A 4K restoration of Shanghai Blues by Hong Kong filmmaker Tsui Hark will screen in the Cannes Classics section to mark the film’s 40th anniversary since its 1984 premiere.
Leading actress Sylvia Chang will be present at the screening in Cannes, where the Classics program is also celebrating its 20th year at the festival.
Tsui Hark and Nansun Shi supervised the 4K restoration of the original negative, in collaboration with L’Immagine Ritrovata. The Shanghai Blues soundtrack was remixed by One Cool Sound.
Set in Shanghai in the year 1937, a soldier (Kenny Bee) crosses path with a young woman (Sylvia Chang) under a bridge during a Japanese air raid and they vow to meet after the war ends. Many years later, they meet again although they do not recognize each other.
During its initial run, Shanghai Blues received eight nominations at the Hong Kong Film Awards and also screened at...
Leading actress Sylvia Chang will be present at the screening in Cannes, where the Classics program is also celebrating its 20th year at the festival.
Tsui Hark and Nansun Shi supervised the 4K restoration of the original negative, in collaboration with L’Immagine Ritrovata. The Shanghai Blues soundtrack was remixed by One Cool Sound.
Set in Shanghai in the year 1937, a soldier (Kenny Bee) crosses path with a young woman (Sylvia Chang) under a bridge during a Japanese air raid and they vow to meet after the war ends. Many years later, they meet again although they do not recognize each other.
During its initial run, Shanghai Blues received eight nominations at the Hong Kong Film Awards and also screened at...
- 5/1/2024
- by Sara Merican
- Deadline Film + TV
A restored 4K version of Tsui Hark's “Shanghai Blues 2024” will be screened in the prestigious Cannes Classics programme at the 77th Cannes Film Festival.
Set against the backdrop of wartime Shanghai in the 1940's, the film weaves a poignant love story between a soldier, Tung Kwok-Man (Kenny Bee) and a young woman Shu-Shu (Sylvia Chang), who vow to meet after the war ends. Unfortunately, they walk away not able to recognize each other's faces or remember their names. Through a series of misplaced opportunities, the two lovebirds keep missing their reunion, even though fate has a funny way of bringing them ever so closer to each other.
Infused with a delightful blend of innocent romanticism, satirical wit, and whimsical sophistication, “Shanghai Blues” showcased director Tsui Hark as a burgeoning master who could seamlessly fuse different genre's for the screen.
To bring the film back 40 years later, the “Shanghai Blues...
Set against the backdrop of wartime Shanghai in the 1940's, the film weaves a poignant love story between a soldier, Tung Kwok-Man (Kenny Bee) and a young woman Shu-Shu (Sylvia Chang), who vow to meet after the war ends. Unfortunately, they walk away not able to recognize each other's faces or remember their names. Through a series of misplaced opportunities, the two lovebirds keep missing their reunion, even though fate has a funny way of bringing them ever so closer to each other.
Infused with a delightful blend of innocent romanticism, satirical wit, and whimsical sophistication, “Shanghai Blues” showcased director Tsui Hark as a burgeoning master who could seamlessly fuse different genre's for the screen.
To bring the film back 40 years later, the “Shanghai Blues...
- 4/29/2024
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Terrence Malick won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2011 with “The Tree of Life,” a drama that’s widely considered one of the best Cannes winners in history. However, it turns out Malick’s magnum opus was not the original frontrunner among the competition jury members. Speaking to the French publication Liberation (via The Film Stage), Olivier Assayas confirms it was Lars von Trier’s “Melancholia” that most won over the jury’s heart. Assayas served on the jury alongside Robert De Niro, Jude Law, Uma Thurman, actress Martina Gusmán, producer Nansun Shi, writer Linn Ullmann, and filmmakers Mahamat-Saleh Haroun and Johnnie To. De Niro was the jury’s president, and Assayas said the actor was “rather unfamiliar with international cinema.”
According to the “Personal Shopper” and “Clouds of Sils Maria” director, only Jude Law and himself believed from the start that “The Tree of Life” was worthy of the Palme d’Or.
According to the “Personal Shopper” and “Clouds of Sils Maria” director, only Jude Law and himself believed from the start that “The Tree of Life” was worthy of the Palme d’Or.
- 5/29/2020
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
While they likely aren’t even recorded, one can only dream of the delight it would bring to listen to the jury deliberations when it comes to the major film festivals around the world. Sometimes, details on why one film came out victorious over the others are spilled in a post-awards press conference, but often more times than not, the jury stays buttoned up and if we learn anything, it’s years after the fact. Tied with this year’s canceled edition of Cannes, the French outlet Liberation asked a selection of jury members of years past to dish on their process and one fascinating bit of history surfaced.
Olivier Assayas, who was on the competition jury in 2011 with Jude Law, Uma Thurman, Martina Gusmán, Nansun Shi, Linn Ullmann, Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, Johnnie To, and jury president Robert De Niro, revealed that The Tree of Life was very close to not taking the Palme d’Or.
Olivier Assayas, who was on the competition jury in 2011 with Jude Law, Uma Thurman, Martina Gusmán, Nansun Shi, Linn Ullmann, Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, Johnnie To, and jury president Robert De Niro, revealed that The Tree of Life was very close to not taking the Palme d’Or.
- 5/29/2020
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Hong Kong producer described her career from 1980s ’disruptor’ studio Cinema City to the present day during Pingyao film festival’s Forum platform.
Hong Kong producer Nansun Shi took a captivated audience of young cinephiles and budding filmmakers through her 38-year career of producing Chinese-language films in a Forum session at Pingyao International Film Festival (Pyiff).
Shi was in Pingyao to receive the ‘International Contribution to Chinese Cinema Award’ for helping give Chinese films an international profile. Her producing credits include the many iconic titles she has made through Film Workshop with her former husband Tsui Hark, to the Infernal Affairs...
Hong Kong producer Nansun Shi took a captivated audience of young cinephiles and budding filmmakers through her 38-year career of producing Chinese-language films in a Forum session at Pingyao International Film Festival (Pyiff).
Shi was in Pingyao to receive the ‘International Contribution to Chinese Cinema Award’ for helping give Chinese films an international profile. Her producing credits include the many iconic titles she has made through Film Workshop with her former husband Tsui Hark, to the Infernal Affairs...
- 10/21/2019
- by 89¦Liz Shackleton¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Maya Da-Rin’s The Fever won best film in the Roberto Rossellini awards, while best film in the Fei Mu awards went to Anthony Chen’s Wet Season.
The Fever, from Brazilian filmmaker Maya Da-Rin, won best film in the Roberto Rossellini awards at this year’s Pingyao International Film Festival (Pyiff), while Anthony Chen’s Wet Season won best film in the Fei Mu awards.
The Roberto Rossellini awards are presented to films in Pingyao’s Crouching Tigers section for international debuts and second features. Best director in these awards went to Cesar Diaz for Our Mothers, the Guatemala-set...
The Fever, from Brazilian filmmaker Maya Da-Rin, won best film in the Roberto Rossellini awards at this year’s Pingyao International Film Festival (Pyiff), while Anthony Chen’s Wet Season won best film in the Fei Mu awards.
The Roberto Rossellini awards are presented to films in Pingyao’s Crouching Tigers section for international debuts and second features. Best director in these awards went to Cesar Diaz for Our Mothers, the Guatemala-set...
- 10/17/2019
- by 89¦Liz Shackleton¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
The Pingyao International Film Festival on Wednesday crowned “The Fever” by Maya Da-Rin as best film in its international category and “Wet Season” by Anthony Chen as the top title in its Chinese-language section.
The Roberto Rossellini Awards at the festival go to the top international directorial debuts or second features. Taking to the stage at the awards ceremony, Brazil’s Da-Rin said the prize was “a great honor.”
“This film has been made through seven years of a lot of work of a lot of people — people who give their lives to cinema and believe that through cinema we can think about our world,” she said. “The Fever” also won Best Actor and the Fipresci prize at Locarno this year.
Two other Roberto Rossellini Awards were handed out: the jury award to Chinese helmer Liang Ming for his debut, “Wisdom Tooth,” and the prize for best director to the...
The Roberto Rossellini Awards at the festival go to the top international directorial debuts or second features. Taking to the stage at the awards ceremony, Brazil’s Da-Rin said the prize was “a great honor.”
“This film has been made through seven years of a lot of work of a lot of people — people who give their lives to cinema and believe that through cinema we can think about our world,” she said. “The Fever” also won Best Actor and the Fipresci prize at Locarno this year.
Two other Roberto Rossellini Awards were handed out: the jury award to Chinese helmer Liang Ming for his debut, “Wisdom Tooth,” and the prize for best director to the...
- 10/16/2019
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
No deal announcements. No talk of the Chinese film industry’s ongoing winter of discontent. Instead the parade of talent on stage Wednesday night at Shanghai’s Wanda Reign hotel put their troubles aside for a moment and celebrated the 20th anniversary of producer-distributor-exhibition company Bona Film Group.
At regular intervals, Bona’s founder and chairman Yu Dong called on stage close friends and strategic partners – including film-maker Huang Jianxin and EastWest Bank chairman Dominic Ng – for multiple rounds of reminiscence, and toasts to the future. Bona executives past and present Nansun Shi, Jeffrey Chan, and Nick Qi also shared the spotlight.
