Seoul-based sales company Finecut has signed a series of international distribution deals across Asia for a Korean action comedy. Chief ahead of the TIFFCOM content market in Tokyo.
The hit film, currently the fifth biggest Korean title of 2025, has been sold to Japan (KDDI), Taiwan (Cai Chang International), Cambodia (Abnormal Studios), India (Star Entertainment), Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore (Clover Films), Mongolia (Izagur Media LLC) and Vietnam (Khang Media).
The film premiered at the Busan International Film Festival in September before its commercial release in South Korea on October 3. It has grossed $15.8 million to date, according to the Korea Film Council. It also received a limited release in North America – courtesy of 213 Pictures & Media – on October 17.
Chief centers on a power struggle within a small team of gangsters, where two reluctant underlings are thrust into a battle for a leadership role they don’t want – while an over-enthusiastic third schemes to get the top job that no one will give him. The ensemble cast includes Jo Woo-jin (Harbin, Hard blow), Jung Kyung-ho (Plastic men, Hospital Playlist), Park Ji-hwan (The roundup franchise), Lee Kyoo-hyung (Prison Playbook) and Lee Sung-min (No other choice, Handsome guys). The film is directed by Ra Hee-chan (Mr. Idol) and produced by Hive Media Corp — the banner behind 12.12: The day, Handsome guys And Harbin — in association with Mindmark Inc.
The deals were revealed on Monday ahead of the upcoming TIFFCOM content market in Tokyo, where Finecut will have an active presence. Taking place October 29-31 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center, this year’s TIFFCOM leans into deal-making and business development discussions with around 20 seminars covering topics ranging from adapting intellectual property and the global rise of Japanese animation to co-production playbooks for China and other growth territories. The market is also launching the TGFM Awards, a new series of industry honors taking place on October 31 at Tokyo Midtown Hibiya to support projects seeking midstream financing.
