At this year’s Busan Asian Contents & Film Market, Taiwan and Cambodia showcased ambitious cultural initiatives, emphasizing their growing influence in animation and independent filmmaking. Both countries highlighted strong governmental and institutional support designed to cultivate local talent, advance technological capabilities, and assert distinctive voices in international storytelling.

Taiwan presented two major anthology projects, "Bliss: Beyond the Edge of Time" and "Isle Navigator: Seven Animist Tales," marking its most ambitious effort to position original animation as a cornerstone of its cultural exports. Both projects, currently in post-production, benefit from the Ministry of Culture’s T-Content Plan, which covers up to 70% of production costs. Expanded since 2023, the program is part of a long-term strategy to nurture creative talent, enhance technological capabilities, and establish Taiwan as a significant contributor to global narratives.

"Bliss: Beyond the Edge of Time" is a six-part sci-fi anthology that brings together six leading Taiwanese animation studios: Tellretell, Studio2 Animation Lab, Hytree Studio, One Punch Animation, Movect Studios, and Tracking Troops. Drawing on I-Ching cosmology, the series explores universal themes such as memory, identity, love, and freedom, presented through a diverse mix of visual styles and narrative approaches.

Patrick Mao Huang, executive producer at Flash Forward Entertainment, emphasized the project’s dual appeal: "By weaving Taiwanese culture with universal questions of technology and humanity, Bliss speaks to global audiences while staying rooted in our identity." Kevin Geiger, also an executive producer, added, "'Bliss' uses ancient philosophy to frame modern challenges through speculative storytelling. Each director’s vision is deeply personal, yet universally relevant."

"Isle Navigator: Seven Animist Tales" offers a "mythical map of the island" through seven short films steeped in Taiwanese folklore and mythology. The anthology employs a range of animation techniques, including 2D, 3D, stop-motion, and motion capture, to explore memory, loss, fate, and rebirth. Featuring both festival-acclaimed directors and emerging voices, the project exemplifies Taiwan’s ambition to elevate its animation sector from the periphery to a central player. Both anthologies are slated for completion by the end of the year, with plans to launch on international festival and distribution circuits.

At the same market, Cambodian production company Anti-Archive unveiled its 2025/26 slate, emphasizing a blend of homegrown talent and international co-productions that reflect the country’s evolving cinematic landscape. The company recently celebrated the success of "Becoming Human," directed by Polen Ly, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival 2025 and the Busan International Film Festival. The film tells the story of Thida, a young woman whose soul serves as a guardian spirit in an abandoned cinema, revealing herself to a living man, Hai, after repeated visits.

Daniel Mattes of Anti-Archive described the company’s mission: "Anti-Archive was originally founded ten years ago to produce a new generation of Cambodian filmmakers, bringing their voices, stories, and perspectives to the world." He highlighted the upcoming slate, which includes "To Leave, To Stay," a Cannes La Fabrique 2025 project by Danech San. The fiction film, in development for 2026/27, follows the disappearance of Mera after a visit with her friend Bopha to meet a soldier she encountered online, prompting Bopha’s desperate search.

Anti-Archive’s short film roster spans documentary and fiction, including "Crab" by Kanitha Tith, "Fresh as Daisy" by Socheata Van, and "Earth & Us" by Sreylin Meas, all in post-production, alongside "Shadows" by Sreileak Prum, "The Night Seekers" by Kavich Neang, and "Ba Phnum" by Savunthara Seng.

The company is also expanding its international footprint through co-productions such as "Little Phnom Penh" with France’s NoMad Productions, slated for 2027, "Promised Spaces" by Ivan Marković with partners in France, Germany, Serbia, and Cambodia, and "Notes of a Crocodile," a Canada/China/Cambodia co-production directed by Daphne Xu. Additionally, Anti-Archive is co-producing "Backbone Shivers," a documentary by Mickaël Damperon with France’s L’image d’après.

Mattes emphasized the company’s commitment to fostering diverse voices: "They are united by their search for new cinematic forms and ways of expressing themselves. We support filmmakers as they take their first steps or continue their projects and welcome collaborations with critically-minded international directors who bring unique perspectives to Cambodia."

Beyond production, Anti-Archive promotes regional cinema through initiatives such as Margin, an independent film magazine celebrating Southeast Asian cinema, and the Kampung Film Festival on Koh Sdach island. Mattes concluded by expressing pride in the range of voices, styles, and subjects represented in the upcoming slate, highlighting a shared commitment to cinema as a tool for exploring and sharing Cambodian stories globally.