EST N8 Boards Korean Sci-Fi Animated Feature ‘Pilgrims’ for Worldwide Sales Ahead of Busan Market Debut

EST N8, the prominent film financing, sales, and distribution company, has acquired worldwide sales rights to “Pilgrims,” a critically acclaimed Korean sci-fi animated feature film. The movie has already made significant waves on the international festival circuit, having played at the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival and earned a technical prize at the Bucheon International Animation Festival (BIAF). This acquisition marks a major milestone for EST N8, as “Pilgrims” represents the very first animated feature title to join the company’s rapidly growing global sales catalog.

EST N8 is set to officially launch international sales for the film at the upcoming Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM), which runs concurrently with the Busan International Film Festival. The high-profile deal was negotiated by Sophie Changhui Shi, head of studios at EST N8, alongside Hugh Cha, co-CEO of Desert Bloom Pictures, who represented the film’s producer, 21 Studios.

“Pilgrims” holds the distinction of being the first feature film adapted from Kim Choyeop’s bestselling sci-fi short story collection, “If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light.” The wildly popular book has sold over 400,000 copies in South Korea, and the animated feature draws its narrative directly from one of the collection’s standout short stories.

The story is transported to an idyllic, utopian community where all forms of emotional suffering have been systematically eradicated. In this carefully managed society, every resident reaches a mandatory turning point upon hitting the age of 18: they must spend a full year living on Earth. The core narrative follows Sophie, a young resident who begins to experience fragmented and unsettling memories of Daisy, a childhood friend who mysteriously went missing during her mandatory year on Earth. As Sophie’s memories resurface, she uncovers troubling truths about her seemingly peaceful village. This realization forces her to grapple with a profound philosophical dilemma, prompting her to wonder whether a completely painless existence is truly worth living if it comes at the absolute cost of love and genuine emotional connection.

To bring this intricate sci-fi world to life, the production enlisted a stellar voice cast featuring some of South Korea’s most recognized on-screen talent. Kim Hyang-gi, known for her acclaimed performances in the blockbuster fantasy series “Along with the Gods” and the courtroom drama “Innocent Witness,” leads the cast. She is joined by Park Ji-hu, who gained global recognition through the Netflix zombie hit “All of Us Are Dead” and the disaster drama “Concrete Utopia,” as well as Lee Joo-young, celebrated for her work in the hit television series “Itaewon Class” and Hirokazu Kore-eda’s acclaimed drama “Broker.”

The sonic landscape of the film is crafted by Hwang Soyoon, the charismatic lead singer of the indie rock band Se So Neon. Known for her distinctive musical style and her prominent solo output—which includes the celebrated collaboration “Smoke Sprite” alongside BTS member RM—Hwang’s musical contributions are expected to heighten the emotional resonance of the sci-fi narrative.

Sophie Changhui Shi emphasized the universal themes woven into the movie’s distinctively Korean science-fiction framework. “Pilgrims asks a universal question through a distinctly Korean science-fiction story: Is a life without pain worth living if it also means a life without love?” Shi remarked. She further noted that the production successfully brings together Kim Choyeop’s bestselling source material, director Heo Pyoungkang’s nearly two decades of experience in the Japanese animation industry, and a voice cast decorated with internationally recognized credits. “It represents exactly what EST N8 stands for: bringing bold, elevated Asian storytelling to global audiences, and we are thrilled to introduce it as our first animated feature.”

The feature film marks the feature-length directorial debut of Heo Pyoungkang, who brings nearly 20 years of rigorous industry experience cultivated within the Japanese animation sector. Heo’s impressive resume includes serving as the series director for the Netflix project “Japan Sinks: 2020” and directing a unit on Masaaki Yuasa’s acclaimed animated film “The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl.”

Furthermore, the visual identity and world-building of the movie are anchored by We Hyun-song, who serves as the head of character design. We’s distinguished career includes serving as a character designer on Pixar’s massive global blockbuster “Inside Out 2” and working as a concept artist on the upcoming project “KPop Demon Hunters.”

Director Heo shared his personal vision for the project, highlighting the emotional core that anchors the science-fiction elements. “This film portrays the journey of those who willingly embrace pain to choose love,” Heo said. “I would describe it as a work that asks how we can accept this imperfect world we live in and learn to love one another.”

The film’s producer, 21 Studios, is based in Seoul and specializes in the development and production of intellectual property, with a primary strategic focus on stories that have the flexibility to travel seamlessly between film and television platforms. The company is spearheaded by CEO Huh Kyubum, a former venture capitalist with Union Investment Partners who spent years specializing in targeted investments within the vibrant Korean content sector.

“Pilgrims” first caught the attention of industry insiders when it picked up the Technical Award at the 2025 Bucheon International Animation Festival (BIAF). Following that success, the film secured a screening in the Animated Thrills & Chills strand at the Annecy International Animation Festival, before Special Movie City handled its domestic theatrical release in South Korean cinemas.

Producer Huh Kyubum noted that the creative team’s primary objective from the outset was to preserve the intimate emotional core of Kim Choyeop’s original prose while expanding the universe into something grand and cinematic. “The film’s recognition at BIAF and selection at Annecy have shown that Sophie’s choice can speak across cultures,” Huh stated. “We are pleased to partner with EST N8 to bring the film to international audiences.”

The international sales campaign and global release strategy for “Pilgrims” will be managed by a trio of senior EST N8 executives. The sales team consists of Jan Paul Villanueva, executive vice president of acquisitions and global distribution; Cathy Ni, head of sales and U.S. distribution; and Shams Pasha, global sales and marketing executive.

EST N8’s comprehensive sales lineup at the Busan market extends well beyond its new animated acquisition, reflecting the company’s diverse global slate. The roster also includes “Tame,” the Thai horror feature debut from B-EST Pictures; “Master,” the Rotterdam festival prizewinner directed by Rezwan Shahriar Sumit; Dean Colin Marcial’s gritty Manila-set crime thriller “Jaguar”; the Taiwanese action film “Dead End” from director Chan Chun-hao; and Mariko Tetsuya’s dramatic feature “Dear Stranger.”

EST N8 was officially established through the strategic combination of EST Studios and N8. The combined entity operates as a multi-faceted company dedicated to financing, selling, and distributing Asian films worldwide, while simultaneously releasing select international titles across various Asian territories. The company’s robust production, financing, and sales credits include notable titles such as the Oscar-shortlisted and Emmy-nominated documentary “Hidden Letters,” the Toronto International Film Festival selection “K-Pops!,” and “The Monk and the Gun,” which served as Bhutan’s official submission to the Academy Awards.