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{{Infobox Film Festival
| name        = Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival
| logo        = Bifan emblem.jpg
| image       = BIFAN poster.jpg
| caption     = 29th edition official poster
| number      = 221 from 41 countries
| founded     = 1997 
| last        = 2025
| host        = BIFAN Organizing Committee
| location    = [[Bucheon]], South Korea
| date        = Opening: {{Start date|2025|7|3}} <br/> Closing: {{End date|2025|7|13}}
| language    = Korean<br>English
| website     = {{url|https://www.bifan.kr}}
| next              = [[30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival|30th]]
| main              = Current: 29th 
| previous          = [[28th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival|28th]]
}}

The '''Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival''' ({{ko-hhrm|부천국제판타스틱영화제|富川國際판타스틱映畵祭}}), or '''BiFan''', formerly known as '''Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival''' or '''PiFan''', is an international [[film festival]] held annually in July in [[Bucheon]], South Korea. Inaugurated in 1997, the festival focuses on [[Cinema of South Korea|South Korean]] and international horror, thriller, mystery and fantasy films, with particular attention to [[Asian cinema]] from [[East Asian cinema|East Asia]] and [[Southeast Asian cinema|Southeast Asia]]. It is a non-competitive international film festival, with partial competition, awarding a number of awards.

==History==
The inaugural festival was held in 1997.{{cn|date=July 2023}} Until 2015, it was known as the Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival, or PiFan.<ref name="pusan18:Screen">{{Cite news |url= https://www.screendaily.com/news/18th-pifan-opens-with-stereo-/5075321.article |title= 18th PiFan opens with Stereo, Producers' Choice Awards |work= Screen Daily |author= Jean Noh |date= July 18, 2014 |access-date= July 18, 2021 |archive-date= July 18, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210718113107/https://www.screendaily.com/news/18th-pifan-opens-with-stereo-/5075321.article |url-status= live }}</ref>

The festival faced a [[boycott]] in 2005 to protest what was seen by critics as meddling by Bucheon mayor [[Hong Geon-pyo]]. A rival event called RealFanta was organized that year on the same dates as BiFan by former festival director Kim Hong-joon. The festival returned in 2006 without any dispute under the direction of veteran filmmaker [[Lee Jang-ho]] and a new programming team.<ref>{{cite web |last= Paquet |first= Darcy |url= https://variety.com/2006/film/markets-festivals/fest-tries-to-regain-fantastic-rep-1200336517/ |title= Fest tries to regain fantastic rep |work= [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date= 2006-05-14 |access-date= 2007-07-12 |archive-date= 2007-05-30 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070530012124/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117943178.html?categoryid=1442&cs=1 |url-status= live }}</ref>

