[BIFF Press Release] 2026 CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy Appoints SHIN Su-won as Its First Female Dean!
2026. 07. 02 09:19
Press Release |2026.07.02
2026 CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy Appoints SHIN Su-won as
Its First Female Dean!
The CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy, a pioneering program dedicated to discovering emerging filmmakers and fostering a global network across Asia and beyond, has officially announced its faculty line-up for 2026.
A Singular Voice of Korean Cinema, SHIN Su-won to Serve as Dean!
Joined by Leading Indonesian Auteur, Yosep Anggi NOEN as Directing Mentor
and Master of Visual Artistry, PARK Junghun as Cinematography Mentor!
Director Shin Su-won
Marking its 20th edition, the 2026 CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy has appointed acclaimed director Shin Su-won as this year’s Dean. Shin has established a distinctive cinematic voice that has earned recognition at major international film festivals, including Cannes and Berlin. Known for her sharp observations of Korean society and compassionate portrayals of those living on its margins, Shin has earned widespread critical acclaim for her nuanced yet assured filmmaking.
Her short film Circle Line (2012) received the Canal+ Award at Cannes Critics’ Week, while Pluto (2013) earned a Special Mention at the Berlin International Film Festival. Madonna (2015) was invited to the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival, further cementing her reputation on the global stage. Following Hommage (2022), which explored the lives of Korean women filmmakers, her latest feature The Mutation received the Best Film Award at the Florence Korea Film Festival, demonstrating her unwavering creative spirit and reaffirming her status as one of the defining figures in contemporary Korean cinema. Shin’s appointment as the first female dean of the CHANEL X BIFF AFA signals a new chapter for the academy and its future role in shaping Asian cinema.
(Left) Director Yosep Anggi Noen, (Right) Cinematographer Park Junghun
Another acclaimed figure joining this year’s BAFA is director Yosep Anggi Noen, one of the leading voices in contemporary Indonesian cinema whose work moves seamlessly between both arthouse and commercial filmmaking. Appointed as this year’s Directing Mentor, Noen makes an especially meaningful return as an alumnus of the 2007 Asian Film Academy, embodying BAFA’s enduring legacy of nurturing aspiring talent and fostering a creative community across generations. Noen’s debut feature, Peculiar Vacation and Other Illnesses (2012), premiered at the Locarno Film Festival and received a Special Mention in the Dragons and Tigers Award section at the Vancouver International Film Festival. His short film A Lady Caddy Who Never Saw a Hole in One (2013) won the Sonje Award at the Busan International Film Festival, followed by features including Solo, Solitude (2016), The Science of Fictions (2019), 24 Hours with Gaspar (2023), and The Redemption of Sin (2024), establishing him as one of the pivotal figures of contemporary Indonesian cinema.
Another notable return is cinematographer Park Junghun, who once again joins the faculty as Cinematography Mentor, continuing his role from last year. Park gained international recognition with The Villainess (2017), which premiered in the Midnight Screenings section of the Cannes Film Festival and earned him Best Cinematography honors at both the Buil Film Awards and Daejong Film Awards. Renowned for his striking visual aesthetics and meticulous craftsmanship, Park has continued to shape some of the most compelling works in Korean cinema including Herstory (2018), Door Lock (2018), Voice of Silence (2020), Victory (2024), Nocturnal (2025), the Netflix original series Trigger (2025) and The East Palace (2026), further solidifying his reputation as one of Korea’s most accomplished cinematographers.
New Shift Toward Feature Film Development
Through the “Proof of Concept” Production
BAFA Kicks Off with 501 Applicants from 34 Countries
The 2026 CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy enters its 20th edition with an ambitious curriculum overhaul, attracting 501 emerging filmmakers from 34 countries, signaling a strong start for its new chapter. This year’s most significant change is a complete shift from traditional short-film production to the development of “Proof of Concept” shorts designed to support future feature films. Under the new curriculum, fellows will first develop their feature-length screenplays before producing one of eight pilot short films, each running under five minutes. This bold initiative is expected to provide emerging filmmakers with a practical and powerful stepping stone toward realizing their feature projects. The completed works will have their world premiere at the 31st Busan International Film Festival.
From Cannes to Berlin,
Asian Film Academy Alumni Continue Their Global Ascent
Asian Film Academy alumni continue to demonstrate the program’s enduring impact with remarkable achievements on the international stage. Director Abinash Bikram Shah, alumnus of the 2008 AFA, won the Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival with Elephants in the Fog (2026). Fellow alumnus Rakan Mayasi from the 2010 was also selected for Un Certain Regard with Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep (2026).
The academy’s influence extends across a new generation of filmmakers as well. Becky Baihui Chen, a 2023 graduate, served as cinematographer on Scorching (2026), selected for the Berlin International Film Festival, and Tian Tian DE Mi Mi(Our Secrets) (2026), invited to the Cannes Film Festival. Meanwhile, Raging (2025), photographed by 2016 graduate Theo Lozada, was selected for the Panorama section of the Berlin International Film Festival, further reaffirming the Asian Film Academy’s position as one of Asia’s leading platforms for nurturing globally recognized filmmaking talent.
The fellows selected for the 2026 CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy will take part in an intensive 20-day mentorship and production program in Busan from September 26 (Sat) to October 15 (Thu), culminating in the creation of the “Proof of Concept” short films. All eight completed works will have their official premiere at the 31st Busan International Film Festival.
The CHANEL Culture Fund fosters a vibrant network of creators and innovators to advance the ideas that shape culture worldwide. Core programmes include CHANEL’s Art Partners, institutions whose leaders are supported in the development of ground-breaking, long-term initiatives that bring innovation to the cultural landscape. The CHANEL Next Prize celebrates artists and accelerates their future successes through access to resources and mentorship. And the podcast CHANEL Connects amplifies the voices of thought-leaders across disciplines, generations, and geographies—tackling the defining issues of our time.
From driving artistic innovation with technology at CalArts in Southern California to catalysing creative freedom at scale at Hamburger Bahnhof in Berlin, from championing game-changing artists at the Venice Biennale to celebrating the brightest directors at the British Film Institute, the CHANEL Culture Fund extends a century of commitment to the arts and champions creative audacity for a better future.
*31st Busan International Film Festival: Oct 6 (Tue) – Oct 15 (Thu)
*21st Asian Contents & Film Market: Oct 10 (Sat) – Oct 13 (Tue)
