Inaugural Country of Honor Thailand Presents Five Remake IP Titles
Spotlighting Its Creativity and Potential for Global Partnerships
Thailand, ACFM’s inaugural Country of Honor, will present five feature films distinguished by their inventive genre storytelling through ‘BSM Pitch & Match - Thai Remake IP’, part of BSM’s newly established Remake IP section. ‘Thailand: The Next Chapter’ will connect Thailand’s creativity with investors in the global market and audiences worldwide, while highlighting the country’s potential as a global partner.
The A: From Industry Data to Actionable Strategies
A Closer Look at the Distribution Landscape and Investment Flows
The A, a brand for collaboration across Asia’s film and audiovisual industry, will discuss concrete strategies for cooperation through The A Summit. ‘The A Summit: AFAN Spotlight - The Dynamic Shifts and Shake-up for Film Distribution in Asia’ will bring together distribution experts from major Asian countries to analyze changes in the region’s distribution environment and discuss ways to strengthen collaboration for a sustainable future for Asian cinema.
Newly established as a hub for multinational co-production and investment, ‘The A Summit: Investor Summit & Connect’ will examine current global co-production activity and the flow of domestic and international film capital. It will also share financing pathways and strategies for the rapidly changing Asian film market.
From Generative AI to Branded Content
InnoAsia Expands the Scope of the Film Industry
With 44 participating organizations and companies, InnoAsia will present 11 programs that expand the boundaries of cinema and introduce a new industry ecosystem. Kling AI, one of the leaders in generative AI, will co-host ‘New Cinematic Possibilities: Reimagining Filmmaking with Kling AI’ with ACFM. Bringing together creative vision and professional production practice, the session will examine how AI technology can support distinctive storytelling and open new horizons for the global film industry. ‘Kling AI Networking Reception: From Production Needs to Industry Partnerships Across Asia’ will offer opportunities for exchanging ideas and exploring future partnership.
The lineup will focus on the evolution of cinema through AI with ‘Making What’s Next: Generative AI and the Future of Filmmaking at Eyeline’; ‘InnoAsia Cinematic AI’, which will examine shifts in the filmmaking paradigm; ‘InnoAsia AI Creators Camp’ for creators seeking to overcome barriers in AI creation; and ‘InnoAsia Next Foundation’, which will address sovereign AI and 'Independent Foundation Model'.
Microdrama will be explored in two sessions: ‘InnoAsia The Evolution of Microdrama: China & Beyond’ and ‘Rags 2 Richmond: From Viral Microdrama to Feature Film, and the Future of Trans-Media IP’.
The program will also present the ‘InnoAsia Opening Speech & Startup Demo Jam’, featuring startups selected through an open call. The ‘InnoAsia WIP Showcase’ will introduce 11 works, including mainstream AI and hybrid feature films for theatrical release from director Kang Yunsung, Climax Studio and others, the latest series from Europe’s art-tech sector, and Asian AI animation projects. ‘Cinema by Brand’, which explores new models of collaboration between brands and film, will also introduce three projects selected through the open call and confirmed for production.
Focus Country Japan Takes Center Stage
Producer Hub Presents 12 Programs from Pitching to Networking
Producer Hub, which builds the capacity of producers worldwide and facilitates networking with the aim of international co-production and global financing, has selected Japan as this year’s Focus Country and will present 12 programs. Beginning with ‘Focusing on Japan: Pitch Showcase of 10 Selected Producers co-hosted by VIPO’, the program will introduce Japanese co-production case studies and Japan’s production environment, followed by in-depth business discussions through producer meetings.
As streaming and short-form content reshape the industry, producers from Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan and elsewhere in Asia will share the current state of their respective industries, along with achievements and opportunities in co-production. They will also explore solidarity and creative alliances as a way forward. A Brazil–Korea co-production model will also be presented. ‘Morning Networking’, introduced for the first time this year, will provide a highly focused setting for substantive business exchange.
Doc Square Presents 10 Programs
Exploring the Social Impact of Asian Documentaries
Doc Square, which connects documentary creators with the industry, will dedicate October 12 to ‘IMPACT ASIA IMPACT DAY’, focusing on the social impact of Asian documentaries. Three sessions examining impact in Korea, Taiwan and Japan will include case studies of Taiwan’s Small Talk and Japan’s What Should We Have Done?.
The program will also feature two Documentary WIP Showcases, sessions examining the current state of documentary co-production in Asia and Korea, and AND Talk & Share.
From IP and Project Pitches to the ACFM Awards Ceremony
Expanding Global Collaboration and the Business Ecosystem
Platform BUSAN will hold ‘Platform BUSAN Pitch & Meet’ every morning for four days at the PB Lounge. ‘Film Festivals & Markets 101’, ‘Becoming Punk: An International Co-production Case Study of RIA’ with producer Christine de Leon, and ‘An Introduction to TorinoFilmLab’ will provide emerging filmmakers with practical information and training to support their next steps.
Other programs include pitches for selected works, including outstanding original IP and feature-length projects, as well as sessions exploring global networks and international collaboration: ‘EFM × ACFM: Connecting Berlin and Busan’, ‘Connecting Asia & Ibero-America: Unlocking Market Opportunities in Co-Production and Distribution’, and ‘UTA × Gold House: Hollywood & The Asian Diaspora’.
In particular, this year’s ‘ACFM Awards Ceremony’ will bring together various awards categories, spotlighting Asian content and innovative industry players while further expanding the market’s business ecosystem. The full program and detailed schedule are available on the official ACFM website at www.acfm.kr.
ACFM is the official market of the BIFF and is held in Busan every October. At its 20th edition in 2025, 1,222 companies and 3,024 industry professionals from 55 countries registered, while total on-site attendance reached 30,006, marking the largest edition in ACFM’s history. The Sales Market recorded 8,438 business meetings, with an estimated transaction value of approximately USD 71.16 million.
The 2026 Asian Contents & Film Market, dedicated to discussions on the present and future of the global content industry, will be held from October 10 to 13 at Exhibition Center 2, BEXCO in Busan.
