A scene from Under the Hawthorn Tree (CFP)

South Korea's most prestigious film festival will feature a record number of world premieres when it kicks off next month, organizers said on September 7.

The 15th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), held in the southern port city of Busan since 1996, will take place from Oct. 7 to 15, showcasing 308 films from 67 countries.

The festival will open with Under the Hawthorn Tree (Trailer), a Chinese film directed by Zhang Yimou, who also directed the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

It will close with Camellia, an omnibus film of three separate short pieces about the city of Busan directed by Wisit Sasanatieng of Thailand, Isao Yukisada of Japan and Jang Jun-Hwan of South Korea.

Organizers said that this year's PIFF boasts 103 world premieres and 52 international premieres among its 308 scheduled films.

"This year is for discovering new directors who will lead the future of the film industry. This will provide an opportunity for the films to become more contemporary and more revolutionary," organizers said in a statement.

Invited guests will include French actress Juliette Binoche, British actress Jane March, China's Tang Wei, Miyazaki Aoi of Japan and directors such as Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami, Oliver Stone of the United States and Spain's Carlos Saura.

The Asian Film Market, devoted to promoting innovative business models to film professionals around the world, will be held from October 10 to 13 as a part of the PIFF.

(CRIENGLISH.com September 8, 2010)