Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has announced that Pak Dosin, a former senior programmer, has been appointed co-deputy director. In a dual-leadership structure, Pak will act as festival director alongside co-deputy director Kang Seung-ah.

- The 29th BIFF to be Held Under the Leadership of Chairperson PARK Kwang-su and Co-Deputy Directors KANG and PAK

To ensure the festival's smooth operations, the BIFF Executive Recommendation Committee was established to formulate the new executive committee and elect new board members. However, after the second round of open recruitment, the committee announced the absence of sufficient candidates and consequently submitted a statement to the secretariat notifying their dissolution.

The committee announced, “Although many individuals who have achieved outstanding works in various fields, including the film industry, participated in the first and second rounds of recruitment, given the Busan International Film Festival's aspirations for a new leap and strategic direction, it has been challenging to identify suitable candidates at this time.” In turn, the committee has expressed that it would be more appropriate to reform the Executive Recommendation Committee around the newly elected chairperson and the board of directors to drive forth with the selection of the next festival director. The committee, which commenced its activities with the first meeting on December 29th, 2023, is now set to be dismissed after holding a total of seven meetings to discuss their delegated activities, including the appointment of the chairperson, Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) director, board members, and auditors.

After much deliberation, BIFF has decided to postpone the appointment of the next festival director. This year, the festival will be held under the leadership of chairperson Park Kwang-su, ACFM director Ellen Y. D. Kim, and dual-leadership of co-deputy directors Kang Seung-ah and Pak Dosin in the vacancy of the festival director. This decision aims to allocate resources effectively by reducing the administrative processes and time needed to elect the festival director and enabling undivided attention towards successfully organizing the 29th Busan International Film Festival. After this year's event, BIFF will select its next festival director, allowing ample time to seek the most suitable candidate.

Starting his career at BIFF as a short-term contract employee in 2001, Pak Dosin has held various positions, including the head of the program department, the head of the PR department, the senior programmer, and the head of the Jiseok Film Institute. In addition to his experiences in various roles at the festival, his comprehensive understanding of the industry and extensive networks have earned him a reputable position within and outside the organization. With such experience, he will oversee the film selection and planning for this year’s events, while Kang Seung-ah will oversee the corporate operations and budget management. This new framework is expected to produce synergy as the two cooperate as co-deputy directors.

The 29th Busan International Film Festival, which has established a dual-leadership structure in preparation for this year’s event, will be held for 10 days from Oct 2 (Wed) to Oct 11 (Fri) in the vicinity of Busan Cinema Center.

■ The 29th Busan International Film Festival: Oct 2 (Wed) – Oct 11 (Fri)
■ The 19th Asian Contents & Film Market: Oct 5 (Sat) – Oct 8 (Tues)

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