Korean sales agency Finecut has closed a raft of deals on three titles led by Hong Sangsoo’s The Novelist’s Film, which won the Berlinale’s Silver Bear grand jury prize yesterday.
The feature “racked up multiple deals as soon as it was announced as a Competition film at the 72nd Berlinale,” according to Finecut, selling to France (Arizona Films Distribution), Greece and Cyprus (Ama Films), Japan (Mimosa Films) and Spain (L’Atalante Cinema). A US deal with Cinema Guild was revealed last night.
The feature stars Lee Hyeyoung as an author who has grown dissatisfied with her writing and decides to make a film with a former young star, played by Kim Minhee.
The latest win for the South Korean filmmaker means Hong has picked up Silver Bears in Berlin over three consecutive years, winning for best screenplay with Introduction in 2021 and best director with The Woman Who Ran in 2020. Hong’s On The Beach At Night Alone saw Kim Minhee win the Silver Bear for best actress in 2017.
‘Contorted’, ‘Heaven’ sales
Finecut has also closed deals on upcoming horror film Contorted and Im Sang-soo’s buddy drama Heaven: To The Land Of Happiness at the EFM.
Pre-sales deals on Contorted have been secured for Thailand (Sahamongkolfilm International) and Indonesia (PT. Prima Cinema Multimedia). Based on an award-winning novel, the film stars Seo Young-hee (Bedevilled) and Kim Min-jae (Peninsula) in series of horrifying events that take place in a family’s new home.
Cannes 2020 label film Heaven: To The Land Of Happiness, which made its world premiere as Busan’s opening film last year, has been sold to Australia and New Zealand (Little Monster Films), Japan (Twin), Philippines (Viva Networks) and Taiwan (Apex Success Global Ltd (LongShong)).
Finecut also has two debut features by female directors in this year’s Berlinale selection: Kim Se-in’s Busan-awarded The Apartment With Two Women in Panorama; and Lee Ji-eun’s The Hill Of Secrets, which received its world premiere in Generation KPlus.
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