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Malaysian filmmaker Lim Han Loong has been named one of two recipients of the 2026 Chanel X Bafa Promising Filmmaker Award, presented during the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF)in South Korea.
Lim received the honour alongside South Korean filmmaker Lee Jong-heon, with both recognised for their outstanding talent and achievements throughout the Chanel X BIFF Asian Film Academy (Bafa). Each recipient was awarded US$5,000 (RM20,410) to support their filmmaking careers.
The awards were presented following the academy’s graduation ceremony and screening on Oct 14 at the Busan Cinema Centre, where 24 emerging filmmakers from 14 countries and regions showcased eight newly produced pilot short films.
Lim was selected from 501 applicants across Asia
Lim was among 24 fellows selected from 501 applications submitted from 34 Asian countries, making this year’s programme a highly competitive platform for emerging filmmaking talent.
Now in its 20th edition, the Chanel X BIFF Asian Film Academy is a talent development initiative organised by the Busan International Film Festival with support from Chanel.
The academy brings together emerging directors, cinematographers and other film professionals for intensive filmmaking, mentorship and international collaboration.
This year marked a shift towards feature-film development, with participants working in teams to create short proof-of-concept films based on feature-length projects.
The 20-day programme, which ran from Sept 26 to Oct 15, was led by South Korean filmmaker Shin Su-won as dean, with Indonesian director Yosep Anggi Noen serving as directing mentor and South Korean cinematographer Park Junghun as cinematography mentor.
His journey from Ipoh to the international film stage
Hailing from Ipoh, Perak, Lim has developed a filmmaking practice centred on memory, family, migration and the quiet transformations of everyday life.
His 2025 short film In the Valley premiered in the Wide Angle section of the Busan International Film Festival. Set against the limestone landscape of Ipoh, the film follows an 11-year-old girl confronting the prospect of leaving her home and best friend behind when her mother decides to move to the city.
The film was subsequently screened at the Singapore International Film Festival, continuing Lim’s growing presence on the international festival circuit.
Lim is currently developing his debut feature Maybe Today, If Not Today, Maybe Tomorrow, which returns to his hometown of Ipoh.
Set in Malaysia in 2018, the project follows an 18-year-old school leaver navigating uncertainty about his future as his family, hometown and the country undergo significant changes.
The feature project has also been selected for the 2026 Produire au Sud Asean workshop, organised by the Festival des 3 Continents.
Recognition for Malaysia’s emerging film talent
According to the BIFF, the Promising Filmmaker Award recognises two fellows who demonstrate exceptional promise through their creative achievements during the academy.
For Lim, the recognition follows his earlier participation in Busan as a short-film director and marks a further step in his transition towards feature filmmaking.
His excellent achievement also highlights the growing presence of Malaysian independent filmmakers within international filmmaking networks, where locally rooted stories continue to find enthusiastic audiences and willing collaborators beyond the country’s borders.
The 2026 Chanel X BIFF Asian Film Academy successfully concluded on Oct 15, continuing its long mission to support emerging, promising Asian filmmakers through a combination of international exchange, practical filmmaking experience and professional development.
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