Hong Kong production and sales company Cappu Films has acquired global distribution rights to “Banr,” a Canadian-Chinese narrative about the strain Alzheimer’s disease places on a long-term marriage. Following its world premiere in the Narrative Features section of the 2025 Slamdance Film Festival, the picture is now being pitched to international buyers at the Asian Contents & Film Market during the Busan International Film Festival.
Written, directed, and produced by Erica Xia-Hou, the film stars Sui Li and Baoqing Li as the central couple, with Xia-Hou herself appearing as their daughter. Supporting roles are filled by non-professional actors. The production utilized an observational, documentary-style approach for approximately two-thirds of its runtime to capture the intimate decay of memory and routine.
“If memory disappears, does love disappear with it?” Xia-Hou reflected on the project’s core theme. “Memory can disappear, a person can disappear, and even a life together can become unrecognizable – but love can remain after the memory that once contained it is gone.”
This project marks a reunion between Xia-Hou and Cappu Films. She previously co-wrote the thriller “Fox Hunt” with director Leo Zhang and starred opposite Tony Leung Chiu-wai. Cappu holds exclusive international rights to that title, which has already secured sales in multiple territories. Xia-Hou’s previous credits include co-writing and acting in the 2017 Jackie Chan action film “Bleeding Steel.”
Janice Woo of Cappu Films highlighted the movie’s focus on familial decision-making during cognitive decline. “We look forward to introducing it to buyers in Busan and helping it reach audiences around the world,” she said.
Beyond “Banr,” Cappu’s slate at Busan includes the already-released “Fox Hunt,” the Tribeca-presented “Ephemera,” and the nine-part WWII spy series “Operation Doolittle.” Other titles in their market lineup feature the martial arts film “Lion Fist,” the Australian dramedy “Her Last Laugh” by Joy Hopwood, the sci-fi thriller “Overstake” by Stas Mareev, and the action comedy “Zombie Plane,” starring Vanilla Ice, Sophie Monk, and Chuck Norris.
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