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Locarno Competition Title ‘Hearing’ Lands at Heretic for World Sales, Unveils Clip (EXCLUSIVE)
Heretic has acquired world sales rights for “Hearing”, the second feature by Vietnamese director Lê Bảo, ahead of its screening in the International Competition at the 2026 Locarno Film Festival. The film follows Ninh, a mechanic who installs decibel meters and begins to read rising sound levels as signals about the tensions and absences in his own family life. The deal matters because it gives the project international commercial backing at a major festival, while further raising Lê Bảo’s profile after the acclaim for his debut “Taste”.
“Hearing” is a nine-territory co-production involving Singapore, Vietnam, Norway, France, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Cambodia, Thailand and Taiwan, and is produced by Elizabeth Wijaya, Lai Weijie and Huỳnh Yến. Lê Bảo reunites with key collaborators including cinematographer Nguyễn Vinh Phúc and production designer Lê Văn Thanh, while the editing is by Carlo Francisco Manatad and Dounia Sichov. Sound is central to the film’s approach, with Vincent Villa handling sound design and mixing, and the score composed by Norwegian electronic artist Mental Overdrive; Heretic has also unveiled a clip and said sales enquiries are being handled by Ioanna Stais.
In short
- Heretic will handle world sales for Locarno title “Hearing”.
- The film is Vietnamese director Lê Bảo’s second feature.
- “Hearing” is a nine-country international co-production.
Explained simply
Lê Bảo is a Vietnamese director whose debut feature "Taste" received widespread international recognition. His second film, "Hearing", follows a mechanic called Ninh who installs decibel metres and begins to perceive the rising noise levels in his environment as reflections of the emotional tensions within his own family.
The film is screening in the main competition at Locarno, one of Europe's most respected film festivals, held annually in Switzerland. It is a co-production involving nine countries across Asia, Europe and the Middle East, reflecting the increasing international collaboration in independent cinema from the region.
A distribution company called Heretic has acquired the worldwide sales rights to the film. Distribution deals at major festivals provide essential financial support and global market access for independent productions, and typically reflect industry confidence in a filmmaker's emerging body of work.
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