Busan Asian Cinema Fund Backs Directors Fukada, Nilthamrong, Boo
Busan Film Festival Backs Asian Directors With $100K Fund
BUSAN FILM FUND RECIPIENTS
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AI summary
The Asian Cinema Fund at the Busan International Film Festival has named three filmmakers to receive grants from its 2026 Co-Production Support Fund. Directors Fukada Koji, Jakrawal Nilthamrong, and Boo Junfeng will share 140 million South Korean won ($100,000) to advance their upcoming feature films.
Why this matters
The Asian Cinema Fund plays a critical role in nurturing regional art-house cinema by offering crucial seed money for cross-border partnerships. Institutional backing from a major festival like Busan helps independent filmmakers leverage international distribution networks and secure additional financing.
Key takeaways
- Busan’s Asian Cinema Fund selected three feature projects for its 2026 Co-Production Support Fund.
- A total pool of KRW 140 million ($100,000) in production financing will be divided among the winners.
- The recipient directors are Fukada Koji, Jakrawal Nilthamrong, and Boo Junfeng.
- The winning titles are "Grateful," "Rhizome," and "Trinity," chosen from 15 entries.
Financial backing totaling 140 million South Korean won (approximately $100,000) has been allocated to three upcoming film projects through the Asian Cinema Fund, an initiative organized by the Busan International Film Festival. The grants were awarded under the festival's 2026 Co-Production Support Fund program.
According to reports from Variety, the selected feature titles are "Grateful" from Japanese filmmaker Fukada Koji, "Rhizome" directed by Thai auteur Jakrawal Nilthamrong, and "Trinity" by Singaporean director Boo Junfeng. The trio of projects was chosen following a competitive evaluation of 15 international co-production submissions.
The Co-Production Support Fund targets collaborative efforts across Asia, providing key resources during early and active production phases. The backing is intended to help directors bring regional narratives to a broader global audience.
By securing funding through Busan's flagship support scheme, the three filmmakers gain important early-stage institutional support as they move their respective features toward completion.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the total monetary value awarded by the fund?
- The 2026 Co-Production Support Fund is providing a combined total of KRW 140 million (around $100,000) across the three winning projects.
- Which directors and films were selected?
- The selected directors and their projects are Fukada Koji ("Grateful"), Jakrawal Nilthamrong ("Rhizome"), and Boo Junfeng ("Trinity").
- How many submissions were evaluated for the grant?
- The Asian Cinema Fund evaluated a total of 15 international co-production entries before picking the three winning projects.
Source & transparency
- By:
- The Reviser Desk
- Source:
- Variety
- Original publication:
- Aug 14, 2026, 7:38 AM
- The Reviser publication:
- Aug 14, 2026, 7:38 AM
- Updated:
- Aug 14, 2026, 7:46 AM
This report was independently written by The Reviser editorial desk from verified source material. It is not original on-the-ground reporting by The Reviser.
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