Focus Asia 2026 Prizes Go to Two First-Time Directors
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- Haohao Yan won the inaugural White Light/Focus Asia Award for "Naked in Glendale," a Chinese-American coming-of-age project produced by Jane Zheng (Seesaw Productions) and Julia Xu (Q&A Entertainment), receiving $20,000 in post-production services from Bangkok-based White Light Studio.
- Ce Ding Tan took the TAICCA Award, presented by the Taiwan Creative Content Agency, for "Somewhere in the South," a Malaysian-Singaporean project produced by Edward Lim (Evil Genius Studio) and Anthony Chen (Giraffe Pictures), about a small-town political campaign that turns a tiger mascot into an accidental celebrity.
- Focus Asia recorded the first time both top honors went exclusively to debut directors, with both winning projects having been pitched at the market's All Genres Project Market.
- The 11th edition of Focus Asia drew more than 200 participants from 40 territories across three days, conducting nearly 250 one-to-one meetings alongside panels, case studies, and dedicated labs.
- Italy's Ministry of Culture remains the primary institutional backer, with Cinecittà providing organizational support and the Italian Trade Agency ICE deepening its partnership to increase senior Asian decision-maker attendance.
Why it matters: The debut-director sweep at Focus Asia's 11th edition — pairing Yan's $20,000 in White Light post-production services with Tan's TAICCA backing — gives two first-time Asian filmmakers access to institutional finishing funds and international visibility typically reserved for established names. With 200-plus participants from 40 territories and Italy deepening its role, the Udine market is scaling as a launchpad for new Asian and diaspora voices.
