EST N8 has acquired worldwide rights to the Taiwanese action crime thriller 'Dead End,' directed by Chan Chun-hao, and launched it to global buyers at the Cannes Film Market.
Plot and Inspiration
The film follows Lin Sheng-yi, a disgraced former baseball star entangled in a game-fixing scandal. He returns home to find locals betting on the hour of his terminally ill father's death. Racing against time, he aims to dismantle the betting syndicate. The story draws from reports of underground death-betting circles in Taiwan.
Cast and Crew
Leading the cast is Daniel Hong, a double Golden Horse nominee for 'Miss Shampoo' and 'Mongrel.' He is joined by Golden Melody Award winner Ng Ki-pin of 'G Precinct,' and Yao Yi-ti, a Taipei Film Award winner known for 'Dead Talents Society.'
Director Chan Chun-hao, a Golden Horse Film Academy graduate, gained recognition with 'Viatical Settlement,' earning seven Golden Bell nominations, and his series 'The Outlaw Doctor' won Best Asian Contents at the Global OTT Awards in Busan.
Production and Distribution
Produced by Taipei-based inJECT Films with support from Taiwan's Ministry of Culture and TAICCA, the film's deal was negotiated by Sophie Shi and Cathy Ni for EST N8, alongside Vincent Chen for inJECT Films. Shi praised Chan's work, noting the film's urgency and humanity, while Chan highlighted the film's exploration of second chances.
Chen stated, "'Dead End' is a story born from society's shadows, and we eagerly await global audiences to experience this journey."
EST N8 Cannes Lineup
'Dead End' joins EST N8's Cannes lineup, featuring Rezwan Shahriar Sumit's 'Master,' Awi Suryadi's 'Danur: The Last Chapter,' and Kimo Stamboel's 'Janur Ireng.' Also included are Tetsuya Mariko's 'Dear Stranger,' 'The Invisible Half,' and Julie Pacino's 'I Live Here Now.'
EST N8, formed by the merger of EST Studios and N8, continues to elevate sophisticated Asian stories internationally.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/film/markets-festivals/daniel-hong-thriller-dead-end-est-n8-cannes-1236751663/