Talent and film makers on hand at one of the most lavish events of the Shanghai International Film Festival week, included Roland Emmerich (“Midway”), producer-director Fruit Chan (“Bride Wars”), Dante Lam (“Operation Mekong”), Andrew Lau (“The Chinese Pilot”), Raymond Wong Bak-ming, Wong Jing (“Chasing The Dragon”), Gordon Chan,...
At regular intervals, Bona’s founder and chairman Yu Dong called on stage close friends and strategic partners – including film-maker Huang Jianxin and EastWest Bank chairman Dominic Ng – for multiple rounds of reminiscence, and toasts to the future. Bona executives past and present Nansun Shi, Jeffrey Chan, and Nick Qi also shared the spotlight.
Talent and film makers on hand at one of the most lavish events of the Shanghai International Film Festival week, included Roland Emmerich (“Midway”), producer-director Fruit Chan (“Bride Wars”), Dante Lam (“Operation Mekong”), Andrew Lau (“The Chinese Pilot”), Raymond Wong Bak-ming, Wong Jing (“Chasing The Dragon”), Gordon Chan,...
- 6/19/2019
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Ringo Lam’s death this past December 29 at the age of 63 sparked outpourings of appreciation from across the world, with attention in America focused mostly on his two most famous films, City on Fire (1987) and Full Contact (1992), each of which were elevated to the canon in the days when Hong Kong movies could be found here for the most part only on cheap, imported, usually dubbed VHS tapes in the country’s more adventurous video stores. City on Fire was famous more as the inspiration for Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs (1992) than on its own merits, while Full Contact delivered all the gory nihilistic charms of a grindhouse cinema that was vastly more alive than anything Hollywood ever bothered to produce. But there’s much more to Lam’s work than cheap thrills and story material for directorial magpies. Ringo Lam was part of a remarkable generation of filmmakers, working...
- 1/10/2019
- MUBI
Macao’s Actress in Focus is a woman who has trained as a boxer, likes British actors, especially Benedict Cumberbatch and Jeremy Irons, and is now setting out her stall as a producer.
Yao Chen has built a career over 20 years thanks to TV shows including “My Own Swordsman,” and films including “If You Are The One 2,” Firestorm” and “Chronicles of the Ghostly Tribe.” She has three more in this year’s Iffam: “Caught in the Web” from 2012; last year’s “Journey To The West: The Demons Strike Back”; and the current ‘Lost, Found.” On Monday she will be in conversation, on stage with producer Nansun Shi.
First, she gives Variety an insight into the high pressures of Chinese celebrity, her role as one of the world’s most followed bloggers, and where she wants to take her career next.
Why accept the Iffam position as Actress in Focus?
“I...
Yao Chen has built a career over 20 years thanks to TV shows including “My Own Swordsman,” and films including “If You Are The One 2,” Firestorm” and “Chronicles of the Ghostly Tribe.” She has three more in this year’s Iffam: “Caught in the Web” from 2012; last year’s “Journey To The West: The Demons Strike Back”; and the current ‘Lost, Found.” On Monday she will be in conversation, on stage with producer Nansun Shi.
First, she gives Variety an insight into the high pressures of Chinese celebrity, her role as one of the world’s most followed bloggers, and where she wants to take her career next.
Why accept the Iffam position as Actress in Focus?
“I...
- 12/9/2018
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Kim Jiseok Awards went to Jamshid Mahmoudi’s Rona, Azim’s Mother and Zhang Wei’s The Rib.
The 23rd Busan International Film Festival (Biff) wrapped on October 13 with the New Currents Awards going to Chinese director Cui Si Wei’s Savage and Korean filmmaker Kwon Man-ki’s Clean Up.
The New Currents jury, headed by Hong-Joon Kim with Nansun Shi, Jun Kunimura, Labina Mitevska and Nashen Moodley, unanimously awarded Savage as “a strikingly accomplished and riveting first film, exhibiting a mastery of genre cinema, with multi-dimensional characters and thrilling action sequences.”
They also unanimously awarded Clean Up, saying they...
The 23rd Busan International Film Festival (Biff) wrapped on October 13 with the New Currents Awards going to Chinese director Cui Si Wei’s Savage and Korean filmmaker Kwon Man-ki’s Clean Up.
The New Currents jury, headed by Hong-Joon Kim with Nansun Shi, Jun Kunimura, Labina Mitevska and Nashen Moodley, unanimously awarded Savage as “a strikingly accomplished and riveting first film, exhibiting a mastery of genre cinema, with multi-dimensional characters and thrilling action sequences.”
They also unanimously awarded Clean Up, saying they...
- 10/14/2018
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
Kim Jiseok Awards went to Jamshid Mahmoudi’s Rona, Azim’s Mother and Zhang Wei’s The Rib.
The 23rd Busan International Film Festival (Biff) wrapped on October 13 with the New Currents Awards going to Chinese director Cui Si Wei’s Savage and Korean filmmaker Kwon Man-ki’s Clean Up.
The New Currents jury, headed by Hong-Joon Kim with Nansun Shi, Jun Kunimura, Labina Mitevska and Nashen Moodley, unanimously awarded Savage as “a strikingly accomplished and riveting first film, exhibiting a mastery of genre cinema, with multi-dimensional characters and thrilling action sequences.”
They also unanimously awarded Clean Up, saying they...
The 23rd Busan International Film Festival (Biff) wrapped on October 13 with the New Currents Awards going to Chinese director Cui Si Wei’s Savage and Korean filmmaker Kwon Man-ki’s Clean Up.
The New Currents jury, headed by Hong-Joon Kim with Nansun Shi, Jun Kunimura, Labina Mitevska and Nashen Moodley, unanimously awarded Savage as “a strikingly accomplished and riveting first film, exhibiting a mastery of genre cinema, with multi-dimensional characters and thrilling action sequences.”
They also unanimously awarded Clean Up, saying they...
- 10/14/2018
- ScreenDaily
Japanese actor said to be suffering ”extreme mental and emotional pain” after backlash his comments at Biff jury press conference.
Busan International Film Festival (Biff) officially apologised today to New Currents jury member Kunimura Jun after the Japanese actor was criticised in his country’s media for remarks he made at the jury press conference on October 5.
The veteran actor, whose credits include Godzilla Resurgence, Kill Bill Volume 1 and Outrage, is best known in Korea for his role as a demon in Na Hong-jin’s supernatural thriller The Wailing.
In recent weeks, Koreans had been protesting the Japanese navy’s...
Busan International Film Festival (Biff) officially apologised today to New Currents jury member Kunimura Jun after the Japanese actor was criticised in his country’s media for remarks he made at the jury press conference on October 5.
The veteran actor, whose credits include Godzilla Resurgence, Kill Bill Volume 1 and Outrage, is best known in Korea for his role as a demon in Na Hong-jin’s supernatural thriller The Wailing.
In recent weeks, Koreans had been protesting the Japanese navy’s...
- 10/8/2018
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
Japanese actor said to be suffering ”extreme mental and emotional pain” after backlash against his comments at Biff jury press conference.
Busan International Film Festival (Biff) officially apologised today to New Currents jury member Kunimura Jun after the Japanese actor was criticised in his country’s media for remarks he made at the jury press conference on October 5.
The veteran actor, whose credits include Godzilla Resurgence, Kill Bill Volume 1 and Outrage, is best known in Korea for his role as a demon in Na Hong-jin’s supernatural thriller The Wailing.
In recent weeks, Koreans had been protesting the Japanese navy...
Busan International Film Festival (Biff) officially apologised today to New Currents jury member Kunimura Jun after the Japanese actor was criticised in his country’s media for remarks he made at the jury press conference on October 5.
The veteran actor, whose credits include Godzilla Resurgence, Kill Bill Volume 1 and Outrage, is best known in Korea for his role as a demon in Na Hong-jin’s supernatural thriller The Wailing.
In recent weeks, Koreans had been protesting the Japanese navy...
- 10/8/2018
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
Macedonian actor and producer Labina Mitevska has called for gender parity in film festival programming. Speaking at a press conference to introduce the Busan New Currents jury, juror Mitevska said, “When art is good, its good, no matter if it is male or female. We need to have more female programmers, most of them are men. Things need to change, and it needs to be fast.”
Mitevska is a co-producer on Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s “The Wild Pear Tree”, which played at Cannes in competition and is Turkey’s entry in the Oscar foreign-language race. Speaking about the “macho Balkan culture,” Mitesvka recalled her experience working on a production 17 years ago where she and her sister, the writer/director Teona Strugar Mitevska, would return home in tears after every day of the shoot. She recounted how 20 men would stand around, ignoring Teona’s instructions on where to place the camera,...
Mitevska is a co-producer on Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s “The Wild Pear Tree”, which played at Cannes in competition and is Turkey’s entry in the Oscar foreign-language race. Speaking about the “macho Balkan culture,” Mitesvka recalled her experience working on a production 17 years ago where she and her sister, the writer/director Teona Strugar Mitevska, would return home in tears after every day of the shoot. She recounted how 20 men would stand around, ignoring Teona’s instructions on where to place the camera,...
- 10/5/2018
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Ryuichi Sakamoto played at the opening ceremony with stars including Bai Baihe, Yang Kuei-mei, Jang Dong-gun and Hyun Bin on the red carpet.
The 23rd Busan International Film Festival (Biff) kicked off tonight (October 4) with a windy, star-studded red carpet and a piano performance from Asian Filmmaker of the Year award winner Ryuichi Sakamoto, amidst reports of an approaching typhoon.
