Kim Minha will host the gala opening ceremony of the 31st Busan International Film Festival on October 6, taking the stage alone in a break from the festival's customary two-host format.

The announcement came via press release on July 31. The 31st edition of BIFF — Asia's largest film festival by programme size — runs October 6 through 15 across the Busan Cinema Center and venues throughout Busan, South Korea (The Hollywood Reporter).

Kim is best known for playing young Sunja in Apple TV+'s Pachinko, the series adaptation of Min Jin Lee's novel. In 2025 she won best actress in the international competition at the Seoul International Drama Awards and best new actress at the Blue Dragon Series Awards. Festival organisers described her as "known for her poised yet spirited presence" and said she is "expected to bring warmth and confidence to the opening ceremony." They also cited "the depth and emotional precision she brings to every role" and her growing stature as a star of Korea's new generation.

The solo-host choice is the notable detail. BIFF has customarily paired two Korean stars for its kick-off event. This year, the festival is placing the entire opening-night spotlight on a single performer.

The 31st edition also carries forward the main competition section that BIFF launched for the first time at its 30th edition in 2025. That competition is positioned around the Busan Awards Grand Prize, which the festival describes as Asia's premier cinema honour. The 30th edition in 2025 officially selected 241 films from 64 countries.

Behind the scenes, the festival's industry tracks are already in motion. The 2026 Asian Project Market — BIFF's financing and co-production forum, where film-makers pitch projects to potential investors and sales agents — received 604 submissions from 48 countries, an all-time record for the third year running. On July 30, the festival announced the 30 official selections for that market. Community BIFF, the festival's audience-participation programme, opened voting for its 2026 Request Cinema lineup on July 27.

For festivalgoers, the Tuesday-to-Thursday calendar means opening night falls on a working evening and closing night on a weekday as well. Tickets and full programme details typically follow in the weeks before the festival.

Kim's selection puts a streaming-era face at the front of a festival that has spent three decades building its identity as a showcase for Asian cinema and a marketplace for the region's next wave of films. Her rise through prestige drama and year-end award wins gives the opening ceremony a performer whose recognition extends well beyond Korea's borders.