¡ã Made in Asia Forum in 2022
The first session of the forum, co-hosted by the Korean Film Producers Association, is titled "Korea-Japan Film Industry Forum: Film Industry of ‘Endemic’ Era, Diagnosis & Solution.” It aims to diagnose the state of the Korea-Japan film industry after the pandemic and seek for solutions. The participants are experts from both commercial and arthouse films. Notable participants include Fukada Koji, the director of the award-winning film Harmonium, and Tsuchimoto Tamako, a producer from Japan's TBS apart from producers of Toho and of Toei. From Korea will attend Billy Acumen, the producer of the highly successful 2022 Korean film The Roundup, and Lee Eun, the chairman of the Korean Film Producers Association.
The second session is titled "Asia Film Industry Forum: Future of Asian Film Industry." It will examine the film industries and policies of Indonesia and Taiwan, which have recently implemented active promotion policies, as well as Central Asia and Mongolia, which are newly participating in "Made in Asia."
The third session, jointly organized with the Korean Film Council, is titled "When East meets East: Vitalizing Film Collaboration in Asia." As a follow-up of launching AFAN (Asian Film Alliance Network), an ambitious film network promoting cooperation between seven Asian countries (Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, and Taiwan) in Cannes last May, this panel discussion aims to discuss and suggest ways to vitalize film collaboration, including co-production and cooperation, between Asian countries.
BIFAN will sign a cooperation agreement with Taipei Film Commission (TFC) as well. Through this agreement, TFC recommends two Taiwanese projects to the NAFF Project Market, allowing promising genre projects to be introduced to industry professionals. Additionally, two Taiwanese short films are screened at BIFAN, and two 'Goedam' short films supported by BIFAN 'Goedam Campus' are screened in Taipei, creating opportunities for content exchange between the two countries.
'Goedam Campus' has signed a collaboration agreement with Jakarta Film Week and Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA). Starting this year, they will host the "Goedam Residency," inviting talents from both countries. Two mentees were selected, and they have been participating in the residency program in Bucheon since June 12th. The mentees will undergo mentoring and development processes until the end of the film festival this year, then return to their home countries to prepare for pitching. They will return to Korea in October to make their final pitch with their developed projects.
In 2023, BIFAN is vigorously pursuing collaborations with overseas institutions and preparing for the participation of a large number of Asian film industry professionals. BIFAN and its industry program B.I.G are expected to play a significant role in the further development of the rapidly changing Asian film industry.
The 27th edition of BIFAN will run from June 29 to July 9. The festival’s main hub will be the Bucheon City Hall with the Main Stage, the Fantastic Cube and the Lawn Square. Screenings will also take place at the CGV Sopung, the Korea Manhwa Museum and the Megabox Bucheon Starfield City. Online screenings will be available on wavve. Beyond Reality, BIFAN’s XR section will be held at the Bucheon Art Bunker B39. BIFAN’s industry program B.I.G, including the NAFF Project Market, the Fantastic Film School and Made in Asia will unfold at the Koryo Hotel and the Bucheon Art Bunker B39. The special exhibition Master CHOI MIN SIK can be visited at the Hyundai Department Store Jungdong, 1F, U-PLEX.