In 26th edition, 223 films from 70 countries were officially invited to the festival. 63 community service screenings were also part of the festival.[5] In addition, this year BIFF opened two special programs, ‘New Voices, Chinese Films’ dedicated to emerging, talented Chinese directors,[6] and the best Asian films by female directors, ‘Wonder Women Movies’, to highlight the contribution of female directors to the world of cinema.[7] This edition of festival has constituted a new award 'Watcha Award' to be awarded to two selected films screened in the 'New Currents' section and the 'Korean Cinema Today-Vision' section.[8] 22 short films official invited to the 'Wide Angle' competition section were screened online on YouTube and Naver.[9]
'Vision Night' awards ceremony was held on October 14 in which winners of 'Korean Cinema Today - Vision Section' were announced.[10] On October 15 in an online press conference the winners of 'New Currents' and other awards were announced and it was informed that 76,072 people visited the film festival in ten days.[11] The festival closed on October 15 with closing ceremony hosted by Lee Joon-hyuk and Lee Joo-young and screening of film Anita by Longman Leung. South Korean film The Apartment with Two Women by Kim Se-in won five awards, including New Currents award.[12]
^Kim Ji-won (September 2, 2021). "[공식] 최민식X박해일 '행복의 나라로', 부산국제영화제 개막작 선정" [[Official] Choi Min-sik X Park Hae-il's 'To the Land of Happiness' was selected as the opening film of the Busan International Film Festival]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
^Choi Young-joo (September 16, 2021). "부국제 개막식 사회자에 송중기·박소담 선정" [Song Joong-ki and Park So-dam selected as hosts for the opening ceremony of the Busan International Film Festival]. CBS No Cut News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
^Lee Yoo-na (September 15, 2021). "[26th BIFF] 박형준 부산시장 "부국제, 코로나 속 최선 다해 지원할 것"" [[26th BIFF] Busan Mayor Hyung-Jun Park "We will do our best to support Bukuk in the midst of Corona"]. YTN (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
^ abShin Jae-woo (September 17, 2021). "왓챠 박태훈 대표 "부산국제영화제 '왓챠상' 신설…독립영화 발굴"" [Watcha CEO Park Tae-hoon "Busan International Film Festival's 'Watcha Award' is newly established...Independent film discovery"]. Newsis (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
^Choi Young-joo (October 3, 2021). "제26회 BIFF, 네이버 시리즈온·유튜브 영화서 단편 상영" [The 26th BIFF, Short Screened in Naver Series On YouTube Movies]. CBS No Cut News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
^Kang Min-ji (October 14, 2021). "부산국제영화제 '비전의 밤' 시상식" [Busan International Film Festival 'Vision Night' Awards Ceremony]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
^Son Bong-seok (October 15, 2021). "'제 26회 부산국제영화제'(BIFF) 성료" ['The 26th Busan International Film Festival' (BIFF) completed]. Sports Trend (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
^Hyung-hwa Jeong (August 26, 2021). "장준환·정재은 감독 등 BIFF 뉴커런츠 심사위원 확정 [공식]" [BIFF New Currents Judges Confirmed [Official]]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
^Zhuge Suman (August 24, 2021). "부산국제영화제, 지석상·비프메세나상·선재상 심사위원 확정" [Busan International Film Festival, Ji Seok Award, BIFF Mecenat Award, Son Jae Award Jury Confirmed]. Newsis (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
^Kim Ji-won (August 24, 2021). "부산영화제 지석상·비프메세나상·선재상 심사위원 발표…미래 이끌 신인 찾는다" [Busan Film Festival Ji Seok Award, BIFF Mecenat Award, Son Jae Award Jury Announcement… Looking for new talent to lead the future]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
^Kwon Byung-seok (August 11, 2021). "제26회 부산국제영화제, '올해의 배우상' 심사위원에 엄정화&조진웅 선정" [The 26th Busan International Film Festival, Uhm Jung-Hwa and Cho Jin-Woong selected as jury members for 'Actor of the Year Award']. Financial News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
^"2021 Program". BIFF. September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
^Choi Young-joo (September 15, 2021). "[현장EN:]부국제, 정상 개최 예고…"100% 극장 상영·개막식 진행"" [[On-site EN:] Bu-Kukje, the summit announcement… "100% theater screening and opening ceremony"]. CBS Nocut News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
^Kim Hye-young (September 17, 2021). "'마이 네임'·'지옥' 등 넷플릭스 7편, 제26회 부산국제영화제 초청" [7 Netflix films including 'My Name' and 'Hell', invited to the 26th Busan International Film Festival]. iMBC (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
^Ha Kyung-min (August 25, 2021). "부산국제영화제, 올해 영화제 '온 스크린' 섹션 신설" [Busan International Film Festival, this year's 'On-Screen' section opened]. Newsis (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