Since then, editions of the festival have included the following:
* The 11th edition of PiFan, held from 12 to 24 July 2007, featured 225 films from 33 countries. 
*The 12th edition of PiFan was held from 18 July to 27 July 2008.
*The 18th edition of PiFan was held from 17 July to 27 July 2014, featuring 210 films from 47 countries.<ref name="pusan18:Screen" />
* The 19th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BiFan) took place from 16 to 26 July 2015, with a change of name. It showcased 235 films from 45 countries.<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.kofic.org/eng/news/news.jsp?blbdComCd=601006&seq=3468&mode=VIEW |title= Antoine Bardou-Jacquet's MOONWALKERS to Open 19th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival |author= Sonia Kil |date= June 17, 2015 |access-date= June 18, 2021 |work= [[Korean Film Council|KOFIC]] |archive-date= July 18, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210718114913/http://www.kofic.org/eng/news/news.jsp?blbdComCd=601006&seq=3468&mode=VIEW |url-status= live }}</ref>
* The 20th edition of BiFan took place from 21 to 31 July 2016. It showcased 320 films from 49 countries.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://asianfilmfestivals.com/2016/08/08/winners-bucheon-international-fantastic-film-festival-2016/ |title= Winners of the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival 2016 |website= Asian Film Festivals |last= Nadilo |first= Sabastian |date= August 8, 2016 |access-date= July 18, 2021 |language= en |archive-date= July 18, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210718112037/https://asianfilmfestivals.com/2016/08/08/winners-bucheon-international-fantastic-film-festival-2016/ |url-status= live }}</ref>
* The 21st edition of BiFan was held from 13 July to 23 July 2017. It featured 289 films from 58 countries.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/south-koreas-bucheon-fantastic-fest-sets-opening-closing-films-1013766/ |title= South Korea's Bucheon Fantastic Fest Sets Opening, Closing Films |website= The Hollywood Reporter |date= June 15, 2017 |access-date= July 18, 2021 |language= en |archive-date= July 18, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210718110744/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/south-koreas-bucheon-fantastic-fest-sets-opening-closing-films-1013766/amp/ |url-status= live }}</ref>
* The 22nd edition of BiFan was held from 12 July to 22 July 2018. It featured 290 films from 53 countries.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/south-koreas-bucheon-fantastic-fest-spotlight-horror-masters-women-film-1117965/ |title= South Korea's Bucheon Fantastic Fest to Spotlight Horror Masters, Women in Film |website= The Hollywood Reporter |last= Lee |first= Hyo-won |date= June 7, 2018 |access-date= July 17, 2021 |language= en |archive-date= July 18, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210718095913/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/south-koreas-bucheon-fantastic-fest-spotlight-horror-masters-women-film-1117965/ |url-status= live }}</ref>
* The 23rd edition of BiFan took place from June 27 to 7 July 2019. It featured 299 films from 54 countries (166 Features, 133 Shorts).<ref>{{Cite news |url= http://m.bifan.kr/eng/bifan/01_bifan.asp |title= BIFAN 2019: Introduction |work= Bifan |date= July 7, 2019 |access-date= July 18, 2021 |language= en |archive-date= July 18, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210718105501/http://m.bifan.kr/eng/bifan/01_bifan.asp |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url= https://asianfilmfestivals.com/2019/07/05/bucheon-international-fantastic-film-festival-awards-2019/ |title= 23rd Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival – Awards 2019 |website= Asian Film Festivals |last= Nadilo |first= Sabastian |date= July 5, 2019 |access-date= July 17, 2021 |language= en |archive-date= July 18, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210718103637/https://asianfilmfestivals.com/2019/07/05/bucheon-international-fantastic-film-festival-awards-2019/ |url-status= live }}</ref>
* The 24th edition of BiFan took place from July 9 to 16, 2020. It featured 194 films from 42 countries.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://asianfilmfestivals.com/2020/07/10/films-cant-miss-bucheon-international-fantastic-film-festival-part1/ |title= 20 Films you can't miss at the 24th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (Part 1) |website= Asian Film Festivals |last= Nadilo |first= Sabastian |date= July 10, 2020 |access-date= July 17, 2021 |language= en |archive-date= July 18, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210718102946/https://asianfilmfestivals.com/2020/07/10/films-cant-miss-bucheon-international-fantastic-film-festival-part1/ |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url= https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2020/07/17/entertainment/movies/BIFAN-Bucheon-194-films/20200717170800339.html |title= 24th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival comes to a close |website=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]] |last= Lee |first= Jae-Lim |date= July 17, 2020 |access-date= July 17, 2021 |language= en |archive-date= July 18, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210718102939/https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2020/07/17/entertainment/movies/BIFAN-Bucheon-194-films/20200717170800339.html |url-status= live }}</ref>
