Busan Market Unveils Doc Square, Launches Impact Asia as Yim Siwan Named Festival Closing Ceremony Host
The Busan International Film Festival's market arm, the Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM), will run Doc Square 2026 from 10-13 October, uniting eight partner organisations from five countries to support Asian documentary makers with production and distribution guidance. The initiative, now in its second year, underscores Busan's push to strengthen regional documentary infrastructure through funding, mentorship and industry connections, while the festival also confirmed actor Yim Siwan as sole host of its closing ceremony.
Sixteen works-in-progress documentaries will pitch to programmers and distributors on 10-11 October through the Documentary WIP Showcase, with new partners Newstapa Foundation and J-Docs Hub joining returning organisations from Taiwan and the Philippines. Two new prizes launch this year: the Impact Asia Award, giving $5,000 each to three projects, and the Newstapa Award, worth KRW10 million (about $7,400) plus a streaming opportunity, both to be announced on 13 October. The programme also introduces Asia's first Impact Day, examining documentaries' societal impact via case studies from Korea, Taiwan and Japan compiled into an 80-page report. Separately, Yim Siwan, known for "Misaeng" and "Squid Game", will host the closing ceremony of the 31st BIFF, which runs 6-15 October in Busan.
In short
- Busan's ACFM launches Doc Square 2026 and two new documentary prizes
- Sixteen works-in-progress documentaries to pitch on 10-11 October
- Actor Yim Siwan named sole host of BIFF's closing ceremony
Explained simply
The Busan International Film Festival is a major film event held each year in South Korea. Alongside film screenings, its Asian Contents & Film Market connects people who make films and television programmes with buyers, funders and distributors.
Documentaries are non-fiction films, and many need funding and industry support before they are finished. A work-in-progress showcase lets filmmakers present unfinished projects to potential partners, while awards and mentoring can help them reach audiences.
The programme’s focus on social impact reflects interest in how documentaries can inform public debate or bring attention to issues. Yim Siwan is a South Korean actor known for television dramas including Misaeng and Squid Game.
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