Utopai Studios has announced that it will present, co-produce and invest in ‘Half Moon’, the upcoming German-Korean live-action feature from Silver Bear-winning filmmaker Hyo-joo Yang. The project forms part of the studio’s growing slate of original films and international co-productions aimed at supporting emerging creative voices across global markets.

The film will be produced in collaboration with Germany-based In Good Company and Korea’s Paper Barn Studios. Principal photography is scheduled to begin in Germany in August 2026, with the project already receiving support from German public funding bodies.

‘Half Moon’ marks Yang’s feature directorial debut following the success of her acclaimed short film ‘Broken Night’, which won the Sonje Award at the Busan International Film Festival and the Silver Bear at the Berlinale. Through the new feature, Yang explores themes of loneliness, family trauma, identity and emotional healing.

Set on a remote North Sea island, the story follows Yeri and her aunt Ah-Jin, two relatives who are virtually strangers to each other. Yeri, a Korean-German teenager struggling with isolation and neglect, is sent to spend the summer with Ah-Jin, who is living in self-imposed exile while carrying emotional and physical scars from her past. As the summer unfolds, the two gradually form an unexpected bond that helps them confront their personal struggles and find a sense of belonging.

The cast includes Rina Kim as Yeri, Elisa Hofmann as Ah-Jin and Ana Kim as Su-jin, Yeri’s mother. Hofmann is known for projects such as ‘Blackout bei Wellmanns, Tatort: Schattenleben’ and ‘House of Yang’, while Ana Kim’s credits include ‘Doom Doom’, ‘Now’, ‘We Are Breaking Up’ and ‘Nightingale Blush’.

Cinematography for the film will be handled by Alexandra Medianikova, whose work includes the German Film Prize-winning ‘Rå’ and the documentary ‘Beyond the White’, for which she received a nomination for the German Cinematography Award.

As part of the production, Utopai Studios will deploy its cinematic storytelling AI system, PAI, to assist with select visual elements. The company emphasized that the film will remain firmly rooted in live-action filmmaking and director-led storytelling, with AI serving only as a creative support tool for specific visual requirements.