The Asian Film Academy (AFA), an educational program for fostering young Asian filmmaking talents and a platform for building a professional network throughout Asia, is proud to announce the faculty members and 24 fellows for 2019.

AFA 2019 Strengthens Mentorship for Asian Filmmakers

This year's AFA faculty consists of Mouly Surya as directing mentor along with Karina Kleszczewska and Kim Young-Ro as cinematography mentors. Mouly Surya has been widely praised for her film Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts at many prestigious film festivals around the world. Karina Kleszczewska has a name for herself in the Polish film industry as director of photography, in addition to working as the lighting director for theatre plays. Kim Young-Ro is a cinematographer, stereographer, and professor with an abundant amount of experience from traditional films to 3D films.

In previous years, the faculty consisted of a dean, a directing mentor and a cinematography mentor. The change in the faculty structure is to strengthen the mentorship program at AFA. This is in tune with the goal of BIFF Film Academy to provide quality and sustainable educational programs and practical support to Asian filmmakers. BIFF Film Academy is a newly-established department in Busan International Film Festival this year and will oversee the operations of not only AFA, but also ACF (Asian Cinema Fund) and APM (Asian Project Market). Sung Jihae, former Asian film programmer of the Busan International Film Festival 2018, has been named director of the BIFF Film Academy.

392 Applicants from 33 Counties, AFA Setting All-Time Record

Amid growing interest in the Asian Film Academy, for its 15th edition, AFA has set a new record for the number of applications received, with 392 candidates from 33 different countries this year. The 24 fellows who weathered through the tough competition include Nuhash Humayun, co-director of the 23rd Busan International Film Festival's official selection Sincerely Yours, Dhaka, and Aizhana Kassymbek, director of Air.

The 24 fellows will join the AFA program for 18 days from September 26 to October 13, under the close mentorship of Mouly Surya (directing mentor), Karina Kleszczewska (cinematography mentor), and Kim Young-Ro (cinematography mentor).