Bowling over Busan

Homage to a hero

This year, the BIFF also paid homage to a true hero of Hong Kong cinema, handing Tony Leung the Asian Filmmaker of the Year award and screening six of his films.

The 60-year-old has long been a BIFF favorite, and the films he personally chose for the In the Mood for Tony Leung program showcased his range, from the raw slapstick of The Eagle Shooting Heroes (1993) to the many and varied shades of emotion shown in the likes of Happy Together (1997) and In the Mood for Love (2000) — productions that brought him international acclaim alongside director Wong Kar-wai.

There was a rush on the special Tony Leung merchandise packs the festival produced for fans — with only 150 available each day. There was also a rush to grab seats at an entertaining news conference where the actor was quizzed about the chances of him doing Korean films, among other things.

"There are so many characters I haven't played," Tony Leung said. "I started out in TV and lately I've been thinking about what it would feel like to do a TV series again."

That sent fans into an online frenzy. Many assumed Tony Leung was leaving a hint about his joining the next series of Squid Game — a rumor further fueled when he was spotted dining with series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk.

Family matters

Despite the downturn in production caused by the global pandemic, the Hong Kong film industry had accumulated a body of work over the past 12 months to showcase at Busan.

Eric Tsang had his first feature, Hong Kong Family, selected to make its world premiere under the festival's A Window on Asian Cinema umbrella. Internationally acclaimed for his short films, Tsang's debut, about a family that has fallen apart, stars Teresa Mo alongside two members of boy band Mirror in Edan Lui and Anson Lo. It's a story that plays close to the director's heart, and the experiences of his own life.

"(It's) an adaptation of my own family story," Tsang explained in a video message to audiences at the Busan screening. "I once ran away from home feeling conflicted and resentful. Through making this film, I wish to provide the opportunity for my family to reconnect."