The Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) has unveiled the Second Half 2025 Edition of "The A Report," its pivotal industry analysis publication, now accessible digitally on the ACFM website. This release signifies a significant milestone, marking the completion of the report’s inaugural annual publication cycle. By consolidating a full year of meticulously gathered industry data and insightful analysis from 16 diverse Asian countries, "The A Report" establishes itself as a crucial reference point for understanding the dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape of Asian cinema and content. This comprehensive report is a cornerstone of "The A" initiative, ACFM’s ambitious project dedicated to fostering shared understanding and catalyzing collaboration across the continent’s burgeoning screen industries.
Unveiling a Year of Asian Screen Industry Insights
The Second Half 2025 Edition of "The A Report" encapsulates a wealth of information gathered from a broad geographical spectrum, encompassing the distinct markets of Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The report’s unique methodology involved local contributors from each nation, who provided direct, on-the-ground reporting on their respective markets. This insider perspective was then synthesized using a standardized analytical framework meticulously developed by ACFM, ensuring a consistent and comparable approach across all participating regions.
This comprehensive approach allows "The A Report" to delve deeply into a multifaceted array of critical industry topics. The report scrutinizes production landscapes, dissects evolving financing models, maps out the intricate distribution climates, assesses theatrical reach and performance, examines the burgeoning technology and production services sectors, analyzes the impact and strategies of streaming platforms, tracks digital growth trends, and investigates the increasing prevalence of international co-productions. As the Asian screen industries continue to navigate profound structural shifts, notably driven by the exponential growth of Over-The-Top (OTT) services, the expansion of co-production agreements, and intensifying competition for local content, "The A Report" serves as an indispensable cartographer, charting the intricate pathways of these developments across a diverse range of national markets.
Key Market Dynamics and Emerging Trends
The findings presented in "The A Report" offer a compelling snapshot of the current state of Asian cinema. China’s domestic market continues its impressive trajectory, with local productions accounting for nearly 70 percent of the annual box-office revenue. This statistic underscores China’s formidable position as one of the world’s most powerful and self-reliant film markets. In India, the report highlights the enduring dominance of productions in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, which consistently ranked among the year’s top-grossing titles. This reaffirms the sheer scale and inherent self-sufficiency of India’s vibrant and multilingual film industry. Japan’s cinematic output, fueled by its globally popular domestic anime and a robust slate of live-action productions, continues to command significant demand both within its borders and internationally. Meanwhile, Korea has witnessed a notable box-office recovery, largely propelled by foreign titles, while simultaneously expanding its global collaborations centered around intellectual property (IP) development.
The report also shines a light on the burgeoning momentum of emerging markets across Southeast Asia. Countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand are demonstrating impressive growth, with local productions achieving strong box-office results. Concurrently, there is a palpable and growing interest in regional co-production initiatives within these territories. International co-production and IP collaboration emerge as central themes within this edition, with "The A Report" specifically noting the escalating importance of co-production, particularly within the independent production sector. Singapore is highlighted as a strategic regional hub, while Vietnam and Taiwan are presented as compelling examples of markets where cross-border collaboration and the adaptation of intellectual property have demonstrably translated into significant commercial potential.
The Symbiotic Relationship Between Theatrical and Digital Platforms
A significant area of focus within "The A Report" is the evolving and often complex coexistence of traditional theatrical exhibition and the rapidly expanding realm of streaming services across Asia. While OTT consumption is on a clear upward trend in numerous countries, the report observes that box-office revenue in many markets remains heavily concentrated around a select few major titles. This dynamic leaves smaller and mid-sized productions facing persistent challenges in securing theatrical distribution and audience attention. The report further elucidates how the role of OTT platforms varies depending on market infrastructure. In regions with established and stable theatrical ecosystems, OTT often functions as a direct competitor. Conversely, in markets with more limited theatrical infrastructure, streaming services primarily serve as crucial channels for expanding content accessibility and reaching wider audiences. This nuanced interplay between traditional and digital platforms is reshaping consumption patterns and influencing production strategies across the continent.
"The A" Initiative: Connecting Data, Discussion, and Action
"The A Report" and the accompanying conference program, "The A Summit," are the two fundamental pillars of "The A" initiative, ACFM’s overarching project designed to foster a more interconnected and collaborative ecosystem for Asian screen industries. Through this integrated structure, ACFM endeavors to bridge the gap between raw data, insightful industry discussion, and tangible action. The initiative aims to provide industry professionals with the analytical tools and collaborative platforms necessary to inform and shape strategies related to co-production, investment, distribution, policy development, and international partnerships.
Ellen Y.D. Kim, Director of the Asian Contents & Film Market, emphasized the significance of this annual cycle. "If the First Half Edition of ‘The A Report’ marked the initial articulation of ACFM’s vision for enhanced information sharing and collaborative endeavors across Asian screen industries, then the Second Half Edition carries that promise forward, completing the full arc of 2025," Kim stated. She further elaborated on the profound impact of the collaborative process, noting, "The experience of working with contributors from across Asia has profoundly reinforced the indispensable importance of mutual understanding and collaboration, best fostered through the universal language of cinema and content."
Kim also outlined ACFM’s forward-looking vision, articulating that "Through ‘The A Report’ and ‘The A Summit,’ ACFM is committed to deepening our engagement with the four foundational pillars of ‘The A’ – namely, Alliance, Analysis, Agent, and Art – all unified under the expansive umbrella of Asia." This strategic framework underscores ACFM’s commitment to building a robust and supportive environment for the continued growth and innovation of the Asian screen sector.
ACFM’s Role and The Busan International Film Festival Context
The Asian Contents & Film Market serves as the official industry marketplace for the prestigious Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), a globally recognized event that takes place annually in October in Busan, South Korea. The 2025 edition of ACFM marked a significant milestone, celebrating the market’s 20th anniversary. This landmark event drew an impressive contingent of 1,222 companies hailing from 55 countries, alongside 3,024 registered industry professionals. The overall on-site attendance reached a historic high of 30,006, underscoring the market’s growing influence and appeal. The Sales Market segment of ACFM facilitated 8,438 business meetings, generating approximately USD 71.16 million in transactional value, a testament to its effectiveness as a platform for deal-making and industry engagement.
Looking ahead, the 2026 Asian Contents & Film Market is scheduled to take place from October 10th to 13th at Exhibition Center 2, BEXCO in Busan. This upcoming event will coincide with the 31st Busan International Film Festival, which will run from October 6th to 15th, promising another vibrant convergence of global film professionals and industry stakeholders. These events, coupled with publications like "The A Report," solidify Busan’s position as a critical nexus for the international film and content industry, particularly within the dynamic Asian market. The continuous release of such comprehensive analytical reports by ACFM is instrumental in guiding strategic decisions, fostering international partnerships, and ultimately shaping the future trajectory of Asian cinema and content on the global stage.
