TIFFCOM: Korean Action-Comedy ‘Boss’ Sells Across Asia

Seoul-based sales outfit Finecut has inked a series of international distribution deals across Asia for Korean action-comedy Boss ahead of the TIFFCOM content market in Tokyo.

The hit film, currently Korea’s fifth-biggest title of 2025, has sold to Japan (KDDI), Taiwan (Cai Chang International), Cambodia (Abnormal Studios), India (Star Entertainment), Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore (Clover Films), Mongolia (Izagur Media LLC) and Vietnam (Khang Media).

The film premiered at the Busan International Film Festival in September ahead of its commercial release in South Korea on Oct. 3. It has earned $15.8 million to date, according to the Korean Film Council. It also received a limited release in North America — courtesy of 213 Pictures & Media — on Oct. 17.

Boss centers on a power struggle inside a small-time gangster crew, where two reluctant underlings are thrust into a battle for a leadership role they don’t want — while a third, overeager contender schemes for the top job that no one will give him. The ensemble cast includes Jo Woo-jin (Harbin, Hard Hit), Jung Kyung-ho (Men of Plastic, Hospital Playlist), Park Ji-hwan (The Roundup franchise), Lee Kyoo-hyung (Prison Playbook) and Lee Sung-min (No Other Choice, Handsome Guys). The film is directed by Ra Hee-chan (Mr. Idol) and produced by Hive Media Corp — the banner behind 12.12: The Day, Handsome Guys and Harbin — in association with Mindmark Inc.

The deals were unveiled Monday ahead of the upcoming TIFFCOM content market in Tokyo, where Finecut will be an active presence. Running Oct. 29–31 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center, this year’s TIFFCOM is leaning into dealmaking and business-development discussions with some 20 seminars covering topics from IP adaptation and the global surge of Japanese animation to co-production playbooks for China and other growth territories. The market is also introducing the TGFM Awards, a new set of industry honors taking place Oct. 31 at Tokyo Midtown Hibiya to support projects seeking gap financing.