Finecut Closes International Deals for Justin H. Min’s ‘Journey There

Finecut Secures International Deals for Justin H. Min Drama and Hong Sangsoo Feature at TIFFCOM

Seoul-based sales company Finecut closed a string of international territory deals for Kim Jin-yu’s drama Journey There and Hong Sangsoo’s award-winning feature Nowhere to Lay My Eyes, concluding its run at the TIFFCOM content market. The announcements arrived on Friday, marking the third and final day of the event held alongside the Tokyo International Film Festival.

Journey There picked up new acquisitions across multiple regions. Japan’s KDDI Corporation, Israel’s Lev Cinema, Mongolia’s Izagur Media, and Taiwan’s Andrews Film purchased the drama, while Kairos Distribution secured inflight rights. The film centers on a middle-aged woman who begins preparing for her own journey after losing her husband, ultimately finding unexpected connections in a new apartment. Directed by Kim Jin-yu and produced by his company Pado, the feature marks the first Korean production for star Justin H. Min, whose credits include Netflix’s Beef and The Umbrella Academy, as well as Kogonada’s After Yang.

The drama opened in South Korea on Oct. 28 following festival appearances at the Moscow International Film Festival and the New York Asian Film Festival, with upcoming screenings scheduled at the Paris Korean Film Festival and London Korean Film Festival.

Global Distributors Acquire Hong Sangsoo Locarno Prizewinner

Hong Sangsoo’s Nowhere to Lay My Eyes expanded its international footprint with fresh distribution agreements confirmed at the market. Kligger acquired rights for Argentina, Carlotta Films took France, Mimosa Films secured Japan, and The Stone and the Plot locked down Portugal.

These latest agreements follow previously announced sales to Filmgarten for Austria, Hugoeast for China, Cinema Guild for North America, Atalante for Spain, Cola Films for Taiwan, and the Institute of Contemporary Arts for the U.K. The film stands as Hong’s 35th feature and captured three prizes at the 79th Locarno Film Festival: best direction, best performance for Kim Minhee, and the independent Ecumenical Jury Prize. Produced by Jeonwonsa Film Co., the movie follows a woman traveling with her brother to visit their mother on Jeju Island after a decade apart. The cast features regular collaborators Kim Minhee and Kwon Haehyo alongside Choi Myeonggil in her first collaboration with the director.

Upcoming Slate at the American Film Market

Finecut transitions its sales efforts next to the American Film Market, where the company’s slate features the animated film Long Long Night, scheduled for its first market screening in an English-dubbed version. The lineup also includes July Jung’s Cannes Directors’ Fortnight selection Dora and the fantasy period romance Wi-Fi Love in the Palace, starring Kim Young-hoon of the K-pop group The Boyz.