Paris-based Moveria don take international sales for Taiwanese filmmaker Lu Po-Shun im first feature film, Will You Still Be My Friend, before di film appear for San Sebastián New Directors sidebar and Busan International Film Festival as dem plan. Dem don release trailer too. Dis report na from wetin Variety report.
Di Taiwan-Singapore co-production get Jaden Wang and Aloysius Looi as two boys wey family wahala and conflict for dia rural community dey put pressure on dia friendship. Lung Tien Hsiang, Lu Yi-Ching, Andie Chen, Kate Pang and Xing Chang dey inside too. Di film still dey contend for San Sebastián Sebastiane Award, wey dey recognise films wey explore LGBTQIA+ themes and experiences. Variety
Eric Chou Tseng-Chen and Yu-Hao Su produce am through InLight Film Studio and Verdant Peak Films. Moveria head of sales and acquisitions Yasmin Porangaba talk say di company connect with di boys dia relationship wey no get one fixed ending, and di space wey dem find together away from wetin society expect. Dem never announce any territory sales, release dates or buyer commitment. Variety
Di historical comparison
One useful but limited example na Goran Stolevski im Of an Age, another independent queer coming-of-age film wey focus on relationship between young men. Focus Features buy im international rights for 2022; by January 2023, dem don confirm cinema dates for U.S. and Australia after e open for Melbourne festival. Variety, The Guardian
Dis comparison no mean say dis film go follow di same road. Of an Age na Australian film wey distributor buy, while Will You Still Be My Friend na Taiwan-Singapore production wey just get sales representation, with different festival sequence and rural conflict between families for di center. Di earlier example show one possible road from industry positioning to named releases; e no be proof say sales representation or festival exposure go produce dem.
How di effects fit spread
Moveria now get clear role to present di film to international buyers around San Sebastián and Busan. If those appearances happen and buyers respond, specialty distributors for different territories fit move from evaluating di title to negotiating rights and planning local releases.
Dis chain fit break for different points: festival exposure fit no generate enough buyer interest, distributors fit put competing titles first, or no territorial agreement fit happen. So for audiences wey dey find film-industry news wey get clear source, di important next development na named rights deal or release plan, no be di sales appointment alone.
Impact assessment
Moveria immediately add one debut feature wey get two announced festival appearances to im sales slate, and e now get responsibility to reach buyers.
For InLight Film Studio, Verdant Peak Films, Chou and Su, di appointment fit widen access to international distribution talks for di coming weeks. E never change public access to di film yet, because no distributor or release commitment don dey report.
Specialty distributors get nearer-term acquisition decision: di trailer, festival route and Moveria representation don put di film inside more structured marketplace. Outside San Sebastián and Busan, festival programmers fit notice am more, though no further selections don confirm.
Scenarios
Our outlook (informed speculation)
Most likely: If di announced festival slots happen and Moveria market di film actively, di near-term result likely go be more organised international acquisition campaign instead of immediate wide release. From weeks reach 12 months, Moveria fit use screenings and di trailer arrange territory discussions, while buyers go assess di debut feature selectively. Buyer meetings, market screenings, extra festival invitations or territory acquisition go make dis path stronger; withdrawn screenings or no sales activity after festival go weaken am.
Upside: If reception for San Sebastián or Busan attract specialty distributors wey dia local strategies fit di film, one or more territories fit get acquisition within six to 12 months. Dat one go move di title from festival-and-industry circulation toward distributor-led local release planning, and e fit widen audience access. Named buyer, territory rollout or release date go support dis outcome.
Downside: If festival exposure no turn to buyer commitment, Moveria fit continue to represent di film without announced territorial release, so im near-term circulation go remain mostly for festival and industry channels. Dis one depend on distributor appetite and competition for acquisition attention. If no rights deal, release plan or added programming show after di scheduled festivals, e go point for dis direction.
Wetin to watch next
- Public announcement wey name territorial buyer and di rights or release arrangement.
- Confirmation say Will You Still Be My Friend go screen for San Sebastián New Directors program.
- Confirmation of im Busan appearance.
- Any extra festival or market selections wey Moveria or di producers announce.
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