After three days of one-on-one meetings, supernatural horror film project “Molder” emerged as the biggest winner of the NAFF Project Market, part of South Korea’s Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival.
The project by Kenneth Dagatan won the top Bucheon Award and an expenses-paid invitation to the Blood Window project market in Argentina.
Other notable winners included “Naga Swim Upstream,” the next project by Thailand’s Patiparn Boontarig, who recently enjoyed festival success with “Solids by the Seashore,” and “The Vampire of Sheung Shui,” to be directed by Shreyom Ghosh.
“Molder” features a Filipino immigrant living in Italy with his wife who suffers from dementia. When they meet a mysterious young Filipino man named Anthony, the woman disappears and the immigrant man’s life turns into a nightmare of physical decay, marked by necrotic skin patches and horrifying visions. He must race against time to find Anthony, whom he believes has cursed them, in order to find Agnes and lift the curse before it completely consumes him.
Dagatan became one of the international breakout filmmakers of the year with his World War II horror film “In My Mother’s Skin,” which premiered at the Midnight Section of the Sundance Film Festival, was acquired by Amazon and was ranked #6 in Variety’s Top Horror Films of 2023.
Production is by the veteran Philippines-based Bradley Liew, and Taiwan-based Italian producer Stefano Centini.
NAFF Project Market Awards – BiFan 2024
Cash Awards
Bucheon Award (Grand Prize) KRW 15 million
“Molder,” dir. Kenneth Dagatan, prod. Bradley Liew, Stefano Centini, Huang Junxiang (Philippines, Italy, Singapore).
NAFF Award (excellence award) KRW 10 million
“The Heirloom,” dir. Lê Hoàng, prod. Tran Thanh, Mai Ngoc (Vietnam).
Asian Discovery Award (KRW 10 million)
“Push Button Syndrome,” dir. Murakami Riko, prod. Fujita Kanako (Japan).
Korean Discovery Award (KRW 15 million)
“Folklore,” dir. Jung Seeum, prod. Park Doohee, Choi Chan (South Korea).
NAFF Korean Award (KRW 5 million)
“Dhammapada,” dir. Lee Taegyeom, prod. Kim Young (South Korea, Nepal).
NAFF Korean Award (KRW 5 million)
“Idiot Girls and School Ghost 2: Teaching Practice,” dir. Kim Minha, prod. Park Sejoon (South Korea).
TAICCA Award ($10,000)
“Bait,” dir. Yoshida Daihachi, prod. Takahashi Naoya (Japan).
VIPO Award (JPY500,000)
“Naga Swim Upstream,” dir. Patiparn Boontarig, prod. Nakaparn Boontarig (Thailand).
DHL Award (KRW 5 million)
“Dancing Gale,” dir. Sammaria Simanjuntak, prod. Lies Nanci Supangkat (Indonesia).
Post-Production Awards
Mocha Chai Award (Worth $35,000)
“Virgin Bash” dir. Randolph Zaini, prod. Susanti Dewi (Indonesia).
Kantana Post Award (Worth $25,000
“Dhammapada,” dir. Lee Taegyeom, prod. Kim Young (South Korea, Nepal).
In Kind support Awards
Blood Window Award (Invitation to Ventana Sur Blood Window project market)
“Molder,” dir. Kenneth Dagatan, prod. Bradley Liew, Stefano Centini, Huang Junxiang (Philippinea, Italy, Singapore).
Sitges FanPitch Award (Invitation to FanPitch of Sitges Film Festival)
“The Vampire of Sheung Shui” dir. Shreyom Ghosh, prod. Peter Yam, Michael J. Werner (Hong Kong).
Patrick Frater
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