International correspondent

Metrograph Pictures has acquired North American rights to Neo Sora's narrative debut film "Happyend," a dystopian portrait of rebellious youth fighting for a better future.

Sora's feature film debut, "Happyend," had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in the Horizons section and will go on to screen at the Toronto Film Festival, Busan Film Festival and New York Film Festival. Metrograph Pictures will release the film in theaters next year. "Happyend" is represented worldwide (outside of Japan and Singapore) by Magnify.

Set in a near-future Tokyo, “Happyend” centers on two best friends who are about to graduate from high school as a catastrophic earthquake looms. One night, they play a prank on their principal, resulting in the installation of a surveillance system at their school. Caught between the oppressive security system and a bleak national political situation, the two react in contrasting ways.