The submission for feature films will be open until July 19 (Wed), 18:00 (KST).

📣Set the date and don’t miss out!

Asia’s prominent film education program, CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy, is all ready for its 2023 edition.

Chanel is striving to steadily expand its commitment to a culture of 100 years and support emerging creative talents.

To further the cause, Chanel established a partnership with Asian Film Academy in 2022, introducing the CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy, which is now welcoming its second edition.

This year, CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy has returned with a further strengthened educational program and has extended the program period from 18 to 20 days to secure additional time for pre-production and feedback, enhancing the quality of the projects.

The 2023 CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy’s faculty consists of director Suwa Nobuhiro as dean, director Kim Hee-Jung as directing mentor, and cinematographer Artur Żurawski as cinematography mentor.

In addition to the original faculty line-up of dean, directing mentor, and cinematography mentor, this year, the CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy has also invited a ‘script doctor’ to join the team and overlook the storyline. This year’s script doctor is director Lee Wanmin, who received high praise with Archaeology of Love (2023).

This year's faculty line-up, consisting of specialists who, while active in their own careers, are dedicated to the education of new talents, is highly anticipated to create a synergy effect with the selected fellows.

With the 2023 CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy underway and garnering much expectation, let us highlight recent achievements and international successes by past Asian Film Academy graduates.

2018 fellow Zoljargal Purevdash’s first feature film, If Only I Could Hibernate, was invited to the Un Certain Regard section of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

This film and invitation is particularly eye-catching in that the directing mentor of the year, Tan Chui Mui, also participated in the production of the film as associate producer, continuing on the relationship made at Asian Film Academy as mentor and mentee, to colleagues.

Also, 2019 alumni, director Zarrar Kahn, was introduced at the 2023 Cannes Directors’ Fortnight by In Flames, while the cinematography for this film was taken on by fellow Asian Film Academy alumni of 2018, Aigul Nurbulatova.

The proactive use of the Asian Film Academy’s alumni community to organize collaborations and make successful debuts draws attention to the program’s long-term benefits.

Such achievements are garnering much anticipation for more collaborative works from Asian Film Academy alumni, as well as the future activities and potentials of upcoming fellows.

2023 CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy received a record high apply rate of 21:1, with 503 applicants from 37 countries. There has been a 24% increase in female applicants and an increase in applicants from South Asian countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and India. The high level of interest in the program by new filmmakers is evidenced by the increase in applications from China, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Mongolia, and Taiwan from last year.

We look forward to discovering the potentials of this year’s fellows❣️