Die Tomorrow

Hong Kong-based sales agent Asian Shadows has picked up international rights to Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit’s Die Tomorrow, marking its first Thai acquisition.

The film, which will play in Berlin’s Forum section, is set in contemporary Bangkok and follows characters at different stages of their lives grappling with mortality.

Released on eight screens in Thailand in November 2017, the film is still playing and has grossed $160,000 to date.

Die Tomorrow is the fifth feature from Nawapol, whose first film 36 won the New Currents Award at Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) in 2012 and had a long festival career.

His second feature, Mary Is Happy, Mary Is Happy, screened at the Venice Film Festival in 2013, while his feature documentary The Master premiered in BIFF’s Wide Angle section in 2015.

In 2015, he also directed Heart Attack for Thai studio GTH, which won eight prizes at the Thailand National Film Association Awards. He has returned to his independent filmmaking roots with Die Tomorrow.

The deal for international rights was negtiated by Liang Ying, head of acquisitions at Asian Shadows, with Thai producer Donsaron Kovitvanitcha.

“We are so happy to represent the latest work of Nawapol, one of the most remarkable filmmakers of the young generation in Thailand. Die Tomorrow is such a beautiful and personal piece, yet it deals with a strong subject in a unique style,” Liang Ying said.

Asian Shadow’s slate includes Chinese filmmaker Wang Bing’s Locarno Golden Leopard winner Mrs Fang; Indonesian director Mouly Surya’s Marlina The Murderer In Four Acts, which premiered in Cannes Directors Fortnight; Afghan filmmaker Roya Sadat’s A Letter To The President; and Indian titles Village Rockstars, directed by Rima Das, and Ashwatthama, from Pusphendra Singh.