KMBO has secured French distribution rights to “Lucky Lu,” U.S.-based, Korean-Canadian filmmaker Lloyd Lee Choi’s feature debut, ahead of its world premiere in Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival.
Global Constellation handles international sales, while WME is representing North American rights.
“Lucky Lu” is a tense, 48-hour journey through the underbelly of New York City, where an E-delivery driver’s world unravels after his bike — his sole source of income — is stolen. With his long-separated family arriving imminently from Asia, Lu races against time and the city’s indifference to recover what he’s lost, navigating a fractured community and a system that’s left him behind.
Vladimir Kokh, CEO of KMBO, said, “It’s been a long time since we’ve been so deeply moved by a film’s vision and emotional strength. This film undoubtedly marks the emergence of a major new filmmaker. ‘Lucky Lu’ is a gem of emotion and resilience — a film that moves you deeply and leaves you with a renewed sense of strength and hope.”
KMBO previously released other debut features, such as Andrew Cividino’s “Sleeping Giant,” William Oldroyd’s “Lady Macbeth,” Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic’s “Murina,” Anais Volpé’s “The Braves” and Giacomo Abbruzzese’s “Disco Boy.”
The film expands on Choi’s live-action short “Same Old,” which premiered in the 2022 Cannes’ short film competition and later screened at Toronto (where it received an honorable mention), New York Film Festival and Raindance (winning best short film). Choi’s latest short, “Closing Dynasty,” won the Crystal Bear for best short film at the 73rd Berlinale, before going on to collect the Audience Award at SXSW, the Grand Jury Prize at AFI Fest, and best U.S. short in Palm Springs. The film is now streaming on Netflix.
“Lucky Lu” stars Chang Chen (“Dune,” “The Assassin,” “The Grandmaster,” “2046”) in the lead, alongside Fala Chen (“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”) and introduces breakout talent Carabelle Manna.
It is produced by Destin Daniel Cretton (“Just Mercy,” “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”), Nina Yang Bongiovi (“Sorry to Bother You,” “Passing”), Asher Goldstein (“Short Term 12,” “Just Mercy”), Tony Yang (“Blue Sun Palace,” “Same Old”), Ron Najor (“Short Term 12,” “Adjunct”), and Jeyun Munford (upcoming “Naruto”).
Hisako Films, Significant Productions, Cedar Road and Big Buddha Pictures lead production, in association with AUM Group, Taiwan Mobile, Peng Zhao Group and Gold House.
Key creative contributions include cinematography by Norm Li, editing by Brendan Mills, production design by Evaline Wu Huang, costume design by Vera Chow, original music by Charles Humenry, music supervision by Maxwell Gosling, and co-producer Ece Turan Rihaly.
