Overview
The Asian Cinema Fund (ACF) is a grant program operated by the Asian Contents and Film Market (ACFM), the official industry platform of the Busan International Film Festival. ACF provides funding across three tracks: the Asian Network of Documentary (AND) Fund, the Post-Production Fund, and the Script Development Fund. A fourth track, the Co-Production Support Fund, was added in 2026 as part of a program reorganization.
The 2026 edition received 798 submissions across all tracks: 495 for Script Development, 16 for Post-Production, and 287 for the AND Fund. A total of 12 projects were selected. The 31st Busan International Film Festival runs October 6 to 15, 2026, with the ACFM running October 10 to 13 at BEXCO in Busan.
What It Funds
Asian Network of Documentary (AND) Fund
Supports feature-length independent documentary projects from Asia intended for theatrical release. Projects may be at any stage: development, pre-production, production, or post-production.
- Grant amount: Up to KRW 20,000,000 (approximately USD 13,000) per project
- Selection volume: Around 7 projects selected annually
- Additional benefit: Selected projects may participate in the Documentary WIP Showcase (part of ACFM's Doc Square program) if the project is over 60 minutes in length
- 2026 selection results: Announced via email in mid-June 2026; funding provided after the 31st BIFF
Script Development Fund
Supports Asian independent filmmakers developing scripts for their first or second feature-length fiction film. Two eligibility categories exist: Asian projects (writer-director must be of Asian nationality) and AFA/BAFA projects (writer-director must be an alumnus/alumna of Busan's Asian Film Academy or CHANEL x BIFF Asian Film Academy). Korean projects are not eligible for this track.
- Grant amount: KRW 10,000,000 (approximately USD 6,500) per project
- Selection volume: 3 projects selected annually
- Additional benefit: Selected projects are invited to the Asian Project Market (APM) as official selections, where representatives meet potential co-producers, investors, and industry professionals
- Obligations: Recipient must sign a Fund Agreement, attend APM, submit a working draft and completed script, and include ACF/BIFF/ACFM logos in the completed film's credits and promotional materials
Post-Production Fund
Supports Korean independent feature projects that have completed principal photography and editing. This track is restricted to Korean projects as of the 2026 reorganization.
- Grant amount: KRW 3,000,000 (approximately USD 1,940) per project for additional post-production expenses, plus in-kind support
- In-kind support: Professional digital intermediate (DI) color grading, sound mixing, English subtitle spotting, and DCP production provided by Korean post-production companies
- Selection volume: 2 projects selected annually
- Additional benefit: Selected films premiere at the Busan International Film Festival
Co-Production Support Fund (New in 2026)
A new track announced as part of the 2026 ACF reorganization. The 2026 call for submissions had a deadline of June 30, 2026. Details on grant amounts and eligibility are available on the ACF website.
Eligibility
AND Fund: Projects must be from Asia. Projects may be at any production stage. The fund supports feature-length independent documentaries intended for theatrical release.
Script Development Fund: Writer-director must be of Asian nationality (or an AFA/BAFA alumnus/alumna). Korean projects are not eligible. The fund is for first or second feature fiction films only.
Post-Production Fund: Restricted to Korean independent feature projects that have completed principal photography and editing.
Co-Production Support Fund: Consult the ACF guidelines for specific eligibility requirements.
All tracks require submission of project materials including a treatment, script, or work-in-progress footage depending on the stage. Each track has a separate annual deadline.
Application Timeline (2026 Cycle)
- ACF 2026 Call for Submissions: Announced March 26, 2026
- Co-Production Support Fund deadline: June 30, 2026
- AND Fund selection results: Mid-June 2026 via email
- Script Development Fund selection results: May 2026 via email
- Funding disbursement: After the 31st Busan International Film Festival (October 2026)
- ACFM dates: October 10 to 13, 2026 at BEXCO, Busan
- BIFF dates: October 6 to 15, 2026
2026 Selected Projects
The 12 selected projects for 2026 include works from India (Payal Sethi), Iran (Mehnoush Alia), Indonesia (Aditya Ahmad), and South Korea (Shin Dongmin), among others. The full list is available on the ACF website and was covered by Screen Daily.
Who Should Apply
Asian documentary filmmakers at any production stage should target the AND Fund. Korean independent filmmakers who have completed principal photography and editing should target the Post-Production Fund. Asian (non-Korean) narrative filmmakers developing first or second feature scripts should apply to the Script Development Fund. Filmmakers interested in Asian co-productions should consult the Co-Production Support Fund guidelines.
Past Recipients and What They Made with the Money
ACF-backed projects have consistently gained traction at major international film festivals. The fund has supported films that went on to premiere at BIFF and travel to festivals worldwide.
- 10s Across the Borders (Chan Sze-Wei, AND Fund) - A documentary about queer ballroom culture in Southeast Asia. The film had its world premiere in the Wide Angle Documentary Competition at the 30th BIFF in 2025. It went on to screen at BFI Flare London, Frameline50 San Francisco, and the Singapore International Film Festival.
- Black Star Angel (Christine Haroutounian, Script Development Fund 2025) - A fiction project about a woman escaping a life defined by war. Selected from 478 submissions in the most competitive Script Development round to date. The project was invited to the Asian Project Market to meet co-producers and investors.
- New Life (Li Yingtong, Script Development Fund 2025) - An intimate portrait of a mother and daughter after a family loss. Director Li Yingtong and producer Annie Song are BAFA alumni who collaborated on this project. The script was presented at APM 2025 alongside 30 other official selections.
Post-Production Fund recipients receive in-kind support and a mandatory world premiere at BIFF. The 2025 Post-Production selections included Coming of Age (Jeong Seung-o), If on a Winter's Night (Sanju Surendran), and The River that Holds Our Hands (Chen Jianhang), all of which premiered at the 30th BIFF.
What Makes an Application Competitive
The ACF evaluates projects on creative potential and project maturity. With 798 submissions for 12 slots in 2026, the selection process is highly competitive. Each track has distinct criteria.
Script Development Fund: The jury looks for projects where protagonists confront and resist their realities. First or second feature scripts with a clear directorial vision stand out. AFA/BAFA alumni receive separate consideration, which reduces competition within that category. The script must demonstrate both artistic ambition and feasibility within the grant period.
AND Fund: Selectors prioritize inventive documentary form and compelling approaches to storytelling. Projects must be intended for theatrical release, not television or streaming. A strong treatment with clear access to subjects and a realistic production timeline signals maturity. Projects over 60 minutes may be invited to the Documentary WIP Showcase at Doc Square.
Post-Production Fund: The film must be eligible for a world premiere at BIFF. Editing must be completed by the submission deadline. The jury assesses whether the project will benefit from Korean post-production services (DI, sound mixing, subtitle spotting, DCP). Projects that can complete all post-production at ACF-designated studios are preferred.
Watch
See Also
For documentary filmmakers building an international financing strategy across Asia and Europe, see Documentary Financing: Building Your Stack. For post-production planning and storage cost estimates, use the Storage and Footage Calculator. For estimating the cost of DCP creation and delivery, use the DCP Size Estimator.
