Sang-ho Yeon’s ‘Paradise Lost’ Sells to 118 Countries, Sets U.S. Premiere at Hawai‘i International Film Festival

ⓒ Poster of Paradise Lost Paradise Lost, the psychological thriller from Train to Busan director Sang-ho Yeon, has sold to 118 countries worldwide and will make its U.S. premiere at the 46th Hawai‘i International Film Festival (HIFF). Selected for the festival’s Spotlight on Korea section, the film will screen on November 1 and 4, continuing its international festival run following sold-out screenings in Toronto and Busan. Starring Hyun-joo Kim and Hyeon-seong Bae, Paradise Lost follows So-young Ryu, a mother whose son disappeared nine years earlier when a bus carrying children to a camp mysteriously vanished. Her life takes an unexpected turn when her son, Sun-woo Ryu, long presumed dead, returns alive. The film’s selection at HIFF brings it to a festival that showcases films from around the world, with a particular focus on Asia and the Pacific, and promotes cross-cultural understanding through cinema. This year’s edition runs from October 21 through November 15 across the Hawaiian Islands. Paradise Lost previously screened in the Special Presentations section of the 51st Toronto International Film Festival, where all four official screenings sold out, totaling approximately 2,300 seats. It went on to screen in the Gala Presentation section of the 31st Busan International Film Festival, where all four screenings also sold out. Alongside its festival run, Paradise Lost has sold to 118 countries worldwide. According to CJ ENM, international sales revenue alone has exceeded the film’s net production budget. CJ ENM attributed the sales performance to international buyers’ confidence in Yeon’s filmmaking, the film’s distinctive story and the company’s global sales capabilities. Drawing on its extensive experience in international sales and distribution of Korean films, CJ ENM has built a global network that connects Korean stories with markets and audiences worldwide. “The film combines a distinctive premise with a deeply felt exploration of family and motherhood,” said a representative of CJ ENM’s international distribution team. “These universal emotions are resonating across cultures and generating strong interest in international markets.” Kim, who has collaborated with Yeon on multiple projects, stars as So-young, a mother confronted with the return of a son she believed she had lost. Bae takes on his first leading role in a feature film as Sun-woo, whose return brings an unfamiliar presence into his mother’s life. Their performances anchor the film’s complex mother-son relationship. Presented by WOWPOINT and CJ ENM and produced by WOWPOINT, Paradise Lost opens in South Korean theaters on October 21, 2026, with distribution handled by CJ ENM. International theatrical releases are scheduled for Taiwan on October 23 and Singapore on November 5, followed by North America and Vietnam on November 6 and Indonesia on November 13. WELL GO USA is handling North American distribution.