‘Noise’ Sales Resonate for Korea’s Finecut

Korean sales firm Finecut has inked multiple deals for horror thriller “Noise” and for “A Traveler’s Needs,” the recent Berlin prize-winner directed by Hong Sangsoo.

“Noise” is a “multi-sensory and realistic horror” film that intertwines societal motifs of “floor noise” with suspenseful elements. Directed by Kim Soo-jin, the film centers around a woman with a hearing aid haunted by inexplicable sounds linked to her sister’s disappearance in her own apartment and attracting a malevolent presence. The film is currently in post-production.

Among the pre-completion buyers are France’s KMBO, Red Castle Group for the CIS region, Indonesia’s Prima Cinema Multimedia and Thailand’s Iris Cinema Thailand. Finecut will screen a promotional extract at its booth and in the Cannes Market.

The Isabelle Huppert-starring, Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize-winner “A Traveler’s Needs” has scored multiple deals since launching at Berlin’s EFM. These include one with The Cinema Guild for North America and others with Japan’s Mimosa Films, Spain’s L’Atalante Cinema, A-One Film for the CIS region, Italy’s Minerva Pictures, Ama Films for Greece & Cyprus, Austria’s Filmgarten, Taiwan’s Cola Films, Film Europe for the Czech Republic and Slovakia, A-One Films Baltic for the Baltic region, Indonesia’s Falcon and Brazil’s Providence Filmes.

In the Cannes Market, Finecut will give market premiere screenings to animated feature “Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning” as well as live-action titles “Mother’s Kingdom,” “The Desperate Chase” and “Victory.”

Newly-picked-up “Mother’s Kingdom” is a tension-driven family drama that features a woman who is losing her memory and her son who is gaining his lost memories back. It marks the feature directing debut of Lee Sanghak.

“Exorcism Chronicles” is derived from derived from a novel and webtoon that are among the most successful in Korean history, about four individuals bestowed with special powers rooted in religion, the supernatural, and legend.

“The Desperate Chase” is an action-comedy about a hot-blooded detective and a master of disguise cum swindler who team up against the evil mafia. “Victory” is an uplifting cheerleading drama, with a cast that included Lee Hye-ri, and rising star Lee Jung Ha (Disney+’s “Moving”).