Busan Film Fest's Asian Cinema Fund Selects 14 Projects From Record-Breaking Submissions
The Asian Cinema Fund (ACF), the flagship funding arm of the Busan International Film Festival, has unveiled its 14 official selections for 2025 following a record-breaking submission period that saw applications surge 23% to 850 projects.
The fund, which operates under the Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM), provides financial and institutional support to filmmakers from Korea and across Asia throughout script development, post-production and documentary phases. ACF-backed projects have consistently gained traction at major international film festivals, cementing the initiative's role in amplifying Asian independent cinema globally.
More from Variety
Busan Film Festival Confirms Pivot to Competitive Format for Landmark 30th Edition
Busan International Film Festival Names Jung Hanseok as New Director
Korea Box Office: 'Executioner' Claims Fifth Weekend Win as Market Slumps to Lowest Point This Year
Following an extensive review process evaluating creative potential and project maturity, the fund awarded three projects to its Script Development Fund, four to the Post-Production Fund, and seven to the Asian Network of Documentary (AND) Fund. The selections showcase what organizers describe as 'bold visions and critical perspectives that showcase the evolving voice of contemporary Asian cinema.'
The Script Development Fund, drawing from 478 submissions in its most competitive round to date, selected three projects that examine protagonists confronting and resisting their realities. Christine Haroutounian's 'Black Star Angel' (Armenia) follows a woman's struggle to escape a life defined by war, violence and trauma. Eve Baswel's 'Heaven Help Us!' (Philippines) revisits the tragic Manila Film Center collapse of the 1980s, focusing on individual narratives rather than treating victims as statistics. Li Yingtong's 'New Life' (China) offers an intimate portrait of a mother and daughter supporting each other after the death of their husband and father.
Each project receives a KRW10 million ($7,300) grant plus an invitation to the Asian Project Market (APM) 2025, providing access to industry stakeholders through business meetings and networking opportunities. Li Yingtong is a graduate of the 2024 Chanel X BIFF Asia Film Academy.
From 75 submissions, the Post-Production Fund selected four feature films scheduled for world premieres at the 30th Busan International Film Festival in September. Korean selections include Jeong Seung-o's 'Coming of Age,' which captures diverse perspectives across generations and social classes, and Lim Junghwan's 'The Observer's Journal,' blending tension and humor in surreal circumstances.
International picks feature Sanju Surendran's 'If on a Winter's Night' (India), offering layered views of Indian society through multiple couples' interwoven stories, and Chen Jianhang's 'The River that Holds Our Hands' (Hong Kong/China/Vietnam), following a man's journey reflecting on Chinese ethnic minority diaspora.
The AND Fund selected seven feature-length documentaries recognized for inventive form and compelling approaches. Four Korean projects explore society, space and memory through unique lenses: Cho Hanna's 'Our Complex' reflects on Yeosu's transformation through Expo, industrial and tourism developments; Yim Jeunghae's 'Sea, Star, Woman' (Korea/France) presents a personal investigation into a mother's disappearance; Yang Dayeon's 'Sprouted Potato Lives on' revisits a demolished Seoul hillside neighborhood; and Kwon Sunhyeon's 'Weathering Architect' examines memory and temporality in Seoul's changing landscape through veteran architect Joh Sung-yong's philosophy.
Asian selections include Neary Adeline Hay's 'Kampuchea' (Cambodia/France), examining intergenerational trauma from violence; Armin Septiexan's 'Oma' (Indonesia/Philippines/France/Netherlands), presenting a survivor confronting the past; and Min Min Hein's untitled Myanmar project. These documentaries will be featured in AND Talk & Share sessions at the Asian Contents & Film Market.
The 30th Busan International Film Festival runs Sept. 17-26 around Busan Cinema Center, with the 20th Asian Contents & Film Market taking place Sept. 20-23 at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center.
Best of Variety
New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts?
