Paradise Lost, the new psychological thriller from Train to Busan director Yeon Sang-ho, has secured sales in 118 countries ahead of its US premiere at the 46th Hawai‘i International Film Festival.
Variety reported that the film will screen in the festival’s Spotlight on Korea section on 1 and 4 November. CJ ENM, which handles international sales, said overseas revenue had already exceeded the film’s net production budget. The company attributed the result to buyers’ confidence in Yeon and its established international distribution network.
“The film combines a distinctive premise with a deeply felt exploration of family and motherhood,” a representative of CJ ENM’s international distribution team said. “These universal emotions are resonating across cultures and generating strong interest in international markets.”
Kim Hyun-joo stars as Ryu So-young, whose son disappeared nine years before the story begins when a bus carrying children to a camp went missing. Long presumed dead, her son, Ryu Sun-woo, suddenly returns home. Bae Hyeon-seong plays Sun-woo in his first leading role in a feature film. The complex relationship between mother and son lies at the heart of the story. Kim has previously worked with Yeon on several projects.
The Hawai‘i screening extends the film’s festival run after successful appearances in Toronto and Busan. At the 51st Toronto International Film Festival, Paradise Lost screened in the Special Presentations section. All four official screenings sold out, drawing approximately 2,300 viewers in total.
The film later screened as a Gala Presentation at the 31st Busan International Film Festival, where all four screenings also sold out.
The Hawai‘i International Film Festival focuses on cinema from Asia and the Pacific, using film to encourage cross-cultural exchange. This year’s edition runs from 21 October to 15 November at venues across the Hawaiian Islands.
Produced by Wowpoint and presented by Wowpoint and CJ ENM, Paradise Lost will open in South Korean cinemas on 21 October, with CJ ENM handling domestic distribution. Taiwan will follow on 23 October and Singapore on 5 November. Well Go USA will release the film in North America on 6 November, the same day it opens in Vietnam. Indonesia is scheduled to follow on 13 November.
