These are twenty films you shouldn’t miss at the 24th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, which is taking place from July 9th – 16th, 2020 in Bucheon, South Korea.

About the festival:
The Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) aims to consolidate its identity as a ‘Fantastic Film Festival’ through Fantastic-Genre films and to provide a new and diverse aspects toward Genre film. BIFAN also encourages the understanding of different cultures through the art of fantastic films and facilitates exchange of ideas among film industry professionals from all around the world and those from Korea. Furthermore, the Festival promotes including but not limited to the production and distribution of fantastic films.

Selected Films:

A Girl Missing by Fukada Koji – Japan | 2019 – 111 minutes
Section: World Fantastic Blue

Ichiko, a devoted and kind nurse, has been looking after an ailing old woman of the Oisho family for a long time. She feels almost like family to the family’s eldest granddaughter Motoko. One day, Motoko’s younger sister Saki disappears, which puts Ichiko in challenging situations. (BIFAN 2020)

Schedule:
July 10th, 2020 – Friday | CGV Sopung 2 | 10:30 am
July 13th, 2020 – Monday | CGV Sopung 10 | 17:00 pm

Trailer:

Dancing Mary by Sabu – Japan | 2019 – 95 minutes
Section: World Fantastic Red

Timid civil servant, Kenji, takes charge of demolishing a dance hall located in a big shopping mall. No one wants to take the work because the ghost of Mary, a former dancer in the dance hall, interrupts whenever attempts are made to tear the building down. Kenji tries to find an exorcist to lift the curse, and after several attempts, finally meets Yukiko, who can see ghosts. Kenji and Yukiko then embark on a difficult journey to find Mary’s lover, Johnny. (BIFAN 2020)

Schedule:
July 10th, 2020 – Friday | CGV Sopung 4 | 13:30 pm
July 15th, 2020 – Wednesday | CGV Sopung 2 | 16:30 pm

Trailer:

Festival by Kim Lokkyoung – South Korea | 2020 – 108 minutes
Section: Korean Fantastic – Competition

While working at various events, an unknown MC named Kyungman and his younger sister, Kyungmi, are taking care of their father, who has been hospitalized for a long time. When he suddenly dies, there is no time to be sad and Kyungman faces the tough reality of having no money for his father’s funeral. To cover the funeral expenses, Kyungman secretly goes to the province to work at a birthday party but is gets caught up in an unexpected disturbance there. (BIFAN 2020)

Schedule:
July 11th, 2020 – Saturday | CGV Sopung 9 | 14:00 pm
July 14th, 2020 – Tuesday | CGV Sopung 8 | 17:00 pm

Go Back by Seo Eunyoung – South Korea | 2019 – 100 minutes
Section: Korean Fantastic – Competition

Jiwon, a motivated new police officer, is strangely bothered after meeting Osun, a social worker. On a hot summer day, a kidnapper sends a message saying, ‘If you want to save the kidnapped child, donate money to the welfare center.’ The incident becomes a national concern as the media report it. Somehow, Jiwon doubts the link between the case and Osun. (BIFAN 2020)

Schedule:
July 11th, Saturday | CGV Sopung 10 | 17:00 pm
July 15th, Wednesday | CGV Sopung 10 | 16:30 pm

Gundala by Joko Anwar – Indonesia | 2019 – 120 minutes
Section: World Fantastic Red

Young Sancaka is an orphan living on the street after the death of his father, a unionist, in a conspiracy by his employer, and his mother leaving for the city. To survive in such harsh conditions Sancaka grows up pursuing his own well-being, with no interest in other people’s affairs. When the city is at its worst, with prevailing injustice the norm, Sancaka finds himself at a crossroads. Should he continue in his own safe realm or be reborn as a hero for the oppressed? (BIFAN 2020)

Schedule:
July 10th, Friday | CGV Sopung 11 | 17:00 pm
July 14th, Tuesday | CGV Sopung 9 | 17:00 pm

Trailer:

Hunger by Kang Dayeon – South Korea | 2020 – 66 minutes
Section: Korean Fantastic – Competition

The world is divided into two parts: ‘The Building city’ where the rich live, and the ‘Hachon’ where the poor live. Living in the ‘Building city’ with her family, Yuji dreams of moving to ‘Hachon’ one day. If she goes there, she might meet Seojin, who suddenly disappeared. Yuji’s parents can’t accept a reduction in wealth and are obsessed with their present lives. Yuji’s siblings are also troublesome. Yuji’s empty daily routine is shattered one day when a huge tornado hits both the city and the countryside. (BIFAN 2020)

Schedule:
July 10th, 2020 – Friday | CGV Sopung 10 | 20:00 pm
July 13th, 2020 – Monday | CGV Sopung 11 | 11:00 am

I WeirDo by Liao Mingyi – Taiwan | 2020 – 102 minutes
Section: World Fantastic Blue

Po Ching is a hikikomori suffering from a compulsive disorder, which ranges from cover-folding, the angle at which furniture is placed, obsessive cleaning, to only shopping on a set date. One day, he becomes soulmates with Ching also suffers from a fear of germs and being touched. Suddenly, Po Ching loses his phobias and starts a new job and a normal life. (BIFAN 2020)

Schedule:
July 13th, 2020 – Monday | CGV Sopung 2 | 19:30 pm
July 15th, 2020 – Wednesday | CGV Sopung 11 | 11:00 am

Trailer:

Impetigore by Joko Anwar – Indonesia | 2019 – 107 minutes
Section: World Fantastic Red

Maya, who grew up without knowing who her parents were, learns that she is to inherit an old mansion in the hometown she left a long time ago. Hiding her identity, she visits the town with her friend Dini to get more information from the locals, but as she is gradually exposed, the girls are threatened with horrible deaths. What is the curse that has haunted the village for years? How will Maya escape with their lives? (BIFAN 2020)

Schedule:
July 11th, 2020 – Saturday | CGV Sopung 11 | 14:00 pm
July 14th, 2020 – Tuesday | CGV Sopung 9 | 20:00 pm

Trailer:

Motel Acacia by Bradley Liew – Philippines, Slovenia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand | 2020 – 92 minutes
Section: World Fantastic Red

JC is a young Filipino man forced to take over a remote motel in the wilderness of the northern USA, owned by his tyrant father. Assumed to be providing shelter to illegal immigrants on their way to Canada, JC and the guests soon discover the motel is a home to a dark and ancient spirit. As the blizzard traps the guests, their desperate fight for survival begins. (BIFAN 2020)

Schedule:
July 13th, 2020 – Monday | CGV Sopung 2 | 10:30 am
July 16th, 2020 – Thursday | CGV Sopung 4 | 19:30 pm

Trailer:

Mrs. Noisy by Amano Chihiro – Japan | 2019 – 106 minutes
Section: World Fantastic Blue

Maki is not only a mother bringing up a young daughter, but she is also a one-time hit novelist who cannot come up with a follow-up. Nurturing is a challenge to Maki, and she is determined to overcome her slump. However, she becomes infuriated by the noise made by her elderly neighbor, Miwako, who beats the dust from her blanket on her balcony every day. Maki soon finds herself in conflict with her neighbor. A clip of them arguing in the balcony goes viral via social networking, as does Miwako’s notoriety as “Mrs. Noisy”. Meanwhile, Maki writes a novel based on this and becomes hugely popular.

Schedule:
July 10th, 2020 – Friday | CGV Sopung 8 | 17:00 pm
July 15th, 2020 – Wednesday | CGV Sopung 2 | 13:30 pm

Trailer:

To see the second part of this article please go HERE: SECOND PART

For more information about the festival and the programme please go to the official website: HERE