ceremony was also streamed live on YouTube.

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The 28th run of BIFAN introduces new award for AI-generated cinema and includes experts on AI-filmmaking

At this year's BIFAN, singer-actor Krystal Jung and actor Jang Dong-yoon have been chosen as hosts. At the same time, the roster of celebrities walking the red carpet included the star cast of the movie You Will Die After Six Hours, singer-actor Kim Jae-joong who will be starring in Shrine, The 8 Show's Moon Jeong-hee, veteran Choi Myung-gil, actor Park Jong-hoon - who will step in as jury president for the "Bucheon Choice: Feature" segment, and others.

In 2024, BIFAN will host a special gathering featuring Asian masters whose names are enough to thrill and excite moviegoers. The attendees include genre master and director Du Ki-bong, the quintessential figure of "Hong Kong Noir," the King of Laughter, and Japanese cinema icon and playwright Koki Mitani.

In a testament to its popularity, BIFAN, newly revamped this year, will show 255 shorts and features from 49 countries, beginning the screening with the 2024 Kristen Stewart-starrer Love Lies Bleeding. The festival will come to a smashing close with the martial arts crime action film Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In.

Eight genre films have been picked for the international competition category titled "Bucheon Choice", including Liao Ming-yi's Suffocating Love, and Thea Hvistendahl's Handling the Undead among others.

What's more, the 28th BIFAN is also set to discuss AI's impact on filmmaking through entries including director Kwon Han-seul's One More Pumpkin, from among a list of 15 films. Introducing a new section for AI-generated films, BIFAN will be hosting for the first time an AI film production competition, as the first Korean film festival to acknowledge this emerging technology in filmmaking.

The festival will evaluate the films not just from technological standpoints but also on artistic merits and the messages spread. Industry insiders will be present to share insight on AI's impact and what significance it will hold for world cinema.

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The Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, founded in 1997, has grown into Korea's largest genre film festival, held yearly in Bucheon. It is slated to run from July 4 to July 14, this year.