TBW Studios brings the Japanese dystopian movie to the country
Among the leading film production and distribution companies in the country, TBA Studios has acquired the exclusive Philippine theatrical rights to the award-winning film Plan 75.
The critically lauded dystopian drama, written and directed by acclaimed short film director Chie Hayakawa, debuted at Un Certain Regard at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The picture won the Camera d’Or Special Mention Prize.
Based on Hayakawa’s segment of the same title from the 2018 anthology film Ten Years Japan, Plan 75 paints a harrowing look at a not-so-distant future when the Japanese government launches a program that encourages voluntary euthanasia for senior citizens to remedy a super-aged society.
The feature stars veteran actress Chieko Baisho who plays an elderly woman whose means of survival is to “vanish,” Hayato Isomura, a pragmatic Plan 75 salesman, and Filipina actress Stefanie Arianne, a caregiver working overseas to support her sick daughter back home.
Aside from its multi-cultural cast, Plan 75 also takes pride in an international co-production spanning representatives from Japan, France, and the Philippines.
Executive producers are Keisuke Konishi (Happinet Phantom Studios), Eiko Mizuno Gray (Loaded Films), Mizue Kunizane and Hiroyuki Ishigaki (Dongyu Club), Frédéric Corvez and Maéva Savinien (Urban Factory), Wilfredo C. Manalang, George Sommerrock, and Alicia Catubay-Watt (Fusee), while Alemberg Ang (Daluyong Studios) is co-producer.
“I am happy to hear the much-awaited news that Plan 75 will finally reach the audience in the Philippines,” says Hayakawa. “I am truly grateful to all the Filipino cast members and producers and those who believe in and support this film.”
With its theme of family, death, loss, and a sense of community, the Filipino production company is confident that the title would resonate with local audiences.
“It’s truly an honor for us to be able to bring this beautiful film to the Philippines. It’s a quiet and understated film, but with a big poignant message that we hope could reach a lot of people,” says TBA Studios president and COO, Daphne O. Chiu.
TBA Studios is known for producing groundbreaking movies, including the historical box office epic Heneral Luna (2015) and mystery thriller Birdshot (2016) among others.
‘It’s truly an honor for us to be able to bring this beautiful film to the Philippines. It’s a quiet and understated film, but with a big poignant message that we hope could reach a lot of people.’
The acquisition of Plan 75 is part of the company’s strategic plan to continue expanding its library with diverse offerings that cater to a global Filipino audience.
The studio recently released the Michelle Yeoh multiverse adventure Everything Everywhere All At Once and the award-winning music documentary Fanny: The Right to Rock. Coming later this year is the
Cannes Palme d’Or winner Triangle of Sadness.
Plan 75 is Japan’s submission to the International Feature Film category at the 95th Academy Awards.