25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
New BLACKPINK Song To Be Revealed At World Tour Kickoff On July 5
Rosé, Jennie, Jisoo and Lisa aka Lalisa Manoban of South Korean girl group BLACKPINK attend the ... More BLACKPINK World Tour "Born Pink In Cinemas" red carpet on August 09, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Han Myung-Gu/WireImage) After keeping plans for new BLACKPINK music secret for the entire year, there is finally news about when we'll get the chart-topping girl group's upcoming single. According to local media in South Korea, BLACKPINK's label and management agency, YG Entertainment, announced on June 23 local time that Jennie, Jisoo, Rosé, and Lisa will be revealing their new song for the first time at the July 5th and 6th kickoff dates for their rapidly approaching Deadline World Tour. The group will perform at the Goyang Sports Complex Main Stadium in Seoul, a soccer stadium where only a few artists have performed including Coldplay, G-Dragon, BTS' J-Hope, SEVENTEEN and ENHYPEN, among others. Tickets for the shows quickly sold out with additional limited-view seats added to meet demand. According to reports, the single's release required extensive discussion, with the ultimate decision landing on when BLACKPINK would officially reunite with their fans at the tour kickoff. The actual release date is expected to be announced soon, with additional information, including the title, concept, genre, and music video, to follow in due time. At press time, there have been no announcements about the single on BLACKPINK or YG Entertainment's official accounts. YG Entertainment did respond to a request for comment in time for this article's publication. But based on BLACKPINK's most recent releases, fans may infer the single's official release for midnight on Friday, July 11, 2025. Since the U.S. industry shifted to a New Music Friday release schedule for most new music releases, which the Billboard charts also follow, releasing on a Friday gives the song the greatest chance to impact not just the U.S. charts but also internationally focused rankings like the Billboard Global 200. The track could also be released at midnight on July 4, 2025, as the concert date will be just 24 hours away, but it seems the group wants to wait for a live reveal specifically. BLACKIPNK's Deadline World Tour is an all-stadium, 31-date live trek. Following its Seoul start, the girls head over to the States less than a week later, where the girl group begins their five U.S. stadium shows with two nights at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The tour also includes stops in Canada, France, Italy, Thailand, the Philippines, Japan and more countries throughout Europe and Asia. The new single from BLACKPINK will mark the group's first new song since dropping 'THE GIRLS' in August 2023 as part of the soundtrack to their own mobile game, BLACKPINK: The Game. Beyond that standalone single release, BLACKPINK last came together in 2022 for their Born Pink album, which earned the group their first Number One on the Billboard 200 chart, and included singles 'Pink Venom' and 'Shut Down,' the former of which hit Number One on the Australia's ARIA Top Singles chart while the latter took home 10 wins across Korea's music chart shows. In the meantime, the four superstars have all remained busy with a focus on their solo careers. Jennie, Jisoo, Rosé, and Lisa all signed with new agencies or established their own independent companies while also forming partnerships with major U.S. labels beyond those they boasted as a part of BLACKPINK. Each member released her own solo project beginning with Rosé's rosie album (that includes the Bruno Mars-featuring megahit 'APT.') in December 2024 under THEBLACKLABEL and Atlantic Records Jisoo dropped her Amortage EP on Valentine's Day 2025 after her self-created company BLISSOO inked a deal with Warner Records. Lisa released her solo effort, Alter Ego, on February 28 via her LLOUD company and RCA Records. Jennie followed a week later, with Ruby dropping through her Odd Atelier label and Columbia Records. Both women enlisted an impressive slate of superstar friends and collaborators to bring their creative visions to life
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
One of Netflix's biggest TV series of all time is going out with a bang next week
