AFAN at Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival & Short Film Market 2026
Date/ Time: February 2–5, 2026
Venue: Short Film Market, Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival
Event Description
The Asian Film Alliance Network (AFAN) strategically aligned its presence at the 2026 Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival with the festival’s special Focus on Southeast Asian (SEA) cinema. This regional spotlight was utilized to showcase the vibrant storytelling of the region while advancing AFAN's broader mission in networking and talent development across Asia.
From February 2–5, 2026, AFAN successfully managed a central booth at the Short Film Market, significantly enhancing the presence of its member delegations (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand).
Jointly overseen by Ina Hon (AFAN) and Chalida Uabumrungjit (Thai Film Archive / THACCA), the booth functioned as a vital professional hub. It maximized exposure for individual countries by sharing infrastructure and resources.
The space proved invaluable, not only facilitating numerous meetings and opportunities for filmmakers to pitch their work and network with international industry guests, but also fostering stronger connections and collaborative promotion among representatives from different AFAN member organizations.
The 2026 Clermont-Ferrand edition proved to be a resounding success, punctuated by several impactful events and visits that underscored the growing international recognition of Asian storytelling.
High-Profile Visits to the AFAN Booth
AFAN's booth attracted visits from major international figures, signifying the strategic importance of Asian cinema. Notably, the Ministry of Culture of Indonesia, the Mayor of Clermont-Ferrand, and the President of the CNC (Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée) took time to meet with the delegations.
Talent Connexion: AFAN Delegation Pitching Session
Filmmakers from Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Cambodia presented their works-in-progress to an audience of producers, distributors, and funders. The session generated highly promising new leads and initiated crucial conversations that are expected to develop into concrete co-productions and distribution deals in the coming months.
Date/Time: Monday, 2 Feb | 2:00 PM
Venue: The Agora, Short Film Market (Gymnase Jean-&-Honoré-Fleury)
Participants: Luna King & Suphatcha Kreuasukhon (Thailand)
Moira Loh & Clare Chong (Singapore)
Nirartha Bas Diwangkara (Indonesia)
Sam Manacsa & Chad Cabigon (Philippines)
Hemkiry SONG & Aulissa TY (Cambodia)
AFAN Spotlight: South East Asian Upcoming Short Film Talents
This thoughtful and insightful exchange focused on the essential role of short films in a filmmaker's journey. Featuring upcoming new talents from across South East Asia, the discussion centered on how the short film format serves as the foundational laboratory for developing a filmmaker’s unique visual voice, narrative economy, and thematic depth—crucially positioning it as a vital stepping stone to their future careers in feature filmmaking and beyond.
Date/Time: Tuesday, 3 Feb | 11:00 AM
Venue: IADT Theatre (51 Bd François Mitterrand)
Moderator: Amanda Nell Eu
Panelists: Pom Bunsermvicha (Thailand)
Sein Lyan Tun (Myanmar)
Sam Manacsa (Philippines)
Jen Nee Lim (Singapore)
Khozy Rizal (Indonesia)
AFAN Meet & Greet: A Taste of Asian Culture
Designed to break the ice and spark conversation, the AFAN Meet & Greet was an undeniable hit. The highlight was our Cup Noodles bar, an interactive and popular way to celebrate our Asian culinary culture generously supported by our Thai, Indonesian and Filipino delegations. This casual, delicious setting provided the perfect backdrop to foster meaningful conversations about Asian culture, the specifics of South East Asian film production, and the shared passion for global cinema. It proved to be an invaluable networking event, turning simple meals into conversations about cinema and filmmaking.
Date/Time: Monday, 2 Feb 2026 | 12:00 PM
Venue: Booth B3, Short Film Market
(Jean-&-Honoré-Fleury gymnasium)