^Hyo-joo Bae (September 17, 2021). "하마구치 류스케 감독 부산국제영화제 참석‥봉준호 감독과 스페셜 토크[공식]" [[Official] Director Ryusuke Hamaguchi attends the Busan International Film Festival]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
^Kim Ji-eun (September 30, 2021). "'당신얼굴 앞에서', 부국제서 첫 공개…홍상수·김민희 불참" ['In front of your face', first released at the sub-international... Hong Sang-soo and Kim Min-hee absent]. Newsis (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
^Kim Bo-ra (September 30, 2021). "'프렌치 디스패치', 11일 BIFF 첫 공개…초고속 매진 기록[공식]" ['French Dispatch' premieres at BIFF on the 11th... Super-fast sold out record [Official]]. Osen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
^Kim Myung-shin (September 1, 2021). "26th 부산국제영화제, '뉴커런츠' 11편 발표 [공식]" [26th Busan International Film Festival Announces 11 'New Currents' [Official]]. TV Report (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
^Ha Kyung-min (September 6, 2021). "부산국제영화제, 지석상 후보작 7편 선정" [Busan International Film Festival selects 7 nominations for the Ji Seok Award]. Newsis (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
^Kim Yoo-jin (September 6, 2021). "제26회 부산국제영화제, 지석상 후보작 7편 발표" [The 26th Busan International Film Festival Announces 7 Nominees for Ji Suk Award]. Sports News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
^Kim Na-ra (September 16, 2021). "김혜윤X박혁권 '불도저에 탄 소녀', 부산국제영화제 공식 초청" [Kim Hye-yoon X Park Hyuk-kwon 'Girl on a Bulldozer' Officially Invited to Busan International Film Festival]. My Daily (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
^Kim Yu-jin (September 15, 2021). "박정민·손석구·최희서·이제훈 연출 '언프레임드', 제26회 부산국제영화제 공식 초청" ['Unframed' directed by Park Jung-min, Son Seok-gu, Choi Hee-seo, and Lee Je-hoon, officially invited to the 26th Busan International Film Festival]. Export News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
^Baek Seung-hoon (September 16, 2021). "서영희·김민재 '뒤틀린 집', 부산국제영화제 초청" [Seo Young-hee and Kim Min-jae's 'A Twisted House' invited to Busan International Film Festival]. Newsis (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
^Park Jae-hwan (August 31, 2021). "[BIFF2021] 한국영화의 오늘, 비전이 보이는 12편 공개" [[BIFF2021] Korean Cinema Today, 12 Shows with Vision Released]. KBS Entertainment (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
^Kim Na-ra (September 28, 2021). "유연석X올가 쿠릴렌코 '배니싱', 부산국제영화제 초청 "주역들 직접 부산 찾는다" [공식]" [Yoo Yeon-seok X Olga Kurylenko's 'Vanishing' invited to Busan International Film Festival "The main characters visit Busan directly" [Official]]. My Daily (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
^Jaehwan Park (October 3, 2021). ""미국의 코리안" '푸른 호수' 부산국제영화제 매진" ["Korean American" and "Blue Lake" sold out at Busan International Film Festival]. KBS Entertainment (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
^Park Jae-hwan (September 21, 2021). "BIFF 프로그래머 추천 영화 '플래쉬포워드의 변화'" [BIFF Programmer's Recommended Movie 'Change in Flash Forward']. KBS Entertainment (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
^Kim Bo-ra (October 1, 2021). "26회 BIFF 단편영화 22편, 네이버 시리즈온·유튜브 영화 온라인 상영[공식]" [22 short films from the 26th BIFF, online screening of Naver Series On YouTube movies [Official]]. Osen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
^Park Jae-hwan (September 8, 2021). "[BIFF] 부산국제영화제 비프메세나상 후보작 공개" [[BIFF] Busan International Film Festival BIFF Mecenat Award Nominations Revealed]. KBS Entertainment (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
^Kim Ji-won (August 25, 2021). "부산영화제, OTT 공식 섹션 신설…연상호 '지옥'·김진민 '마이 네임' 상영" [Busan Film Festival, OTT Official Section Newly Established... Screening of Yeon Sang-ho's 'Hell' and Kim Jin-min's 'My Name']. Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
^Park Mi-ae (September 15, 2021). "임권택 감독 아시아영화인상, 故이춘연 대표 한국영화공로상" [Director Im Kwon-taek's Asian Film Award, the late Chun-yeon Lee's Korean Film Achievement Award]. Edaily Star (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
^Noh Kyu-min (October 15, 2021). "[BIFF] 관객 7만 6072명, 확진자 1명…'같은 속옷을 입는 두 여자' 5관왕 [종합]" [[BIFF] 76,072 spectators, 1 confirmed patient... 'Two women wearing the same underwear' wins 5 gold medals [Overall]]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
^ abPark Mi-ae (October 15, 2021). "권다함·임지호, 올해의 배우상[BIFF]" [Daham Kwon and Jiho Lim, Actor of the Year [BIFF]]. Edaily Star (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
^ abcKim Dong-hyun (October 15, 2021). "한국필립모리스, 제26회 부산국제영화제 시상자 참여" [Philip Morris Korea participates as a presenter at the 26th Busan International Film Festival]. Newsis (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
^Ko Da-yeon (October 15, 2021). "'초록밤', 부산국제영화제 CGV아트하우스상 수상" ['Green Night' wins CGV Art House Award at Busan International Film Festival]. Newsis (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved October 15, 2021.