Neon River

Neon River marks director Karim Aïnouz's English-language drama, now moving forward after more than a decade in development. The film is produced by Brazil's Gullane alongside K2 Pictures in Japan, Maneki Films in France, and Inflamável in Germany, with Buena Vista International (Brazil) also attached. Based on Marco Lacerda's novel Favela High-Tech, the story follows a young woman—daughter of a Japanese father and Brazilian mother—who travels to Japan and becomes entangled in relationships with two men, including one who shares her mixed Japanese-Brazilian heritage. The screenplay comes from Tainá Muhringer Tokitaka and Aïnouz in collaboration with Inés Bortagaray. Casting is currently underway in both Brazil and Japan, with production scheduled to shoot entirely in Japan starting in 2027. Aïnouz, whose recent work includes Firebrand and Rosebush Pruning, previously collaborated with Gullane on Motel Destino.