Hotter Busan International Film Festival With the OTT Craze

OTT works, which have grown rapidly since the COVID-19 pandemic, boasted hot popularity at the Busan International Film Festival this year following last year. From Netflix to TVING, wavve, and Disney+, all major OTT platforms participated, melting deeper into the film festival.

Advertisement

The 27th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) on-screen section, which opened on the 5th, is a section that presents not only the online video streaming platform (OTT) but also the drama series that will be aired on other platforms as World Premiere or Asian Premiere.

BIFF said, "It quickly reflects the recent expansion of the film industry in a wide range of directions and adds meaning to it by embracing the changing cinematic trend and values". The new on-screen section, which was newly established last year, drew attention by attracting enthusiastic responses from the media and audiences after its first release of three series, and this year, it increased the number of screenings to nine to expand the audience.

An official from the BIFF told Star News, "Last year's screen section drew a lot of attention, and this year, not only major online platform works participated, but also the platform showed a positive response by introducing expected works first". As a result, a number of important works scheduled to be released on online platforms at home and abroad in the second half of this year were invited to this year's online section. "Glitch" (Director Roh Deok), "Bargain" (Director Jeon Woo-sung-I), "Somebody" (Director Jeong Ji-woo), "Weak Hero Class 1" (Director You Su-min), "Recipe for Farewell" (Director Lee Ho-jae-I), "Yonder" (Director Lee Joon-ik), "Connect" (Director Miike Takashi), "The Kingdom" (Director Lars von Trier), and "Blood Curse" (Director Kimo Stamboel) make 9 works.

TVING's "Bargain" GV screening was sold out early due to its high popularity as soon as bookings began, receiving hot spotlight such as adding a general screening schedule, and wavve's "Weak Hero Class 1" also recorded sold out cases at the same time as ticket bookings began. In particular, tickets for the World Premiere episode of "Weak Hero Class 1" were reportedly sold out in just two minutes.

Actors in "Somebody", "Glitch", "Bargain", "Connect", and "Weak Hero Class 1" had a meaningful time communicating directly with fans through outdoor stage greetings and open talks.

In addition to the movie, OTT platforms have melted throughout the BIFF. First, Netflix rented a cafe and ran a Netflix Talk Room. An official said, "We wanted to create a space that was literally like a 'talk room' as well as film officials, reporters, actors, and ordinary citizens. As we intended, many people visited and enjoyed it", he said. The space not only promoted the films "20th Century Girl", the original series "Somebody" and "Glitch" but also provided studios and goods.

TVING also set up a place in front of the museum garden opposite the Cinema Center, promoted "Yonder" and "Bargain", and Disney+ held a production briefing for the anticipated film "Connect" in Busan. OTT wavve in Korea operated a brand zone in the outdoor plaza and held events such as photo spots and goods presentation, and drew attention by setting up a promotional booth and event zone for its invited work, "Weak Hero Class 1". wavve said, "We are happy that the Busan International Film Festival has provided a place to breathe and sympathize with more audiences".