Bucheon International Animation Festival BIAF 2026: Jury Members

The 28th Bucheon International Animation Festival (BIAF2026, 23-27 October 2026) has announced its 11 jury members. The festival, which celebrates its 28th edition this year, boasts jury members of animation professionals from Europe, Asia, and the US, reflecting the diverse tendencies in the independent animation world.

International Feature Competition

Éléa GOBBÉ-MÉVELLEC | Director | France

Animation director and storyboard artist Éléa GOBBÉ-MÉVELLEC made her feature directorial debut with The Swallows of Kabul, which premiered in Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival and won both the Jury Prize and Music Prize at BIAF2019. She has worked on acclaimed animated productions including Ernest & Celestine, April and the Extraordinary World, The Summit of the Gods, Mars Express, and Arcane. In 2026, she served as an animator on Viva Carmen, selected for Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival.

OTSUKA Manabu | President & CEO, MAPPA | Japan

Manabu Otsuka is President & CEO of MAPPA Co., Ltd. After working at the animation studio STUDIO4°C, he joined MAPPA as an animation producer on the studio’s first project, Kids on the Slope. Since joining the company in 2011, he has overseen the production of numerous works, including JUJUTSU KAISEN, Attack on Titan Final Season, and Chainsaw Man. In addition to production, he is also involved in various aspects of the anime business, including merchandising, events, and distribution. He has held his current position since 2016.

CHEON Seonran | Writer | Korea

Writer CHEON Seonran made her literary debut with The Broken Bridge and gained widespread recognition after winning the Grand Prize in the Novel category of the 4th Korea Science Fiction Awards for A Thousand Blues. Her works, including Love of a Certain Matter, Mour, Nine, and The Savior Who Comes at Night, explore the coexistence of humans, animals, and machines. Set in imagined futures and post-apocalyptic worlds, her stories continue to explore humanity and the essence of life.

International Short Competition

Jocelyn CHARLES | Director | France

Jocelyn CHARLES directed the music video Do I Make You Love Me? for The Weeknd. His short film God Is Shy was selected for competition at Cannes Critics’ Week and won the Grand Prize at BIAF2025. It went on to receive the Jury Award, Audience Award, and SACEM Award at the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival and was submitted for consideration in the Animated Short Film category at the 99th Academy Awards.

JOUNG Yumi | Director | Korea

JOUNG Yumi is a Korean animation director who has regularly presented her work at BIAF since receiving her first festival award for My Small Doll House. Dust Kid was selected for Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, while Math Test, Love Games, House of Existence, and Circle competed in the Berlinale Shorts Competition. Her BIAF2024-supported short film Glasses became the first Korean animated film selected for the Short Competition at Cannes Critics’ Week. She is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

John KELLY | Director | Ireland

Irish animation director John KELLY studied animation at the Royal College of Art in London. His short film Retirement Plan, featuring actor Domhnall Gleeson in the voice cast, won the SXSW Jury Award and Audience Award for Short Film, as well as Best of the Festival at Palm Springs International ShortFest. The film received a Special Mention in the International Short Competition at BIAF2025 and was nominated for Best Animated Short Film at the 98th Academy Awards. In 2026, he was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Graduation / TV & Commissioned / Korean Short Competition

KIM Bosol | Director | Korea

KIM Bosol studied film directing before specializing in animation direction at the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA), where he directed the short film HOME. His 2025 animated feature The Square won the Contrechamp Jury Award at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, the Grand Prize at the Tokyo Anime Award Festival, and the Best Feature Award at the Animator International Animated Film Festival in Poland.

CHAE Minji | Voice Actor | Korea

CHAE Minji began her career as a member of the third class of Daewon Broadcasting’s voice acting division and has since worked across animation, games, and dubbed films. Her notable roles include Doraemon in the Korean version of Doraemon, Shinji Ikari in Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, Natsu Dragneel in Fairy Tail, and Taiki Kudou in Digimon Xros Wars. At BIAF2021, she participated in a special panel on the dubbing of Evangelion, sharing her experience with the audience.

Mike NGUYEN | Animator, Supervisor | USA

Mike NGUYEN began his career at Walt Disney Animation Studios after studying Character Animation at CalArts. His credits include The Little Mermaid, The Rescuers Down Under, Beauty and the Beast, and The Road to El Dorado, as well as serving as Supervising Animator on The Iron Giant. He taught at CalArts from 1994 to 2010 and currently works as an animation educator in Korea. He is directing the feature-length animated film My Little World, currently in production.

COCOMICS Music Prize

JO Youjeen | Vocalist | Korea

JO Youjeen is the lead vocalist of Cherry Filter, which she joined in 1997, making her recording debut with the band’s first studio album, Head Up, in 2000. Known for her powerful vocals and distinctive style, she has performed major hits including Romantic Cat, Flying Duck, and Moonlight Boy, while also writing and composing for the band. She performed the Korean version of Disillusion, the theme song for the anime Fate/stay night, and has contributed to numerous film and drama soundtracks.

LEE Minhwi | Music Director | Korea

LEE Minhwi began her career in 2012 as a member of Mukimukimanmansu and has built a diverse body of work as a singer-songwriter and film composer. Her solo album Borrowed Mouth won Best Folk Album at the Korean Music Awards, while her score for Pavane received the Arts Award (Film) at the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards. She has composed music for films including Master of the World, Snowball, A Midsummer’s Fantasia, and The Time of the Theatre, continuing her creative work across film, television, theatre, and visual arts.

Our Comprehensive Coverage of Bucheon International Animation Festival

BIAF2026, the 28th Bucheon International Animation Festival, will take place in Bucheon, Korea, from October 23 to 27, 2026.

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