The 10th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) kicked off its nine-day run at the Yacht Park in Haeundae, Pusan, on October 6.
The spectacular opening ceremony was held with actor Han Suk-kyu and actress Kang Soo-yeon emceeing and an audience of 5,500 in attendance.
The festival started in earnest with a firework display after Pusan Mayor Heo Nam-sik, the chairman of the PIFF Organization Committee, declared the opening following the introduction of the judges and the director and cast of the opening film.
After the opening ceremony, the opening film Three Times, directed by Hou Hsiao Hsien, was screened.
During this year's festival, a total of 307 films from 73 countries, the most participants ever, will be presented at 31 cinemas in Nampo-dong and Haeundae.
The films will be screened under nine categories such as "A Window on Asian Cinema", New Currents", "Korean Panorama", "World Cinema", "Korean Retrospective", "Wide Angle", "Open Cinema" and "Critic's Choice".
Special programs will also be featured, such as "Re-mapping of Asian Auteur Cinema", "Special Screening for APEC Films", "Reunion of New Currents" and "Spotlight on British Cinema".
Globally renowned directors and stars are expected to visit this year's PIFF, including Taiwan's Hou Hsiao Hsien, China's Chang Chen, Iran's Abbas Kiarostami, Finland's Mika Kaurismak, Japan's Suzuki Seijun and Hong Kong's Stanley Kwan.
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