Dekanalog Takes North American Rights to 'Amoeba' — SkimNews
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- Dekanalog acquired North American rights to Tan Siyou's debut feature "Amoeba" from Bangkok-based sales agent Diversion, with a US theatrical release slated for spring 2027 followed by VOD and Blu-Ray and a separate Canadian theatrical run.
- "Amoeba" premiered in the Discovery section of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival and won Best Youth Film at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
- The film swept additional prizes including Best Actress, Youth Jury, and Cinephilia Critics' Awards at Pingyao; the FIPRESCI Prize and Taiwan Film Critics Society Award at Taipei Golden Horse; and the New Horizons Best Film Award at QCinema.
- "Amoeba" follows a 16-year-old Singapore high school dropout who returns to her elite all-girls Chinese school, where she and three misfits form a gang inspired by a family driver's triad tales.
- The film was co-produced by Singapore's Akanga Film Asia, the Netherlands' Volya Films, France's Les Films d'Antoine, Spain's Mararía Films, and South Korea's The Widelog Office.
- The deal was negotiated by Mai Meksawan of Diversion and George Schmalz of Dekanalog, with Dekanalog Partner Sam Wunderl calling the film a "remarkable debut."
Why it matters: Dekanalog is committing to a full US theatrical rollout in spring 2027 for "Amoeba" — a Singapore-set debut that already cleared TIFF Discovery, APSA, and Golden Horse juries — giving the film a genuine art-house window across North America before streaming, and giving Tan Siyou a platform rare for a first-time Southeast Asian feature director.
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