ACFM Chief Unveils Year-Round 'ACFM 365' Platform

Ellen Y.D. Kim, director of the Asian Contents & Film Market, unveiled a plan to turn the Busan-based market into a year-round platform called ACFM 365, according to Variety. She also warned that public funding for the market has stalled.

Kim's five-year targets include regular publication of The A Report and a standing leaders' forum built on The A Summit. She wants Cinema by Brand to become its own financing model and the Asian Cinema Fund to partner with international funds.

She aims to increase the number of represented countries past 60, possibly above 70, by attracting more delegates from Latin America, the Arab world and Africa.

ACFM is holding its 21st edition this year, with 339 exhibiting companies and institutions from 32 countries and territories. Tech exhibitors increased from seven to 18, and national agencies and film commissions rose from 62 to 79. Thailand is the first Country of Honor with 28 exhibitors, while Japan is the ProducerHub Focus Country with 46 exhibitors. New additions include an Investor Summit, microdrama sessions and Cinema by Brand.

The Asian Producers Alliance, led by PGK and APROFI, will announce its launch at ProducerHub. Mateo AI Studio has raised KRW2 billion ($1.5 million) in pre-Series A funding one year after InnoAsia's launch. The AI feature 'Steelay' will be previewed at the Work-in-Progress Showcase and opens in Korean cinemas on Oct. 20.

National funding for ACFM has stayed at the same level for two years running, and last year industry registration rose 14.4% while overall attendance rose 13.5%.