The Asian Cinema Fund (ACF), part of the Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) has announced its 14 official selections for 2025.

As a flagship funding initiative of the Busan International Film Festival, ACF supports talented filmmakers from Korea and across Asia, offering financial and institutional assistance throughout script development, post-production, and documentary filmmaking. Projects funded by ACF have consistently found success at major film festivals, playing a vital role in elevating Asian independent cinema and expanding its global reach.

Record-breaking Submissions for ACF 2025!

14 Bold and Visionary Projects Selected from Korea and Asia

A total of 850 projects were submitted to ACF 2025, a 23% increase from the previous year, marking a new record. After a thorough review of creative potential and project maturity, three projects were selected for the Script Development Fund, four for the Post-Production Fund, and seven for the AND Fund. These selections highlight bold visions and critical perspectives that showcase the evolving voice of contemporary Asian cinema.

The Script Development Fund, which supports projects in the early stage of planning and writing, received 478 submissions, marking one of the most competitive rounds to date. This year’s selections portray protagonists who confront and resist their realities in distinct and powerful ways. The projects were chosen based on originality and level of development.

Black Star Angel sharply captures a woman’s fierce struggle to escape a life shaped by war, violence, and trauma. Heaven Help Us! revisits the tragic Manila Film Center collapse in 1980s, refusing to count victims as mere statistics but to restore their dignity through individual narratives. New Life offers an intimate portrayal of a mother and daughter who, after the death of their husband and father, support each other as they move toward a new life chapter. These three projects will receive a KRW 10 million grant for script development and an official invitation to the Asian Project Market (APM) 2025, with opportunities to connect with industry stakeholders through business meetings and networking sessions.

The Post-Production Fund received 75 submissions, with four feature films selected: two from Korea noted for their exceptional cinematic sensibilities, and two from Asia that present timely issues from fresh perspectives. All four films are scheduled to have their world premieres at the 30th Busan International Film Festival this September.

The Korean selections include Coming of Age, which captures diverse perspectives and voices across generations and social classes, and The Observer’s Journal, which blends tension and humor in a narrative shaped by an unfamiliar setting and surreal circumstances. Among the Asian selections, If on a Winter’s Night offers a layered view of Indian society through interwoven stories of multiple couples, while The River that Holds Our Hands follows a man’s journey to reflect on the Teochew diaspora.

The AND Fund, which supports feature-length documentaries, has selected seven projects known for their inventive form and compelling approach.

The four Korean documentaries explore society, space, and memory from a unique perspective – highlighting the evolving potential of Korean Documentaries. The selected projects include Our Complex, which reflects on Yeosu’s transformation through Expo, industrial, and tourism developments; Sea, Star, Woman, a personal investigation into a mother’s disappearance; Sprouted Potato Lives on, which revisits a demolished hillside neighborhood in Seoul and the emotional and physical traces left behind; and Weathering Architect, which examines memory and temporality in the rapidly changing landscape of Seoul through the philosophy of veteran architect JOH Sung-yong.

The Asian projects stand out for capturing people living in the same generation through diverse cinematic formats, expanding the boundaries of documentary. Kampuchea examines the intergenerational trauma of violence, while Oma presents the resilient presence of a survivor confronting the past with quiet dignity. These documentaries will also be featured in the AND Talk & Share sessions at the Asian Contents & Film Market.

With the 14 remarkable projects of ACF offering new perspectives on contemporary life, the 30th Busan International Film Festival will be held from September 17 (Wed) to September 26 (Fri) around Busan Cinema Center, the 20th Asian Contents & Film Market from September 20 (Sat) to September 23 (Tue) at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO).

■ The 30th Busan International Film Festival: Sep 17 (Wed) – Sep 26 (Fri)

■ The 20th Asian Contents & Film Market: Sep 20 (Sat) – Sep 23 (Tue)