The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) will launch its first-ever competition section to coincide with its 30th anniversary, the organizing committee said Tuesday, aiming to elevate the festival's global standing.

For this year's edition, around 15 films will be selected for the new Competition section, highlighting Asian cinema, with awards presented in five categories: the Grand Prize, Best Director, Special Jury Prize. Best Actor/Actress and Artistic Contribution. The Grand Prize-winning film will be screened as the festival's closing film.

BIFF's Korean Cinema Today program, which showcases notable recent independent Korean films, will also be expanded into two sections: Vision-Asia and Vision-Korea. A total of 24 films, 12 in each section, will be screened.

The committee highlighted the need for a robust competition category to better recognize Asia's best cinema and directors. It also noted that the existing New Currents and Jiseok sections will be merged into the new Competition category. New Currents previously showcased the first or second feature films by emerging Asian filmmakers, while Jiseok focused on new works by established Korean and Asian directors with three or more features.

Director Min Kyu-dong, known for films such as "The Old Woman With the Knife" and "All About My Wife," has been tapped as the director to oversee the opening and closing ceremonies. It marks the festival's first attempt to entrust an outsider with the design of both events.

The committee plans to invite approximately 240 movies this year, an increase from the 224 showcased during last year's festival.

By Woo Jae-yeon