BUSAN -- The opening ceremony of the 21st Busan International Film Festival was held quietly, without its usual display of fireworks, but to enthusiastic applause in a packed outdoor theater at the Busan Cinema Center on Thursday evening.

While some 160 prominent filmmakers and actors graced the red carpet,  including veteran Korean actor Ahn Sung-ki and Japan’s Watanabe Ken, many hard-hitting celebrities were noticeably absent due to a Korean film industry boycott of the event following disputes over BIFF’s artistic autonomy earlier this year. The number is down 40 from last year’s.

The 5,000 seats of the outdoor theater were filled. The fireworks were absent due to safety concerns and the fact that “no other international film festival has them,” according to reports. 

The opening was moderated by Korean actors Sol Kyung-gu (“The Long Way Home”) and Han Hyo-joo (“Love, Lies”) and featured a traditional Korean gugak music performance, followed by an award presentation ceremony.

Laurence Herzberg, director-general of France’s Forum des Images, received the Korean Cinema Award for her significant contribution in promoting Korean cinema worldwide, especially in France.

“I come from Paris, where everyone loves cinema,” she said in her acceptance speech. “I would show dated Korean movies (in France) and my venues were few ... but being here I feel how many people love film in Korea.”

The Asian Filmmaker of the Year award was granted to the late Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami, who passed away in July. Kiarostami is known for works such as “The Wind Will Carry Us” (1990) and was awarded the Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival in 1997. His son received the BIFF award on his behalf.

Next onstage were the jury for BIFF’s main competition category New Currents -- head juror and Malian director Souleymane Cisse, Indian producer Guneet Monga, Chinese-Korean director Zhang Lu and Iranian cinematographer-director Mahmoud Kalari. Bero Beyer, director of the International Film Festival Rotterdam, was unable to attend.

Cisse said he was “filled with emotion” to be here. “Now 21 years old, BIFF has reached a level of maturity,” he added.

The cast of the festival’s opening film “A Quiet Dream” -- actress Han Ye-ri and actor-directors Yang Ik-june, Yoon Jong-bin and Park Jung-bum subsequently came onstage with director Zhang, followed by a screening of the film.

BIFF will run in Busan until Oct. 15.

By Rumy Doo (doo@heraldcorp.com)