Trends in the Vision Asia Films of the 30th Busan International Film Festival

The 30th Busan International Film Festival was held from Wednesday, September 17 to Friday, September 26, 2025, screening a total of 328 films across 31 screens in 7 theaters, including 241 officially invited films from 64 countries. Celebrating its 30th edition, the festival introduced a full-fledged competitive section and highlighted 14 major Asian films, while a wide variety of compelling works were presented across different sections.

In addition to the Busan Cinema Center, numerous events took place throughout the city, and the festival’s official merchandise proved extremely popular, with many items selling out. Total attendance reached 175,889, an increase of 20,000 compared to the previous year, marking a highly successful edition.

The films nominated for the FIPRESCI Award were all from Asian countries within the Vision section. The Vision section consisted of 11 Asian films and 12 Korean films, with the FIPRESCI Award judged exclusively on the 11 Asian films outside of Korea.

The following is the list of 11 Asian films in the Vision section:

All Greens (Japan), Black Rabbit, White Rabbit (Tajikistan/United Arab Emirates), Girlfriends (China/Taiwan/Hong Kong/Macao), If on a Winter’s Night (India), Kok Kok Kokoook (India), Kurak (Kyrgyzstan), Malika (Kazakhstan), Mothernet (Indonesia), On Your Lap (Nepal), Shape of Momo (Nepal), Tiger (Japan)

These films vividly showcase the diverse new trends in contemporary Asian cinema, with key themes including family, women, growth, and identity.

Among them, films exploring family and women’s lives were particularly striking. The FIPRESCI Award winner, On Your Lap, quietly portrays the life of a woman and mother who faces harsh realities with calm resilience. Mothernet tells the story of a boy attempting to revive his mother through AI, offering an emotionally resonant experience. Shape of Momo examines tradition and personal growth through a matrilineal family composed of grandmother, mother, and daughters. In contrast, Kurak delivers a powerful narrative highlighting women’s oppression and discrimination.

All Greens explores the passion and rebellious experiences of high school students, while Malika depicts a young girl’s growth following her parents’ divorce with a graceful cinematic language. If on a Winter’s Night presents the struggles of a young couple in the city through a concise, minimalist style.

Several films actively explore sexual identity. Girlfriends traces a woman’s love and growth at ages 17, 22, and 34, earning praise for its delicate emotional storytelling and realistic direction, opening new horizons for Asian LGBTQ+ cinema. Similarly, Tiger examines the realities of the LGBTQ+ community through the life of a gay massage therapist, navigating familial conflict and questions of personal identity.

Films notable for their experimental forms were also present. Black Rabbit, White Rabbit intertwines the fates of three characters, while Kok Kok Kokoook employs magical realism to probe the presence of outsiders in everyday life.

Overall, the Vision section of the 30th Busan International Film Festival was particularly significant, offering a clear view of emerging trends and key themes in Asian cinema.

Meehyun Kim
Edited by Robert Horton
© FIPRESCI 2025