When the fireworks lit up the night sky over the South Korean port city of Pusan nine days ago, they marked the end of the latest edition of Asia's most important annual cinema gathering - and the end of an era.
The Pusan International Film Festival has, over the past 15 years, established itself as the place the world first comes to watch Asian films - and the place Asia's independent filmmakers come to present their work to the world. And the man responsible for much of that success has been tireless festival director Kim Dong-ho who, before the 15th edition, had announced that it would be his last.
So, much of the talk around the 10-day festival concerned the legacy Kim leaves behind and the future of the event on an increasingly competitive international festival circuit.
Although the festivals in Tokyo (which, this year, starts on Saturday) and in Shanghai (which is held annually in June) say they are not in direct competition with the Pusan showcase, the fact they are rapidly expanding their own events has put pressure on Kim's brainchild.
In response, the Pusan festival will next year move into a spanking new US$133 million Pusan Film Centre, which organisers and the South Korean government hope will make the city the hub of Asian cinema.
Kim, for one, leaves the festival certain its future is secured. On the face of it, the fact that 182,046 fans attended this year's event would back his beliefs.