EST N8 has acquired the worldwide sales rights for “Dear Stranger,” a suspense drama from Tokyo’s production house Roji Films. This agreement covers global territories, except for certain Asian markets.
Japan’s Taiwan production stars Nishijima’s Hidetoshi, known for his role in the Oscar-winning “Drive My Car,” along with Taiwanese actor Gwei Lun-Mei of Berlin Golden Bear winner “Black Cole, Thin Ice.” Director Mariko Titsya directed the project and won the Locarno Emerging Director Award, based on the success of his previous festival for “Destruction Babies” and “From Miyamoto”, the winner of the Asian Film Critics Association NetPac Screenplay Award.
The drama, set in New York, explores what happens when a child’s loss disappearance threatens to destroy their parents’ marriage. The crisis forces Japanese fathers and Taiwanese-American mothers to confront hidden truths that push their relationship to a breakpoint.
Following its theatrical release on September 12th, “Dear Stranger” will be screened for an international premiere at the Busan International Film Festival before serving as the closing film for The Golden Horse Film Festival.
Production includes several companies across Asia. Shu Eisei of Roji Films led the producer team, joined by Toei’s Takahashi Naoya, Ether Production’s Liang Ying, and Q&A Entertainment’s Julia Xu. Additional co-producers include Hsu Kuo-Lun from Loulou Film Studio, Rollin Studios’ Anthony Argento and Manuel Chiche from Jokers Films, who handles the French release business.
EST N8’s Sophie Shi and Cathy Ni negotiated a sales deal. “What excites me about the ‘dear stranger’ is its capture of the layered identity and emotional complexity of intercultural marriage and immigrant life,” Sea, who leads the studio division of EST N8, said.
The title expands the EST N8 roster, featuring projects across Asia, including Korean thrillers, Philippine horror films and Malaysian action titles.
EST Studios was launched in 2022 under founders Jaeson MA and Eric Tu, defending Asian storytelling in the international market. The company develops and finances projects in major film festivals and markets around the world.
Founded in 2023 by Kris Eiamsakulrat and Rachel Y. Wu, N8 operates from Bangkok with additional offices in New York and Los Angeles. The studio has previously worked with GDH on Thai horror “House House” and has supported Bhutan’s Oscar submission “The Monk and the Gun.”
Roji Films specializes in international collaboration and develops both arthouses and commercial projects. Beyond “Dear Stranger,” the company produced the Body Horror “Omionna,” which was recognized by the Gotham Project Market.
