“This Time,” a romantic drama reminiscent of Richard linklater’s “Before Sunrise” trilogy, but not officially based on it, has been picked up for global distribution by fast-moving sales company EST N8.
The story follows two high school sweethearts who unexpectedly reunite in Los Angeles 23 years after they were separated in Jakarta and must decide if they’re still in love.
The film, directed by Sebastien Tobler, stars Ken Kirby(“Good Trouble,” “Dynasty”),Leila Perry(“Filthy Animals”)and was produced by Theresa Chiu. It had its world premiere at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival in May.
The rights deal was brokered by Tenten Wei and Sophie Shi of EST N8. The company will introduce the film to buyers at the TIFFCOM, the rights sales market attached to the Tokyo International Film festival and next month’s American Film Market.
“The film’s exploration of love, separation, and reconnection is deeply resonant, and we believe it will captivate viewers globally,” said Jaeson Ma, the founder of EST Studios.
“’This Time’ is a beautiful addition to our lineup, showcasing the power of storytelling to bridge cultures and emotions. We look forward to sharing this heartfelt journey with audiences worldwide,” Kris Eiamsakulrat, co-founder of N8.
EST N8 is a joint venture between U.S.-based EST Studios and Thailand’s N8 company. The company was busy at this month’s Asian Contents and Film Market, attached to the Busan International Film Festival, launching new titles in the Asian market and picking up others.
EST Studios sales titles also include: the recently released horror thriller “Chabak,” from producer Tiger Yeongseop Kim; Busan official documentary selection “April Tragedy (The Daughters Of That Day)”; Cantonese-language thriller “Tape,” based on another linklater film; Asian horror titles “Dead Boys Club” (aka “Geng Kubur”) and “The Scarecrow”; Emmy-award winning director Jessica Q. Chen’s documentary “Surf Nation”; Canneseries title “Streams Flow From a River”; and producing titles “K-Pops!,” directed by Grammy winner Anderson Paak; and the documentary “Hidden Letters,” Violet Du Feng’s 2023 Academy Award shortlisted feature documentary, which made its world premiere at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival.
