The Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM), the official industry marketplace for the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), has unveiled its schedule for the 2026 edition. The event will place a significant emphasis on generative artificial intelligence and the rising popularity of microdramas.
Leading the programming is InnoAsia, which will host 44 organizations across 11 distinct programs. A key partnership with Kling AI will feature a session titled “New Cinematic Possibilities: Reimagining Filmmaking with Kling AI,” complete with a dedicated networking reception. Additional discussions will explore the future of cinema through sessions such as “Making What’s Next: Generative AI and the Future of Filmmaking at Eyeline,” “InnoAsia Cinematic AI,” the “InnoAsia AI Creators Camp,” and the “InnoAsia Next Foundation.”
Microdramas are also taking center stage, with two specific sessions dedicated to the format: “InnoAsia The Evolution of Microdrama: China & Beyond” and “Rags 2 Richmond: From Viral Microdrama to Feature Film, and the Future of Trans-Media IP.” The market will further showcase 11 in-progress projects through the “InnoAsia WIP Showcase,” featuring works from director Kang Yunsung and Climax Studio, while the “Cinema by Brand” segment highlights three collaborations selected via an open call.
Spanning eight venues over four days, the broader lineup comprises seven sections: The A, Asian Project Market (APM), Busan Story Market (BSM), InnoAsia, Producer Hub, Doc Square, and Platform Busan.
Thailand has been designated as the Country of Honor for this year’s festival. The nation will present five genre features in the “BSM Pitch & Match – Thai Remake IP” strand, part of BSM’s newly introduced Remake IP category. A companion initiative, “Thailand: The Next Chapter,” aims to connect Thai creative talent with international investors and audiences.
Japan holds the Focus Country title under Producer Hub. Ten Japanese producers will pitch their projects in “Focusing on Japan: Pitch Showcase of 10 Selected Producers,” an event organized in collaboration with Vipo. This kicks off a wider 12-program slate for Producer Hub that examines how streaming and short-form platforms are transforming the industry. Producers from Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, and other regions will share insights, with discussions covering a Brazil-Korea co-production model and a new “Morning Networking” session.
The A section focuses on distribution and financing. “The A Summit: AFAN Spotlight” will gather regional distributors to discuss shifting dynamics in Asian film distribution, while the “Investor Summit & Connect” will explore co-production trends and the future of film financing.
Doc Square’s 10-program agenda highlights the social impact of documentaries, anchored by “Impact Asia Impact Day” on October 12. Sessions focusing on Korea, Taiwan, and Japan will analyze case studies including the Taiwanese film “Small Talk” and the Japanese film “What Should We Have Done?”
Platform Busan begins each morning with “Platform Busan Pitch & Meet” and offers a diverse range of additional programming, including “Film Festivals & Markets 101,” “Becoming Punk: An International Co-production Case Study of ‘Ria’” featuring producer Christine de Leon, an introduction to TorinoFilmLab, and sessions on connecting Berlin and Busan as well as Asia and Ibero-America. The market also includes the ACFM Awards Ceremony.
The previous iteration, the 20th ACFM held in 2025, set records with attendance from 1,222 companies and 3,024 professionals across 55 countries. On-site participation reached 30,006, and the market facilitated 8,438 business meetings resulting in approximately $71.1 million in transactions.
The 21st ACFM is scheduled to run from October 10 to 13, within the framework of the 31st Busan International Film Festival, which takes place from October 6 to 15.
I hope they address ethical concerns with AI tools, not just the shiny new possibilities. Tech moves fast, regulations lag.
Wait, $71 million in deals last year? That market is massive. Definitely need to attend next time.
Thailand as Country of Honor sounds promising. Their genre features deserve more global exposure.
Microdramas going mainstream? I saw that coming. China’s leading this wave and it’s fascinating to watch.
Kling AI partnership is huge. Generative AI is reshaping production faster than anyone predicted.