The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) leads the Philippine delegation to the biggest film festival in Asia, the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) happening in South Korea from October 5 to 14. Five (5) official selection films, three (3) films for market screenings, one (1) Philippine pavilion, seventeen (17) production companies, 31 filmmakers, ten (10) scholars, and three (3) FDCP-led Philippine events comprise the country’s representation to this year’s BIFF.
From its launch in 1996, the BIFF has become one of the biggest and one of the most prestigious film festivals in Asia. It became known for introducing new films from established filmmakers and talents as well as promising and emerging ones while its industry arm, the Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM), grew into a trusted marketplace for industry professionals to network and open opportunities to participants in the event.
As the national film agency tasked to promote the development of the film industry and support the filmmakers in the country, the FDCP will be hosting the Philippine events throughout the duration of the festival and its film market. There was a Welcome Cocktail Reception last October 8 at the Philippine Pavilion to introduce FDCP’s new leadership, FDCP FilmPhilippines Office’s (FPO) incentives and co-production grants, and the 2023 edition of Full Circle Lab-Philippines. On October 11, FDCP will host the Philippine Cinema Night, co-presented by the Philippine Embassy in Seoul.
Busan International Film Festival
Multi-awarded filmmaker Brillante Mendoza’s Feast and world-renowned auteur Lav Diaz’s When The Waves Are Gone are joining the Icons section of the festival which showcases the latest films of iconic contemporary filmmakers.
Meanwhile, three Filipino co-production films will take part in the Window on Asian Cinema, a section that puts a spotlight on the latest films of well-established and emerging directors in the industry: Autobiography by Makbul Mubarak, co-produced by Filipino producer Armi Cacanindin ACC Cinematografica with production companies from Indonesia, France, Poland, Germany, and Qatar; Arnold is a Model Student by Sorayos Prapapan, also co-produced by Cacanindin with Thailand, Singapore, France, and the Netherlands; and Plan 75 by Chie Hayakawa co-produced by Alemberg Ang of Daluyong Studios and Wilfredo Manalang of Fusee with production companies from Japan, France, and Qatar.
Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM)
ACFM, the business arm of the festival, is a networking platform that provides opportunities such as investment and co-production markets, industry conferences and events, and film production funding programs available to industry professionals all over the world. This year, the ACFM is holding a physical market to gather its international participants.
The Philippine Pavilion in the ACFM will serve as the one-stop-shop for people interested to collaborate with filmmakers and production companies in the Philippines. This will serve as a space to host the Filipino delegates where FDCP will present its programs and incentives.
This year, FDCP provided assistance for the ACFM to seventeen (17) Filipino production companies represented by 29 filmmakers: Anima, Clayshop Inc., Create Cinema Inc., Digital Dreams Inc., Epicmedia Productions Inc., FUSEE, Kreativden Entertainment, KT House Productions Company, Heaven’s Best Entertainment, Ludritz Ventures Inc. (Twenty Manila), Mandala Video and Event Productions, Nokarin Productions Inc., Quantum Films, Regal Entertainment, Southern Lantern Productions, Spring Films Inc., and TBA Studios.
Cinemalaya 2022 award-winning films The Baseball Player by Carlo Obispo, Blue Room by Ma-an Asuncion-Dagñalan, and 12 Weeks by Sunshine Matutina are part of the ACFM Market Screenings exclusive for market badge holders.
FDCP’s FilmPhilippines Office will take part in the film financing event of ACFM, the Asian Project Market (APM), to present its incentives and grants. Earlier this year, the BIFF announced the 29 selected titles from Asia that will join the APM.
Asian Film School (AFiS)
Filipino filmmakers Maria Danzen Katanyag and Andrei Karoly Hernandez are joining the AFiS, an educational facility that fosters the development of the global film industry, industry professionals, and filmmakers around the world. AFiS operates the International Film Business Academy, Busan Film Academy, and Asian Filmmaking Workshop of the BIFF.
The Busan Asian Film Academy (BAFA) or “Asian Film Academy” is tailored for the emerging generation of Asian filmmakers to learn the practice and philosophy of filmmaking under the guidance of world-renowned directors and instructors. This year’s BAFA will include Filipino filmmakers Jan Kyle Nieva, April Dayne Garcia, and Jean Cheryl Tagyamon.
Platform Busan
Platform Busan, a networking hub for Asian filmmakers that serves as a forum where Asian filmmakers gather and share their experiences and explore opportunities for collaboration. The Filipino delegates for Platform Busan are Faith Kristie Aragon, Mike Cabrales, Kirstie Lee Contrevida, Xzy Dumabok, Jeddalyn Medrano, Kevin Piamonte, Robert Rodriguez, Mananday Rosas, Robert Joshua San Luis, Tyron Santos, Jarell Mahinay Serencio, Kristine Camille Sulit, Edmund Telmo, and Ryan Termoso.
The FDCP scholars to the program are Arvin Kadiboy Belarmino, John Eric Bico, Mark Noel Ebreo, Jahn Ansell Kyle Fermindoza, Kyle Jumayne Francisco, Kristelle Jurao Laguda, Gian Carlo Librojo, Maria Gabriela Seuss Serrano, Myra Angeline Soriaso, and Cyril John Zinampan.
Malaysian Fiction Feature Film Development Lab (mylab)
BIFF also partnered with mylab this year for its first in-person edition, a project initiated by the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS), in partnership with the FDCP, the Singapore Film Commission (SFC), and the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), aims to equip Asian filmmakers and help elevate their projects on the early stages of development through special lectures and guidance from regional and international experts in scriptwriting, directing, producing, distribution, and markets and festivals.
Filipino project Inahing Baka (Mother Maybe) by director Sonny Calvento, with producer Sheron Dayoc and writer Arden Rod Condez, took part in the event last October 7. The FPO also participated in mylab’s Funding Roundtable.
FDCP will also be joining the Forum BIFF, a socializing hub for filmmakers and professionals worldwide that provides the audience with an opportunity to engage with the participating countries on their collective wealth of cinematic intelligence. The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) will host the events in the BIFF Forum starting from October 6 to 11.
The 27th edition of Busan International Film Festival is being held as an in-person event and will run from October 5 to 14, while the ACFM will be from October 8 to 11.
To know more about this year’s selection and events in BIFF, visit their official website at https://www.biff.kr/eng/.
