Film Movement has secured North American distribution rights to “Renoir,” the sophomore feature from Japanese filmmaker Chie Hayakawa that unspooled in competition at Cannes this year.
The contemplative family drama, which earned Hayakawa her second Cannes recognition following her 2022 Caméra d’Or special mention for “Plan 75,” is set to make its North American premiere as part of the Toronto Film Festival‘s Centrepiece program before rolling out theatrically in 2026.
Set in suburban Tokyo in the late 1980s, “Renoir” follows 11-year-old Fuki as she retreats into a world of imagination and telepathy while her father battles terminal illness and her mother struggles to balance caregiving with work. The film explores themes of grief, family bonds and childhood resilience.
The acquisition was revealed by Film Movement president Michael Rosenberg and Eva Diederix, head of sales for Paris-based sales agent Goodfellas.
“Chie Hayakawa’s ‘Renoir’ is a lyrical and deeply affecting work that stays with you in subtle, powerful ways,” Rosenberg said. “Blending emotional nuance with visual grace, Hayakawa captures the quiet complexities of childhood and loss, anchored by Yui Suzuki’s mesmerizing debut. We’re honored to be able to bring this elegant and deeply human story to North American audiences.”
Hayakawa added: “I am honored and delighted to be a part of Film Movement’s fantastic catalog. My hope is that the experience of watching ‘Renoir’ is one of long-forgotten memories and emotions suddenly coming back to life.”
Beyond Cannes, “Renoir” was selected for the Karlovy Vary, Shanghai and Melbourne film festivals.
The acquisition adds to Film Movement’s recent slate of international titles, including Dominik Moll’s Cannes-unspooling police procedural “Case 137,” Berlinale Silver Bear winner “Living the Land” from Huo Meng and IDFA best directing award winner “An American Pastoral” from French filmmaker Auberi Edler.
Upcoming Film Movement releases include Sook-Yin Lee’s “Paying for It,” based on Chester Brown’s graphic novel; Oscar-nominee Scandar Copti’s “Happy Holidays”; the Zürcher brothers’ “The Sparrow in the Chimney,” which premiered at Locarno; and Hiroshi Okuyama’s Cannes Un Certain Regard selection “My Sunshine.”
