Tibetan filmmaker Kangdrun's debut Linka Linka lands UK distribution deal

Tibetan filmmaker Kangdrun's feature debut Linka Linka has secured distribution deals in the UK, France, Hong Kong and parts of Asia, expanding the film's international reach after its festival run. The film is notable as the first fiction feature directed by a Tibetan woman, giving the latest sales announcement significance beyond its commercial prospects.

Chinese sales agent Parallax Films has confirmed the new agreements, including a UK deal with Day For Night and a French acquisition by Lantuo Pictures. The French release is planned for November, while Hong Kong distributor Edko Films has also acquired the title.

What is Linka Linka about?

The film follows a woman who returns to Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, to make a film about a childhood friend. As memories begin to surface, the boundaries between recollection and reality shift, bringing the past into the protagonist's present and changing how she understands the people and experiences around her.

The project marks Kangdrun's first feature as a director and brings a Tibetan woman's perspective to the centre of a fictional story. Its international sales provide a route for audiences outside its original market to discover the film, while its premise offers a more personal entry point than a conventional historical or political drama.

Linka Linka has also received recognition at international festivals, including the Firebird Award for best film in Hong Kong and a jury special mention in Taipei. The awards have helped build its profile as it moves into further territories.

Where will Linka Linka be released?

The new agreements cover several different markets and distribution arrangements. Day For Night has acquired the film for the UK, Lantuo Pictures will handle France with a November release planned, and Edko Films has taken the title for Hong Kong.

Pan-Asian streaming platform CinemaWorld has acquired online rights for Taiwan and Southeast Asian countries. The film was released in Japan by Tokyo-based distributor Moviola on 11 September, while a mainland China release is scheduled for 13 October through the National Alliance of Arthouse Cinemas.

The different agreements mean that availability will vary by territory, rather than arriving everywhere at once. Viewers will need to follow announcements from their local distributors for specific cinema dates and streaming information.

Kangdrun develops her next film

Kangdrun is also presenting a new project, Orlo In The House, at Busan's Asian Project Market. The drama follows two young Tibetans on an adventure that leads them to explore faith and their place in the world, continuing the filmmaker's interest in stories rooted in Tibetan experiences.

The project provides an early indication of her next creative step as Linka Linka expands into more international markets. Distribution deals can help a film reach audiences well beyond its initial release, particularly when they connect it with local distributors who understand their own markets.

For Linka Linka, the latest agreements offer a chance to reach more viewers while bringing greater visibility to a filmmaker whose debut occupies a distinctive place in Tibetan cinema. The UK deal is particularly relevant to British audiences waiting for further details about when and where they can watch the film.