Reinstated festival head Jay Jeon and chairman Lee Yong-kwan emphasised a return to “stability and harmony” after four years of conflict over freedom of expression issues that swept through South Korea, as well as Biff, as part of deposed president Park Geun-hye’s blacklisting efforts.
The 23rd Busan International Film Festival (Biff) kicked off tonight (October 4) with a windy, star-studded red carpet and a piano performance from Asian Filmmaker of the Year award winner Ryuichi Sakamoto, amidst reports of an approaching typhoon.
Reinstated festival head Jay Jeon and chairman Lee Yong-kwan emphasised a return to “stability and harmony” after four years of conflict over freedom of expression issues that swept through South Korea, as well as Biff, as part of deposed president Park Geun-hye’s blacklisting efforts.
- 10/4/2018
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
The drama about a couple in need of a caesarean section then closed the event.
Swiss-Mongolian drama Out Of Paradise, directed by Batbayar Chogsom, won best film at the Golden Goblet Awards at this year’s Shanghai International Film Festival.
The film, which played as Siff’s closing film due to its win, follows a couple from the Mongolian steppes in need of a caesarean section who travel to Ulaanbaatar but don’t have enough money for the operation.
Sonthar Gyal’s Tibetan drama Ala Changso picked up Siff’s Jury Grand Prix and the best screenplay award. Best director...
Swiss-Mongolian drama Out Of Paradise, directed by Batbayar Chogsom, won best film at the Golden Goblet Awards at this year’s Shanghai International Film Festival.
The film, which played as Siff’s closing film due to its win, follows a couple from the Mongolian steppes in need of a caesarean section who travel to Ulaanbaatar but don’t have enough money for the operation.
Sonthar Gyal’s Tibetan drama Ala Changso picked up Siff’s Jury Grand Prix and the best screenplay award. Best director...
- 6/25/2018
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
Festival closer will be Emil Heradi’s Indonesian war thriller Night Bus on April 28.
Celebrating its 20th edition, the Far East Film Festival (Feff) in Udine, Italy is set to open with Korean espionage thriller Steel Rain and the world premiere of Nam Ron’s Malaysian crime drama Crossroads: One Two Jaga on April 20.
Directed by Yang Woo-seok, Jung Woo-sung-starrer Steel Rain was released in South Korea last December where it clocked up more than 4.45 million admissions according to the Korean Film Council (Kofic). It was released worldwide on Netflix last month, but this will be the film’s “world...
Celebrating its 20th edition, the Far East Film Festival (Feff) in Udine, Italy is set to open with Korean espionage thriller Steel Rain and the world premiere of Nam Ron’s Malaysian crime drama Crossroads: One Two Jaga on April 20.
Directed by Yang Woo-seok, Jung Woo-sung-starrer Steel Rain was released in South Korea last December where it clocked up more than 4.45 million admissions according to the Korean Film Council (Kofic). It was released worldwide on Netflix last month, but this will be the film’s “world...
- 4/11/2018
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
The move from Hong Kong to Taipei comes in response to a “changing market”.
Nansun Shi and Jeffrey Chan’s Distribution Workshop is relocating its international sales team from Hong Kong to Taiwan from the beginning of April.
In a note sent to buyers, the company said: “In order to enhance our operational efficiency, we have decided to relocate our international sales business to our Taipei office, effective April 1, 2018. Sadly, our colleagues will not be moving with the relocation and have decided to pursue new paths in their career.”
The note added that June Wu would be on board as...
Nansun Shi and Jeffrey Chan’s Distribution Workshop is relocating its international sales team from Hong Kong to Taiwan from the beginning of April.
In a note sent to buyers, the company said: “In order to enhance our operational efficiency, we have decided to relocate our international sales business to our Taipei office, effective April 1, 2018. Sadly, our colleagues will not be moving with the relocation and have decided to pursue new paths in their career.”
The note added that June Wu would be on board as...
- 3/14/2018
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
You Are There, Doi Boy win awards.
The Southeast Asia Fiction Film Lab (Seafic) has awarded prizes to projects from Singapore’s Nicole Midori Woodford (pictured) and Thailand’s Nontawat Numbenchapol in its first round of awards.
Midori Woodford’s You Are There won both the Seafic-tfl Award and the Open Sea Fund Award, presented by Vs Service and White Light Post, which came with $25,000 of in-kind services. Through the Seafic-tfl Award, the project’s producer Jeremy Chua will attend this year’s TorinoFilmLab Meeting Event (November 24-26).
Nontawat’s Doi Boy won the Purin Award, which came with a cash prize of $15,000. The award was presented by a jury comprising Cannes director of film department Christian Jeune, former Cj Entertainment executive Kini Kim and Hong Kong producer Nansun Shi.
Produced by Steve Chen and Supatcha Thipsena, Doi Boy is a Thai-Cambodian co-production that marks the first narrative feature from Nontawat whose first two documentaries, Boundary and By...
The Southeast Asia Fiction Film Lab (Seafic) has awarded prizes to projects from Singapore’s Nicole Midori Woodford (pictured) and Thailand’s Nontawat Numbenchapol in its first round of awards.
Midori Woodford’s You Are There won both the Seafic-tfl Award and the Open Sea Fund Award, presented by Vs Service and White Light Post, which came with $25,000 of in-kind services. Through the Seafic-tfl Award, the project’s producer Jeremy Chua will attend this year’s TorinoFilmLab Meeting Event (November 24-26).
Nontawat’s Doi Boy won the Purin Award, which came with a cash prize of $15,000. The award was presented by a jury comprising Cannes director of film department Christian Jeune, former Cj Entertainment executive Kini Kim and Hong Kong producer Nansun Shi.
Produced by Steve Chen and Supatcha Thipsena, Doi Boy is a Thai-Cambodian co-production that marks the first narrative feature from Nontawat whose first two documentaries, Boundary and By...
- 7/4/2017
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Goodridge joins the International Film Festival & Awards Macao in its second year of operation.
Protagonist Pictures CEO Mike Goodridge has been appointed artistic director of the International Film Festival & Awards Macao (Iffam).
Goodridge is stepping down from Protagonist in August, but will remain on the company’s board of directors.
The second edition of the Iffam is scheduled to take place at the Macao Cultural Centre from December 8-14.
The Iffam Organising Committee has also announced that the festival’s competition programme would be dedicated to films from first and second time film-makers and that the jury would award a $60,000 prize for best feature.
“This is a young festival and we think that our international competition should consist of work from young directors who can offer fresh perspectives on the world we live in,” said Goodridge.
Meanwhile Goodridge, head of festival management Lorna Tee and head of industry June Wu will focus on developing the Iffam Industry...
Protagonist Pictures CEO Mike Goodridge has been appointed artistic director of the International Film Festival & Awards Macao (Iffam).
Goodridge is stepping down from Protagonist in August, but will remain on the company’s board of directors.
The second edition of the Iffam is scheduled to take place at the Macao Cultural Centre from December 8-14.
The Iffam Organising Committee has also announced that the festival’s competition programme would be dedicated to films from first and second time film-makers and that the jury would award a $60,000 prize for best feature.
“This is a young festival and we think that our international competition should consist of work from young directors who can offer fresh perspectives on the world we live in,” said Goodridge.
Meanwhile Goodridge, head of festival management Lorna Tee and head of industry June Wu will focus on developing the Iffam Industry...
- 6/16/2017
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Popular Japanese manga is getting the movie treatment.
Japan’s Toei Animation is teaming with Hong Kong-based A Really Good Film Company (Argf) to produce an English-language, live-action film version of hot Toei anime property Saint Seiya: Knights Of The Zodiac.
Based on Masami Kurumada’s best-selling manga, Saint Seiya is one of the world’s biggest animated franchises, with total revenue of more than $1.1bn since 1986. Toei Animation has produced over 250 TV episodes and six features, which were released in over 80 countries. The original manga by Masami Kurumada has sold over 35 million copies.
Argf has joined Toei Animation as its development and China co-production partner for the live-action version and will be handling Greater China distribution.
Yoshi Ikezawa and Joseph Chou of Toei Animation will serve as producers, along with Argf founder Jeffrey Chan, who is also COO of Bona Film Group. Tim Kwok of Convergence Entertainment, Miguel Faura and Kozo Morishita of Toei Animation are executive...
Japan’s Toei Animation is teaming with Hong Kong-based A Really Good Film Company (Argf) to produce an English-language, live-action film version of hot Toei anime property Saint Seiya: Knights Of The Zodiac.
Based on Masami Kurumada’s best-selling manga, Saint Seiya is one of the world’s biggest animated franchises, with total revenue of more than $1.1bn since 1986. Toei Animation has produced over 250 TV episodes and six features, which were released in over 80 countries. The original manga by Masami Kurumada has sold over 35 million copies.
Argf has joined Toei Animation as its development and China co-production partner for the live-action version and will be handling Greater China distribution.
Yoshi Ikezawa and Joseph Chou of Toei Animation will serve as producers, along with Argf founder Jeffrey Chan, who is also COO of Bona Film Group. Tim Kwok of Convergence Entertainment, Miguel Faura and Kozo Morishita of Toei Animation are executive...
- 5/18/2017
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Us company will launch sales on Huayi Brothers titles at Cannes.
Im Global has revealed that it will handle international sales for Huayi Brothers titles Youth, directed by Feng Xiaogang [pictured], and Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings, directed by Tsui Hark.
