Exit 8

Source: Cannes International Film Festival

‘Exit 8’

Neon has acquired another film from Cannes, taking North American rights to Genki Kawamura’s Japanese thriller Exit 8 before it plays in TIFF Centrepiece next month.

Based on the video game by Kotake Create, the feature follows a man trapped in a subway labyrinth who must find the titular exit while obeying a simple rule that forbids him from overlooking anything out of the ordinary.

Kawamura co-wrote the film with Kentaro Hirase and the cast includes Kazunari Ninomiya, Yamato Kochi, Naru Asanuma, Kotone Hanase, and Nana Komatsu.

Kawamura’s debut feature A Hundred Flowers won best director at San Sebastian in 2022.

Neon plans an early 2026 theatrical release and negotiated the deal with CAA Media Finance, Goodfellas, Toho and Story. Exit 8 will get its North American premiere in Toronto.

In Cannes, Neon acquired Jafar Panahi’s Palme d’Or winner It Was Just An Accident, Oliver Laxe’s jury prize winner Sirât, The Secret Agent from best director winner Kleber Mendonça Filho starring best actor winner Wagner Moura, and Ugo Bienvenu’s animated adventure Arco produced by Natalie Portman and winner of the Cristal Award at Annecy.

Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice, which Neon boarded earlier this year, will get its world premiere in Venice. In TIFF, Neon presents five films: The Secret Agent, It Was Just An Accident, Sirât, Sentimental Value, and Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie.