Carlo Francisco Manatad’s ‘Brilliant Melody’ wins two at Bifan’s NAFF project market

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Chad Angelic Cabigon, Carlo Francisco Manatad

Source: Bifan

(l-r) Chad Angelic Cabigon, Carlo Francisco Manatad, Sam MANACSA at NAFF Project Market 2025

Brilliant Melody from Filipino filmmaker Carlo Francisco Manatad won the top Bucheon Award at the 18^th Network of Asian Fantastic Films (NAFF) project market.

The black comedy drama, produced by Chad Angelic Cabigon and Yulia Evina Bhara of KawanKawanMedia, received a cash prize of KRW10m ($7,300).

The story follows a group of karaoke-loving Fililinos who are flown to Paris to join a prestigious choir contest - for visas, not talent. Confined in a rundown apartment, they endure surreal training that is part talent camp, part cult to master the mysterious ‘brilliant melody’.

The Philippines-France-Indonesia production also scooped the VIPO Award of ¥500,000 ($3,400).

It marks the second feature as director for Manatad, whose debut Whether The Weather Is Fine won the junior jury award when it premiered at Locarno in 2021. He is also a prolific editor of acclaimed titles such as Autobiography and Tiger Stripes.

The winners of the NAFF Project Market awards were announced on July 8 as part of Bifan+, the industry platform of South Korea’s Bucheon International Film Festival (Bifan).

The CNC Award of €5,000 went to Don’t Worry About Vampires, directed by Taiwan’s Chen Ho-yu. Set in a world where humans and vampires have signed a peace treaty, Taiwan leads the charge in opening up to vampire tourism. Director Chen is known for working with HBO Asia on The Teenage Psychic, HBO’s first Chinese-language original series.

The NAFF Award of KRW5m ($3,600) went to Spanish horror drama Triangle, which would mark the feature directorial debut of Joseph Diaz.

The Asian Discovery Award was presented to Japanese horror Wash Away, directed by Takuya Miyahara, while the Korean Discovery Award went to animated omnibus horror Vairocana: Three Tales, directed by Chung Huibin.

The NAFF Korean Award was awarded to fantasy feature Lynx, directed by Ha Myungmi, and the DHL Award went to Finland-US production Koko, directed by Hanna Västinsalo.

All four of those awards come with KRW5m ($3,600). Additional post-production prizes are listed below.

Bifan runs through July 13 at venues across Bucheon City.