Busan Asian Film School to Showcase Talent Projects and Alumni Success Strategies at ACFM on October 10

The Busan Asian Film School (hereinafter AFiS), operated by the Busan Film Commission (Chairperson Kang Seong-gyu), will participate in the ‘2026 Asian Contents & Film Market (hereinafter ACFM)’ held at BEXCO Exhibition Center 2 from Saturday, October 10 to Tuesday, October 13. AFiS will showcase its educational and international cooperation achievements through project pitching, alumni talks, and Memorandums of Understanding (MOU).

First, the ‘AFiS Project Pitching,’ which introduces feature film projects developed during this year's AFiS International Film Business Academy producing course to domestic and international industry professionals for the first time, will be held on Monday, October 12 at 10:00 AM in ACFM Event Room A.

This year, 17 trainees from 12 Asian countries, including Nepal, Taiwan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, and Pakistan, will take the stage to present the planning intentions and development directions of each project. Afterward, they will seek possibilities for follow-up cooperation, including international co-productions, by interacting with investors and production professionals participating in ACFM.

The event will be hosted by AFiS Professor Bang Jun-won, who has been active in the fields of international project development and cross-cultural storytelling.

The ‘AFiS × NAPNet Talk,’ where AFiS graduates share the experiences and strategies they have accumulated in the international film industry, will also be held at 1:30 PM on the same day at the ACFM Busan Film Commission joint booth.

NAPNet (New Asian Producers Network) is AFiS's global alumni network consisting of 173 graduates from 28 countries. To ensure that interaction and collaboration among graduates continue even after completing the curriculum, AFiS hosts talk events with NAPNet every year during the Busan International Film Festival period.

This year, three AFiS graduate producers who have achieved success at major international film festivals will participate under the theme of ‘Film Festival Strategy and Beyond & Producing a Director's Debut Film.’ The panelists include: △ Tanveer Hossain (Bangladesh, 2023 graduate), producer of the 2023 Busan International Film Festival New Currents award winner ‘The Wrestler’ △ Patti Lapus (Philippines, 2024 graduate), supervising producer of ‘Filipiñana,’ winner of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award (Creative Vision) △ and Kissada Kamyoung (Thailand, 2021 graduate), producer of ‘9 Temples to Heaven,’ invited to the 2026 Cannes Film Festival Directors' Fortnight.

Moderated by AFiS adjunct professor Darcy Paquet, the three producers will discuss the strategies and experiences required in the process from developing their first feature project to entering international film festivals. Additionally, they will touch upon the challenges and key decision points faced while producing a director's debut film, delivering practical know-how that emerging producers can utilize in the field.

The foundation for international cooperation to nurture Asian film talent will also be strengthened. On Saturday, October 10, the opening day of ACFM, at 1:00 PM, AFiS will hold a ceremony at the ACFM Busan Film Commission joint booth to renew its existing MOU with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (hereinafter FDCP).

Under the agreement, AFiS will select at least one Filipino film professional recommended by FDCP every year as a trainee for the International Film Business Academy producing track, and FDCP will provide scholarships to the trainee. Through this agreement renewal, both institutions plan to support the professional capacity building of Filipino film professionals and their entry into the international film industry, while continuously expanding the foundation for human exchange and cooperation between Asian film organizations.

Kang Seong-gyu, Chairperson of the Busan Film Commission, stated, “Through ACFM every year, AFiS has provided a venue for exchange among Asian filmmakers by introducing new projects developed by trainees and sharing experiences with graduates. We will continue to serve as a reliable hub so that the learning and connections started in Busan can lead to new opportunities and growth for Asian cinema.”

About Busan Film Commission

The Busan Film Commission is the first professional filming support organization in Korea, launched in 1999 to promote the development of the domestic video industry and foster Busan as an international film and video city. It performs all-around roles to complete the film city of Busan, such as attracting domestic and international productions through Busan location support, providing production support, nurturing local creators, and operating major businesses in the film and video industry.

20260914 [Press Release] Busan Asian Film School opens venue for AFiS exchange at 2026 ACFM.hwp

◆ At a Glance

· Issuing Organization: Busan Film Commission

· Category: Social Media, Film, Busan Film Commission

· Distribution: September 14, 2026, 9:30 AM

Source: Busan Film Commission Press Release (Newswire)

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