Netflix Creative Asia is set to bring serious industry firepower to the Busan International Film Festival in 2026, turning Busan into a hub for filmmakers, writers and production talent eager to understand where Asian screen storytelling is headed next. With masterclasses from acclaimed creators, panels on AI in filmmaking and workshops focused on pitching and pilot structure, the programme signals Netflix’s continued investment in the region’s creative ecosystem.
Running as part of this year’s BIFF, Netflix Creative Asia has been designed to support emerging and established talent across film and television. The initiative arrives at a moment when Korean and broader Asian content continues to command global attention, and the Busan event offers a practical, high-level look at the craft, business and technology shaping the next wave of screen projects.
Netflix Creative Asia brings top industry voices to BIFF
The 2026 edition of Netflix Creative Asia features a strong lineup of speakers from across cinematography, directing, visual effects, production strategy and content acquisition. Among the most anticipated sessions is a masterclass from cinematographer Kim Ji-yong, who will discuss how he and director Lee Chang-dong built the visual identity of Possible Love. Interest around that session is likely to be especially high after the film’s Grand Jury Prize win in Venice and its position in Korea’s Oscar conversation.
Also on the programme is director Han Jun-hee, known for projects including The Blue Road, D.P. and Weak Hero Class. His session, focused on making unexpected stories resonate, should appeal to writers and filmmakers trying to turn challenging or unconventional material into emotionally gripping work with broad audience reach.
What makes Netflix Creative Asia stand out is its balance between artistic insight and industry practicality. Rather than centering only on celebrity panels, the programme appears built around real-world creative challenges:
- How visual language shapes a film’s emotional world
- How difficult subject matter can be made accessible and compelling
- How location decisions support story and production value
- How buyers think when greenlighting projects
- How emerging tools like AI are changing production workflows
Key masterclasses at the Busan International Film Festival
Kim Ji-yong on crafting the look of Possible Love
Kim Ji-yong’s masterclass is expected to dive into the collaboration between director and director of photography, a relationship that often determines the tone and meaning of a film long before post-production begins. For students of cinematography and visual storytelling, this session could offer insight into framing, light, mood and the discipline required to create a distinct cinematic world.
Han Jun-hee on unexpected stories that travel
Han Jun-hee’s talk looks particularly timely in an era when international audiences are more open than ever to stories that defy genre expectations or tackle uncomfortable themes. His perspective may be valuable not just for filmmakers in Korea, but for creators across Asia hoping to make local stories resonate globally without diluting their specificity.
Location and storytelling as creative strategy
Another standout session in Netflix Creative Asia is the masterclass on location and storytelling. Bringing together Lauren Cooper of Location Managers Guild International, producer Reiko Kunieda and Netflix APAC production executive Sung Q Lee, the discussion underscores a simple truth: locations are never just backdrops. They influence character, atmosphere, logistics and budget, often all at once.
For anyone working in film or premium television, this conversation could reveal how location scouting intersects with creative ambition and production efficiency.
AI in filmmaking takes center stage
One of the most closely watched elements of Netflix Creative Asia will be the panel on AI in filmmaking, featuring WETA FX CTO Kimball Thurston, Sung Q Lee and director Kang Yun-sung. As AI tools move deeper into development, visual effects and production planning, the industry is wrestling with both possibility and caution.
This panel should help ground that conversation in practical use cases rather than hype. Likely themes include:
- How AI can speed up repetitive production tasks
- Where creative control must remain firmly human-led
- How VFX and previsualization workflows may evolve
- What responsible adoption looks like for studios and creators
By including a senior technology voice from WETA FX alongside Netflix and directing talent, Netflix Creative Asia appears to be framing AI not as a replacement for artistry, but as a developing set of tools that could expand what filmmakers can do.
New voices, pilot writing and the buyer’s mindset
Beyond headline sessions, Netflix Creative Asia also puts strong emphasis on creator development. A panel on the future of new voices in filmmaking will explore the realities of small- to medium-budget production, an area that remains vital for discovery, experimentation and sustainable talent growth.
Two workshops add even more practical value. One focuses on cinematic storytelling archetypes and what makes a pilot episode compelling. That is especially relevant in today’s TV and streaming landscape, where the opening episode often determines whether a project breaks through or disappears.
The other workshop examines the buyer’s perspective, covering greenlight logic, financing decisions and the qualities that help a pitch linger in decision-makers’ minds. For creators trying to understand how content is selected in a crowded marketplace, that kind of insight can be as important as craft itself.
Why Netflix Creative Asia matters for Asian screen storytelling
Netflix Creative Asia is more than a branded festival sidebar. In partnership with BIFF, AFCNet and the Motion Picture Association, it reflects a broader effort to build infrastructure around the next generation of creators in Asia. That includes not only showcasing finished work, but helping people learn how projects are conceived, financed, structured and delivered to audiences.
Held on October 10 at Dongseo University Centum Campus, the programme sits within the wider BIFF schedule, which runs October 6 to 15, while the Asian Contents & Film Market takes place October 10 to 13 at BEXCO. Together, these events make Busan one of the most important meeting points of the year for the regional screen industries.
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Conclusion
Netflix Creative Asia looks poised to become one of the most valuable industry events at BIFF 2026, combining high-level creative discussion with hands-on insight into development, production and audience strategy. For filmmakers, writers and producers watching where Asian content is going next, Netflix Creative Asia offers a clear takeaway: the future belongs to creators who can blend strong local storytelling with craft, adaptability and a sharp understanding of how the industry is changing.
