Happyend is an upcoming 2024 Japanese-American drama film, written and directed by Neo Sora. It stars Kurihara Hayato, Hidaka Yukito, Nakajima Ayumu, Makiko Watanabe and Shirō Sano.

Happyend
Directed byNeo Sora
Written byNeo Sora
Produced by
  • Albert Tholen
  • Aiko Masubuchi
  • Eric Nyari
  • Alex C. Lo
  • Anthony Chen
Starring
  • Hayato Kurihara
  • Yukito Hidaka
  • Yuta Hayashi
  • Shina Peng
  • ARAZI
  • Kilala Inori
  • Ayumu Nakajima
  • Masaru Yahagi
  • PUSHIM
  • Makiko Watanabe
  • Shirō Sano
CinematographyBill Kirstein
Edited byAlbert Tholen
Music byLia Ouyang Rusli
Production
companies
  • Zakkubalan
  • Cineric Creative
  • Cinema Inutile
  • Giraffe Pictures
  • Spark Features
  • Sons of Rigor
Distributed byBitters End
Release dates
  • September 2, 2024 (2024-09-02) (Venice)
  • October 4, 2024 (2024-10-04) (Japan)
Running time
113 minutes[1]
Countries
  • United States
  • Japan
LanguageJapanese

It will have its world premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on September 2, 2024, in the Orizzonti section, and is scheduled to be released in Japan on October 4, 2024, by Bitters End.

Premise

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Set in near-future Tokyo, two best friends are about to graduate high school, while threats of an earthquake looms. One night, they pull a prank on their principal, leading to a surveillance system being installed. They respond in contrasting ways.[2]

Cast

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  • Hayato Kurihara as Yuta
  • Yukito Hidaka as Kou
  • Yuta Hayashi as Ata-chan
  • Shina Peng as Ming
  • ARAZI as Tomu
  • Kilala Inori as Fumi
  • Pushim as Fukuko
  • Ayumu Nakajima as Okada
  • Makiko Watanabe as Yuko
  • Shirō Sano as Principal Nagai
  • Masaru Yahagi as Taira

Production

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In August 2020, it was announced Neo Sora would direct the film then titled Earthquake from a screenplay he wrote.[3] The film was selected for the 2022 Sundance Institute Screenwriting and Directing labs.[4]

Release

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It will have its world premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on September 2, 2024, in the Orizzonti section.[5] It will also screen at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2024.[6][7] and the 2024 New York Film Festival.[8][9] It is scheduled to be released in Japan on October 4, 2024, by Bitters End.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Happyend". 81st Venice International Film Festival. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  2. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (July 23, 2024). "Magnify Boards Neo Sora's Venice-Bound Japanese Dystopian Film 'Happyend' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  3. ^ Lang, Jamie (August 5, 2020). "Locarno Competition Filmmaker Neo Sora Prepares Debut Feature 'Earthquake' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  4. ^ "Sundance Institute Announces 2022 Fellows for Directors, Screenwriters and Native Labs". Sundance Institute. May 9, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  5. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (July 23, 2024). "Venice Film Festival Lineup: 'Joker: Folie à Deux', Almodovar, Guadagnino, Kurzel, Larrain & More In Competition – Full List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  6. ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (August 6, 2024). "'Presence,' Cannes Favorites 'Seed of the Sacred Fig' and 'To a Land Unknown' Join TIFF Centrepiece Lineup". IndieWire. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  7. ^ "Happyend". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  8. ^ "Happyend". New York Film Festival. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  9. ^ "62nd New York Film Festival Main Slate Announced". New York Film Festival. August 6, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  10. ^ "Happyend". Bitters End. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
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