South Korean films secure new distribution deals across several territories
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
Finecut has announced new international sales for two South Korean films at Tokyo’s TIFFCOM market, expanding their distribution ahead of further industry screenings. The deals add buyers in several territories for Justin H. Min’s drama *Journey There* and Hong Sangsoo’s Locarno award winner *Nowhere to Lay My Eyes*.
*Journey There* sold to Japan, Israel, Mongolia and Taiwan, while Kairos Distribution acquired inflight rights. Kim Jin-yu’s film follows a widow who finds unexpected connections as she prepares for a journey; it opened in South Korea on 28 October. *Nowhere to Lay My Eyes* added deals for Argentina, France, Japan and Portugal, after earlier sales including the UK; Hong’s 35th feature won three prizes at Locarno and follows a woman visiting her mother on Jeju Island after a decade apart.
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In short
- Finecut added four territory buyers for each film.
- *Journey There* also sold inflight rights.
- Hong’s film won three prizes at Locarno.
How this story developed
- 54 minutes ago Finecut’s announcement at the close of TIFFCOM confirmed those territory deals, noting Kairos Distribution’s inflight rights for Journey There and that Nowhere to Lay My Eyes had won three prizes at Locarno.
- 59 minutes ago Finecut announced TIFFCOM sales for Justin H. Min’s Journey There, which sold to Japan, Israel, Mongolia and Taiwan, and Hong Sangsoo’s Locarno award winner Nowhere to Lay My Eyes, which added Argentina, France, Japan and Portugal.
- Variety ‘Beef’ Actor Justin H. Min’s ‘Journey There,’ Hong Sangsoo’s Locarno Winner ‘Nowhere to Lay My Eyes’ Rack Up International Sales for Finecut
- Deadline Justin H. Min Starrer ‘Journey There’ & Hong Sangsoo’s ‘Nowhere To Lay My Eyes’ Sell To Multiple Territories
- The Hollywood Reporter South Korean films secure new distribution deals across several territories
Explained simply
South Korea has a substantial film industry whose movies are sold to cinemas, broadcasters and streaming services around the world. International sales agents arrange rights for films to be shown in particular countries and settings, including on aircraft.
The films in this story are by two South Korean directors. Kim Jin-yu’s Journey There follows a widow forming new connections as she prepares to travel; Hong Sangsoo’s Nowhere to Lay My Eyes centres on a woman reuniting with her mother on Jeju Island after a decade apart. Locarno is an international film festival in Switzerland, where prizes can raise a film’s profile with audiences and distributors.
These overseas rights deals matter because they can bring films to viewers beyond their home market and help distributors reach audiences in different regions. The terms vary: a deal may cover one country or a specific way of showing a film, such as inflight entertainment.
Coverage · 3 sources
- The Hollywood ReporterSouth Korean films secure new distribution deals across several territories
- Variety‘Beef’ Actor Justin H. Min’s ‘Journey There,’ Hong Sangsoo’s Locarno Winner ‘Nowhere to Lay My Eyes’ Rack Up International Sales for Finecut
- DeadlineJustin H. Min Starrer ‘Journey There’ & Hong Sangsoo’s ‘Nowhere To Lay My Eyes’ Sell To Multiple Territories
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by The Hollywood Reporter as “Tokyo: Finecut Inks Deals for Justin H. Min’s ‘Journey There,’ Hong Sangsoo’s ‘Nowhere to Lay My Eyes’”.