Zhang Yimou Leads Busan Film Fest Jury

Zhang Yimou will lead the main competition jury at the 2026 Busan International Film Festival, joined by six other prominent filmmakers, actors, and producers from Asia. The jury will judge 13 selected films and present prizes across five categories.

The main competition jury will consist of 7 members, including Zhang Yimou, Bi Gan, Moon Choi, Kei Ishikawa, July Jung, Tran Thi Bich Ngoc, and Samal Yeslyamova. The total cash prize money for the competition is $80,000.

The Busan International Film Festival will take place from October 6-15. This is the second edition of the festival's main competition section, which was introduced last year. Films that win the Busan Award for Best Film will be automatically submitted to the Best International Feature category at the Academy Awards.

Zhang Yimou is one of Asia's most artistically decorated and commercially successful filmmakers. His film 'Hero' grossed about $177 million worldwide in 2002, while his 2023 historical blockbuster 'Full River Red' earned $670 million globally.

## Why it matters The Busan International Film Festival is a significant event in the Asian film industry, and the introduction of a fully-fledged competition section last year has raised its profile. With the new rule that films winning the Best Film Award will be automatically submitted to the Academy Awards, the festival has become an important platform for Asian filmmakers to gain international recognition. The jury's decision will not only award prizes but also potentially launch the careers of emerging filmmakers and bring Asian cinema to a global audience.

The festival has also announced the juries for its other sections, including the Vision – Asia section, the FIPRESCI jury, and the BIFF Mecenat Award in the Feature Documentary Competition. The Sonje Award Jury has also been announced, comprising Anuparna Roy, Abinash Bikram Shah, and Lee Ranhee.