Scripted by Yan Geling (The Flowers Of War), Youth is a coming-of-age story about a group of adolescents in a Chinese army cultural troupe in the 1970s. The cast is headed by Huang Xuan, Miao Miao and Zhong Chuxi.
The third installment in Huayi Brothers’ blockbuster Detective Dee series, Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings is produced by Chen Kuo-Fu and Nansun Shi and stars Mark Zhao, Feng Shaofeng, Lin Gengxin and Carina Lau.
Currently in production, the film follows Detective Dee as he battles a surreal crime wave at the same time as defending himself against accusations of wrongdoing from his most formidable opponent, Empress Wu.
Im Global, which has an...
Im Global has revealed that it will handle international sales for Huayi Brothers titles Youth, directed by Feng Xiaogang [pictured], and Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings, directed by Tsui Hark.
Scripted by Yan Geling (The Flowers Of War), Youth is a coming-of-age story about a group of adolescents in a Chinese army cultural troupe in the 1970s. The cast is headed by Huang Xuan, Miao Miao and Zhong Chuxi.
The third installment in Huayi Brothers’ blockbuster Detective Dee series, Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings is produced by Chen Kuo-Fu and Nansun Shi and stars Mark Zhao, Feng Shaofeng, Lin Gengxin and Carina Lau.
Currently in production, the film follows Detective Dee as he battles a surreal crime wave at the same time as defending himself against accusations of wrongdoing from his most formidable opponent, Empress Wu.
Im Global, which has an...
- 5/9/2017
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Christian Jeune, Nansun Shi to judge winner of Purin Award at Southeast Asian script lab.
Cannes’ director of film department Christian Jeune, Hong Kong producer Nansun Shi and Kini Kim, former Cj Entertainment head of international, have been appointed jury members for the Southeast Asia Fiction Film Lab (Seafic).
The three industry figures will decide the winner of Seafic’s Purin Award, which comes with a cash prize of $15,000, after reading the five selected filmmakers’ latest scripts and hearing their final pitches in person.
In addition to the Purin Award, sponsored by the Purin Foundation, Seafic has also partnered with two other organisations to hand out the Seafic-tfl Award and the Open Sea Fund Award.
The winner of the Seafic-tfl Award, selected by TorinoFilmLab artistic director Matthieu Darras, will attend this year’s edition of TorinoFilmLab Meeting Event (November 24-26).
The Open Sea Fund Award, jointly sponsored by Vs Service and White Light Post, comes with in-kind...
Cannes’ director of film department Christian Jeune, Hong Kong producer Nansun Shi and Kini Kim, former Cj Entertainment head of international, have been appointed jury members for the Southeast Asia Fiction Film Lab (Seafic).
The three industry figures will decide the winner of Seafic’s Purin Award, which comes with a cash prize of $15,000, after reading the five selected filmmakers’ latest scripts and hearing their final pitches in person.
In addition to the Purin Award, sponsored by the Purin Foundation, Seafic has also partnered with two other organisations to hand out the Seafic-tfl Award and the Open Sea Fund Award.
The winner of the Seafic-tfl Award, selected by TorinoFilmLab artistic director Matthieu Darras, will attend this year’s edition of TorinoFilmLab Meeting Event (November 24-26).
The Open Sea Fund Award, jointly sponsored by Vs Service and White Light Post, comes with in-kind...
- 4/12/2017
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Kung Fu Yoga actor Aarif Lee stars in film from Tsui Hark and Nansun Shi.
Distribution Workshop is unveiling a new slate of productions at Filmart, including Yuen Woo-ping’s [pictured] The Thousand Faces Of Dunjia, produced by Tsui Hark and Nansun Shi.
The martial arts action fantasy stars Aarif Lee, hot from recent Chinese New Year hit Kung Fu Yoga, along with Dong Chengpeng (aka Da Peng), Zhou Dongyu and Ni Ni.
Set during the Northern Song Dynasty, the film follows a band of martial arts warriors who secretly protect the human race from evil outer space creatures. Producer Nansun Shi described the film as “a completely fresh approach at telling a story which combines traditional martial arts with science and aliens.”
Currently in post-production for tentative release in October, the film is produced by Le Vision Pictures, Acme Image Film Cultural Co and Film Can Production.
The film heads a busy slate for Distribution Workshop, which...
Distribution Workshop is unveiling a new slate of productions at Filmart, including Yuen Woo-ping’s [pictured] The Thousand Faces Of Dunjia, produced by Tsui Hark and Nansun Shi.
The martial arts action fantasy stars Aarif Lee, hot from recent Chinese New Year hit Kung Fu Yoga, along with Dong Chengpeng (aka Da Peng), Zhou Dongyu and Ni Ni.
Set during the Northern Song Dynasty, the film follows a band of martial arts warriors who secretly protect the human race from evil outer space creatures. Producer Nansun Shi described the film as “a completely fresh approach at telling a story which combines traditional martial arts with science and aliens.”
Currently in post-production for tentative release in October, the film is produced by Le Vision Pictures, Acme Image Film Cultural Co and Film Can Production.
The film heads a busy slate for Distribution Workshop, which...
- 3/12/2017
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
The Journey To The West director is one of China’s most bankable filmmakers.
This year’s Asian Film Awards (Afa) will present the Lifetime Achievement Award to iconic Hong Kong director, producer and screenwriter Tsui Hark.
Tsui most recently directed Journey To The West: The Demons Strike Back, produced by fellow Hong Kong filmmaker Stephen Chow, which was one of the top-grossing releases in mainland China over the Chinese New Year holiday period. His other recent China blockbusters include Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon (2013) and The Taking Of Tiger Mountain (2014).
Starting with his 2011 hit Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate, Tsui has made all his films as a director in 3D and has become one of the region’s most effective filmmakers in the use of 3D technology.
Although currently one of China’s most bankable filmmakers, Tsui’s career stretches back some 40 years. In 1984, he founded Film Workshop with Nansun Shi, through which he...
This year’s Asian Film Awards (Afa) will present the Lifetime Achievement Award to iconic Hong Kong director, producer and screenwriter Tsui Hark.
Tsui most recently directed Journey To The West: The Demons Strike Back, produced by fellow Hong Kong filmmaker Stephen Chow, which was one of the top-grossing releases in mainland China over the Chinese New Year holiday period. His other recent China blockbusters include Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon (2013) and The Taking Of Tiger Mountain (2014).
Starting with his 2011 hit Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate, Tsui has made all his films as a director in 3D and has become one of the region’s most effective filmmakers in the use of 3D technology.
Although currently one of China’s most bankable filmmakers, Tsui’s career stretches back some 40 years. In 1984, he founded Film Workshop with Nansun Shi, through which he...
- 2/28/2017
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
With the Berlin Film Festival a little over a week away, Oscar-winning costume designer Milena Canonero has been set to receive an honorary Golden Bear for her lifetime achievement. The Berlinale has also designated the recipients of its Camera tribute this year: Geoffrey Rush, Chinese producer/distributor Nansun Shi and Egyptian film critic and author Samir Farid. A four-time Oscar winner, Canonero has worked with such directors as Stanley Kubrick, Francis Ford Coppola…...
- 1/31/2017
- Deadline
Maggie Gyllenhaal and Diego Luna amongst those to join jury president Paul Verhoeven.
The 67th Berlin Film Festival has revealed its jury, homage subject and Golden Camera recipients.
Joining jury president, Paul Verhoeven, will be actors Maggie Gyllenhaal, Diego Luna, and Julia Jentsch, producer Dora Bouchoucha Fourati, artist Olafur Eliasson and director-screenwriter Wang Quan’an.
Eighteen films are vying in this year’s competition for the Golden Bear. The winners will be announced at the Berlinale Palast on February 18.
Robocop director Verhoeven is currently flying high off the success of Golden Globe-winning drama Elle.
Gyllenhaal is best known for her Oscar-nominated role in Crazy Heart, breakthrough performances in Donnie Darko and Secretary, The Dark Knight and TV series The Honourable Woman, for which she garnered a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy nomination.
Luna, co-star of Alfonso Cuarón’s Y Tu Mamá También, has played at the Berlinale in titles including Milk (dir: Gus van Sant, Berlinale...
The 67th Berlin Film Festival has revealed its jury, homage subject and Golden Camera recipients.
Joining jury president, Paul Verhoeven, will be actors Maggie Gyllenhaal, Diego Luna, and Julia Jentsch, producer Dora Bouchoucha Fourati, artist Olafur Eliasson and director-screenwriter Wang Quan’an.
Eighteen films are vying in this year’s competition for the Golden Bear. The winners will be announced at the Berlinale Palast on February 18.
Robocop director Verhoeven is currently flying high off the success of Golden Globe-winning drama Elle.
Gyllenhaal is best known for her Oscar-nominated role in Crazy Heart, breakthrough performances in Donnie Darko and Secretary, The Dark Knight and TV series The Honourable Woman, for which she garnered a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy nomination.
Luna, co-star of Alfonso Cuarón’s Y Tu Mamá También, has played at the Berlinale in titles including Milk (dir: Gus van Sant, Berlinale...
- 1/31/2017
- ScreenDaily
Shock move comes one month before inaugural edition of Macao event.
Veteran festival director Marco Mueller has quit his post as head of the International Film Festival & Awards Macao one month ahead of the event’s first edition (December 8-13).
The surprise move was confirmed this morning by organisers who also said the festival would continue “as planned”.
