San Sebastian Title ‘Before the Bright Day’ Boarded by Maboroshi for Sales (EXCLUSIVE)

Asian film collective Maboroshi has secured its first title for international distribution, acquiring Taiwanese filmmaker Tsao Shih-Han’s “Before the Bright Day,” which is set to make its world premiere in the New Directors Competition at the San Sebastian International Film Festival.

The acquisition was unveiled at Busan’s Asian Contents & Film Market.

Set against the backdrop of the 1996 Taiwan Strait crisis, the coming-of-age drama centers on Chou, a teenager struggling with family tensions exacerbated by the political turmoil’s impact on his household’s finances. Seeking both independence and income, he finds work at a billiard hall where he befriends Button, a gang leader whose subsequent military enlistment becomes one of several challenges the protagonist faces. The film tracks Chou’s navigation of adolescent relationships, including romantic disappointment and academic pressure, as external political events amplify personal upheavals.

The acquisition marks a significant milestone for the emerging sales company, which launched earlier this year with a focus on representing Asian cinema in the global marketplace.

Tsao’s previous short film work has garnered international recognition, with both “A Dream of Spring” (2017) and “Neko and Flies” (2021) selected for the international competition at France’s Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival. “Neko and Flies” further elevated his profile with nominations from the Golden Horse Awards, Taipei Film Awards, and Vancouver International Film Festival.

“Before the Bright Day” has attracted significant industry support throughout its development, receiving backing from the TACCAI National Development Fund. The project was also selected for several key industry programs, including the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), the Taipei Golden Horse Project Market, the Produire au Sud Taipei Workshop, and the Kaohsiung Original Story Residency Project.