Park Chan-wook's murder comedy to open Asia's biggest film festival

Busan, South Korea: Celebrated director Park Chan wook s star studded murder comedy will open Asia s biggest film festival Wednesday, which launches i...

Busan, South Korea: Celebrated director Park Chan-wook's star-studded murder comedy will open Asia's biggest film festival Wednesday, which launches its first fully fledged competition lineup as South Korea projects its soft power worldwide.

The 30th edition of Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) arrives after the global success of critical works exploring Korean culture and experiences, such as "Squid Game", "Parasite" and this year's megahit "KPop Demon Hunters".

The festival, which has long focused on emerging talents in the region, is undergoing a revamp this year, launching its first major competition section featuring 14 titles -- including four South Korean pictures.

The section includes seasoned Chinese director Zhang Lu's "Gloaming In Luomu" and Taiwan's megastar Shu Qi's directorial debut "Girl", and will be judged by juries headed by South Korean filmmaker Na Hong-jin.

The latest edition "sought not only to further expand its long-standing role as a platform for discovering emerging Asian talent, but also to effectively showcase the works of acclaimed Asian masters", festival director Jung Han-seok told AFP.