Busan film fest embraces Asian diversity

SEOUL (AFP) - A Hong Kong action-thriller and a rural drama from Bangladesh will open and close Asia's top film festival next month, as its South Korean hosts look to share more of the spotlight with regional offerings.

In the past, Korean films have nearly always bookended the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), but with the event now in its 17th year, organisers said they were keen to underline the diversity of Asian cinema.

The Oct 4 to 13 festival will feature 304 movies from 75 countries, including Comrade Kim Goes Flying, a romantic comedy filmed entirely in North Korea.

Launched in 1996, the annual festival has developed into the largest of its kind in Asia with a focus on discovering new movies and first-time directors from across the region.