Barunson E&A, the Korean studio behind Bong Joon Ho’s Oscar-winning “Parasite,” will handle worldwide sales for acclaimed Indonesian filmmaker Joko Anwar‘s production company Come and See Pictures under a new two-year exclusive agreement.
The collaboration launches with prison horror “Ghost in the Cell,” Anwar’s latest directorial effort about inmates and guards forced to band together against a supernatural threat. The film will make its sales debut at Toronto’s market next month, followed by the Busan film market. The slate also includes “sMothered.”
The partnership marks a significant expansion of Barunson E&A’s Southeast Asian footprint, tapping into Anwar’s growing profile as a master of horror and genre filmmaking. The Indonesian director has built a devoted following with supernatural thrillers like “Satan’s Slaves,” which dominated local box office in 2017 and found audiences across 40+ international markets.
Anwar’s rising star power was cemented with “Impetigore,” which played Sundance in 2019 and represented Indonesia at the Oscars. He later ventured into superhero territory with “Gundala,” which bowed at Toronto, before making the leap to Hollywood with Amazon MGM’s “The Siege at Thorn High,” which launched on Prime Video last week.
“Come and See Pictures was founded on the belief that bold, fearless storytelling can move and transform audiences,” Anwar said. “Barunson E&A has long embodied that same vision through their groundbreaking work. This slate agreement is an opportunity for us to unite our passions and push cinematic boundaries together — creating films that take risks, inspire conversation, and leave a lasting mark on audiences around the world. I’m excited for the stories we’ll bring to life over the next two years.”
The partnership leverages Barunson E&A chief executive Yoonhee Choi’s existing relationships in Indonesia, dating back to her tenure at CJ ENM where she worked on Anwar’s previous titles.
“Drawing on years of engagement with Indonesia’s vibrant film scene — including landmark films such as ‘Impetigore’ and ‘Satan’s Slaves,’ which I was involved with during my time at CJ ENM — Barunson E&A possesses deep insights that define and drive our strategic collaborations in the region,” Choi said. “This exclusive partnership with Joko Anwar leverages our accumulated expertise in the Indonesian market, and we look forward to sharing his vision, and exceptional Indonesian cinema, with audiences worldwide.”
Anwar launched Come and See Pictures in 2020 alongside longtime collaborator Tia Hasibuan. The company joins Barunson E&A’s roster of Indonesian partners, which includes major local players Visinema Pictures, Base Entertainment, Miles Films, Rapi Films and Imajinari.
