Bitters End sells 'In My Father's Room' to four territories ahead of San Sebastian premiere

Bitters End has sold Japanese drama “In My Father’s Room” to distributors in France, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong ahead of its festival debut, according to Variety. The deals were reported on 15 September 2026, with several more territories still in negotiation. The film will have its world premiere in competition at the San Sebastian Film Festival.

Art House Films has taken France, Jinjin Pictures has taken Korea, Sky Digi Entertainment has taken Taiwan and Edko Films has taken Hong Kong, Variety reported. International sales means selling the right to release a film in each country or region. Bitters End is acting as the sales agent and will also distribute the film in Japan.

After Spain, the film travels to Korea. The 2026 Busan International Film Festival runs from 6 to 15 October 2026, according to the Busan International Film Festival. It is programmed in A Window on Asian Cinema, a section for recent films from across the region, according to the Busan press office.

The film is the feature directorial debut of Maha Harada, adapted from her short story “An Unnecessary Man,” Variety reported. In Japan it is known as “Muyou no Hito.” It is a Japanese production with a runtime of 109 minutes, according to the San Sebastian Festival, and it centres on Satomi, who works at an art museum and receives an envelope containing a mysterious key.

The cast includes Aoi Yu, Issey Ogata, Eita Nagayama and Eri Watanabe, with cinematography by Yoshio Kitagawa, Variety reported. Bitters End plans to release the film locally in Japan in January 2027. The company put the title on its autumn sales slate and is using San Sebastian to launch international sales, according to Deadline, as part of a wider expansion of its international sales work.

For audiences, this is how many smaller films reach screens. A festival premiere brings reviews and attention. Early sales give a first-time feature a foothold in cinemas in Europe and Asia before that first public screening.