“The organising committee of 1st International Film Festival and Awards Macao (Iffam) received notice from Macau Films & Television Productions and Culture Association (Mftpa) that Mr Marco Mueller has resigned from his position as festival director with effect from 13 November 2016.
“Mftpa reassures the organising committee that the secretariat will assume all responsibilities of the festival director and that this incident will not affect the organisation of the festival as planned.”
An explanation for the abrupt departure has not been disclosed.
The Macau event, backed by the territory’s culture and tourism authorities, is set to include a competition, out-of-competition and gala...
Veteran festival director Marco Mueller has quit his post as head of the International Film Festival & Awards Macao one month ahead of the event’s first edition (December 8-13).
The surprise move was confirmed this morning by organisers who also said the festival would continue “as planned”.
“The organising committee of 1st International Film Festival and Awards Macao (Iffam) received notice from Macau Films & Television Productions and Culture Association (Mftpa) that Mr Marco Mueller has resigned from his position as festival director with effect from 13 November 2016.
“Mftpa reassures the organising committee that the secretariat will assume all responsibilities of the festival director and that this incident will not affect the organisation of the festival as planned.”
An explanation for the abrupt departure has not been disclosed.
The Macau event, backed by the territory’s culture and tourism authorities, is set to include a competition, out-of-competition and gala...
- 11/13/2016
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Festival consultants to include James Schamus, Olivier Père, Huang Jianxin and Michael J. Werner.
The inaugural International Film Festival and Awards Macao (Iffam, Dec 8 – 13), spearheaded by former Venice and Rome chief Marco Mueller, will have a strong but not exclusive focus on genre titles, the festival has announced.
The event will include a number of gala and red carpet screenings, with a competition strand and special focus sections alongside an industry screening programme, masterclasses, education initiatives and a co-production event.
The festival’s screening programme will encompass the following strands:
• Competition – 10 to 12 new international films to be judged by a jury of five film professionals
• Out of Competition / Gala – a selection of 6 of the most important works from the latter half of the year
• Hidden Dragons – 6 films representing the latest trends in contemporary Asian genre cinema
• Best of Fest Panorama – 5 or 6 award-winning feature films from major international festivals
• Crossfire – 12 non-East Asian, non-us genre films...
The inaugural International Film Festival and Awards Macao (Iffam, Dec 8 – 13), spearheaded by former Venice and Rome chief Marco Mueller, will have a strong but not exclusive focus on genre titles, the festival has announced.
The event will include a number of gala and red carpet screenings, with a competition strand and special focus sections alongside an industry screening programme, masterclasses, education initiatives and a co-production event.
The festival’s screening programme will encompass the following strands:
• Competition – 10 to 12 new international films to be judged by a jury of five film professionals
• Out of Competition / Gala – a selection of 6 of the most important works from the latter half of the year
• Hidden Dragons – 6 films representing the latest trends in contemporary Asian genre cinema
• Best of Fest Panorama – 5 or 6 award-winning feature films from major international festivals
• Crossfire – 12 non-East Asian, non-us genre films...
- 7/11/2016
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: A Really Happy Film Company is being launched by N&J Enterprises and Cmc Magnetics.
Nansun Shi and Jeffrey Chan’s N&J Enterprises is teaming with Taiwan’s Cmc Magnetics to launch a distribution company in Taiwan.
The new outfit, A Really Happy Film Company, will release Eric Khoo’s In The Room [pictured] in Taiwan on March 18. The erotic drama is a co-production between A Really Good Film Company, which is 100% owned by N&J Enterprises, and Singapore’s Zhao Wei Films.
N&J Enterprises also owns 60% of international sales company Distribution Workshop, with Bona Film Group holding the other 40%.
“This Taiwan joint venture is part of an expansion and re-positioning strategy we have beyond the existing international sales business of Distribution Workshop,” Chan told Screen.
“We hope there will be more international co-production and co-investment projects coming out of A Really Good Film Company for distribution through A Really Happy Film Company.”
The Taiwanese...
Nansun Shi and Jeffrey Chan’s N&J Enterprises is teaming with Taiwan’s Cmc Magnetics to launch a distribution company in Taiwan.
The new outfit, A Really Happy Film Company, will release Eric Khoo’s In The Room [pictured] in Taiwan on March 18. The erotic drama is a co-production between A Really Good Film Company, which is 100% owned by N&J Enterprises, and Singapore’s Zhao Wei Films.
N&J Enterprises also owns 60% of international sales company Distribution Workshop, with Bona Film Group holding the other 40%.
“This Taiwan joint venture is part of an expansion and re-positioning strategy we have beyond the existing international sales business of Distribution Workshop,” Chan told Screen.
“We hope there will be more international co-production and co-investment projects coming out of A Really Good Film Company for distribution through A Really Happy Film Company.”
The Taiwanese...
- 2/13/2016
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
After ten days of screenings and events, the Tokyo International Film Festival 2015 wrapped for another year with a closing ceremony announcing the winners of its many awards. For the festival's 30th year, director Bryan Singer took time away from finishing X-men: Apocalypse to sit as Jury President for a Competition which consisted of 16 films, including three from here in Japan. The rest of the jury was made up of of producer Nansun Shi and directors Omori Kazuki, Tran Anh Hung, Bent Hamer and Susanne Bier. Samurai AwardAwarded to filmmakers who continue to 'create groundbreaking films that carve out a path to a new era' continuing to convey innovation in films, the previously announced recipients were Japan's own Yamada Yoji and Hong Kong action legend...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 10/31/2015
- Screen Anarchy
The Tokyo International Film Festival kicked off its 28th edition on Thursday with Robert Zemeckis’ 3D high-wire thriller The Walk.
Just a day after Back to the Future Day – 21 October 2015, the date to which Marty McFly and Doc travel through time in part two of Zemeckis’ iconic trilogy – fans along the red carpet eagerly sought out the director’s autograph, with many seen holding Back to the Future memorabilia.
“Being here with all the excitement of everyone here and the film opening the festival is just a thrill beyond belief,” said Zemeckis.
The Walk, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is based on the true story of French high-wire artist Philippe Petit and his walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.
“I understood the passion this man had to express himself creatively, and I identify with that and I think everyone can identify with that,” Zemeckis added.
A total of 16 films will vie for the festival’s Grand...
Just a day after Back to the Future Day – 21 October 2015, the date to which Marty McFly and Doc travel through time in part two of Zemeckis’ iconic trilogy – fans along the red carpet eagerly sought out the director’s autograph, with many seen holding Back to the Future memorabilia.
“Being here with all the excitement of everyone here and the film opening the festival is just a thrill beyond belief,” said Zemeckis.
The Walk, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is based on the true story of French high-wire artist Philippe Petit and his walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.
“I understood the passion this man had to express himself creatively, and I identify with that and I think everyone can identify with that,” Zemeckis added.
A total of 16 films will vie for the festival’s Grand...
- 10/22/2015
- ScreenDaily
The producer of entertainment finance conferences has announced its first Asia Pacific Entertainment Finance Forum at the Hawaii International Film Festival.
Nina Yang Bongiovi, Sunny Dhillon, Roy Lee, Matthew Liu, Thomas McGrath, Nansun Shi and Bruce Tuchman are among guests expected to attend the event, set to run from November 18-20.
Tuchman, the president of AMC Global and Sundance Channel Global, will lead the opening day keynote conversation, Redefining The Television Landscape
Bongiovi will give the afternoon keynote about her experience in production, finance, and management experience in the entertainment industries in Hollywood and Asia.
Other talks and speeches will address gaming IP, film and TV production and the future of digital production and distribution.
Sponsors and partners include Im Global, Digital Film Cloud Network, Vine Alternative Investments, Motion Picture Association, Fti Consulting, Hyde Park Entertainment, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, Hawaii Tourism Authority and Creative Industries State Of Hawaii, The Modern Honolulu, Variety, The Chinese...
Nina Yang Bongiovi, Sunny Dhillon, Roy Lee, Matthew Liu, Thomas McGrath, Nansun Shi and Bruce Tuchman are among guests expected to attend the event, set to run from November 18-20.
Tuchman, the president of AMC Global and Sundance Channel Global, will lead the opening day keynote conversation, Redefining The Television Landscape
Bongiovi will give the afternoon keynote about her experience in production, finance, and management experience in the entertainment industries in Hollywood and Asia.
Other talks and speeches will address gaming IP, film and TV production and the future of digital production and distribution.
Sponsors and partners include Im Global, Digital Film Cloud Network, Vine Alternative Investments, Motion Picture Association, Fti Consulting, Hyde Park Entertainment, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, Hawaii Tourism Authority and Creative Industries State Of Hawaii, The Modern Honolulu, Variety, The Chinese...
- 10/13/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Competition section features six world premieres including titles from Koji Fukada and Yoshihiro Nakamura.
The 28th Tokyo International Film Festival (October 22-31) has unveiled its line-up with six world premieres in the Competition section, including Turkish director Mustafa Kara’s Cold Of Kalandar, Hao Jie’s My Original Dream and Thai film-maker Kongdej Jaturanrasmee’s Snap.
Also world-premiering in Competition are three Japanese titles: Kohei Oguri’s Foujita, Yoshihiro Nakamura’s The Inerasable and Koji Fukada’s Sayonara – the most local films in the main section since 2004.
The other selections are either Asian or international premieres. The topics of war or refugeeism are a common thread among some films, echoing current day headlines. “We were not conscious about choosing those types, it just happened that way and we noticed afterwards,” said Competition programming director Yoshi Yatabe.
