The Asian Film Fund (ACF), a film production support program operated through the Busan International Film Festival’s industry market, has named 12 projects as 2026 winners, selected from a total of 798 applications across three funding streams.
The 12 selected projects (3 script development, 2 post-production, and 7 documentary production) represent seven countries, and five of the projects are structured as international co-productions. ACF operates under the Asian Content & Film Market (ACFM) and supports projects at various stages of production, from early development to finishing post-production.
The Script Development Fund received 495 applications and selected three projects: Directed by Payal Sethi, ‘Babak’ is a German-Indian co-production that follows Afghan refugees in Germany. “Bon Voyage,” directed by Mehrnoosh Alia, is an Iranian-American co-production centered on parents dealing with grief and responsibility after losing their daughter. Directed by Aditya Ahmad, “Goldfish” tells the story of a 13-year-old boy who overcomes his relationship with his father against the traditions of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Ahmad graduated from BIFF Asian Film Academy in 2014. Each selected project will receive a cash grant of 10 million won ($6,480) and a place to participate in the Asian Project Market (APM) 2026, where they will meet with producers and investors.
After receiving 16 applications, the Post Production Fund selected two Korean independent features that have completed filming and editing. “Not for You,” directed by Shin Dong-min, is a work whose main character is a survivor of suicide. “Some Detective,” directed by Kim Mi-young, follows an aspiring crime novelist who is forced to clear his mind after an encounter outside of fiction. Both films will receive in-kind support from a Korean post-production company covering color grading, sound mixing, English subtitle spotting, and DCP production, as well as a cash grant of 3 million won ($1,945). Both are scheduled to have their world premieres at this year’s Busan Festival.
Seven projects were selected for the Asia Network of Documentary (AND) Fund, which received 287 applications and offers prizes of up to 20 million won ($12,965) per project. The Asia Projects category includes “Floating House” by Liu Shubo (China), which depicts a diaspora community’s search for belonging. “Tongues of Fire” by Alix Ain Arunpac (Philippines). Examining a society divided over historical responsibility. Co-directed by Sharon Yong and Natalie Chao (UK/Norway), We Are Volcanoes focuses on women seeking justice. The Korean projects category includes Emmanuel Muncil Park’s “The Alleyway,” which depicts tensions over the construction of a mosque. “Our Waves” by Jang Min-kyung focuses on families suffering from mental illness. “Peron Peron: The untold brilliance of that day” by Jude Philin Kang, revisiting the memories of April 3 on Jeju Island. “When Words Return” by Chung Soo-eun examines the history of forced mobilization and war. Throughout the Korean documentary selection, filmmakers employ archival footage, 8mm film, animation, and reenactment footage.
AND Fund projects are introduced to international industry experts through ACFM’s documentary program, Doc Square, which includes the documentary WIP Showcase of Works in Progress. Script Development Fund projects will participate in the APM 2026 Business Conference program, and Post Production Fund projects will be judged at BIFF.
The 31st Busan International Film Festival will be held from October 6th to 15th, and the 21st Asian Content & Film Market is scheduled from October 10th to 13th. The 2025 edition of ACFM, the largest ever, saw total attendance reach 30,006 and an estimated $71.1 million in transactions in the sales market.
