Bucheon Animation Festival Targets Asia's Top Spot

The Bucheon International Animation Festival (BIAF) 2016 will target the Asia's top spot through exploring the large scale since its launch.

The yearly celebrated international animation festival in the city of Bucheon in South Korea has already introduced a high number of quality animated films since 1999.

In 2015, the international event celebrated its 16th run and changed its name as Bucheon International Animation Festival from Puchon International Student Animation Festival. They also opened the event to professionals.

"We are pushing our way to become Asia's top international animation film festival, to stand on par with the world's big four players," Jang Dong-yeol, the head of BIAF committee said in a press conference in Seoul.

The Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France, The Ottawa International Animation Festival in Canada, The Hiroshima International Animation Festival in Japan and The Zagreb International Animation Festival in Ukraine are the so-called "Big Four" in the world of animation awards and these four festivals are approved by the International Animated Film Association (ASIFA) which is the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture's (UNESCO) animated film leg.

The event was organized in order to promote and introduce the 2016 BIAF which will be held in seven cinemas, exhibition halls, and museums in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province on October 21-25.

Because of the top-notch juries and film submission around the world, the BIAF gained popularity for several years. In 2015, a total of 160 pieces of films participated in last year's BIAF and the entries are from 35 countries around the world.

The premiere of "Kubo and the Two Strings" by Travis Knight, a U.S. animator, together with LAIKA's president and chief executive will be the opening ceremony for the 2016 BIAF.

This film is about an adventure of a little boy named Kubo who lives in a cave together with his mother. His mother is forgetful until one day, Kubo becomes the target of the evil moon king and Kubo starts his journey in order to find the magical armor of his father.

Furthermore, the Sylvain Chomet series which caters the works of the french animator and four-time nominee in the Academy Awards will also be screened at the next year's BIAF. Some of his famous works are "Attila Marcel", "The Triplets of Belleville", and "The Illusionist".

Aside from film screenings, there are also special programs and classes by some award-winning animators so many people are already anticipating this event.