The Asian Project Market, held annually in Busan as part of the Busan International Film Festival, announced its 30 feature selections for the current edition following a record submission period. The market received 604 entries from 48 countries, marking the third consecutive year of increased submissions and reflecting growing international participation in the initiative.
Asian submissions accounted for a significant portion of the total, with 423 entries from the continent and 137 from South Korea alone. The selected projects represent diverse storytelling approaches across multiple genres, including courtroom drama, crime thriller, coming-of-age narratives and romantic comedy. The slate balances debuts from emerging filmmakers with subsequent projects from directors already established on the international festival circuit.
The 30 selections span 20 countries, with particular representation from East and Southeast Asia. Three Japanese projects were chosen, while Central and South Asian nations including Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka and India contributed multiple entries. China, Hong Kong and Taiwan collectively provided four selections, pairing emerging directors with experienced producers. Additional selections came from Iran, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, among other regions.
Seven South Korean projects comprise the remainder of the lineup, many from directors whose previous works have screened at the Busan International Film Festival and other major venues. Selected works address various thematic concerns including social realities, personal identity and ethical community tensions. The chosen projects will be considered for awards supported by the market’s sponsors.
The Asian Cinema Fund Market, the official market of the Busan International Film Festival, is scheduled to take place Oct. 10-13, with the 31st edition of the festival running Oct. 6-15. The previous edition drew over 3,000 industry professionals from 55 countries and generated an estimated $71.1 million in transactions across business meetings.
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