The Busan International Film Festival will give its Korean Cinema Award to Kim Dong-ho, its founding festival director, at the opening of its 31st edition. The award recognises figures who have significantly shaped Korean cinema and increased its international standing, reflecting Kim’s role in building BIFF into a major Asian film meeting point.

Kim founded and led BIFF from its launch in 1996, notably resisting film pre-approval by censors to protect programming from government interference. He has since held cultural and educational roles, served on major festival juries, and continued filmmaking; the award will be presented on 6 October, with BIFF running until 15 October in Busan.