2026 CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy Holds Opening Ceremony

The 2026 CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy (BAFA) held its opening ceremony on September 26 (Sat) at Felix by STX Hotel Haeundae in Busan.

24 Fellows from 14 Countries/Regions Embark on

a 20-Day Journey

The ceremony was attended by Indonesian filmmaker and directing mentor Yosep Anggi Noen, and cinematographer and cinematography mentor Park Junghun, who returns as a mentor this year. Representatives from BIFF, along with BAFA alumni, joined the ceremony to welcome and encourage the 24 fellows selected for the 2026 program.

Since its launch in 2005, CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy (BAFA) has opened new horizons for Asian cinema, with 454 alumni from 35 countries until 2025. Supported by CHANEL since 2022, the academy has further expanded its educational infrastructure and production support, reinforcing its position as a leading platform for nurturing the next generation of global filmmaking talent.

Celebrating its 20th edition this year, BAFA received 501 applications from 34 countries across Asia, with approximately 21 applicants competing for each place. Among them, Korea set a new record with 39 applicants and 4 fellows this year, becoming the most represented country/region and showcasing the outstanding talent of its filmmakers. Following the opening ceremony, the fellows will now embark on a 20-day creative journey together in Busan.

20th Anniversary Ushers in a New Era with ‘Pilot Shorts’ for Feature-Film Development

US$10,000 in Prize Money, Plus Global Follow-up Support Including Training Programs in Hollywood and Australia

This year, BAFA introduces a major change to its curriculum, strengthening its focus on feature-film development. The academy’s 20-day program, previously focused on short-film production, has been redesigned around the production of a “pilot short (Proof-of-Concept)”—a short film designed to demonstrate the potential of a feature-length project.

The fellows will intensively develop their feature-length screenplays and produce pilot short films of up to five minutes based on those projects. The new format is designed to provide hands-on experience in developing and producing a concise proof-of-concept for a feature-length film.

The 2026 CHANEL X BIFF Asian Film Academy will run for 20 days from September 26 (Sat) to October 15 (Thu). Through a structured curriculum and close guidance from leading mentors, the fellows will produce eight short films. The films will be presented to audiences at Cinema 2, Busan Cinema Center during the Busan International Film Festival, with the screenings scheduled for October 14 (Wed) at 7 p.m.

Following the screenings, the graduation and awards ceremony will bring the program to a meaningful close, offering encouragement and continued support to the fellows as they move forward with their careers. The CHANEL X BAFA Promising Filmmaker Award will be presented to two fellows in recognition of their outstanding talent, with each receiving a cash prize of USD 5,000. In addition, the MPA Award will be presented to the winners selected from the 'Bridge to Hollywood' pitch competition held during the project workshop. The grand prize winner will be granted an opportunity to participate in the LA Film Immersion Course, while the runner-up will receive an invitation to attend the prestigious Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) in Brisbane, Australia. Furthermore, the C-47 Post Studio Award will honor an outstanding project by a filmmaker preparing for their debut narrative feature, providing comprehensive post-production support, including Digital Intermediate (DI) color grading and theatrical Digital Cinema Package (DCP) mastering. Through these strategic awards and opportunities, BAFA continues to champion emerging filmmakers as they advance their global careers.