Indonesian Horror ‘Hutang Nyawa’ Joins EST N8’s Global Slate During JAFF (EXCLUSIVE)
Global sales, production, and finance company EST N8 has acquired “Hutang Nyawa,” an Indonesian horror film due to release Dec. 12. The acquisition was made during the Jogja-Netpac Asian Film Festival (JAFF).
Directed by Billy Christian, a filmmaker with over a decade of horror films under his belt, “Hutang Nyawa” tells the story of Erwina, the youngest member of a family who is sent to work in an old factory. She soon discovers she has been offered as a sacrifice to settle her family’s dark debt to the devil. Christian’s recent project “Motel Melati’ competed at the Sitges Film Festival.
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The film stars Taskya Namya, known for Netflix’s action film “The Shadow Strays” and the horror film “Suzzana,” alongside Rachel Vennya, a social media influencer making her acting debut in this genre. It is produced by Visinema Pictures, the studio behind hits like “Filosofi Kopi” and “Keluarga Cemara.”
The acquisition deal for “Hutang Nyawa” was brokered by Tenten Wei, Sophie Shi, and Cathy Ni of EST N8. EST N8’s Asian portfolio includes Awi Suryadi’s horror “Perewangan,” Kongkiat Komesiri’s thriller “Delivery Man,” and the Korean action film “Mash Ville,” which won the Fantasia Best Director Award.
“Hutang Nyawa is a gripping, chilling masterpiece that highlights the power of Indonesian cinema. Billy Christian’s vision and the stellar cast make it a must-watch,” said Jaeson Ma, chair of EST Studios.
EST Studios, founded in 2022 by Jaeson Ma and Eric Tu, focuses on representing diverse Asian stories in the international market. The company’s current slate includes a range of projects highlighting Asian filmmakers and stories, such as the Oscar-shortlisted documentary “Hidden Letters” and Toronto selection “K-Pops!”
N8, founded in 2023 by Kris Eiamsakulrat and Rachel Y. Wu, has been involved in notable Southeast Asian film projects, including co-producing the Thai horror hit “Home For Rent” and Bhutan’s Oscar submission “The Monk and The Gun.” Upcoming projects include “Heals,” a documentary produced in partnership with World of Wonder, and “A Useful Ghost,” a supernatural film directed by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke.
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