Netflix is making a major splash at the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), bringing a high-profile lineup of five diverse titles—anchored by Lee Chang-dong’s 8-year return with Love in the Future (tentative English title for 가능한 사랑)—as the streaming giant celebrates its milestone tenth anniversary in South Korea.
The Bottom Line
- The Anchor Title: Lee Chang-dong returns with his first feature since Burning, bringing a star-studded cast including Jeon Do-yeon, Sol Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung, and Cho Yeo-jeong.
- Global Scale: The five-film BIFF lineup bridges domestic Korean prestige and genre series with international animation, including Brad Bird’s Ray Gunn.
- Talent Development: Alongside festival screenings, Netflix is partnering with BIFF to host the third annual Creative Asia initiative on October 10 to cultivate next-generation talent.
Lee Chang-dong’s Anticipated Return Sets the Festival Tone
As the 31st Busan International Film Festival prepares to open its doors on October 6, anticipation centers heavily on the festival’s prestigious “Icon” section. This is where Netflix has secured a prime showcase for Love in the Future, directed by Lee Chang-dong. Marking his first directorial effort since Burning, the film examines the intersecting lives of two couples—a laid-off worker and his wife, alongside a documentary filmmaker and her husband—as they confront conflicting realities and desires during a documentary project.
The project boasts an ensemble cast featuring Jeon Do-yeon, Sol Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung, and Cho Yeo-jeong. The industry weight of the production extends well beyond Busan; the film has already landed official selections at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, the 51st Toronto International Film Festival, and the 64th New York Film Festival. Furthermore, it has been selected as South Korea’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards.
Genre Diversity: From Survival Horrors to Cross-Border Detective Thrillers
While auteur-driven cinema anchors one end of Netflix’s Busan delegation, the streamer is catering to genre enthusiasts through BIFF’s “On Screen” sidebar. Dedicated to highlighting highly anticipated drama series, the section features two distinct Korean projects that blend stark social realities with high-concept dread.
First up is Honey Part-Time Job (working title), a survival horror series directed by Kim Da-min—known for writing Netflix’s A Killer Paradox and directing 막걸리가 알려줄거야. The plot follows a young man named Hyuk-jun who accepts a shady gig promising wages fifty times higher than standard pay, only to find himself trapped in a nightmarish labor environment. The series stars Lee Jae-wook, Go Min-si, Kim Min-ha, and Lee Hee-jun.
Sharing the spotlight in the series section is Blue Path (working title), a transnational mystery directed by Han Jun-hee, whose credits include the feature Chinatown and Netflix’s military drama D.P. The narrative follows a relentless search for justice across borders following the discovery of a mutilated corpse bearing mysterious messages. The series pairs South Korean actor Son Suk-ku with Japanese star Eita Nagayama as a cross-border detective duo.
Bridging Continents with Hollywood and European Animation
Netflix’s Busan roster expands beyond South Korea, embracing international animation. In the “Icon” section alongside Lee Chang-dong sits Ray Gunn, an alternate-history animated feature directed by Brad Bird—the creative force behind The Incredibles and Ratatouille, as well as The Simpsons. Set in a 1939 retro-futuristic metropolis called Metropopia, the story follows private detective Raymond Gunn as he navigates a dangerous web of alien conspiracies, sudden murders, and global pop superstar Venus Nova. Sam Rockwell lends his voice to the titular detective, while Scarlett Johansson voices Nova.
Rounding out the slate in the “World Cinema” section is the French animated feature We, Like Waves (working title), directed by Phuong Mai Nguyen in her feature debut. Centered on a shy Los Angeles teenager named AJ and a surf-obsessed girl named Christine, the film explores youthful romance upended by sudden illness. Featuring voice work from Will Sharpe and Stephanie Hsu, the film previously opened the Cannes Film Festival’s Critics’ Week and screened in the Discovery section at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Beyond red carpets and premieres, Netflix is leveraging its tenth anniversary in the Korean market to support the industry. The streamer is collaborating once again with BIFF to host “Creative Asia,” an initiative designed to nurture up-and-coming filmmakers, emerging creators, and production specialists.
It will feature masterclasses, industry panels, and workshops aimed at bridging the gap between regional talent and the global streaming apparatus. As the 31st Busan International Film Festival runs from October 6 through October 15 across the Busan Cinema Center and surrounding venues, Netflix's multi-pronged presence highlights the evolution of traditional film festivals and global streaming platforms.
| Title | Format | Director | BIFF Section | Key Cast / Voice Talent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Love in the Future | Feature Film | Lee Chang-dong | Icon | Jeon Do-yeon, Sol Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung, Cho Yeo-jeong |
| Ray Gunn | Animated Film | Brad Bird | Icon | Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson |
| Honey Part-Time Job | Series | Kim Da-min | On Screen | Lee Jae-wook, Go Min-si, Kim Min-ha, Lee Hee-jun |
| Blue Path | Series | Han Jun-hee | On Screen | Son Suk-ku, Eita Nagayama |
| We, Like Waves | Animated Film | Phuong Mai Nguyen | World Cinema | Will Sharpe, Stephanie Hsu |
