Tribeca Queer Romance 'Ephemera' Secures Worldwide Sales Deal

Hong Kong's Cappu Films has taken worldwide sales rights to "Ephemera," Shan Jiang's queer romance that premiered in Tribeca's U.S. narrative competition this year. The company is presenting the film to buyers at the Busan International Film Festival's Asian Contents & Film Market.

The film follows two young women played by Yvonne Shuyu Zhang and Shu-Yi, whose lives are about to diverge when they meet. Asher is preparing to leave Shanghai for Los Angeles. An invitation she extends to her dance teacher, Tori, becomes a night of exploring the city together. Closeness grows between them even as the departure looms.

What does the deal mean for the film?

Jiang framed the sales agreement as a way to preserve what the story itself treats as fleeting. "'Ephemera' is about a short-lived romance that doesn't want to end," Jiang said. "Having Cappu behind the film means the impermanence we captured has a chance to stick around."

Jiang wrote and directed the film and produced it alongside Yinx Zhou and Sol Ye. Jane Zheng and Alex Steyermark serve as executive producers. ArtChais Technology Co., Ltd. brokered the connection between the filmmakers and Cappu.

Cappu is already in distribution conversations with buyers at the Busan market. The company's mandate covers all territories, though the rights on offer in each territory will be confirmed individually.

Who is Cappu bringing to Busan?

Janice Woo of Cappu Films said: "Shan captures the excitement and uncertainty of an unexpected connection with warmth and honesty. We look forward to introducing the film to buyers in Busan and helping it find audiences around the world."

"Ephemera" joins a packed Busan slate for the Hong Kong sales agent:

• "Fox Hunt," starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai
• "Operation Doolittle," a nine-part miniseries about WWII espionage
• Erica Xia-Hou's "Banr," selected for Slamdance
• Martial arts title "Lion Fist"
• Joy Hopwood's Australian dramedy "Her Last Laugh"
• "Zombie Plane," an action comedy featuring Vanilla Ice, Sophie Monk and Chuck Norris

For a film that opened in Tribeca's U.S. narrative competition, the Cappu deal gives "Ephemera" a concrete path from festival premiere to international distribution, with outcomes for individual territories expected to emerge as Busan negotiations progress.