*The [[25th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival|25th edition of BiFan]] was held from 8 to 18 July 2021. It featured 257 films from 47 countries. Due to the impact of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea]], it was held in a hybrid format (online and offline) at five different locations, including Oul Madang and CGV Picnic.<ref name="lead: Yonhap">{{Cite news |url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/001/0012513867 |title= '장르 영화 축제' 부천국제판타스틱영화제 개막…방역에 총력 |trans-title= 'Genre Film Festival' Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival opens... focus on quarantine |author= Yoon Tae-hyu |work=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |publisher=[[Naver]] |date= July 8, 2021|access-date= July 11, 2021|language=ko}}</ref> As per quarantine guidelines for [[COVID-19]] containment, online screening of 154 films (61 feature films, 93 short films), which is about 60 % of the entire film festival were open to view on  WAAVE [[Over-the-top media service|over-the-top (OTT)]] service.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/003/0010598982?sid=101 |title= 웨이브, 오늘부터 부천국제판타스틱영화제 온라인 상영관 오픈 |trans-title= Wave, Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival online screening open from today |author= Lee Jin-young |work=[[Newsis]] |publisher=[[Naver]] |date= July 9, 2021 |access-date= July 11, 2021 |language= ko |archive-date= July 11, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210711132108/https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/003/0010598982?sid=101 |url-status= live }}</ref>
* The [[26th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival|26th edition of BiFan]] was held from 7 to 17 July 2022. It featured 268 films from 49 countries.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/movie/article/117/0003623113|title=제26회 부천국제판타스틱영화제 산업프로그램 B.I.G 전격 출범|trans-title=The 26th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival industrial program BIG launch|author=Kwak Myeong-dong|work=My Daily|publisher=[[Naver]]|date=July 9, 2022|access-date=July 10, 2022|language=ko|archive-date=July 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710063658/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/movie/article/117/0003623113|url-status=live}}</ref> From this edition a new award titled as 'Series Film Award' was started. The first Series Film Award was awarded to ''[[Squid Game]]''.<ref name="sfa:naver">{{Cite news|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/movie/article/018/0005263668 |title=오징어게임, BIFAN서 '시리즈 영화상' 최초 수상 |trans-title=Squid Game wins 'Series Film Award' at BIFAN for the first time |author=Kang Kyung-rok |work=Edaily |publisher=[[Naver]]|date=July 10, 2022|access-date=July 10, 2022|language=ko}}</ref>
* The 27th edition of BiFan was held from 29 June to 9 July 2023. It featured 262 films from 51 countries. Closing ceremony, hosted by [[Jo Sung-ha]] and [[Ye Ji-won]] was held on July 7 at Bucheon City Hall Main Theater.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/117/0003747094|title=조성하·예지원, 제27회 부천국제판타스틱영화제 폐막식 사회|trans-title=Jo Seong-ha and Ye Ji-won, host of the 27th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival Closing Ceremony|author=Kwak Myeong-dong|work=My Daily|publisher=[[Naver]]|date=July 4, 2023|access-date=July 7, 2023|language=ko|archive-date=July 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707162116/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/117/0003747094|url-status=live}}</ref> Bucheon Choice: Feature was awarded to ''The Witchcraft'' by [[Christopher Murray (actor)|Christopher Murray]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/movie/article/144/0000898736 |title=제27회 BIFAN, 폐막…정이서·장성범 배우상 수상 |trans-title= The 27th BIFAN, Closing... Jeong Yi-seo and Jang Seong-beom won the Actor Award |author=Lee Da-won|work=[[Sports Kyunghyang]] |publisher=[[Naver]] |date=July 8, 2023|access-date=July 8, 2023|language=ko}}</ref>
* The 28th edition of BiFan was held in July 2024. Best of Bucheon feature award went to ''[[The Last Stop in Yuma County]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bifan.kr/|title=Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival|website=BIFAN}}</ref>
* The 29th edition of BiFan was held at Bucheon Arts Center in Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si from July 3, to July 13, 2025. The opening film was ''About a Hero'' by Polish director Piotr Biniewicz. Actor [[Lee Byung-hun]] is the star of this year’s BIFAN Actor Special Exhibition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/home/article/311/0001881277 |title=제29회 부천국제판타스틱영화제, 7월 3일 개막…'배우 특별전' 이병헌 참석|trans-title=The 29th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival opens on July 3rd… Lee Byung-hun to attend ‘Actor Special Exhibition’|author=Kim Yu-jin |work= Export News|publisher=Naver|date= June 20, 2025|access-date=July 2, 2025 |language=ko}}</ref> The closing ceremony was held on July 11, hosted by [[Kim Joo-ryoung]]. ''[[The Ugly Stepsister]]'' by Emilie Blichfeldt was awarded as Best Picture. The closing film was ''Dangol Restaurant'' by Han Jae-yi.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/movie/article/241/0003451776 |title= 제29회 부천국제판타스틱영화제 폐막…작품상 바디호러 '어글리 시스터' |trans-title=The 29th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival closes… Best Picture Body Horror ‘Ugly Sister’|author=Lee Joo-in |work= Daily Sports |publisher=Naver |date= July 11, 2025|access-date=July 11, 2025 |language=ko}}</ref>

