Three South-East Asian film projects have been backed with a total of Euros 160,000 by the Berlinale's World Cinema Fund (WCF).

The five-person jury chose three projects from among 108 submitted from a total of 33 countries:

  • Primitive: Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, dir: Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Thailand), prod co: Kick The Machine Films, Bangkok $75,000 (Euros 60,000);
  • Independencia, dir: Raya Martin (Philippines), prod co: Cinematografica Films, Manila $62,500 (Euros 50,000); and
  • Bi, Don't Be Afraid, dir: Di Phan Dang (Vietnam), prod co: Vietnam Media Corp, Hanoi $62,500 (Euros 50,000).

As yet, none of the projects have a German co-producer on board. Consequently, WCF managers Sonja Heinen and Vincenzo Bugno will be looking to matchmake the projects with appropriate German production houses.

Since the WCF was launched in October 2004, 928 projects have been submitted from the 69 countries falling under the fund's remit. To date, 52 projects have received production or distribution funding.