“As much as possible we’d like to cover a wide range of geographical areas and genres,” he said of...
The 28th Tokyo International Film Festival (October 22-31) has unveiled its line-up with six world premieres in the Competition section, including Turkish director Mustafa Kara’s Cold Of Kalandar, Hao Jie’s My Original Dream and Thai film-maker Kongdej Jaturanrasmee’s Snap.
Also world-premiering in Competition are three Japanese titles: Kohei Oguri’s Foujita, Yoshihiro Nakamura’s The Inerasable and Koji Fukada’s Sayonara – the most local films in the main section since 2004.
The other selections are either Asian or international premieres. The topics of war or refugeeism are a common thread among some films, echoing current day headlines. “We were not conscious about choosing those types, it just happened that way and we noticed afterwards,” said Competition programming director Yoshi Yatabe.
“As much as possible we’d like to cover a wide range of geographical areas and genres,” he said of...
- 9/29/2015
- ScreenDaily
Competition section features six world premieres including titles from Koji Fukada and Yoshihiro Nakamura.
The 28th Tokyo International Film Festival (October 22-31) has unveiled its line-up with six world premieres in the Competition section, including Turkish director Mustafa Kara’s Cold Of Kalandar, Hao Jie’s My Original Dream and Thai film-maker Kongdej Jaturanrasmee’s Snap.
Also world-premiering in Competition are three Japanese titles: Kohei Oguri’s Foujita, Yoshihiro Nakamura’s The Inerasable and Koji Fukada’s Sayonara – the most local films in the main section since 2004.
The other selections are either Asian or international premieres. The topics of war or refugeeism are a common thread among some films, echoing current day headlines. “We were not conscious about choosing those types, it just happened that way and we noticed afterwards,” said Competition programming director Yoshi Yatabe.
“As much as possible we’d like to cover a wide range of geographical areas and genres,” he said of...
The 28th Tokyo International Film Festival (October 22-31) has unveiled its line-up with six world premieres in the Competition section, including Turkish director Mustafa Kara’s Cold Of Kalandar, Hao Jie’s My Original Dream and Thai film-maker Kongdej Jaturanrasmee’s Snap.
Also world-premiering in Competition are three Japanese titles: Kohei Oguri’s Foujita, Yoshihiro Nakamura’s The Inerasable and Koji Fukada’s Sayonara – the most local films in the main section since 2004.
The other selections are either Asian or international premieres. The topics of war or refugeeism are a common thread among some films, echoing current day headlines. “We were not conscious about choosing those types, it just happened that way and we noticed afterwards,” said Competition programming director Yoshi Yatabe.
“As much as possible we’d like to cover a wide range of geographical areas and genres,” he said of...
- 9/29/2015
- ScreenDaily
Takeshi Kitano’s Office Kitano to receive Premio Raimondo Rezzonico award.
Takeshi Kitano’s production company Office Kitano is to be feted at Locarno with the Premio Raimondo Rezzonico award, bestowed upon a risk-taking independent producer or company.
Office Kitano officially became a production company in 1991, producing actor-director Kitano’s third feature, A Scene at the Sea. All of Kitano’s films have been produced under the label since.
Office Kitano president Masayuki Mori began producing films with other directors in 1998, beginning with Ikinai, directed by Hiroshi Shimizu, and in 2000 the company began collaborating with director Jia Zhangke, as well as producer Shôzô Ichiyama.
The outfit also launched Tokyo FILMeX in 2000, a film festival that aims to highlight independent cinema
President Moro and producer Ichiyama will be present at Locarno to receive the award and speak to the public, and the festival will screen three films in tribute: Hana-bi (1997) and Dolls (2002), both directed by Kitano, and Unknown...
Takeshi Kitano’s production company Office Kitano is to be feted at Locarno with the Premio Raimondo Rezzonico award, bestowed upon a risk-taking independent producer or company.
Office Kitano officially became a production company in 1991, producing actor-director Kitano’s third feature, A Scene at the Sea. All of Kitano’s films have been produced under the label since.
Office Kitano president Masayuki Mori began producing films with other directors in 1998, beginning with Ikinai, directed by Hiroshi Shimizu, and in 2000 the company began collaborating with director Jia Zhangke, as well as producer Shôzô Ichiyama.
The outfit also launched Tokyo FILMeX in 2000, a film festival that aims to highlight independent cinema
President Moro and producer Ichiyama will be present at Locarno to receive the award and speak to the public, and the festival will screen three films in tribute: Hana-bi (1997) and Dolls (2002), both directed by Kitano, and Unknown...
- 7/22/2015
- by mantus@masonlive.gmu.edu (Madison Antus)
- ScreenDaily
Pierre Jolivet’s France-Belgium co-production The Night Watchman won best feature in the Golden Goblet competition of this year’s Shanghai International Film Festival (June 13-21), while Cao Baoping’s The Dead End won best director and actor.
The acting prize for The Dead End was split between Deng Chao, Duan Yihong and Guo Tao. The Jury Grad Prix went to Polish filmmaker Jacek Lusinski’s Carte Blanche, while best actress went to Krista Kosonen in Antti Jokinen’ Finland-Lithuania co-production The Midwife (see full list of winners below)
Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev headed the Golden Goblet jury, which also included Chinese director Cai Shangjun, Chinese actress Hao Lei, French filmmaker Philippe Muyl, Hong Kong producer Nansun Shi and Us producer Ron Yerxa.
Last Thursday, Iranian filmmaker Hooman Seyedi’s 13 won best film and cinematography at the Asian New Talent Awards. Best director went to Japan’s Momoko Ando for 0.5mm, while best actress...
The acting prize for The Dead End was split between Deng Chao, Duan Yihong and Guo Tao. The Jury Grad Prix went to Polish filmmaker Jacek Lusinski’s Carte Blanche, while best actress went to Krista Kosonen in Antti Jokinen’ Finland-Lithuania co-production The Midwife (see full list of winners below)
Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev headed the Golden Goblet jury, which also included Chinese director Cai Shangjun, Chinese actress Hao Lei, French filmmaker Philippe Muyl, Hong Kong producer Nansun Shi and Us producer Ron Yerxa.
Last Thursday, Iranian filmmaker Hooman Seyedi’s 13 won best film and cinematography at the Asian New Talent Awards. Best director went to Japan’s Momoko Ando for 0.5mm, while best actress...
- 6/22/2015
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
China’s Bona Film Group has unveiled an ambitious 26-picture slate to celebrate the company’s 15th anniversary, along with a strategic cooperation with Huaxia Film Distribution.
Bona Film Group founder and CEO Yu Dong said he expected the slate would gross a combined $1.6bn (RMB10bn) at the China box office. The slate announcement came just days after it emerged that Bona is trying to delist from the Nasdaq.
Speaking at the Siff Forum on Monday, Yu Dong said it wasn’t surprising that he wanted to take his company private again because “my audience and customers are in China – coming home is the wish of all our investors and partners.”
Bona, which floated on New York’s Nasdaq exchange in 2010, currently has investors including Studio 8 backer Fosun International and private equity company Sequoia.
The company’s new slate includes Ang Lee’s previously announced Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, which Bona is...
Bona Film Group founder and CEO Yu Dong said he expected the slate would gross a combined $1.6bn (RMB10bn) at the China box office. The slate announcement came just days after it emerged that Bona is trying to delist from the Nasdaq.
Speaking at the Siff Forum on Monday, Yu Dong said it wasn’t surprising that he wanted to take his company private again because “my audience and customers are in China – coming home is the wish of all our investors and partners.”
Bona, which floated on New York’s Nasdaq exchange in 2010, currently has investors including Studio 8 backer Fosun International and private equity company Sequoia.
The company’s new slate includes Ang Lee’s previously announced Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, which Bona is...
- 6/15/2015
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Winston Baker, a leading global producer of entertainment finance conferences, successfully hosted their second annual “Women of Entertainment Finance” brunch at the InterContinental Carlton Hotel on May 15 to coincide with the 68th Cannes Film Festival.
Winston Baker founders Katherine Winston and Amy Baker developed the groundbreaking brunch to recognize the women who have been at the forefront of the entertainment industry, creating, financing, producing, distributing, and facilitating content for film, television, and digital platforms.
In celebration of the special event, Winston Baker presented the inaugural Pioneer of the Year Award to Claudia Bluemhuber, a long time speaker and supporter of the Film Finance Forum ® Series. As she presented the award, Amy Baker explained, “We honor Claudia for her work as a producer who is paving the way for female talent and for her innovative work as a film financier.”
Claudia is the CEO and a Managing Partner of Silver Reel Partners. Under her leadership, the company has financed and executive produced 24 feature films, including "Under the Skin," "The Railway Man," " A Hologram for the King," "Solace," "Fallen," and "Unlocked."
Claudia humbly accepted the honor and acknowledged the importance of Winston Baker’s event in promoting women’s contributions to the entertainment business and forging the path towards gender equality in the industry.
Winston Baker has presented a number of top female executives at various forums around the world including Christine Vachon, a producer of "Still Alice"; Lone Scherfig, the director of "An Education;" Nansun Shi, a leading producer and distributor from China; Rena Ronson, a top agent at UTA; Celine Rattray, a producer of "The Kids Are Alright;" Bonnie Voland, the head of marketing at Im Global; Jill Gwen Braginets, the head of finance and operations at Fox Searchlight Pictures; and Donna Smith, the first woman ever to serve as head of physical production for a major movie studio...
