Brief
EST N8 picks up Korean sci‑fi animation ‘Pilgrims’ for global sales
The film, based on Kim Choyeop’s bestseller, will be sold internationally at Busan’s Asian Contents & Film Market.
By Felo News Desk · Published
EST N8 has secured worldwide sales rights to the Korean sci‑fi animated feature Pilgrims, Variety reported on Oct. 9. The film, which premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and won a prize at Bucheon, is the company’s first animated title.
According to the outlet, the deal was negotiated by Sophie Changhui Shi, head of studios at EST N8, with Hugh Cha, co‑CEO of Desert Bloom Pictures, who represented producer 21 Studios. EST N8 plans to launch the film’s international sales at the Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Contents & Film Market.
Pilgrims adapts a short story from Kim Choyeop’s bestselling collection “If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light,” which has sold 400,000 copies. The narrative follows an idyllic community where emotional suffering is eliminated; residents must spend a year on Earth after turning 18. Protagonist Sophie begins recalling her missing friend Daisy and uncovers unsettling truths about the village’s painless existence.
The voice cast includes Kim Hyang‑gi, Park Ji‑hu and Lee Joo‑young, while Hwang Soyoon of Se So Neon provides the music, featuring a collaboration with BTS member RM. Heo Pyoungkang, director of the Netflix series “Japan Sinks: 2020,” makes his feature‑directing debut after nearly two decades in Japanese animation. He described the film as “a work that asks how we can accept this imperfect world we live in and learn to love one another.”
EST N8’s Shi said the film exemplifies the company’s mission to bring bold Asian storytelling to global audiences, combining Kim’s source material, Heo’s experience, and an internationally recognised voice cast.
Key facts
- EST N8 acquired worldwide sales rights to the Korean animated feature Pilgrims. (variety.com)
- Pilgrims premiered at Annecy and won a prize at the Bucheon International Animation Festival. (variety.com)
- The film is based on a short story from Kim Choyeop’s bestseller that has sold 400,000 copies. (variety.com)
- Voice cast includes Kim Hyang‑gi, Park Ji‑hu and Lee Joo‑young; music by Hwang Soyoon with BTS’s RM. (variety.com)
- Director Heo Pyoungkang, known for Japan Sinks: 2020, makes his feature debut with Pilgrims. (variety.com)
Sources
- [1] variety.com — originally reported as “Annecy Sci-Fi Animation ‘Pilgrims,’ From ‘Japan Sinks: 2020’ Director Heo Pyoungkang, Lands at EST N8 (EXCLUSIVE)”
