Call for Project Submissions for the "NAFF It Project," the Project Market of the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, Asia's Leading Genre Film Festival!

The Visual Industry Promotion Organization (VIPO; Chairman: Takayuki Matsutani; Location: Chuo-ku, Tokyo) is calling for project submissions for the "NAFF* It Project," a project market at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN), Asia's largest genre film festival, for which VIPO holds a recommendation quota.

*NAFF: Network of Asian Fantastic Films

The Bucheon project market, "NAFF It Project," selects approximately 20 film projects from submissions worldwide. The producers and directors of these projects are given the opportunity to pitch (via individual meetings) to investors, film festival programmers, platformers, distributors, and producers invited from around the world, with the goal of leading to international co-productions, funding, and distribution.

＜Selected Projects from Last Year (2025) (Partial List)＞

★Project ① "WASH AWAY" Director: Takuya Miyahara / Producer: Kentaro Hayashi (Nothing New) During the pitch at Bucheon, the project received the "Asian Discovery Award," one of the NAFF It Project's cash prizes awarded to newcomers in the Asian genre cinema scene.

★Project ② "Lovely Ugly Your Friend"

Director: Yuka Yasukawa / Producers: Megumi Kubota & Shoko Miyamori (Bridgehead) / Screenplay: Tatsuo Kobayashi Received the "Mocha Chai Award" from Mocha Chai Laboratories, which handles post-production for numerous films, granting the project rights to post-production services worth 35,000 USD.

"Genre films," which consistently attract attention in global markets, are a common term for film genres also known as fantastic or fantasy-based films. Generally, these are highly entertaining, creative works that include horror, fantasy, sci-fi, thrillers, and other films containing fantastical themes, supernatural events, or extraordinary elements. Alongside global fantastic film festivals such as the Sitges Film Festival in Spain, the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival in Belgium, and the Fantasporto International Film Festival in Portugal, the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival is known as the largest fantastic film festival in Asia.

On the final day of the "NAFF It Project," a ceremony is held to announce cash prizes, including the Bucheon Award, and awards supporting post-production. We look forward to receiving entries from those ready to take on the challenge of the "NAFF It Project," which serves as an excellent opportunity to promote genre film projects currently in development to the global market.

"NAFF It Project" Application Overview

【Event Dates】　July 4 (Sat) – July 7 (Tue), 2026 (Tentative) ※Film Festival Dates: July 2 (Thu) – July 12 (Sun), 2026

【Venue】　Bucheon, South Korea

【Number of Projects to be Selected】　Approximately 2 projects ※1. We will conduct a screening and selection process based on the content provided in the application documents, taking into account whether the participation requirements are met. ※2. Please note that detailed screening criteria and results will not be disclosed.

【Project Entry Fee】　40 USD *In accordance with NAFF It Project regulations

※Must be paid via PayPal during the application period. ※The film festival is scheduled to provide 4 nights of accommodation for one director and one producer. ※The film festival is scheduled to provide one round-trip air ticket for one director.

※A BIFAN+ badge, which provides full access to BIFAN, will be provided free of charge.

※Pitching will be conducted in English. If an interpreter is required, please arrange one yourself. A one-day pass will be issued to the interpreter.

【Application Deadline】　April 15, 2026 (Wed) ※Selection results will be notified individually in May.

【How to Apply】　Please click the link button below to check the participation requirements, application documents, etc., and apply.

Click here for details on participation requirements and application methods

【Inquiries】 Visual Industry Promotion Organization (VIPO) Global Business Department, Bucheon Secretariat E-mail：matching@vipo.or.jp ※When making inquiries, please include "NAFF It Project" in the subject line.