Asian film collective Maborosi secured the first title in international distribution and acquired Taiwanese filmmaker Tsao Shi Han’s “Before Bright Day.”
The acquisition was announced in Busan’s Asian content and film market.
Set against the backdrop of the 1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis, the adult drama is central to Chow, a teenager who suffers from family tensions exacerbated by the effects of political turmoil on his family’s finances. In search of both independence and income, he finds a job in a billiards hall, where he becomes Button, the gang leader whose subsequent military enlistment becomes one of several challenges the hero faces. The film tracks the voyage of adolescent relationships, including romantic disappointments and academic pressures, as external political events amplify personal upheavals.
The acquisition is a key milestone for the emerging distributor, which launched earlier this year, focusing on representing Asian films in the global market.
Tsao’s previous short films have both “A Dream of Spring” (2017) and “Neko and Flies” (2021) gained international recognition as being selected for the international convention at the Clermont Ferraland Short Film Festival in France. “Neko and Flies” further enhanced his profile with nominations at the Golden Horse Awards, Taipei Film Awards and Vancouver International Film Festival.
“Breitis The Bright Day” has attracted significant industry support through its development and is supported by the Taccai National Development Fund. The project was also selected for several major industry programs, including the Hong Kong Asia Film Finance Forum (HAF), Taipei Golden Horse Project Market, Producer Au Sud Taipei Workshop, and Kaohsiung Original Story Residency Project.
