U-NEXT Begins Exclusive Streaming of Two Highly Acclaimed Films by Rising Director Bas Devos, Celebrated at Cannes and Berlin Film Festivals

U-NEXT, the video streaming service operated by U-NEXT Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Tenshin Tsutsumi), a member of the USEN & U-NEXT GROUP, has begun exclusive streaming of two highly anticipated films by the internationally acclaimed director Bas Devos: 'Ghost Tropic' and 'Here', starting today, Friday, March 27. Belgian director Bas Devos has directed four feature films to date. His debut, 'Violet' (2014), won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2014 Berlin International Film Festival's Generation section, and his second film, 'Hellhole' (2019), was selected for the Panorama section of the 2019 Berlin International Film Festival. U-NEXT is now exclusively streaming his third film, 'Ghost Tropic' (2019), and his fourth, 'Here' (2023). Following their theatrical release in Japan in 2024 at venues like Bunkamura Le Cinéma Shibuya Miyashita, both films dominated the top two spots on the Filmarks opening day satisfaction rankings, becoming a major topic among Japanese film fans. U-NEXT, which offers a wide range of films spanning genres and borders—from Hollywood blockbusters to critically acclaimed art-house cinema—considers the works of Bas Devos a vital addition that deepens the value of its film collection. 'Ghost Tropic' was an official selection for the Cannes Film Festival's Directors' Fortnight, while 'Here' won both the Best Film Award and the FIPRESCI Prize in the Encounters section of the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival. These films, which quietly depict the relationship between people and the world in modern cities, are essential viewing that awaken new sensibilities. All of Bas Devos's works are set in Brussels, Belgium, a city of mixed cultures, and carefully portray the interactions of ordinary people living there with a restrained, warm perspective. His stunning cinematography, capturing the city, nature, and characters, has been highly praised by critics and audiences alike. U-NEXT provides a high-quality streaming environment that faithfully reproduces the delicate lighting and atmosphere of Devos's work, allowing viewers to enjoy the films' true charm. We invite you to experience these unique moments on U-NEXT. To commemorate the start of this exclusive streaming, we have published an article titled 'Thinking About Bas Devos, the Writer of Meetings and Farewells' (by Knights of Odessa), originally featured in the official theatrical pamphlet, for free on the U-NEXT Film Department's note page. Please take a look to further deepen your appreciation of the films. [U-NEXT Film Department note] https://note.com/unext_movie 'Ghost Tropic' (2019): A quiet observation of a woman who misses her last train.