Source: Well Go USA, ddPR press release Official Site: hatsukoi-movie.jp (Japan), firstlovemovie.com (US) Special Thanks to Leif Helland

Image courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment. © 2020

Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired the North American rights to acclaimed cult director Takashi Miike’s FIRST LOVE (??, Hatsukoi) following the world premiere in Director’s Fortnight at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. The deal was negotiated by Doris Pfardrescher on behalf of Well Go USA and HanWay Films with ICM Partners on behalf of the filmmakers. It will be released in select theaters later this year, with the digital and home entertainment release scheduled for first quarter 2020. HanWay Films has also closed deals with Haut et Court (France), Eurovideo (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), Nonstop (Scandinavia), Odeon (Greece), Mars (Turkey), Discovery (Former-Yugoslavia), Paradise (CIS, Baltics) and Frontrow (Middle East). FIRST LOVE marks the fourth collaboration between Academy Award winning producer Jeremy Thomas (THE LAST EMPEROR) and Takashi Miike (BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL, HARA-KIRI, 13 ASSASSINS). The film is the prolific auteur at his most fun and anarchic, a noir-tinged yakuza film blending genres in the story of a young boxer and a call girl, who fall passionately in love while getting innocently caught up in a drug-smuggling scheme over the course of one night in Tokyo. First Love stars Masataka Kubota (13 ASSASSINS, GINTAMA 2: RULES ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN, TOKYO GHOUL), Nao Omori (ICHI THE KILLER), Shota Sometani (SAMURAI MARATHON) and newcomer Sakurako Konishi. "Takashi Miike is one of the most exciting filmmakers working in international cinema today," said Doris Pfardrescher, President & CEO of Well Go USA. "His new film, First Love, continues his extraordinary track record for interesting and provocative films and audiences will be blown away.” FIRST LOVE was directed by Takashi Miike and written by Masaru Nakamura (Sukiyaki Western Django, The Bird People In China). The film is a Japanese/UK collaboration and is produced by Muneyuki Kii, Jeremy Thomas and Misako Saka and executive produced by Shigeji Maeda, Hidehiro Itoh and Takara Kosugi. HanWay Films is handling worldwide sales and distribution, alongside Toei Films who handle Asia & Australasia.

About Well Go USA Entertainment

Well Go USA Entertainment is a theatrical and home entertainment distribution label that specializes in bringing top content, including the best in action, genre and independent films from the US and around the world, to North America, Latin America, Asia, and Europe. As a leader in independent film distribution, Well Go`s titles can be seen across a variety of platforms, including theatrical, digital, subscription and cable VOD, packaged media and broadcast television. Well Go USA Entertainment’s corporate headquarters is in Dallas, Texas, with offices in New York, Taiwan, and China.

About HanWay Films

HanWay Films is a UK based international sales company specializing in quality, high-profile and commercially driven films from visionary and unique filmmakers around the world. Established in 1998 by producer Jeremy Thomas, HanWay offers full service solutions; arranging financing, sales, marketing and distribution. HanWay has long-term global producing partnerships and represents films from Recorded Picture Company along with projects from third party producers as well as the rights to an extensive film catalogue of over five hundred feature films. HanWay’s slate includes Matteo Garrone’s PINOCCHIO starring Roberto Benigni; Robin Wright’s feature directoral debut LAND; John Patrick Shanley’s WILD MOUNTAIN THYME; Andrew Levitas’ redemptive thriller MINAMATA starring Johnny Depp; Richard Press’ FARNSWORTH HOUSE starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and Ralph Fiennes; Viggo Mortensen’s directorial debut FALLING; SAMURAI MARATHON, an action-led epic with a twist from director Bernard Rose starring Takeru Satoh and Nana Komatsu, and James D’Arcy’s heart-warming comedy MADE IN ITALY starring Liam Neeson and Micheál Richardson. For more information, please visit hanwayfilms.com