Winston Baker founders Katherine Winston and Amy Baker developed the groundbreaking brunch to recognize the women who have been at the forefront of the entertainment industry, creating, financing, producing, distributing, and facilitating content for film, television, and digital platforms.
In celebration of the special event, Winston Baker presented the inaugural Pioneer of the Year Award to Claudia Bluemhuber, a long time speaker and supporter of the Film Finance Forum ® Series. As she presented the award, Amy Baker explained, “We honor Claudia for her work as a producer who is paving the way for female talent and for her innovative work as a film financier.”
Claudia is the CEO and a Managing Partner of Silver Reel Partners. Under her leadership, the company has financed and executive produced 24 feature films, including "Under the Skin," "The Railway Man," " A Hologram for the King," "Solace," "Fallen," and "Unlocked."
Claudia humbly accepted the honor and acknowledged the importance of Winston Baker’s event in promoting women’s contributions to the entertainment business and forging the path towards gender equality in the industry.
Winston Baker has presented a number of top female executives at various forums around the world including Christine Vachon, a producer of "Still Alice"; Lone Scherfig, the director of "An Education;" Nansun Shi, a leading producer and distributor from China; Rena Ronson, a top agent at UTA; Celine Rattray, a producer of "The Kids Are Alright;" Bonnie Voland, the head of marketing at Im Global; Jill Gwen Braginets, the head of finance and operations at Fox Searchlight Pictures; and Donna Smith, the first woman ever to serve as head of physical production for a major movie studio...
- 5/22/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
The Marché du Film has confirmed the program and multiple speakers for the inaugural Marché du Film China Summit, which will take place during the upcoming Marché. The Summit has been established to help film industry professionals learn more about the Chinese marketplace and to enable Chinese professionals to connect with their industry peers, providing a platform that promotes international business connections.
This series of conferences and events, reserved for Marché Badge holders, includes numerous round-table panel discussions focusing on key topics identified as most relevant to the current Chinese market, including theatrical and VOD distribution as well as a discussion on international productions. A section of the Summit is to be co-hosted by Cnc (Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée) under the umbrella title of “The French Chinese Meetings” which consist of two round-table panel discussions on Saturday May 16th. Variety, Screen International, The Hollywood Reporter and The Chinese Film Market are signed on as supporting media partners.
The Marché du Film China Summit will run from Saturday May 16th to Tuesday May 19th, concluding on the Tuesday evening
with the annual China Night Party, which is to be hosted in partnership with China Movie Channel and Champs Lis International.The Marché du Film will run from May 13th to 22nd.
On announcing the program, Marche du Film Executive Director Jérôme Paillard commented “With the increasing global interest in China’s film industry, combined with the increasing presence of Chinese executives at the Marché du Film, this exclusive 3-day series of conferences and events will help promote business opportunities and international partnerships amongst professionals. It will cover all aspects of partnerships with China, from international co-productions and French-Chinese collaborations to theatrical and VOD distribution.”
The Marché du Film China Summit will commence on the afternoon of Saturday, May 16th with an introduction by Frédérique Bredin(Cnc) and Yin Fu (China Cultural Center in Paris), followed by two round-table panel discussions welcoming Jean-Paul Salome, (Unifrance), Isabelle Glachant (Chinese Shadows), Valérie Lepine-Karnik (Film France) and Franck Priot (Film France), Richard Patry (Fncf), Xavier Castano (Loull Productions), Cary Cheng (Wanda), Michel Ferry (Cinéma des Carmes), Olivier Grandjean (Pathé), Gary Mak (Broadway Cinematheque) and Zhang Rengang (Tianjin North Film Group). The first round-table panel is titled “Attractiveness of French and Chinese Territories” followed by “Strategies of Exhibition and Distribution in France and China, examples of Chinese-French co-productions.”
The Marché du Film China Summit continues on Monday, May 18th and Tuesday, May 19th with the support of the Marche’s new leading Summit partner, Deloitte Consulting. Hou Po, Partner of Deloitte Consulting, Tmt Leader of Deloitte China, will introduce the discussions, the first of which, on Monday, May 18th, will provide an overview of the Chinese film distribution market, moderated by Patrick Frater (Variety) and welcoming Jeffrey Chan (Bona Film Group), Chen Sijie (Smg Pictures), James Li (Wuzhou Film Distribution Co. ltd) and Lin Ning (WeChat Movie).
The final two round-table panel discussions are scheduled for Tuesday, May 19th, the first focusing on Video On Demand opportunities in China, moderated by Liz Shackleton (Screen International) and welcoming Marc Ganis (Jiaflix Enterprises), David U. Lee (Leeding Media), Li Yansong (iQIYI) and Allen Zhu Huilong (Youku Tudou Inc.). The second session will focus on international production with China, moderated by Clifford Coonan (The Hollywood Reporter) and welcoming Wendy Reeds (Lionsgate International), Shi Nansun (Distribution Workshop), Allen Wang Jun (Yingke Law Firm) and Zhou Yuan (Linmon Pictures).
All the conferences will provide bilingual English-Mandarin simultaneous interpretation.
The Summit will this year include the third edition of the New Chinese Film Talents Fund Forum jointly established in 2013 by Champs Lis lnternational and the Marché du Film. The Forum encourages and supports promising young Chinese filmmakers in their understanding of the global cinema marketplace, of the commercial requirements of the film industry and of their approach of the international production business. Eight projects, selected by a committee of international experts, will be pitched on Monday, May 18th at 2pm. More information on the projects will be announced soon.
Marche du Film Chine Summit Schedule and Information:
1) Subject: The Attractiveness of French and Chinese Territories
Date: Saturday May 16th 15:00-16:30
Venue: Cnc Space, Gray d’Albion Beach
Introductory speeches by Frédérique Bredin, CEO of Cnc, and Yin Fu, Director of the China Cultural Center in Paris. Description: France and China share a common ambition for their film industries. They consider film to have both a cultural and an economic impact. Providing attractive shooting locations and completion of post-production is proven to benefit the local economy. Directly and indirectly the industry creates jobs and, in the long run, tourism benefits from the attractive images that are shown worldwide.
France has considered the issue of territory attractiveness a priority for many years, setting up a network of local film commissions placed under the umbrella of Film France and offering a tax incentive dedicated to foreign pictures. Valérie Lépine and Franck Priot will explain the benefits of such policies and discuss cases of Chinese producers choosing France as a shooting destination.
Moderator: Jean-Paul Salome, President of Unifrance
UniFrance Films is a non-profit organization based in Paris with representatives in Beijing, Mumbai, New York and Tokyo, its aim is to promote French cinema worldwide. This association accompanies French films in the international marketplace, from their sale all the way through to their distribution, and on the international film festival circuit. Elected in 2013 President of Unifrance and re-elected in 2015, Jean-Paul Salomé is a famous French film director and writer.
Panelists to Include:
Isabelle Glachant, Producer and Delegate of Unifrance in China
Producer and Delegate of Unifrance in China, Glachant began her film career with Shanghai Dreams (Jury Prize in Cannes), then worked on the productions of numerous Chinese directors including Li Yu, Lu Chuan, Lou Ye and Wang Xiaoshuai, including 11 Flowers, the first official French-Chinese co-production. Her company Chinese Shadows focuses on Production, through Asian Shadows she represents Asian directors.
Valérie Lepine-Karnik, CEO of Film France
Lépine-Karnik, joined Film France as CEO in 2014. She previously held the position of Deputy Director of the Cinema Department at the Centre National du Cinéma et de L’image Animée (Cnc), after heading the international Federation of Film Producers associations (Fiapf).
Franck Priot, COO of Film France
Priot is Chief Operating Officer of Film France, the French Film Commission. His areas of responsibility include overseeing the Tax rebate for international productions. He is currently the key person spearheading Film France’s efforts to increase relationships with China, having worked with on numerous Chinese films and TV series, including Jackie Chan’s Chinese Zodiac and Leon Lai’s Wine War.
2) Subject: Strategies of Exhibition and Distribution in France and China, Examples of Sino-French Co-Productions
Date: Saturday May 16th 16:30-18:00
Venue: Cnc Space, Gray d’Albion Beach
Description: Since the April 2010 French-Chinese Co-production agreement was signed, two French directors have shot their films in Chinese in China. The Nightingale and The Wolf Totem are pictures of different natures, but for both directors, the experience of working in China was both challenging and rewarding. This accomplishment was particularly impressive in the case of The Wolf Totem, which found great success at the box office in France and in China. The round table will discuss the issues of distribution and exhibition in France and in China. Can art houses and commercial theaters co-exist and draw large audiences in both countries? How do co-produced films succeed at the box office?
Moderator: Richard Patry, President of the French Cinema Exhibitors’ Association
Patry has served as President of the French Cinema Exhibitors’ association since January 2013 and was unanimously re-elected in January 2015. He is also CEO of Noe Cinémas which operates 62 screens in Normandy, the East of France and in the Paris region, and President of the grouping of Normandy Cinemas, a professional organization which brings together cinemas across the region’s 5 departments. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Festival de Cannes.
