The Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Cinema Fund has announced its latest round of co-production funding, awarding a combined 140 million Korean won to three international film projects. The recipients—”Grateful” directed by Fukada Koji, “Rhizome” helmed by Jakrawal Nilthamrong, and “Trinity” from Boo Junfeng—were selected from 15 submissions through a competitive two-round evaluation process.
“Grateful” secured the largest award at 60 million won, representing a Korea-Japan partnership with Korean producers Song Dae-chan and Kameda Yuko. The selection committee highlighted the Korean production team’s proven track record as a key factor in this decision. Meanwhile, “Rhizome” received 40 million won and involves a Thailand-led production with minority partners from Korea, France, Laos, and Singapore, exploring shared wartime history across Asia. “Trinity,” also awarded 40 million won, features an ambitious multinational collaboration involving majority partners Taiwan, France, and Singapore, alongside eight additional countries.
The 2026 awards reflect significant growth in the fund’s support, with total disbursements increasing from the previous year’s 65 million won. The Co-Production Support Fund, established in 2025, aims to facilitate cross-border productions involving Korean partners and requires projects to finance at least 60 percent of production costs. Festival organizers expressed optimism about the expanded backing for these projects as they approach completion.
Originally reported by Variety →
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