‘Drive My Car’ Star Nishijima Hidetoshi’s Busan-Bound Drama ‘Dear Stranger’ Boarded by Est N8 for International Sales (Exclusive)

Est N8 has acquired global sales rights to “Dear Stranger,” a suspense drama from Tokyo production house Roji Films. The agreement covers worldwide territories with the exception of certain Asian markets.

The Japanese-Taiwanese production stars Nishijima Hidetoshi, known for his role in Oscar-winning “Drive My Car,” alongside Taiwanese actor Gwei Lun-Mei from Berlin Golden Bear winner “Black Coal, Thin Ice.” Director Mariko Tetsuya helms the project, building on his previous festival success with “Destruction Babies,” which earned him Locarno’s emerging director prize, and “From Miyamoto to You,” recipient of the Asia Film Critics Association Netpac screenplay award.

Set in New York, the drama explores what happens when a child’s disappearance threatens to destroy his parents’ marriage. The crisis forces the Japanese father and Taiwanese-American mother to confront concealed truths that push their relationship to breaking point.

Following its Sept. 12 theatrical release in Japan, “Dear Stranger” will screen at…