“Zi,” the latest film from Kogonada, will have its Asian premiere at the Busan International Film Festival in the Icons section. Following the unveiling of the festival’s program, Atnine Film has been confirmed as the film’s Korean distributor.

Shot over three weeks on the streets of Hong Kong, “Zi” stars Michelle Mao, Haley Lu Richardson and Jin Ha as three wandering souls caught in a night that ripples across time. The story follows a young woman who, visited by visions of her future self, encounters a stranger whose appearance reshapes the course of her evening – and possibly her life. The film follows “Columbus” and “After Yang,” continuing the director’s run as one of contemporary American independent cinema’s most distinctive voices.

Isabelle Hyejin Park, director of acquisition at Atnine Film, said, “As a distributor who has long admired Kogonada’s work, we are thrilled and deeply honored to introduce his new film, ‘Zi,’ to Korean audiences following the Korean re-release of his debut feature, ‘Columbus.’ Set against the beautiful landscapes of Hong Kong, ‘Zi’ carries the delicate gaze and emotional sensibility that remind us of ‘Columbus,’ while also offering a glimpse into a new side of Kogonada’s cinematic world – one that feels more liberated and free.”

“Following the tremendous love and enthusiasm Korean audiences showed for the re-release of ‘Columbus’ this year, we hope to carry that affection forward with ‘Zi’ and bring its unique beauty and appeal to audiences in Korea in the most authentic way possible,” Park added.

Parallax Films acquired international sales rights to “Zi” outside North America in a deal revealed on the sidelines of the Shanghai International Film Festival.

“Zi” drew strong notices at its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and subsequently screened at MoMI’s First Look Film Festival in New York. The Busan bow will mark its first stop in Asia.