The 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has unveiled the six standout drama series selected for the On Screen section.
Launched in 2021, the On Screen section highlights serialized storytelling that reflects the evolving forms and values of cinema. It offers festivalgoers a rare opportunity to experience unreleased drama series on the big screen before their official release. This year’s lineup includes six series, three from Korea and three from abroad.
As You Stood By is the latest series from director Lee Jeong Lim, known for her genre-defying work on VIP and Revenant. She once again delivers a suspenseful and unpredictable narrative. Starring Jeon So Nee (Soulmate) and Lee Yoo Mi (Squid Game), the series explores the emotional journey of two women whose deep bond and resilience are brought to life by bold and nuanced performances.
Dear X tells the story of Baek A Jin, portrayed by Kim Yoo Jung, a woman who wears a mask to escape a living nightmare and rise to the top. The series uncovers the stories of the many people she has ruthlessly crushed along the way. Kim Yoo Jung and Kim Young Dae deliver an intense, melodramatic suspense, while Kim Do Hoon and Lee Yul Eum bring emotional depth to the narrative. Co-directed by Lee Eung Bok and Park So Hyeon of the Sweet Home series, this project brings together a dynamic and experienced creative team.
The Murky Stream is a fictional period action drama set in the late Joseon era, centered around Gyeonggang, a vital trade hub where all the era’s money and goods converge. Against a backdrop of corruption and chaos, the series follows the intertwined fates of those who dared to dream of a life of dignity and respect. Starring Rowoon, Shin Ye Eun, Park Seo Ham, and Park Ji Hwan, the series offers a powerful tale of resistance in a society rocked by corruption, directed by Choo Chang Min.
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Last Samurai Standing is an action-packed thriller co-directed by Michihito Fujii, Kento Yamaguchi, and Toru Yamamoto. Set in 1878 Japan, it follows 292 warriors who enter a brutal survival game for a massive cash prize, each determined to eliminate the others. Led by a star-studded cast including Junichi Okada and Yumia Fujisaki, the film showcases fierce combat sequences and gripping performances from Japan’s top talent.
Romantics Anonymous stars Shun Oguri and Han Hyo Joo as two shy, emotionally reserved individuals who begin to open up to one another through their shared love of chocolate. Directed by Sho Tsukikawa of Let Me Eat Your Pancreas, this tender and heartwarming tale is wrapped in sweet cinematic charm.
The Resurrected, co-directed by Chinese-language filmmaking icons Leste Chan and Hsu Chao Jen, stars Shu Qi and Lee Sinje as two mothers who, after losing their daughters, bring a deceased voice phishing scammer back to life, setting off a relentless journey of revenge. As the truth unravels, the tension grows, pulling viewers into its gripping intensity.
This year’s highly anticipated drama series lineup will have its world premiere at the 30th Busan International Film Festival, which will run for 10 days from September 17th to September 26th at the Busan Cinema Center.
Source: Busan International Film Festival