==Program==
The festival's programming consists of following sections:
* Opening film	
* Bucheon Choice	
** Bucheon Choice Features	
** Bucheon Choice: Shorts 1	Edit
** Bucheon Choice: Shorts 2
* Korean Fantastic	
** Korean Fantastic: Competition	
** Korean Fantastic: Features	
** Korean Fantastic: Shorts
* World Fantastic Red
* World Fantastic Blue
* Family Zone
* Forbidden Zone
* Strange Hommage
* Fantastic Short Films
* Vertical Short Film Special Screening: 25
* BIFAN x wavve Online Screening

==Awards==
The festival is a non-competitive international film festivals with partial competition. It gives away following awards:<ref>{{Cite news |url= http://www.bifan.kr/bifan/05_01.asp |title= BIFAN: Awards |work= Bifan |date= July 9, 2021 |access-date= July 17, 2021 |language= en |archive-date= July 16, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210716205239/http://www.bifan.kr/bifan/05_01.asp |url-status= live }}</ref>

* Bucheon Choice: It is the international competition section of the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. It offers these awards:
**Bucheon Choice Feature: 
**Best Picture (Award of KRW 20 million)
**Director Award (5 million won in prize money)
**Special Jury Prize (5 million won in prize money)
**Featured Audience Award
*Bucheon Choice: Short
**Best Short Film (5 million won in prize money)
**Short Film Jury Award (3 million won in prize money)
**Short Audience Award
*Korean Fantastic: This is a domestic competition section for the Korean films.
*Korean Fantastic: Feature
**Korean Fantastic Film Award (20 million won in prize money)
**Korean Fantastic Director Award (5 million won in prize money)
**Korean Fantastic Actor Award (2 people)
**Korean Fantastic Audience Award
**NH Agricultural Negotiation (distribution support award, 10 million won)
**CGV Award (Distribution Support Award, 10 million won)
**Best Feature Award (2 films, 5 million won each)
*Korean Fantastic: Short
**Korean Fantastic Short Film Award (5 million won in prize money)
**Korean Fantastic Short Audience Award
**Best Short Film that Watcha noticed (5 episodes, 1 million won each)
*Méliès International Film Festival Federation (MIFF) Asian Film Award: This award is given for the purpose of discovering and promoting Asian fantastic genre films. 
*NETPAC award: This award is awarded by Netpack, the Asian Film Promotion Organization.
*Odd Family Award: Instituted from 26th edition, it is awarded to the Best Film from the 'Odd Family section' by BIFAN Strange Children Jury, composed of children of Bucheon City.
*Series Film Award: Instituted from 26th edition, it is awarded to the best drama series.<ref name="sfa:naver" />

== Academic research==
The festival has been the topic of academic research
<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Chang |first1=Jun-Do |last2=Yoon |first2=Wn-Ho |date=2016-03-31 |title=The Research of User Experiences of Participants of Public Comics Festival - In the center of Cosplay Sector of Bucheon International Comics Festival |url=https://koreascience.or.kr/article/JAKO201613360957514.page |journal=Cartoon and Animation Studies |volume=42 |pages=263–291 |doi=10.7230/koscas.2016.42.263 |issn=1738-009X}}</ref><ref>https://koreascience.or.kr/article/JAKO201613360957514.page</ref>

==See also==

* [[List of fantastic and horror film festivals]]
* [[European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation]]
*[[List of festivals in South Korea]]
*[[List of festivals in Asia]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
 
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{official|https://www.bifan.kr/eng/}}
* {{IMDb event|0004407}}

{{Festivals in South Korea}}

{{coord|37|30|N|126|47|E|region:KR_type:city|display=title}}
[[Category:Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival| ]]
[[Category:Film festivals in South Korea]]
[[Category:Fantasy and horror film festivals]]
[[Category:Film festivals established in 1997]]
[[Category:1997 establishments in South Korea]]
[[Category:Culture in Bucheon]]
[[Category:Annual events in South Korea]]
[[Category:Summer in South Korea]]
[[Category:Festivals in Gyeonggi Province]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival|access_date=2026-02-27}}