Acemaker Movieworks, the young Korean studio behind 2023 hit “Noryang: The Sea” and “A Man of Reason,” is using the Berlin Film Festival‘s European Film Market to launch crime drama “Troll Factory,” its next big budget movie.
Film’s plot revolves around an investigative journalist who, while probing a story about the manipulation of public sentiment, uncovers the existence of a so-called “troll factory” and is confronted with an unbelievable truth.
The movie is in post-production and recently set March 27 for its theatrical release in Korea. Acemaker is unveiling first images now.
The movie is directed by Ahn Gooc-jin, whose debut feature, 2015 crime film “Alice in Earnestland,” won the Grand Prize at the leading Korean film festival in Jeonju, the best new talent award at the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival and the Directors’ Cut award at the Director’s Cut Film Festival. It was also invited to the Stockholm film festival.
The cast of “Troll Factory” is headed by Son Sukku (Netflix series “A Killer Paradox,” Disney+ series “Big Bet,” hit Korean movie “The Roundup” and “My Liberation Notes”) and Kim Sung-cheol (upcoming Netflix series “Hellbound Season 2,” “The Night Owl”), Kim Dong-hwi (“In Our Prime,” “Christmas Carol”) and Hong Kyung (“Hear Me,” and Netflix series “D.P.”).
Production is by Cinematic Moment, with production finance by Acemaker and KC Ventures. Acemaker is handling all rights sales.
The five-year-old company’s Berlin slate also includes historical adventure film “Noryang,” which was the fourth-highest grossing local film in Korea last year with a box office haul of $25.5 million. The company is also representing action title “The Tyrant,” directed by Park Hoon-jung (“The Childe,” “The Witch”) and starring Cha Seoung-wan, Kim Seon-ho and Kim Kang-woo.