Busan Market Chief Ellen Y.D. Kim Proposes Year-Round ACFM 365 Platform Amid Funding Stagnation
Ellen Y.D. Kim, director of the Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM), has proposed transforming the event into a year-round platform titled ACFM 365. The initiative aims to provide a permanent database and matchmaking service, integrating existing market data with the work of the Asian Project Market and the Busan Story Market. Despite the market's growth in attendance and industry participation, Kim reports that public funding has remained at the same level for two consecutive years, creating a significant obstacle to expansion. Kim emphasizes that the market should be viewed as essential industry infrastructure rather than a temporary event, particularly as producers navigate a challenging financial landscape where Korean commercial films saw an average return of minus 33% in 2025.
Key points
- ACFM director Ellen Y.D. Kim proposes a year-round platform called ACFM 365 to provide continuous database and matchmaking services.
- Public funding for the ACFM has reportedly remained stagnant for two consecutive years despite growth in market attendance.
- Kim advocates for producers to retain and trade their own intellectual property directly to ensure revenue remains within the industry.
- Korean commercial films experienced an average return of minus 33% in 2025, highlighting a need for structural recovery.
- The market is increasingly focusing on co-production as a risk-sharing strategy and integrating technological advancements through initiatives like InnoAsia.
What Happened
Ellen Y.D. Kim, director of the Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM), has unveiled a strategic vision to expand the market beyond its traditional four-day duration in Busan. The proposed platform, ACFM 365, would function as a permanent digital hub for industry data and matchmaking, building upon the existing frameworks of the Asian Project Market and the Busan Story Market.
The proposal comes as the ACFM marks its 21st edition, reporting a 14.4% increase in industry registration and a 13.5% rise in overall attendance from the previous year. Despite this growth, Kim warned that public financial support has failed to keep pace with the market's expanding role and scale.
Context
The film industry in Korea faces a complex recovery period. While first-half box office figures and admissions showed growth compared to the previous year, the number of releases declined, and commercial films recorded an average return of minus 33% in 2025. Kim characterized the current state of the industry as a rebound rather than a full structural recovery.
To address these challenges, producers are increasingly turning to international pre-sales and co-productions. Kim noted that co-production has shifted from an optional activity to an essential strategy for risk management. Furthermore, the market is navigating the integration of new technologies, with initiatives like InnoAsia and the recent $1.5 million pre-Series A funding for Mateo AI Studio reflecting a focus on the intersection of cinema and tech.
What's Next
Kim's five-year plan for the ACFM includes the regular publication of industry reports, the establishment of a standing leaders' forum, and the development of new financing models. The market also intends to broaden its international reach by attracting more delegates from Latin America, the Arab world, and Africa.
The organization continues to monitor the impact of AI on the industry, with Kim expressing concern regarding the speed of technological adoption and the potential for junior crew members to be displaced by automation. The market's current theme, 'Cinema Coevolves with Tech,' underscores its commitment to addressing these evolving industry dynamics.
