Streamlined Insights
It was an odd Cannes film festival this year. The films were good, but the business was muted and the instability created by US President Donald Trump rattled around the market, much like the mistral winds that led to the unfortunate palm tree incident on the Croisette. But then we
Chinese-Speaking Markets
All the winners from this year’s Cannes film festival, across official selection, Critics Week, Directors Fortnight and the Immersive Competition.
Korea & Japan
BIFAN has selected 26 projects for the 2025 edition of Network of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF).
News
Project market will take place alongside the third Danang Asian Film Festival in Vietnam.
Africa
Below is a list of films selected for Cannes Official Selection, Critics Week and Directors Fortnight originating from, set in or mostly filmed in Asia, Africa and the Middle East (or from filmmakers originating from these regions but based elsewhere) with sales agents and nationalities of co-production partners where
Streamlined Guides
Back in January, Streamlined Guides released an edition looking at imported movies at the China box office in 2024 and promised to follow up with a report on Chinese buyers. In the meantime, US president Donald Trump slapped huge tariffs on China, which reciprocated by saying it would “moderately reduce”
Chinese-Speaking Markets
Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) and NownessAsia, a subsidiary of Meta Media Group, have launched the Asian Short Film Fund (ASFF). The ASFF is inviting aspiring directors and producers to submit short film proposals from May 7 to June 15. Three selected projects will receive up to $35,
Chinese-Speaking Markets
'Like A Rolling Stone' was awarded the Crystal Mulberry, while the White Mulberry went to 'Diamonds In The Sand'.
Streamlined Insights
This edition of Streamlined is coming to you from the Far East Film Festival (FEFF) in Udine, Italy, where I was covering both the festival and Focus Asia projects market, with the latter focusing on distribution and funding between Asia and Europe. The Streamlined Guide to Chinese Buyers will be
Africa
Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI) has selected 31 projects from 15 countries for the Pitch and Finance Forum of the 2025 Durban FilmMart (DFM).
Southeast Asia
Cambodia’s Danech San and Indonesia’s Wregas Bhanuteja are among the grantees in Purin Pictures' latest funding round.
Chinese-Speaking Markets
Black Ox, directed by Japanese filmmaker Tsuta Tetsuichiro, won the Firebird Award in the Young Cinema Competition (World) at this year’s Hong Kong International Film Festival (April 10-21). Jiang Xiaoxuan’s To Kill A Mongolian Horse was presented with the same award in the Young Cinema Competition for
Streamlined Insights
This edition of Streamlined is looking at films in the Cannes 2025 line-up from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, as well as the immediate impact of China’s decision to “moderately reduce” the number of US film imports in response to Trump’s tariffs. I’m also researching
Southeast Asia
Thailand Creative Culture Agency (THACCA) has announced its first major funding round for Thai productions, handing out $6.4m (THB220m) to 86 projects. A total of 15 narrative feature projects are receiving production funding, including 9 Temples To Heaven, directed by Sompot Chidgasornpongse and produced by Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Kick
Chinese-Speaking Markets
FEFF Udine's Focus Asia programme has selected 11 projects for its All Genres Project Market and seven for its Far East In Progress section.
Streamlined Insights
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump announced a set of global tariffs that make little economic sense and sent stock markets plummeting. At least they make little economic sense unless Trump and his billionaire buddies are planning to buy the dip in anticipation of a big stock market rally, but
Chinese-Speaking Markets
Two films starring Chang are screening at the festival: Tsui Hark’s Shanghai Blues and Daughter’s Daughter, directed by Huang Xi.
Streamlined Insights
We’re at an interesting inflection point in the global film and TV industries and every successive in-person gathering, including Filmart, which wrapped last week in Hong Kong, just emphasises this even more. We no longer live in a world where Hollywood dominates globally and all other production industries