Busan’s 2026 Film Market Puts AI and Microdramas Center Stage

Busan’s Asian Contents & Film Market is making artificial intelligence and mobile-first storytelling central to its 2026 program. The four-day industry event will bring technology companies, producers and filmmakers together from October 10 through October 13 at BEXCO in Busan.

InnoAsia expands the film-tech conversation

The market’s InnoAsia strand will feature major technology names including Amazon Web Services, Kling AI, Google DeepMind and Alibaba Group. Organizers say the program is designed to connect storytelling with emerging production tools while giving startups access to potential partners, buyers and investors.

Sessions will examine generative filmmaking, virtual production, digital assets and new creative workflows. Kling AI will participate in a discussion on new cinematic possibilities, while a separate creators camp will offer production workshops led by visual-effects professionals.

Seven Korean startups were selected through an open call organized with the Busan Center for Creative Economy & Innovation and AWS. Their projects span casting, screenplay analysis, dubbing, localization, exhibition and audience research. One platform offers AI dubbing in as many as 29 languages, showing how the market is looking beyond image generation to the less visible work of global distribution.

Microdramas move into the market

Short, phone-friendly storytelling will also receive dedicated attention. Two sessions will explore the growth of Chinese microdramas and the path from a viral short-form series to a feature film or broader media property.

The wider market includes project pitching, documentary programs, producer meetings and financing discussions. Thailand will serve as Country of Honor, while Japan is the Focus Country for the Producer Hub. The complete event is spread across eight venues and several program sections.

Why this year matters

The 2025 market registered 1,222 companies and 3,024 industry professionals from 55 countries, according to the festival. Organizers reported more than 8,400 business meetings, giving this year’s technology agenda a substantial commercial audience.

The 2026 edition will test whether AI showcases can move beyond demonstrations into useful film-production partnerships—and whether microdramas can build a durable bridge between viral viewing habits and traditional cinema. Both trends now have a formal place inside one of Asia’s largest film-industry gatherings.