 official selections with his entry “My Missing Half.”){kind=link}
IT MUST BE the uniqueness and amazing stunt of Filipino filmmakers that that stood out in the selection of It Project, an Asian fantastic film project discovery program in-development which is open to domestic and international feature-length and series projects in various genre films such as horror, thriller, fantasy, action, black comedy and sci-fi.
This year, Rodiell Veloso as director is chosen as one of the twelve (12) official selections with his entry “My Missing Half,” a co-production of the Philippines and Japan with Rajiv Idnani and Furuyama Tomomi as producers from THIS SIDE UP and the HERz Inc. as production companies.
“My Missing Half” and Veloso will enjoy pitching, business meetings and collaborations with international investors, producers, marketers, distributors, press and other stakeholders in an exclusive one-on-one engagement at the Webtoon Complex Center (17 Gilju-ro, Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do, Korea) starting tomorrow, Saturday, July 4 to July 7, 2026.
Veloso and his film will also pit against international entries in a competition that merits awards in cash and in kind, recognitions
The other chosen projects are “Agape” from Japan, Miyahara Takuya and Sakuma Keisuke as directors, Yamaguchi Shin and Abe Yoko, producers under knockwood production company; “The Call of the Soul: Mikati” from Taiwan, Tseng Chih-yuan, director, Kuo Jo-Chi and Ruliadieng Nanik, producers under Kingyo Productions; “Cher” from Thailand, Songsak Mongkolthong, director, Rachvin Narula, Kultjep Narula and Hans Audric Estialbo, producers under Films Group; “The Good Time Machine” (working title) from Japan, Takebayashi Ryo, director, Fukuda Fumika, producer under Chocolate Inc.; “Incarnation” from Singapore and Japan, Nicole Midori Woodford, director, Anthony Chen and Gian Tan, producers under Giraffe Pictures; “Mark of the Beast” from from Taiwan, Hong Kong, China and Norway, Ho Shik Kin and Lee E.N., directors, Lee E.N. and Yan Chi Wai, producers from Sunshine and Moonlight Co., Ltd.; “Mimpi Kita: Castle in the Air” from Malaysia, MD Ajib Kahiarul Arifin, director, Tan Chui Mui, Foo Hui Yin and Chua Jing Xuan, producers under Kotodama Lab Sdn Bhd, Da Huang Pictures Sdn Bhd, Anti Gravity Euphoria and NNW Films Sdn Bhd; “Silverfish” from India and Canada, Raj Krishna, director, Sudhanshu Sarai, producer under Four Line Entertainment Private Limited; “Slaughterground” from Indonesia, Sidharte Tata, director, Ajish Dibyo, Andia Pramudya and Annisa Adjam, producers under Aftersun Creative; “Spark Girl” from Japan, Nakagawa Natsuki, director, Hashimoto Shoko, producer with no production company details and “Strange Root” from Singapore, Inonesia, Germany, Netherlands and the Philippines, Lam Li Shuen and Mark Chua, directors, Tan Bee Thiam, Looi Wan Ping and Judith Tong, producers from 13 Little Pictures, Palari Films, In Good Company Sluizer Film Productions, Archipelago.
It Project is a component of the Network of Asian Fantastic Films Project Market of the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) which serves as a global launching pad of genre filmmakers.
This platform is the venue where some of Filipino film artists were discovered like Mikhail Red (“Eerie”), Nicholas Red (“The Post”), Kenneth Dagatan (“In My Mother’s Skin”) and Avid Liongoren (“Zsazsa Zaturnnah”).
Meanwhile, today is the special moment when international celebrities like Hollywood and French actress Isabelle Huppert (“The Blood Countess”), popular Chinese director Yuen Woo Ping (“Blades of the Guardians”), Chinese actress Fan Bingbing (“Mother Bhumi”) and Hong Kong superstar Josie Ho (“The Mage”) will face with journalists worldwide in exclusive interviews as representatives of their films to be screened at the Signature section of the fest, a gala event showcasing highly anticipated works by world renowned genre film masters and star actors.
Huppert is known for Brillante Ma. Mendoza’s “Captive,” Michael Cimino’s “Heaven’s Gate,” Michael Haneke’s “The Piano Teacher,” Paul Verhoeven’s “Elle,” among many other works; Woo Ping (“Kill Bill Vol. 2” and “Fearless” as stunt director; “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny,” “Septet: The Story of Hong Kong,” “Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy,” “The Thousand Faces of Dunjia,” among others, as director) is an actor, choreographer and fight director of the Academy award-winning film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” directed by Ang Lee; Bingbing (“The Empress of China,” “Lost in Beijing,” “Ice Road: Vengeance,” among others, as actress and Ho (“Streetfighter: The Legend of Chun-Li,” “Contagion,” “Open Grave,” “Dream Home,” among others, as actress.
Bingbing is a controversial Chinese actress who was named by Forbes as the highest paid celebrity in China and was recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential People by Time Magazine until she was charged with tax evasion in China after which she found herself migrating to other parts of the world to do movies.
Meanwhile, Josie is the daughter of famous Hong Kong actor Stanley Ho.
“Blades of the Guardians,” an action-packed tentpole about a bounty hunter in imperial China which was the opening film last night of the 30th BIFAN.
Action superstar Jet Li is featured in the film.
Aside from Bingbing, “Mother Bhumi,” from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Italy and Saudi Arabia is about a spiritual healer in Malaysia that also stars Natalie Hsu and Bai Run Run-yin with Chon Keat Aun at the helm.
“The Mage” from Hong Kong is about a former spirit medium that investigates serial killings that also showcases Carlos Chan and Iman Taheri from Danny Pang and Oxide Pang’s directorial duo.
“Blades of the Guardians” from China presents Wu Jing, Nicholas Tse, Yosh Yu, Chen Lijun, Sun Yizhou, CISHA and Li Yunxiao with Woo Ping at the helm.
Aside from Huppert, “The Blood Countess” from Austria, Luxembourg and Germany is a vampire comedy film that also features Lars Eidinger and Birgit Minichmayr from Ulrike Ottinger’s direction.
The 30th BIFAN is slated until July 12, 2026 in Bucheon City, South Korea.