Indonesian director Aditya Ahmad’s “Goldfish” and Indian filmmaker Tribeny Rai’s “A Chronicle of Minor Things” emerged as the top honorees at the Busan Asian Project Market 2026 winners, claiming five of the event’s 11 awards combined. Ahmad’s film won three prizes and Rai’s project won two, according to Variety.
“Goldfish” took home the QCinema Special Award, the Kongchak Studio Award and the VIPO Award. “A Chronicle of Minor Things” (working title) won the Sørfond Award and the APM Busan Award.
Top Winners
- Goldfish (dir. Aditya Ahmad): QCinema Special Award, Kongchak Studio Award, VIPO Award
- A Chronicle of Minor Things (dir. Tribeny Rai): Sørfond Award, APM Busan Award
“Goldfish” marks Ahmad’s first feature. The film is set in South Sulawesi, where the director grew up, and follows a boy who flees his father, according to Variety. Muhammad Zaidy and Meiske Taurisia are producing the project, which also received funding from this year’s ACF Script Development Fund before it was selected for APM and taken through business meetings at the market.
Kislay serves as producer on “A Chronicle of Minor Things.” The APM Busan Award citation, as reported by Variety, praised the project for its original story and structure, noting that it weaves a social issue quietly into its narrative. The citation also said the film’s setting and themes could appeal to audiences beyond India.
Other Award Winners
Six other projects won APM awards across 11 categories. Actor-director Reza Rahadian’s “Casparina,” a family drama based on a personal story, won the CJ ENM Award. Kim Jinyeong’s “Red Hunger” took the Kantana Picture Award, and Panu Aree’s “Fātimah” won the Kantana Virtual Production Award.
Yen Hao-hsuan’s “Uncle,” which draws on the director’s own life to examine family, shame and belonging as Taiwan changes, won the CathayPlay Award and was praised for giving a character with an intellectual disability full depth and dignity. Park Syeyoung’s “Satellite of Love” won the Songwon Award, and E Del Mundo’s “Once Upon a Time in the Philippines” won the ArteKino International Award.
About The 2026 Market
APM’s submissions hit a record 604 this year, from 48 countries. The official selection featured 30 projects from 17 countries. Organizers emphasized the awards are a starting point.
“Today’s awards recognize the promise of these projects and the stories they have yet to bring to life,” ACFM director Ellen Y.D. Kim said, according to Variety. “ACFM’s awards do not end in Busan.
They travel on to Jakarta, Manila, Oslo and Bangkok.”
Co-Productions And Other Awards
ACFM also honored three international co-productions with Korean involvement that won the ACF Co-Production Support Fund in August. Fukada Koji’s “Grateful” received KRW60 million ($41,700). Jakrawal Nilthamrong’s “Rhizome” and Boo Junfeng’s “Trinity” each received KRW40 million ($27,800).
The Busan International Film Festival continues through Oct. 15.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
