The Korean film “The World of Love” secured distribution transactions across three major Asian territories after a double victory at China’s 9th Ping Gyao International Film Festival.
The film, which premiered by the World at the Toronto Film Festival, brought home both the Roberto Rossellini Awards Jue and People’s Choice Awards in the festival’s squatting Tigers section.
Veteran Japanese distributor Bitter’s End won the Japanese rights, while Hong Kong’s Edco film and Taiwan’s Andrews film took their respective territories.
The film is directed by Yoon Ga-Eun, who has been praised for her previous films, The World of Us (Berlinale 2016) and The House of Us (BFI London 2019). The drama focuses on 17-year-old Lee Ju-in (SEO Su-Bin). This is an unpredictable high school student whose angry explosion has ripple effects on her world.
This film is produced by the film. The Cannes title “Cobweb” by Barunson E&A and Kim Jee-Woon, the Korean studio behind Oscar-winning Parasite, produced by Semosiand Vol Media, is a studio as well as sales agents.
“We are extremely excited to be able to distribute the new film “The World of Love” by talented director Yoon Ga-Eun in Japan.” “The film’s stunning approach to themes is fantastic. We believe this film has a universal appeal to the audience.
“Congratulations on this achievement. We are excited to witness the success of “The World of Love” at an incredible reception in China. I sincerely hope that this will be a springboard for many great Korean films to be featured in Chinese audiences.”
Director Yoon Ga-Eun added: “I’m truly honored to have met a passionate audience in this beautiful city. If I hadn’t directed the film, I might not have experienced it. I think these awards are an encouragement to continue directing with passion.”
Bitters End brings over 30 years of distribution experience. These include Ryusuke’s “Drive My Car,” Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite,” and films by Dardenne Brothers, Jia Zhangke, Hong Sang-Soo and Edward Yang.
Edko Films, a Broadway cinema chain run for over 70 years and operates Broadway cinema chain, distributes titles ranging from “Parasite” and “Monster” by Kore-Eda Hirokazu to “Oldboy” by Chan-Wook and “Busan” by Yeon Sang-Ho. The company previously worked with Barunson E&A on Kim Zi-woon’s “Cobweb.”
Founded in 2014, Taiwanese Andrews films were released with Pawel Pawlikowski’s Oscar-winning “Ida,” and then released Céline Sciamma’s “Fire of a Lady on My Car,” Hamaguchi’s “Drive My Car,” and Charlotte Wells’ “Aftersun’ and Pablo Berger’s “Robot Dream.”
“The World of Love” will premiere in Europe at the Warsaw Film Festival on October 11th, with the director attending, and will be performing in the UK on October 14th at the BFI London Film Festival.
