Record high number of submissions per sector 6 Korean and 7 Asian projects with refreshing topics and high quality production selected ACF, which was put on hold for two
years due to the outbreak of COVID-19, has announced the 13 final selections
from a total of 521 submissions for three production support categories; the
Script Development Fund, the Post-Production Fund, and the Asian Network of
Documentary (AND) Fund. This year’s projects are garnering much expectation
with their sharp perspectives on various topics that include labor, climate
change, history, and politics, as well as participation from a diverse range of
directors.
With
its revival receiving much attention, the ACF, now under the leadership of the
Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM), aims to strengthen business ties and
cooperation between selected films and industrial programs. As a part of this
effort, the three Script Development Fund selections will be
invited to the Asian Project Market (APM) from Oct. 9 (Sun) to Oct. 11 (Tues)
and provided business meeting opportunities for investment and co-production.
The Script Development Fund,
which supports first or second feature-length independent film projects
directed by Asian directors, received a total of 263 submissions, an increase
of 80 films from 2019, recording the highest level of participation for this
fund up to date. Smart
City, based on the idealization of the pandemic, In the Land of Brothers, which tells the
story of Afghan diaspora after leaving their homeland, and Life I Stole, capturing the story of individuals on the verge of
danger, through the use of cinematic language. Three films that are generating
much expectations due to their fluid storytelling were selected. Each selection
will receive a reward of 10,000,000 KRW for scenario development and be invited
to participate in the Asian Project Market (APM) during the ACFM period.
For the Post-Production Fund category,
2 Korean projects and 1 Asian project were selected from a total of 42
submissions. Among the Korean projects, Birth
by Yoo Jiyoung was unanimously chosen due to its dense narrative that drew empathy from the juries; and
Director Jang Kunjae’s Juhee From 5 to 7
(Working Title), which was highly praised for its observation and formal
aesthetics regarding “death” as an object of research. Amongst this year’s
Asian project pool, which featured much of the lively perspectives of newly
emerging directors, there was a large selection from Southeast Asia and South
Asia countries. Within this category, Indian director Arvind Pratap’s Mariam was selected after receiving high
praise from the judges. For the feature-length indie film post-production,
the DI work and DCP packaging will be sponsored (free of charge) by Algorithm
Media Lab, Dexter Studios, and Digital Factory, while sound production will be
supported by the three partners, Doluck, Wavelab STD, and Plus Gain, and
subtitles will be done in partnership with KUMTLE. After finalizing the
post-production work, the three selections will be shown at the upcoming 27th
Busan International Film Festival in October as a world premiere.
Seven documentary films that
showcase various social topics in their own perspectives using their own methods
were chosen for the AND Fund. In particular, the increase in films with gynocentric
topics and female filmmakers has also caught the attention of the section
juries. The selected four projects, Shark – A Story of Growing Old by Kyung
Soon, who is a veteran documentary director in Korea; Tae Junsik’s 1997, a worried narrative concerning
labor issues, My Class by Kim
Jeong-keun, a story of child labor disguised in a bildungsroman movie; and E.S.P., an awakening film that reveals
various social problems through games by director Jung Jae-hoon; are all raising
anticipation for a broadened spectrum within the genre of Korean documentary. In addition, director Subina
Shrestha’s Devi, a documentary of
heightened sincerity that captures the issue of wartime sexual violence, Colors of White Rock by Khoroldorj
Choijoovanchig, which is a narrative on the travels of a female truck driver,
and Chan Sze-Wei’s Tens Across the
Borders, an enticing depiction of the Ballroom Scene, a subculture of the
LGBTQ+ community, will each be receiving a reward of 10,000,000 KRW for
production support. Films
selected through ACF have shown successful precedents, having been officially
invited to major international film festivals including the Busan International
Film Festival. Such accomplishments are raising
expectations for the projects that will be showcased at the 2022 ACF. ■ The 17th Asian Contents
& Film Market: Oct. 8 (Sat) – Oct. 11 (Tues) |
이전글 | 2022 Asian Cinema Fund (ACF) resumes its programs after 2 years! |
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다음글 | Asian Cinema Fund (ACF) will open call for submissions in 2023 |