FEFF 2026: Udine’s Far East Film Festival Announces 12th FEFF Campus Participants

Key Takeaways

• FEFF Campus celebrates its 12th edition
• Ten emerging journalists selected from diverse countries
• Program led by veteran Mathew Scott
• Alumni collaborate with Asian Movie Pulse
• Festival offers mentorship from Asian cinema legends

Summary

The Far East Film Festival (FEFF) in Udine announced the 12th edition of its FEFF Campus, a journalism incubator that will host ten emerging reporters from Europe and Asia. Participants include Alex Petrescu, Annabelle Duggan, Magdalena Nieświec, Sara Domenicano, Vedrana Bogdanović, Hanhee Oh, Jia Enad, Irving Ly, Rino Lu and Yasmine Chan. The cohort will be guided by veteran journalist Mathew Scott and will receive mentorship from Asian cinema icons such as Hamaguchi Ryusuke and Johnnie To. Two of the selected journalists already contribute to Asian Movie Pulse, underscoring the program’s industry connections.

Pulse Analysis

The Far East Film Festival’s Campus program has become a cornerstone for nurturing film journalism talent, now entering its 12th year. By embedding young reporters within the festival’s operations, FEFF offers a rare, hands‑on education that blends reporting fundamentals with deep exposure to Asian cinema’s evolving narratives. This model reflects a broader industry shift toward experiential learning, where emerging media professionals gain credibility through direct interaction with creators and industry veterans.

The 2026 cohort showcases remarkable geographic diversity, drawing participants from Romania, the United Kingdom, Poland, Italy, Serbia, South Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, China and Hong Kong. Such a mix not only enriches the storytelling perspectives but also positions the journalists to serve varied audiences back home. Under the mentorship of seasoned journalist Mathew Scott, and with occasional masterclasses from Oscar‑winning director Hamaguchi Ryusuke and Hong Kong legend Johnnie To, the participants receive unparalleled access to the festival’s inner workings and its marquee talent.

For the broader media ecosystem, FEFF Campus signals a strategic investment in content pipelines that will feed Western outlets with nuanced, on‑the‑ground coverage of Asian film trends. As streaming platforms and global distributors scramble for fresh Asian titles, having well‑trained journalists who understand cultural contexts becomes a competitive advantage. The program’s partnership with outlets like Asian Movie Pulse further amplifies its impact, ensuring that stories generated in Udine reach a worldwide readership hungry for authentic insight into the region’s cinematic renaissance.