Busan Film Festival Unveils Selections for IP and Project Markets

variety.com:

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Some 18 books, manga and webtoons hailing from outside Korea have been added to the Busan International Film Festival’s Busan Story Market.

They join 29 previously announced pieces of IP from Korea and 30 Asian film projects selected for the Asian Project Market. The overseas IP selections include ten from Taiwan spanning the drama and romance genres with elements of fantasy, thriller and science fiction, and six from Japan (five books and one comic) covering sci-fi, murder mystery, time travel and stage magic.

Two more hail from France – one in the comedy genre, the other in the historical romance vein –marking a difference from previous years where French films for remake had been the focus.

This year’s Korean IP section for the Busan Story Market includes 11 books, eight webtoons, six web novels and four stories, selected from 237 submissions by 110 companies. “This selection process reflects a shift from previous years, where stories were more prevalent, to a greater emphasis on books and web novels,” market organizers said. “These IPs feature unique characters and original storytelling spanning a wide spectrum of genres, ranging from human dramas that delve into universal emotions to mystery period pieces, romance dramas, film noir, horror, and psychological thrillers.” The long-running Asian Project Market, previously known as the Pusan Project Plan) received a record 441 submissions, which selectors narrowed down to 30, hailing from 17 countries or territories. “This year’s lineup features an expanded variety of genres, including crime thrillers, horror, queer cinema, and animated films, alongside the more traditional selections of drama, comedy and romance,” organizers said.