The 42nd Busan International Short Film Festival (BISFF), set to take place from April 24 to 29, 2025, has received an unprecedented 5,350 short film submissions from 121 countries, marking a significant increase from the previous year.
This year’s entries saw a rise of five participating countries and 1,660 films, setting a new record since the introduction of submission fees and further solidifying BISFF’s status as a global platform for short films.
The festival’s growing recognition is attributed to factors such as its adoption of FilmFreeway, consecutive screenings at Cinémathèque Française, re-certification as an Academy Award-qualifying festival, and official recognition from prestigious film awards like Spain’s Goya Awards, Canada’s Screen Awards, and the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA). BISFF was also included in Moviemaker Magazine’s list of worthwhile festivals for submissions, further enhancing its global reputation.
This year, narrative films accounted for 63% of the submissions, followed by documentaries (13%), animation (11%), and experimental films (7%). Notably, there was a rise in new media formats, including 3D films and AI-generated works, reflecting the evolving landscape of short filmmaking.
The final selection for the competition category, consisting of 40 international films and 20 Korean films, will be announced on March 12 via the festival’s official website (www.bisff.org).
In addition, BISFF has launched applications for its “BISFF On the Road” program, which expands free screenings to cultural and educational institutions, middle and high schools, universities, and underserved areas in Busan.
This initiative, now in its fourth year, aims to make short films more accessible to local communities. The program will hold four screenings, and applications are open through February 13 via the festival’s website.
