Busan Film Market Director Proposes Year-Round ACFM 365, Cites Flat Public Funding
Ellen Y.D. Kim, who leads the Asian Contents & Film Market, wants the event to operate throughout the year through an initiative called ACFM 365. The plan would combine market data and project matchmaking into a permanent service, with goals such as regular reports, a leaders' forum, and expanded international partnerships. Kim said public funding has remained flat even as the market has grown, and she described support for film as infrastructure investment rather than a subsidy.
ACFM is marking its 21st edition. Organizers report last year’s industry sign-ups climbed 14.4% and attendance 13.5%. This year’s market lists 339 exhibitors from 32 territories, up 17%; tech participants increased from seven to 18, while national agencies and film commissions grew from 62 to 79. Thailand is the first Country of Honor with 28 exhibitors; Japan, the ProducerHub Focus Country, has 46.
Kim attributes growth to programming choices. Existing strands were retained while ProducerHub, InnoAsia, Doc Square and The A were introduced; this year adds an Investor Summit, microdrama sessions and Cinema by Brand. Korea’s first-half box office rose 42%, admissions 34%, and local films took 64% of revenue, yet releases fell by 22 and commercial titles averaged a negative 33% return in 2025.
Count words. First para: ACFM(1) is2 marking3 its4 21st5 edition6. Organizers7 report8 last9 year’s10 industry11 sign-ups12 climbed13 14.4%14 and15 attendance16 13.5%17. This18 year’s19 market20 lists21 33922 exhibitors23 from24 32 25 territories26, up27 17%28; tech29 participants30 increased31 from32 seven33 to34 18,35 while36 national37 agencies38 and39 film40 commissions41 grew42 from43 62 44 to45 79.46 Thailand47 is48 the49 first50 Country51 of52 Honor53 with54 28 55 exhibitors56; Japan57, the58 ProducerHub59 Focus60 Country61, has62 46.63. Second: Kim64 attributes65 growth66 to67 programming68 choices69. Existing70 strands71 were72 retained73 while74 ProducerHub75, InnoAsia76, Doc77