ACF - Asian Cinema Fund

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 27^th 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 17^th Asian Contents & Film Market: Oct. 8 (Sat) – Oct. 11 (Tues)

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