TWO FILIPINO filmmakers took home the bacon at the 19th Network of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF) Project Market.
Rodiell Veloso romped away with the Asian Discovery Award (with a cash award) for his film project in development, “My Missing Half,” a Philippine-Japan co-production which he submitted to the “It Project” of NAFF that seeks to discover emerging filmmakers from around the world.
The SBA Award of Veloso tied with Jimmy Henderson’s “What the Darkness Keeps” from Cambodia and Pakistan.
Aside from vying and winning the prestigious award, Veloso and “My Missing Half” enjoyed business meetings and pitching sessions with international investors, producers, distributors, media, marketers, sales agents, industry professionals and other stakeholders in 676 business meetings, generating a vibrant marketplace for future genre film collaborations.
Veloso’s “My Missing Half” also won a post-production support award, namely, the Badclay VFX Innovation Award.
The other Filipino filmmaker who got a Post-Production Support Award was Mervin Malonzo and his film project, “Ella Arcangel: Ballad of Tooth and Claw.”
Held from Saturday, July 4th to Tuesday, July 7th, this year’s NAFF Project Market served as a platform for global exchange. Featuring 32 carefully selected projects from 29 countries, the event offered a glimpse into the latest trends in genre cinema and explored new business opportunities.
The Project Spotlight section—a program that highlights a specific country each year—once again highlighted Korea for the second consecutive year, providing intensive support for K-genre films. In addition, Focus: France, supported by the Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée (CNC), Unifrance and the Embassy of France in Korea, joined forces with internationally renowned partner programs, including Sitges Film Festival (Fanpitch), Ventana Sur (Fantastic!), and the Nordic Genre Invasion. They created an extensive international network that connected Asia with genre film communities across Europe and the Americas.
Throughout the four-day event, producers, investors, distributors, sales agents, and industry professionals from around the world participated in 676 business meetings, generating a vibrant marketplace for future genre film collaborations.
The winners, marking the finale of the market, were unveiled at the BIFAN+ Awards Ceremony held at the Webtoon Convergence Center Convention Hall on Tuesday, July 7. Selected through a rigorous evaluation process, this year’s award recipients earned widespread acclaim from both jurors and industry professionals for their bold imagination and compelling narratives that resonate with contemporary audiences.
A total of 18 projects secured practical springboards for productions. This includes “Agape” directed by Miyahara Takuya and Sakuma Keisuka, which won the top honor, the Bucheon Award, sponsored by Bucheon City. Other awards provided cash production support (7 projects), post-production support (8 projects), and in-kind support (3 projects). Meanwhile, this year’s SBA Awards will provide DCP packaging exclusively for all three “Work in Progress” projects.
This year’s final jury consisted of leading industry experts from the global genre film scene, enhancing fairness and expertise. The three members of the final jury—Evrim Dongha (CEO of REDPETER Films) and Tia Hasibuan (co-founder of Come and See Pictures). Reflecting on this year’s selection, the jury stated, “The calibre of the projects was incredibly high, and it was incredibly encouraging to see so many incredible filmmakers with unique and inventive ideas that truly make the future an exciting prospect. And it is further proof that NAFF Project Market is instrumental in keeping the Asian genre scene thriving, healthy and energized.”
Over the past 18 years, NAFF has established itself as a core hub for global genre cinema by discovering over 500 projects and leading to 121 practical film productions. Building on this legacy, NAFF will continue to provide systematic and ongoing support for this year’s award-winning projects, helping them progress from development to production and ultimately to international audiences.
Meanwhile, the 30th BIFAN continues until Sunday, July 12, 2026, welcoming audiences across Bucheon with an exciting lineup of screenings and events.
There will be other awards to be given in the main competition for world cinema.