Bucheon, South Korea – The 29th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN), under the leadership of Executive Director Shin Chul, is poised to make a significant stride into the future of cinema with its 'BIFAN+ AI International Conference,' scheduled for three days from July 6 to 8, 2025. Held at the Small Performance Hall of the Bucheon Art Center, this conference forms a pivotal part of the larger festival, which runs from July 3 to 13, showcasing 217 films from 41 countries, including a dedicated selection of 11 AI films and 26 XR works.
The conference, themed 'AI STEP2: EXPAND,' aims to provide a comprehensive look at the transformative impact of artificial intelligence across various facets of the video content industry. Key areas of focus will include the latest trends in AI content creation, educational frameworks for future creators, policy considerations in the AI era, governmental support initiatives, and a dedicated showcase for AI creators. This integrated approach solidifies the conference's position as a unique platform in Korea for discussing the sustainable development of the cultural industry in the age of AI.
The opening of this year's AI conference will be marked by the world premiere screening of "Color of My Garden," a 25-minute short film crafted by AI artist Roy OH. A medical writer who has engaged in international collaborative projects with artists across the globe, including the U.S., Vietnam, and Europe, Roy OH will also participate in an in-depth session following the screening, offering insights into the AI-driven film production process. It is important to note that while "Color of My Garden" inaugurates the AI conference, the overall 29th BIFAN will open with the Asian premiere of "About A Hero" by Piotr Winiewicz, a hybrid documentary notable for its AI-generated script based on Werner Herzog's screenplays.
The conference will gather a diverse array of domestic and international AI creators to share their experiences and case studies in AI film creation. Among the prominent speakers is Hans LIN, an AI director renowned for visual campaigns with global brands such as Bulgari, ASUS, and LINE. His lecture, "Beyond Human Limits: Creating the Impossible Through AI," will explore how AI is redefining and expanding the boundaries of creative expression.
Further enriching the discourse, directors from Korea, Canada, France, Japan, and China, whose works have advanced to the finals of the international competition 'Bucheon Choice: AI Film,' will engage in candid discussions about their production journeys following the screenings of their respective films. This competition, now in its second year, has expanded to include a feature film section, underscoring the growing sophistication of AI in filmmaking.
A dedicated session titled 'AI Education: Questioning the Future of Creators,' a collaborative effort with the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA) under the Korean Film Council, will delve into the current state and future trajectory of AI creation education. This aligns with BIFAN's ambitious goal to train 10,000 AI-based content creators over the next five years, supported by initiatives such as the new AI Visual Education Center Bucheon.
International perspectives will be brought by Gaëtan Bruel, the newly appointed President of the French National Centre for Cinema and the Moving Image (CNC) as of February 2025. He will participate in a session alongside Lee Dong-ha, CEO of Film Company Red Peter, and Shin Chul, Executive Director of BIFAN, to assess the current state and evolving dynamics of the cultural industries in both Korea and France, particularly at their intersection with AI.
The subsequent session will address critical policy directions. Dr. Cho Young-shin, Chairman of the 'Special Committee on Video Policy in the AI Era,' will present on AI film policies that the new government should consider. This will be followed by a comprehensive discussion on effective policy responses with Kim Bo-yeon, Director of the Korean Film Council, Cho Kyung-hoon, CEO of Studio Animal, and Lee Ha-yeong, CEO of Haha Films.
In a strategic partnership, schedule-sharing platform TimeTree has become an official partner of BIFAN, establishing the 'TimeTree Award' as an AI Partner and providing integrated festival schedule management, especially for AI-related programs. This technological integration further highlights BIFAN's commitment to exploring new possibilities, embodying its slogans "Stay Strange" and "Expand Your Frame," and serving as a crucial milestone for the future of genre cinema where technology and art converge.
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