Best Friend Forever has taken on international sales for Eugene Kotlyarenko’s thriller “Vintage Violence,” starring Cole Sprouse and Kiko Mizuhara, in preparation for its world premiere at Toronto’s Midnight Madness section.
WME is managing domestic rights for the film, which marks Kotlyarenko’s eighth feature. Known for incorporating internet and online video culture into his narratives, Kotlyarenko gained recognition with “Spree,” which premiered at Sundance in 2020 and later featured in Netflix’s Top 10, and “The Code,” which screened at Fantasia in 2024.
The cast also includes Nijiro Murakami, Pierre Taki, and Hio Miyazawa. Mizuhara, who co-leads with Sprouse, is set to appear in Takashi Miike’s upcoming film set in Kyoto.
The plot centers on a livestreamer who uncovers a secret collection of rare vintage denim in Colorado. After a viewer entices him to Japan with the prospect of a high-value sale, he finds himself caught in a violent conflict with the Yakuza.
The cinematography is handled by Sean Price Williams, acclaimed for his work on films like “Good Time” and “The Sweet East.”
Kotlyarenko expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “‘Vintage Violence’ was created with immense passion and love for cinema by everyone involved, so partnering with Best Friend Forever, a company that shares those values, is ideal. Our common goal is to captivate audiences worldwide with this film.”
The project reunites Kotlyarenko with producers Alex Hughes and Riccardo Maddalosso from Spacemaker Productions, who previously supported “Spree” and “The Code.” Spacemaker’s other credits include James Gray’s “Armageddon Time” and Sebastián Silva’s “Rotting in the Sun.” Co-producers include Japan’s Barravento, known for “Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle,” and Mam Film, behind “Love Life.”
Best Friend Forever co-founders Martin Gondre and Charles Bin commented, “We admire Eugene’s distinctive approach to transforming modern connectivity into a vibrant cinematic style. ‘Vintage Violence’ represents a bold evolution—a witty, romantic, and bold thriller that echoes the energetic freedom of Takashi Miike’s work.”
The film is part of Best Friend Forever’s fall 2026 lineup, alongside other Toronto selections such as “Half” and the Cannes Un Certain Regard award winner “Elephants in the Fog.”
