30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival Announces 10 Korean Feature Films
- Film to meet audiences in the Bucheon Choice Korean: Feature
- A diverse range of genres from horror to comedy, 10 films selected, two more than last year
The 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (Festival Director Shin Chul, hereafter BIFAN) has unveiled the 10 Korean feature films selected to compete in the Bucheon Choice Korean: Features. The selection is two films larger than last year, and the range of genres has also broadened.
Previously known as Korean Fantastic, the Korean film competition section has been renamed Bucheon Choice Korean this year, aiming for both qualitative and quantitative growth. The section has served as a gateway for unique genre films, presenting works such as Teaching Practice: Idiot Girls and School Ghost 2 by KIM Min-ha, The Square by KIM Bo-sol, and Manok by LEE Yu-jin last year. Over the years, it has also introduced audiences to numerous acclaimed works and filmmakers, including JUNG Jae-hoon’s Esper’s Light (2024), KIM Min-ha’s Idiot Girls and School Ghost: School Anniversary (2024), YOON Eun-kyoung’s The Tenants (2024), HUR Bum-wook’s Pig That Survived Foot-and-Mouth Disease (2024), KIM Sung-hwan’s IRON MASK (2023), HA Myung-mi’s Her Hobby (2023), and many more.
The defining characteristic of this year's 10 Korean feature films can be summarized as genre diversity. In the horror genre—a signature of BIFAN—JANG Jun-yeop’s Killing Time and SIM Kyu-ho’s Focus are included. The former, centered on a livestreaming YouTube channel, is an intelligent horror film that constantly overturns audience expectations with its twists and turns. The latter delves into the abyss of supernatural phenomena through the medium of a camera. Meanwhile, JEONG Hyo-jung’s The Fertilizer Home captures a series of brutal incidents taking place in a village with a uniquely distinctive tone.
¡ãStills from left: Killing Time, Focus, and The Fertilizer Home (Courtesy of BIFAN)
Crime-inspired films in the lineup include The Robber by SONG Hyeon-bum, The Only Child in the Butchery by YOO Hyoung-joon, and Savon by LEE Jun-sup. The Robber, centered on two teenage protagonists, explores the classic teen-genre theme of deviation from an intriguing perspective. The Only Child in the Butchery weaves accidental and unexpected events into a meticulous, puzzle-like narrative. Savon is a thriller that follows an aspiring actor through bizarre, sudden, and at times nightmarish events.
¡ãStills from left: The Robber, The Only Child in the Butchery, Savon (Courtesy of BIFAN)
HUH Gun’s Last Mankind, selected by BIFAN this year as part of the Cannes Fantastic 7, is a dystopian sci-fi film as its title suggests. It is a work highly anticipated for its unique mise-en-scène and visuals. JEONG Beom, who previously co-helmed The Berefts (2024) with director HUR Jang, returns with Knock, a distinctive drama that immerses audiences somewhere between the reality of documentary and fiction.
¡ãStills from left: Last Mankind, Knock (Courtesy of BIFAN)
Smile Charles, directed by OH Young-doo—who previously connected with BIFAN through Invasion of Alien Bikini (2011), Young Gun in the Time (2012), and the omnibus film The Neighbor Zombie (2010)—is a comedy highlighted by its protagonist’s slyly playful performance. Last but not least, the animated film Company Sports Day by LEE Yong-sun marks the director's return to BIFAN for the first time in nine years since I'll Just Live in Bando (2018). The director's enduring spirit of satire and delightful storytelling will be shown to audiences.
¡ãStills from left: Smile Charles, Company Sports Day (Courtesy of BIFAN)
Ranging from hardgore horror to comedy and animation, the diverse films in this year’s Bucheon Choice Korean Features will be shown at theaters throughout Bucheon City from the opening ceremony on July 2 until July 12.
¡á Bucheon Choice Korean: Features
| |
Title |
Director |
Country |
Year |
Premiere |
| 1 |
Company Sports Day |
LEE Yong-sun |
Korea |
2026 |
AP |
| 2 |
The Fertilizer Home |
JEONG Hyo-jung |
Korea |
2025 |
WP |
| 3 |
Focus |
SIM Kyu-ho |
Korea |
2025 |
WP |
| 4 |
Killing Time |
JANG Jun-yeop |
Korea |
2025 |
WP |
| 5 |
Knock |
JEONG Beom |
Korea |
2025 |
WP |
| 6 |
Last Mankind |
HUH Gun |
Korea |
2026 |
WP |
| 7 |
The Only Child in the Butchery |
YOO Hyoung-joon |
Korea |
2025 |
AP |
| 8 |
The Robber |
SONG Hyeon-bum |
Korea |
2026 |
WP |
| 9 |
Savon |
LEE Jun-sup |
Korea |
2025 |
AP |
| 10 |
Smile Charles |
OH Young-doo |
Korea |
2026 |
WP |
¡á Festival Overview
▪ Title: 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN)
▪ Date: July 2 (Thu) – July 12 (Sun), 2026 (11 days)
▪ Type: Non-competitive international film festival introducing partial competition
▪ Venue: Various locations across Bucheon City
Please contact the BIFAN PR Team for more details.
E. press@bifan.kr | M. +82-10-7367-6313 | T. +82-32-327-6313 (135, 140)