Anthony Chen’s We Are All Strangers has secured North American distribution with indie film distributor Film Movement, covering both the U.S. and Canada. The deal follows the film’s historic run at the 2024 Berlinale, where it became the first Singaporean title to compete in the main competition.
Film Movement plans a theatrical release for Chen’s latest feature, which will next screen as the opening film of the 50th Hong Kong International Film Festival on April 1.
“With We Are All Strangers, Anthony Chen has crafted a timely family saga that captures the social and economic structures that define contemporary life, filtering them through the grounded and human motivations of its vividly etched characters,” said Michael Rosenberg, Film Movement’s president, who negotiated the deal with Paradise City’s head of sales Alexandre Moreau.
“We’re thrilled for North American audiences to discover and connect with Chen’s globally resonant, moving vision,” he continued.
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The acquisition marks a reunion between Chen and Film Movement, which previously distributed the filmmaker’s 2013 debut Ilo Ilo — winner of the Caméra d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
We Are All Strangers rounds out what Chen has described as his “Growing Up” trilogy, a thematic arc that began with Ilo Ilo and continued with Wet Season. Set in contemporary Singapore, the film once again stars Yeo Yann Yann and Koh Jia Ler, exploring how familial bonds evolve across generations.
The film, written and directed by Chen, was produced by Teoh Yi Peng, Huang Wenhong, and Anthony Chen for Giraffe Pictures. Executive producers include Joe Tsai, Arthur Wang, and KH Kuok, with Julia Song serving as co-executive producer.
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Financing was backed by 127 Wall Productions, Jasper Productions, and the Singapore Film Commission, with additional support from the Red Sea Fund and the MPA APSA Academy Film Fund.
Beyond its North American release, We Are All Strangers has sparked strong international demand, securing distribution across Europe, Asia, and beyond. The deal caps off a global streak for Chen, whose earlier film Drift premiered at Sundance, while joining Film Movement’s growing lineup of acclaimed international titles.
