01/08/2025

FRIDAY | AUG 1, 2025

25

LYFE

A CTOR Lee Byung Hun has been announced as the host for the opening ceremony of the 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). As the first male solo host in the festival’s history, he is bringing his charm and captivating on-screen presence to the stage, lending depth and gravitas to this year’s event. With a career spanning 35 years, he has demonstrated versatility across a wide range of genres in television and film. His recent performance in the Netflix original series Squid Game (2021-2025) established him as one of the leading figures in the global rise of K-content. As the opening ceremony marks a pivotal moment to honour BIFF’s legacy and chart a new direction for the years ahead, his presence is expected to serve as a meaningful bridge between audiences and filmmakers. Lee has showcased his range and talent through a series of acclaimed works, including Inside Men (2015), The Fortress (2017), The Man Standing Next (2020), Emergency Declaration (2022), Concrete Utopia (2023), and The Match (2025), earning numerous accolades and solidifying his position as one of Korea’s leading actors. He is also expected to carry this momentum forwards in the

Lee is the first solo host in the festival’s history.

Squid Game actor to host 30th Busan Int’l Film Festival

o Lee Byung Hun’s latest venture includes voice-over in popular Netflix movie

upcoming film No Other Choice. Marking his Hollywood debut with G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009), he continued to land prominent roles in major Hollywood productions, such as Red 2 (2013), Terminator Genisys (2015), and The Magnificent Seven (2016), building global prestige and resonating with

Lee’s presence is set to bring a unique blend of charisma, elegance, and authenticity to this year’s BIFF’s most celebrated evening. The 30th BIFF is set to begin with the opening ceremony on Sept 17 and proceed for 10 days until Sept 26 at Busan Cinema Centre and throughout Busan.

audiences worldwide. Most recently, through KPop Demon Hunters (2025) and The King of Kings (2025), he delivered a refined yet powerful voice act, reaffirming his reputation not only as a versatile actor but also as a cultural icon who continues to broaden the scope of his acting career.

The 30th BIFF official poster.

Night of oriental splendour CO-PRESENTED by Lincoln Centre for the Performing Arts and Centre for the China Shanghai International Arts Festival, Summer for the City’s Shanghai Day ignited a cultural wave in New York City. From afternoon until late at night, a vibrant array of performances and interactive Lincoln Centre. Through this unique artistic celebration, we hope to showcase the charm of Shanghai and the creativity of Chinese artists to a worldwide audience,”The China Shanghai International Arts Festival president of centre Li Ming said.

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solar terms for musical inspiration, the performance blended traditional Chinese instruments with Western orchestration and electronic sounds. Visually symbolic elements such as clocks and geometric forms illustrated spatial shifts and emotional depth. The performance integrated ballet, classical Chinese dance, and modern dance into a fluid cross genre dialogue. Artistic director Tan Yuanyuan led an elite team to deliver a stunning fusion of ballet grace, flowing water sleeves and poetic stage aesthetics inspired by Jiangnan, presenting an ancient legend in an entirely renewed form. In the lobby of the David Rubenstein Atrium, the Shanghai Animation Film Studio’s classic The Monkey King: Uproar in Heaven captivated audiences with vivid colours and Chinese mythological charm. In the family zone, the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra presented Stories of Chinese Zodiac using suona, pipa and other folk instruments, accompanied by water ink animation from Zhang Lelu that delighted children and invited them

instruments. As night fell, the garden transformed into a “Shanghai Cultural Pavilion”. Intangible heritage booths offered hands-on experiences: papercutting, knot buttons, calligraphy, traditional qipao , handmade cotton crafts, vegetarian treats from Longhua Temple, and dazzling cloisonne candy boxes from Lao Feng Xiang. A “Guochao Punk” Peking Opera make-up booth was particularly popular, with people lining up for custom opera face designs. Nearby, Zi-Ka-Wei Library showcased Shanghai-themed creative products that condensed cultural meaning into modern design. At Damrosch Park, the Arknights Concert – produced in collaboration with globally renowned composers such as Gareth Coker – offered an electrifying mix of electronic, folk and symphonic sounds. Audiences were transported into immersive game worlds through high-impact musical storytelling. Meanwhile, the Dance Floor transformed into a summer dance

“We invite visitors to explore different cultures and deepen their connection to creativity from across the globe here at Lincoln Centre. Today’s events are such a beautiful example of cross-cultural exchange and artistic discovery for audiences of all ages. We are glad to be working with the Centre for the China Shanghai International Arts Festival,” Lincoln Centre for the Performing Arts president and CEO Mariko Silver said. Shanghai Day marked a world-class presentation of Haipai culture. Innovative interpretations of traditional Chinese arts offered immersive and interactive experiences that reshaped global perceptions. Inside the David H. Koch Theatre, the Shanghai Grand Theatre premiered its original dance Lady White Snake to the audiences for the first time. Drawing from the Chinese

experiences – fusing classics with innovation, fashion with tradition, and youth with passion – took place across the Lincoln Centre campus, drawing an estimated audience of thousands. This spectacular artistic exchange opened a vivid window to experience the diverse vitality of Shanghai-style culture. “We are honoured to bring Haipai (Shanghai-style) culture to this global stage at the invitation of

Lady White Snake premieres in the US, presented by Shanghai Grand Theatre. stage. China’s new generation of dancers energised the crowd with breaking, popping and locking. Their specially choreographed global hit Spread Your Wings sparked spontaneous dancing among the audience. Jazz trumpeter Li Xiaochuan bridged East and West with original compositions reflecting the evolving “Chinese sound”. As the evening deepened, a “Silent Disco” allowed hundreds of attendees to dance freely in isolated headphone worlds – blending erhu, pipa and electronic bass.

China’s New Generation of Dancers electrifies the stage at Lincoln Centre.