Neon Acquires North American Rights to Ryusuke Hamaguchi's _All Of A Sudden_

Neon has secured the North American distribution rights to Ryusuke Hamaguchi's latest film, _All Of A Sudden_, marking the studio's first significant deal at the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin. The film, currently in post-production, features Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto in leading roles and is set for a theatrical release.

Deadline Hollywood

_All Of A Sudden_ explores the profound relationship between two women: a Japanese theater director and the head of a French care home. The narrative is loosely inspired by real-life letters exchanged between a terminally ill philosopher and a medical anthropologist, as detailed in the book _When Life Suddenly Takes a Turn: Twenty Letters Between a Philosopher with Terminal Cancer and Medical Anthropologist_ by Makiko Miyano and Maho Isono. The film was produced by a collaboration of several companies, including Cinefrance Studios, Office Shirous & Bitters End from Japan, Heimatfilm from Germany, and Tarantula from Belgium.

Variety Magazine

Ryusuke Hamaguchi, known for his Oscar-winning film _Drive My Car_, directed and co-wrote the script for _All Of A Sudden_ alongside Léa Le Dimna. The film's production team includes David Gauquié, Julien Deris, Jean-Luc Ormières, and Renan Artukmaç for Cinefrance Studios, with distribution in France handled by Diaphana and in Japan by Bitters End.

Deadline Hollywood

The acquisition of _All Of A Sudden_ is significant for Neon, as it continues to establish itself as a prominent distributor of international cinema in the U.S. The deal is believed to be in the seven-figure range, reflecting the film's anticipated impact following Hamaguchi's recent successes, including the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize for _Evil Does Not Exist_ at the 2023 Venice Film Festival.

The Wrap

Neon’s acquisition was negotiated by Sarah Colvin for the studio and Renan Artukmaç for Cinefrance Studios. The film's international sales were launched at EFM, with Bitters End managing sales in Asia.

Deadline Hollywood

While the acquisition has been met with enthusiasm, there are no notable dissenting viewpoints reported in the sources regarding the film or its distribution.

The Wrap

Following this acquisition, Neon is also preparing to release _I Love Boosters_, directed by Boots Riley, which is set to open the SXSW film festival. The studio continues to diversify its slate with various genre films, including the Japanese horror adaptation _Exit 8_.

The WrapHollywood ReporterDeadline Hollywood

• “revolves around the bond between two women, a Japanese theater director and the head of a French care home.” — Neon Press Release

Deadline Hollywood

• “Hamaguchi broke through the international scene in a major way in 2022, after garnering four Oscar nominations for “Drive My Car,” including best director and adapted screenplay, as well as Japan’s first ever for best picture.” — Industry Analyst

Variety Magazine

This acquisition underscores Neon's commitment to bringing compelling international narratives to U.S. audiences, further solidifying its role in the evolving landscape of film distribution.

The Wrap