The past few years, the film industry in Vietnam is experiencing an exciting chapter beyond mere good fortunes. A handful of films are making waves internationally alongside the surge in local audiences and box office, thus enabling Vietnam to be one of the most vibrant film industries in Asia - yet challenges rooted in a myriad socio-political landscape remain. This case study will feature two Vietnamese features, Viet and Nam by Trương Minh Quý & Don't Cry, Butterfly by Duong Dieu Linh to excavate the past, present and future of stories from Vietnam.

Moderator

Lorna TEE (Producer & Curator, mylab)

Panelist

Bradley LIEW (Producer, Viet and Nam)
Bianca BALBUENA (Producer, Viet and Nam)
DUONG Dieu Linh (Director, Don’t Cry, Butterfly)
TAN Si En (Producer, Don’t Cry, Butterfly)
Yulia Evina BHARA (Producer, Don’t Cry, Butterfly)

Patrick Mao Huang, one of Asia's most accomplished producers, will be sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience with aspiring filmmakers. From his journey to becoming a producer to forging collaborations with international partners, he will offer invaluable insights into the world of film production. He will also discuss ongoing projects and provide practical guidance to help up-and-coming filmmakers navigate the complexities of the industry.

Moderator

PARK Sungho (Programmer, Busan International Film Festival)

Guest

Patrick Mao HUANG (CEO, Flash Forward Entertainment)

latform BUSAN hosts a networking session where PB participants have the chance to pitch their ongoing film projects and share opinions with fellow filmmakers. In this event participants can look for opportunities to build new connections with like-minded colleagues and collaborators whom they can share their artistic pursuits with.

This talk session introduces the reality of international documentary co-production and shares production know-how through discussion between three documentary experts: Audrius Stonys, Gary Byungseok Kam, and Han Kyungsoo. Along with vivid stories from the production site of the documentary, Prayers (working title), currently being filmed in Korea, they will provide valuable insights into documentary production, such as co-production expertise and the effects of international co-production on documentary filmmaking.

Guest

Audrius STONYS (Director)
Gary Byungseok KAM (Producer)
HAN Kyungsoo (Producer)

Platform BUSAN hosts a networking session where PB participants have the chance to pitch their ongoing film projects and share opinions with fellow filmmakers. In this event participants can look for opportunities to build new connections with like-minded colleagues and collaborators whom they can share their artistic pursuits with.

In this follow-up to last year's discussion, moderator Katarzyna Siniarska, sales agent and co-president of Europa International, reconvenes a panel of distinguished European and Asian distributors to explore the evolving landscape of cross-continental film distribution. This year's dialogue will delve deeper into acquisition strategies for non-national projects, with a particular focus on the performance expectations of European independent art-house films in Asian markets and vice versa. Panelists will share their experiences navigating the post-pandemic era, discussing how audience demographic shifts and market fragmentation have informed their acquisition and release strategies. This candid conversation will offer valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities in bridging the gap between European and Asian cinema, providing a current update on the state of international film distribution.

Moderator

Katarzyna SINIARSKA (Head of Sales, New Europe Film Sales)

Panelist

Felix TSANG (Sales & Acquisitions Manager, Golden Scene Company Limited, Hong Kong)
Jeanne LORIOTTI (Senior Sales Executive, Memento International, France)
JUNG Taewon (General Manager, JINJIN Pictures, South Korea)
Manuel EWALD (Senior Acquisitions & Sales, Plaion Pictures GmbH, Germany)
Vivian LOU (Head of International Film and TV, Teamer International Media Co. Limited, China)

In today’s turbulent times, cinema is highly responsive to the world around us. Through the images on screen, we connect emotionally with people from distant parts of the world. In this context, the statement "the personal is political" remains as relevant as ever. How do political and cultural perspectives influence the portrayal of human relationships on screen? How are global challenges reflected in local stories? And what can personal, intimate narratives teach us about the broader world?

In an open round table discussion, filmmakers from Asia and Europe share personal experiences of how their storytelling is influenced by current global or regional changes: Are films bridges for a better global understanding? Can cinema play a role in transforming society?

Platform BUSAN hosts a networking session where PB participants have the chance to pitch their on-going film projects and share opinions with fellow filmmakers. In this event participants can look for opportunities to build new connections with like-minded colleagues and collaborators whom they can share their artistic pursuits with.

Film Fund Talk is a special session organized by Platform BUSAN to offer substantial information on film funds to filmmakers who wish to receive financing and practical support for their film production and development. Representatives of major film funds will participate as panelists and introduce their fund initiatives to Asian filmmakers. In this session, the participants will get to know how to apply for each fund and the range of support each fund provides.

Moderator

LEONG Puiyee (Assistant Programme Director, Objectifs)

Fund Programs

Asian Cinema Fund(ACF) / Ellen Y. D. KIM (Asian Contents & Film Market, Busan International Film Festival)
International Co-Production Fund(ICOF) & Film Location Incentive Program(FLIP) / Joierie PACUMIO (Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP))
National Development Fund & Taiwan’s International Co-funding Program 2.0 / Jennifer HUANG (Taiwan Creative Content Agency(TAICCA))
Purin Pictures / Aditya ASSARAT (Purin Pictures)
Red Sea Fund / Emad ESKANDER (Red Sea Film Foundation)