BIFF jury advocates creative freedom amid 'The Assassin(s)' controversy

The Korea Times - Oct 7, 2026

BUSAN — Renowned film director Zhang Yimou and fellow jury members of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) called for the protection of artistic freedom on Wednesday, addressing the fierce controversy surrounding the film "The Assassin(s)." Zhang, known for such movies as "Red Sorghum" (1988), "Raise the Red Lantern" (1991) and "Not One Less" (1999), serves as jury president of BIFF’s competition section. He weighed in on the boundary between historical fact and artistic interpretation. "Creation is creation," Zhang said during a press conference, stressing that creative works should not be bound strictly to historical facts. "Even historical truth itself can often be a subject of debate. Movies serve as an artistic medium that conveys stories from the past to people living today. Viewers may interpret a film differently, and some may disagree with other opinions, but that diversity of perspective is precisely where the charm of cinema lies." Although Zhang acknowledged that he has not yet watched "The Assassin(s)," he said he was aware of the public debate surrounding t

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