Compilation of the Best Asian Coming-of-Age Stories Garnering Global Attention in 2024

This program brings together films that have been acclaimed at major international film festivals over the past two years, highlighting the growing global interest in Asian coming-of-age stories. Notable films in the lineup include Tiger Stripes (2023), winner of the Grand Prix Prize in the Critics’ Week at Cannes 2023, and City of Wind (2023), which took home the Orizzonti Award for Best Actor at the Venice International Film Festival 2023. Other standout films include My Sunshine (2024), featured in the Un Certain Regard section of Cannes 2024; Happyend (2024), selected for the Orizzonti section at Venice 2024; Girls Will Be Girls (2024), which won the Audience Award at Sundance 2024; and Fishbone (2024), recipient of the Best Script Writer Award in the Asian New Talent Section at the Shanghai International Film Festival 2024. Additionally, the program will feature two world premieres: The Uniform (2024) and Water Can Go Anywhere (2024), both making their debut at Busan.

Spotlight on Directors and Their Films:

• PUREV-OCHIR Lkhagvadulam – City of Wind (2023): A story set in Ulaanbaatar, following a teenage shaman who meets a rebellious girl and experiences the complexities of adolescence. Winner of the Orizzonti Award for Best Actor at the Venice International Film Festival 2023.
• ZHANG Xuyu – Fishbone (2024): This film follows an 18-year-old girl navigating a difficult relationship with her mother and failing her college entrance exams, leading to an emotional journey of self-discovery. It won the Best Script Writer Award at the Shanghai International Film Festival 2024.
• Shuchi TALATI – Girls Will Be Girls (2024): A narrative about a young girl’s sexual awakening and rebellion against her mother, who never experienced these moments herself. The film won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival 2024.
• SORA Neo – Happyend (2024): A drama about the clash between a controlling school and its freedom-seeking students. The film is Sora Neo’s feature debut and was featured in the Orizzonti section at Venice 2024 and the New York Film Festival 2024.
• LAI Meng-Jie – I Am the Secret in Your Heart (2024): A heartfelt story of first love based on a popular novel, capturing the essence of Taiwanese teen romance films with its blend of sweetness, humor, and angst.
• OKUYAMA Hiroshi – My Sunshine (2024): Focused on two young figure skaters and their intense training under a coach, this film was selected for the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes 2024.
• YAMASHITA Nobuhiro – Swimming in a Sand Pool (2024): A depiction of high school life through the conversations of two girls assigned to clean the school pool during summer holidays. Directed by the acclaimed Nobuhiro Yamashita.
• Amanda Nell EU – Tiger Stripes (2023): This film portrays the struggles of an 11-year-old girl facing puberty, winning the Grand Prix Prize in Critics’ Week at Cannes 2023.
• CHUANG Ching-shen – The Uniform (2024): Set in 1990s Taiwan, this film explores the intertwined lives of two students sharing a desk at a divided high school, featuring themes of love, friendship, and personal growth.
• FANG Liang – Water Can Go Anywhere (2024): Following two youths who move to Guangdong for work after high school, this film captures the trials of young love and ambition in the harsh reality of the big city.

Special Program in Focus: Teen Spirit, Teen Movie

This year’s special focus at the Busan International Film Festival highlights the surge of remarkable teen coming-of-age films from Asia. Traditionally, countries like Taiwan and Japan have been known for their exceptional work in this genre, with classics such as Edward Yang’s A Brighter Summer Day (1991) and Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Nobody Knows (2004). However, more recent films from other Asian countries, including Tiger Stripes (2023) from Malaysia and City of Wind (2023) from Mongolia, are gaining international recognition. These films offer a fresh perspective on adolescence, capturing the emotions, challenges, and truths of teenage life in a way that resonates with audiences of all ages.

Representing a significant trend in the international film industry, the ‘Teen Spirit, Teen Movie’ program is a must-see at this year’s festival.

Busan International Film Festival 2024

The festival will take place over ten days from October 2 (Wednesday) to October 11 (Friday) at the Busan Cinema Center, showcasing an array of contemporary films and drama series from around the world.

_{View of the Arts is an online publication that chiefly deals with films, music, and art, with an emphasis on the Asian entertainment industry. We are hoping our audience will grow with us as we begin to explore new platforms such as K-pop / K-music, and Asian music in general, and continue to dive into the talented and ever-growing scene of film, music, and arts, worldwide.}