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ACFM Unveils Doc Square 2026 Program, Connecting Asian Documentary Creators with Industry Professionals

• Eight partner organizations from five countries to participate; ‘IMPACT Asia Award’ and ‘Newstapa Award’ newly established
• Asia’s first Impact Day to define Impact Asia spotlights case studies from Korea, Taiwan and Japan

Sixteen WIP Documentary Projects Presented

with Partner Organizations Across Asia

New Awards Support Project Completion and Distribution

Asia’s First ‘IMPACT ASIA IMPACT DAY’
Spotlights Case Studies from Korea, Taiwan and Japan

The one-day program will present research findings and case studies on documentary distribution in Korea, Taiwan and Japan, followed by a roundtable with participating panelists. The country-specific case studies will be compiled into an 80-page report and made available at the venue.

‘Impact Korea - Mapping Impact: Documentary, Movements, and Audiences’ will examine the landscape of documentary impact and the social value created as documentaries reach audiences through distribution. The research draws on an analysis of approximately 2,800 works from 1988 to 2025, a survey of 88 creators and in-depth interviews with 19 industry professionals.

‘Impact Taiwan - Documentary Film and Social Practice: A Case Study of Small Talk’ will examine Taiwan’s documentary distribution and film festival ecosystem through Small Talk. It will trace how, following its theatrical release, the film was used in education, public screenings and efforts to raise social awareness, leading to new forms of social practice.

‘Impact Japan - Festivals, Theaters, Audiences: A Case Study of What Should We Have Done?’ will examine Japan’s distinctive screening and distribution ecosystem, including mini-theaters, film festivals and independently organized screenings. Through What Should We Have Done?, which recorded exceptional box-office results, the case study will explore how creators, film festivals, distributors and theaters build relationships with audiences and form communities.

Connecting Practical Industry Knowledge
Across Co-Production, Festivals and Funds

Doc Square will also present industry sessions that share practical experience in co-production, film festivals and funds. The ‘Documentary Festival & Fund Talk’, to be held on October 10, will bring together documentary film festival programmers and consultants from funding organizations working around the world. They will share information about their festivals and the latest trends in the global documentary landscape, discuss contemporary documentary discourse and offer insights into Asian documentaries.

The ‘Current State of Documentary Co-Production’ will take a closer look at opportunities for international co-production. The Asia session on October 10 will share examples of current co-productions and information on funding programs in major Asian countries. The Korea session on October 11 will discuss opportunities for international co-production with Korea, relevant funds, approaches that can be explored during production, and practical challenges.

On the final day of the event, October 13, ‘AND Talk & Share’ will present production updates from this year’s Asian Network of Documentary (AND) Fund selections. This private workshop will discuss the concerns and challenges encountered in bringing the works to completion.

Doc Square 2026 will take place from October 10 to 13 at Doc Square and the Event Rooms, Exhibition Center 2, BEXCO.

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 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.