The Busan International Film Festival will hold a policy forum on November 12 examining how Korean films and screen content can build a stronger international presence. The event, titled “Expanding the Global Territory of K-Movies and Content and Developing a National Strategic Asset,” is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Video Industry Center in Busan. The forum comes as the festival looks back on three decades of activity and considers how its international networks can support the next stage of Korea’s film and content industries. The discussion will focus not only on film screenings, but also on the role of festivals and industry markets in helping Korean projects reach overseas audiences and business partners. A major part of the program will address the Asian Contents & Film Market, commonly known as ACFM, which operates alongside the Busan festival.
Film markets connect producers, distributors, sales companies and investors, making them an important part of the international business infrastructure behind movies and series. Kim Hong-joon, an honorary professor at the Korea National University of Arts, is scheduled to give the first presentation. His topic will examine the role and future direction of film festivals in the global expansion of Korean movies and content. Han Ki-ryong of the Southern Post Policy Research Center will then present an analysis of ACFM’s measurable results and wider economic impact. The concluding discussion will include Busan International Film Festival executive director Jung Han-seok, ACFM commissioner Kim Young-deok, Busan municipal culture official Cho Yoo-jang and Kim Yi-seok, a film professor at Dong-eui University.
The forum is hosted by lawmaker Jung Yeon-wook, organized by the festival and supported by Busan Metropolitan City. For international readers, the meeting is significant because it treats Korean cinema as both a cultural field and an export industry. Busan has long served as a meeting point for Asian filmmakers and film professionals, while the festival’s market has helped create connections beyond the main competition and public screenings. The event itself is a policy discussion rather than a new film announcement, so no immediate release or distribution decisions are attached to it. Its importance lies in the questions it places on the agenda: how Korea can preserve the international momentum of its screen culture, how regional networks can be strengthened, and how festivals and markets can contribute to sustainable growth.