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, BGR may receive an affiliate commission. Almost four years after its debut became a global phenomenon that redefined what a streaming hit can look like, Squid Game is preparing to take its final bow. The third and final season of Netflix's dystopian juggernaut hits the streamer June 27, and it promises to end the story the same way it began — with violence, and a whole lot of blood. Season 3 picks up in the rubble of Season 2's devastating finale, where Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) was betrayed and left reeling. His attempted rebellion against the architects of the game nearly succeeded — that is, until the Front Man, hiding in plain sight as Player 001, shattered the plan and executed Gi-hun's closest ally, Jung-bae, in cold blood. Now Gi-hun is blaming himself, unaware that the real knife in his back came from someone he trusted. Today's Top Deals Best deals: Tech, laptops, TVs, and more sales Best Ring Video Doorbell deals Memorial Day security camera deals: Reolink's unbeatable sale has prices from $29.98 As always, Squid Game doesn't wait around for any of the players to catch their breath. As the games resume, the stakes climb even higher. This time, the rounds are more brutal and the choices even more personal. According to Netflix, surviving players will face moral and emotional reckoning with every decision they make. Meanwhile, the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) isn't just back in charge; he's welcoming a new slate of mysterious VIPs while keeping his own secrets intact. And In-ho's brother, Jun-ho, is still on the hunt for the island, unaware that betrayal may be closer than he thinks. Writer-director Hwang Dong-hyuk has promised to give the Netflix hit an epic send-off. Can we expect redemption? Or will the cruelty of the game consume what little humanity remains? To build anticipation, Netflix has also turned Squid Game into a global event, with real-world activations echoing the show's many iconic moments. Beginning June 6 in Shibuya, Tokyo, fans have been stepping into immersive pop-up spaces featuring the show's signature guards and re-enactments of its games. And the activations are spreading across the globe, with events in New York and Germany (June 20), Thailand (June 25), Saudi Arabia, Italy, and Indonesia (June 26), and a grand finale in Korea and Taiwan (July 6). Fans will get to try legacy games and even experience new ones like Jump Rope, recreated with chilling detail. The final season marks one last chance to see how far the game will go, and whether anyone can break its grip. Ready or not, Squid Game ends next week. And for Gi-hun and the rest, there's no going back. Don't Miss: Today's deals: Nintendo Switch games, $5 smart plugs, $150 Vizio soundbar, $100 Beats Pill speaker, more More Top Deals Amazon gift card deals, offers & coupons 2025: Get $2,000+ free See the
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
I Just Found Out Super Nintendo World Has A New 'Bomb' Popcorn Bucket, And I Can't Wait To Try And Take This Through TSA
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The popcorn bucket industrial complex has been growing at an exponential rate. Once only the purview of theme parks, intricately-designed popcorn buckets are now found at every movie theater advertising your favorite blockbuster. Disney World is still the king of the popcorn bucket, though Universal Orlando Resort has created some great ones in recent years. This new Universal Studios bucket for Super Nintendo World may be one of the best, and also the most complicated to bring home. Universal Studios Japan just debuted a brand-new popcorn bucket for its Super Nintendo World. It's a 'Bob-omb,' the anthropomorphic explosive device from the Mario games that looks like the classic cartoon version of a bomb, that might raise a few eyebrows when trying to get it through airport security. I mean, I have no idea what airport security would think if they saw this go through an X-ray machine. It might only scan as a hollow piece of plastic, but if anybody gave it a serious look, I can imagine some security officials having questions. It doesn't look like a 'real' weapon, but certainly the TSA could still take issue with it based on how other people might perceive it if they saw it. If the TSA can take issue with "thermal detonator" Coke bottles, then a "bomb"-shaped popcorn bucket is absolutely fair game. As somebody who was mildly worried I might have an issue when I brought my Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge lightsaber through airport security, I honestly might get nervous trying to transport this. Of course, if I was too nervous, that might be when security would get concerned. This may be one of the best popcorn buckets ever devised. First off, it looks perfect as a 'real' version of the Bomb-omb, which was introduced in Super Mario Bros. 2. However, it's also functional, as it makes for a simple receptacle for popcorn, and is even round, which is going to make cleaning the thing a lot easier. The only problem with the Bob-omb bucket is that right now, it's only available at Universal Studios Japan. That park had the first Super Nintendo World, so it's not surprising that it debuted the bucket. That said, we now have two Super Nintendo Worlds in the U.S.: a small one at Universal Studios Hollywood and a much larger version at the brand-new Epic Universe park at Universal Orlando Resort. One imagines that if the popcorn bucket proves popular, the design will make its way stateside. Currently, the only popcorn bucket available at Super Nintendo World on either coast is themed to Mario Kart. While it looks cool, I would buy the Bob-omb bucket in a second, even if I were going to have some explaining to do to get it home.
