2026 Asian Project Market

Unveils 30 Official Selections

• APM sets new all-time submission record for the third consecutive year, with 604 submissions from 48 countries
• 30 feature projects from 20 countries selected, highlighting regional diversity and genre range

The Asian Project Market (APM) has revealed the 30 projects officially selected for its 2026 edition, set to take place from October 10 to 13 during the 2026 Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) at Exhibition Center 2, BEXCO in Busan.

One of the cornerstone programs of ACFM, APM is an investment and co-production platform for Asian feature film projects in development and production. Through a balanced selection ranging from works with a distinctive authorial vision to projects with broad audience appeal, APM arranges business meetings with investors, producers, distributors, and sales agents from around the world, expanding opportunities for international co-production and investment in Asian cinema.

Third Consecutive Year of Record Submissions

30 Selected Projects Highlight Regional Distinctiveness and Genre Diversity

APM has set a new all-time record in submissions for the third consecutive year. Following 399 submissions from 50 countries in 2023, 441 submissions from 44 countries in 2024, and 455 submissions from 44 countries in 2025, APM received 604 submissions from 48 countries this year. The figure marks an increase of 149 submissions year-on-year, with 423 submissions from Asia and 137 from Korea, up by 82 and 58 respectively from last year. The growth underscores the continued rise in international attention toward APM as an investment and co-production platform for Asian feature film projects.

From this extensive pool, 30 projects representing 20 countries were selected. This year’s lineup spans a wide range of genres and narratives, including courtroom drama, coming-of-age film, family drama, crime thriller, queer romantic comedy, black comedy, and mystery thriller. The selected projects engage with social realities, personal identity, family relationships, and ethical tensions within communities, while bringing together feature-debut projects by emerging filmmakers and new projects by directors recognized at international film festivals.

New Projects from Directors Recognized in Busan and on the Global Stage

Asian Projects Expand Through International Co-Production

Three projects from Japan were selected this year: 13 by Mori Tatsuya, winner of the New Currents Award at the 2023 Busan International Film Festival for SEPTEMBER 1923; Wings of Return (working title) by Hirose Nanako; and YOURS by Igarashi Kohei. Across different genres and settings, the three projects explore characters who confront loss and dilemmas while recovering a sense of connection and self.

Projects from Central and South Asia also stand out, bringing together new works by filmmakers who have drawn attention at international film festivals and feature-debut projects by emerging directors. Dastan Zhapar Ryskeldi of Kyrgyzstan joins APM with his third project, Bosogo, while Sri Lankan filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage presents Islands, his new project following Paradise, winner of the Jiseok Award at the 2023 Busan International Film Festival. Dominic Sangma of India presents Veil of Dust, which closely examines the tragic contradictions faced by a community, and Tribeny Rai presents her second project, A Chronicle of Minor Things (working title). Babak by Payal Sethi, along with the feature-debut projects Idiot (Kakthet) by Stenzin Tankyong and Dancers by Pakistani female director Eshah Shakeel, further reflects the breadth of narrative and production potential across the region.

Projects from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan were also selected, with experienced producers joining projects by emerging filmmakers. The lineup includes Orlo in the House by Tibetan female director Kangdrun, Unripe, the feature debut of Wang Zhiyi, Whisper of the Silence by Hong Kong emerging director So Chak Long, and Uncle, the first feature project by Taiwan’s Yen Hao-hsuan.

New Voices from Southeast and West Asia Stand Out

Projects with Proven Directorial Strength and Production Potential Draw Attention

From Southeast and West Asia, the lineup includes new works by mid-career filmmakers as well as projects by emerging directors whose directorial voices have already been recognized. Aditya Ahmad, winner of the Best Short Film award in the Orizzonti section at the 2018 Venice International Film Festival, was selected with his feature directorial debut, Goldfish. Casparina, the second feature by Reza Rahadian Matulessy, whose debut feature On Your Lap won three awards in the Vision – Asia section at the 2025 Busan International Film Festival, is also among this year’s selections.

Chheangkea of Cambodia was selected with his first feature Little Phnom Penh, while E Del Mundo of the Philippines joins the lineup with Once Upon a Time in the Philippines and Mehrnoush Alia of Iran with Bon Voyage. Singapore’s Alvin Lee presents the black comedy Talk To Me When You Are Dead, while Malaysia’s Tan Seng Kiat presents One Fine Day, winner of the TCCF 2025 APM Next Award. Fātimah by Thailand’s Panu Aree and The Wife Who Can See Dead People (Or Jinn) by Indonesia’s Mouly Surya also stand out for their strong production potential and distinctive genre sensibilities.

Anticipation Builds for New Projects from Seven Korean Directors,

Showcasing Genre Sensibilities and Auteur Voices

Seven Korean projects were selected this year. The lineup includes PARK Deul-bi by Lee Sangcheol, whose previous films Jesus Hospital, The Snob, and Blesser were presented at BIFF; All’s Well That Ends Well by Choi Hyunyoung, whose Memories of a Dead End was presented in Korean Cinema Today – Panorama; and The Family Table by Lee Hanju, whose first feature The Waves of Winter was invited to Korean Cinema Today – Vision.

Also selected are Satellite of Love by Park Syeyoung, known for his distinctive cinematic imagination; Kuroshio by Park Joonho, director of 3670; Dog Fight by actor-director Ryu Hyunkyung; and Red Hunger by Kim Jinyeong, a novelist and filmmaker who directed The Other Child. The seven Korean projects span psychological thriller, queer romantic comedy, black comedy, mystery thriller, and drama, reflecting both genre sensibility and auteur-driven storytelling.

Selected projects will be nominated for awards supported by official sponsors, with the winners to be officially announced at the ACFM Awards Ceremony on October 13, the final day of APM. Building anticipation with the announcement of its official selections, APM 2026 will take place from October 10 to 13 during ACFM 2026 at Exhibition Center 2, BEXCO in Busan.

The Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) is the official market of the Busan International Film Festival (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 and 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 will be held from October 10 to 13 at Exhibition Center 2, BEXCO in Busan.

[Attachment] 2026 Asian Project Market Official Selection

▶31st Busan International Film Festival: Oct 6 (Tue) – Oct 15 (Thu)

▶21st Asian Contents & Film Market: Oct 10 (Sat) – Oct 13 (Tue)