Joko Anwar‘s horror-comedy “Ghost in the Cell” has secured German-speaking European distribution through Plaion Pictures ahead of its world premiere in the Forum section of the Berlin Film Festival.
World sales are handled by Barunson E&A.
The deal was negotiated between Moritz Peters, director of acquisitions at Plaion Pictures, and Sylvie Kim, head of international business at Barunson E&A.
The film follows a quiet inmate arriving at a violent Indonesian prison with a supernatural entity that kills those with the darkest auras. As prisoners perform good deeds to survive, they realize unity offers their only chance against being eliminated one by one. The project blends horror, comedy and social commentary.
“Ghost in the Cell” is produced by Come and See Pictures, Rapi Films, Barunson E&A and Legacy Pictures. Tia Hasibuan produces alongside Anwar, who also serves as executive producer with Hasibuan, Gope T. Samtani, Sunil G. Samtani, Sunar S. Samtani, Yoonhee Choi, Kim, Lisbeth Simarmata and Mina Hwang.
The ensemble cast includes Abimana Aryasatya, Almanzo Konoralma, Aming, Arswendy Bening Swara, Bront Palarae, Danang Suryonegoro, Dewa Dayana, Endy Arfian, Faiz Vishal, Haydar Salishz, Ho Yuhang, Ical Tanjung, Kiki Narendra, Lukman Sardi, Magistus Miftah, Mike Lucock, Morgan Oey, Rio Dewanto, Tony Merle, Tora Sudiro and Yoga Pratama.
The Indonesian prison thriller marks another collaboration between Barunson E&A and Plaion Pictures, following their partnership on Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning “Parasite” and Kim Jee-woon’s Cannes title “Cobweb.” The deal covers theatrical and home entertainment distribution across Germany, Austria and German-speaking territories.
Plaion Pictures is one of Europe’s leading independent distributors, covering the full theatrical-to-home entertainment value chain. The company received the Distributor Prize from Germany’s Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media in 2024.
The distributor’s slate includes multiple award-winners, including Joachim Trier’s Cannes winner “Sentimental Value.” Other recent acquisitions include Palme d’Or winner “Anatomy of a Fall,” two-time Oscar winner “The Whale,” and Palme d’Or recipient “Titane.” Plaion Pictures notably achieved over 1 million admissions in Germany for “Parasite.”
“‘Ghost in the Cell’ combines the gore of ‘Terrifier’ and the action of ‘The Raid’ with the humor of Stephen Chow, and against all odds, it works brilliantly,” said Peters. “A fantastic piece of filmmaking. Kudos to Joko Anwar and the entire teams at Come and See Pictures and Barunson E&A.”
Anwar has established himself internationally as a versatile filmmaker whose work spans comedy, thriller, horror and action. His films have premiered at Venice, Toronto, Sundance and Berlinale, with several becoming record-breaking hits locally. He previously directed for HBO Asia and created the Netflix series “Joko Anwar’s Nightmares and Daydreams,” which entered the U.S. Top 10.
The writer-director framed “Ghost in the Cell” as an examination of massive deforestation in Indonesia and systemic injustice. “Beneath its supernatural surface lies something very real: the massive deforestation in Indonesia and the way this destruction is too often met with silence or neglect,” Anwar stated. “Placing the story inside a prison allowed me to explore another form of confinement, one created by a system that punishes the vulnerable while shielding the corrupt.”
The Indonesian release is scheduled for the second quarter of 2026. Ical Tanjung serves as director of photography, with Dennis Sutanto as production designer and Anwar editing. Peter Bawiec handles sound design, with Aghi Narottama composing the score and Tony Merle providing music.
Plaion Pictures’ 2026 slate also includes Julia Ducournau’s “Alpha” and Park Chan-wook’s “No Other Choice,” both scheduled for theatrical release this year.
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