Focus Asia, the trade part of the Far East Movie Competition, concluded its 2026 version in Udine with each prizes going to first-time administrators.
Haohao Yan’s “Bare in Glendale,” a Chinese language-American coming-of-age undertaking produced by Jane Zheng of Seesaw Productions and Julia Xu of Q&A Leisure, received the inaugural White Gentle/Focus Asia Award, price $20,000 in skilled post-production providers from Bangkok-based White Gentle Studio.
“Bare in Glendale” facilities on a 12-year-old Chinese language mannequin pupil and her inexperienced instructor, who discover themselves holding secrets and techniques from each other after relocating to a Christian college within the U.S. beneath the Elite Training program.
Ce Ding Tan’s “Someplace within the South,” a Malaysian-Singaporean undertaking produced by Edward Lim of Evil Genius Studio and Anthony Chen of Giraffe Photos, took the TAICCA Award, offered by the Taiwan Inventive Content material Company.
“Someplace within the South” is ready in a small Malaysian city the place an area political marketing campaign transforms the neighborhood’s tiger mascot into an unintended superstar – and forces the stressed younger man beneath the costume to totally inhabit the function.
Each “Bare in Glendale” and “Someplace within the South” had been in Focus Asia’s All Genres Undertaking Market.
The outcome marks the primary time Focus Asia’s high honors have gone solely to debut administrators. Now in its eleventh version, the market drew greater than 200 contributors from 40 territories throughout three days, with practically 250 one-to-one conferences performed alongside its panels, case research and devoted labs.
Italy’s Ministry of Tradition stays the first institutional backer of Focus Asia, with Cinecittà offering organizational assist, together with an opening-night reception and a showcase of Italian producers. The Italian Commerce Company ICE has additionally deepened its partnership with the market, with the acknowledged intention of accelerating the attendance of senior Asian decision-makers.