Panelists to Include:
Xavier Castano, Loull Productions
Cary Cheng, Head of International Production & Development, Wanda
Michel Ferry, Cinéma des Carmes
Olivier Grandjean, Head of exhibition, Pathé
Gary Mak, CEO of Broadway Cinematheque
Zhang Rengang, CEO of Tianjin North Film Group
3) Subject: Chines Film Market Overview
Date: Monday May 18th 10:00-12:00
Venues: Cinema Olympia 1
Media Partner: Variety
Description: With the great development of the Chinese theatrical network, China strengthens its position as the world’s second largest box office market. High profile panelists will illustrate the preferences and characteristics of Chinese audiences, the distribution protocols and the influence of marketing strategies on movie success.
Moderator: Patrick Frater, Asia Bureau Chief, Variety
Patrick Frater has over 20 years of experience writing about and analyzing the international film industry. He was Asia editor of Variety between 2005 and 2009 and re-joined the publication in July 2013. In 2010, he co-founded regional film trade publication Film Business Asia and consultancy firm F Media. He travels widely within the Asia-Pacific region, and is a regular radio pundit, conference host and public speaker.
Panelists to Include:
Jeffrey Chan, COO and Board member of Bona Film Group
Jeffrey Chan has over 20 years of experience in the film distribution and entertainment industry (Media Asia Holdings Limited, Pccw/Cable & Wireless Ltd). He joined Bona Film in 2008 and co-founded Distribution Workshop, a Hk based joint venture subsidiary of Bona. Bona Film Group is a leading film distributor in China, with an integrated business model encompassing film distribution, production, exhibition and talent representation.
James Li, General Manager of Wuzhou Film Distribution Co., ltd
James Li has worked in China’s film industry over the past 17 years, and has overseen and distributed over 200 films in China. He served as the Director of Film Distribution Department at Wanda Media from 2011. At the end of 2014, Wanda Media, Dadi Times Film Distributor, Guangzhou Jinyi International Cinemas, and Hengdian World Studios co-founded the Wuzhou Company which is a leading company in media industry focusing on film distribution, film marketing and branding.
Lin Ning, Founder of Beijing Weying Technology Co,Ltd,( WeChat Movie).
Lin Ning is an entrepreneur of internet and media who founded Weying in 2014. Their product Weipiao has covered more than 300 cities in China within a year, linked to 3500 cinema and 1200 theater's ticket system. As the exclusive service company embedded in WeChat with 700 million users, Weying’s marketing distribution model based on social networking has gained a large popularity among most distributors and producers.
Chen Sijie, CEO, Smg Pictures
With experiences in journalism and the world wide web industries, Chen Sijie is a major figure in the new media industry. Established in 2011, Smg Pictures is majority owned by Shanghai Media group, the 2nd largest media conglomerate in China. Smg Pictures conducts diversified business in the filmed entertainment industry, such as script development, production, distribution and entertainment marketing. Smg Pictures has a partnership with international mainstream media and production houses.
(Introduction by Hou Po, Partner of Deloitte Consulting, Tmt Leader of Deloitte China)
4) Subject: Video on Demand Opportunities in China
Date: Tuesday May 19th 10:00-12:00
Venues: Cinema Olympia 1
Media Partner: Screen Intentional
Description: Due to its rapid growth, the Chinese VOD market attracts the attention of professionals from the world over. New key players in this booming industry will talk about their business strategies, present characteristics of the Chinese audience and share their experiences.
Moderator: Liz Shackleton, Asia Editor, Screen International
Liz Shackleton is Screen’s Asia Editor based in Hong Kong. She is also the founder of Chime Consulting, which helps Western companies and government organisations to work with the fast-developing Chinese and Indian film industries. She was also recently appointed as Asia Programmer and Producer for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).
Panelists to Include:
Marc Ganis, President, CEO and Co-Founder of Jiaflix Enterprises
Marc Ganis, co-founder of Jiaflix Enterprises, has been active in China for more than a decade in the capital markets, sports and entertainment sectors. In partnership with China Movie Channel/CCTV6 and its digital subsidiary 1905.com, Jiaflix has established Wow Cinema, a subscription and pay-per-view portal in China. Ganis has established with Jiaflix an affordable monthly subscription fee and developed strong anti-piracy efforts.
David U. Lee, Founder and CEO of Leeding Media
David U.Lee is one of the most accomplished entrepreneurs who successfully bridges the U.S. and China film industries. Under his leadership, Leeding Media has become an experienced marketer of international films in China. The company helped the subscription streaming service between Alibaba Group and Lionsgate. It also controls the exclusive digital distribution rights to the Lakeshore, Myriad, Im Global, Voltage, Exclusive Media and Sierra/Affinity libraries.
Li Yansong VP of iQIYI, President of iQIYI Motion Pictures
Li Yansong was one of the first to join the newly founded iQIYI in 2010. iQIYI, one of China's leading online video platforms, has successfully set up China’s first copyrighted video library covering diverse contents including movie, TV drama, variety show, comic, documentary etc. After managing iQIYI's Film Channel Division, he was recently appointed as President of iQIYI Motion Pictures as well as Vice President of iQIYI.
Allen Zhu HuilongSVP of Youku Tudou Inc. & CEO of Heyi Film
Zhu Huilong has joined Youku in 2006 and was a driving force to advance Subscription video-on-demand model in mainland China in 2009. Youku Tudou Inc., China’s leading Internet television company, has gradually set cooperation with major Hollywood studios for content acquisition and it began from 2012 to focus on trade cooperation between the Internet and the film industry. From 2014, Zhu Huilong became also the CEO of Heyi Film, a production company, wholly owned by Youku Tudou.
(Introduction by Hou Po, Partner of Deloitte Consulting, Tmt Leader of Deloitte China)
5) Subject: International Production with China
Date: Tuesday May 19th 15:00-17:00
Venues: Cinema Olympia 1
Media Partner: The Hollywood Reporter
Description: International co-productions come under different arrangements. How is it with China, under a co-production treaty or not? Insiders will discuss the advantages and the pitfalls of co-producing with China. And how to co-produce films for the Chinese market, and abroad.
Moderator: Clifford Coonan, Asia Bureau Chief, The Hollywood Reporter
Clifford Coonan has worked as a correspondent in China for over a decade, enjoying a front-row seat on this world's second biggest movie market and on the fastest growing entertainment sector on the planet: Asia. Before moving to Beijing, he was a Reuters correspondent for seven years. He is widely published in The Irish Times, The Independent, Variety and The Times and has appeared on BBC Radio and NPR.
Panelists to Include:
Wendy Reed, Evp, International Sales of Lionsgate International
A 20-year int’l sales and distribution veteran, Wendy Reeds is in charge of licensing films in all of Asia, including China. For many
years, she ran Celestial Tiger Entertainment out of Hong Kong. She has been instrumental in building Lionsgate’s operations in
China, with 17 films released over the past 3 years. Lionsgate recently announced a multifaceted partnership with Hunan TV for slate financing, film production and distribution, and a content licensing agreement with The Alibaba Group
Shi Nansun Chairman, Distribution Workshop
Shi Nansun has produced such blockbusters as The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate 3D and Young Detective Dee – Rise of the Sea Dragon. She founded Cinema City and Film Workshop Co Ltd. with acclaimed Producer/Director Tsui Hark. She was a member of the International Jury at the Berlinale 2007. She was a jury member at the 2011 Festival de Cannes. In 2013, she received the French title of Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. In 2014, she was awarded as Best Independent Producer at Locarno Film Festival.
Allen Wang Jun, Senior Partner of Yingke Law Firm
Allen Wang has been named an Asia-Pacific leading Tmt/Entertainment lawyer consecutively for the last three years. He was named amongst the Top 15 Litigators in China in 2015. He represents more than 20 of the leading Chinese entertainment including Huayi Brothers, Hunan TV, Alibaba’s Entertainment Investment, Kofic and more. Yingke Law Firm is one of the largest Chinese law firms with over 25 offices across China and 24 international offices.
Zhou Yuan, Evp of Linmon Pictures
Zhou Yuan was the former Head of Motion Pictures of Smg Pictures, where he built up the company's film business by investing in project development, expanding distribution networks, delivering integrated marketing services as well as establishing an intimate relationship with international partners .In August 2014, he left Smg Pictures and founded Linmon Pictures, a new generation entertainment company invested by China's largest Internet service provider Tencent. As the Executive Vice President, he is responsible for the Motion Pictures business, Corporate Strategy and Investment.
(Introduction by Hou Po, Partner of Deloitte Consulting, Tmt Leader of Deloitte China)...
This series of conferences and events, reserved for Marché Badge holders, includes numerous round-table panel discussions focusing on key topics identified as most relevant to the current Chinese market, including theatrical and VOD distribution as well as a discussion on international productions. A section of the Summit is to be co-hosted by Cnc (Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée) under the umbrella title of “The French Chinese Meetings” which consist of two round-table panel discussions on Saturday May 16th. Variety, Screen International, The Hollywood Reporter and The Chinese Film Market are signed on as supporting media partners.
The Marché du Film China Summit will run from Saturday May 16th to Tuesday May 19th, concluding on the Tuesday evening
with the annual China Night Party, which is to be hosted in partnership with China Movie Channel and Champs Lis International.The Marché du Film will run from May 13th to 22nd.
On announcing the program, Marche du Film Executive Director Jérôme Paillard commented “With the increasing global interest in China’s film industry, combined with the increasing presence of Chinese executives at the Marché du Film, this exclusive 3-day series of conferences and events will help promote business opportunities and international partnerships amongst professionals. It will cover all aspects of partnerships with China, from international co-productions and French-Chinese collaborations to theatrical and VOD distribution.”
The Marché du Film China Summit will commence on the afternoon of Saturday, May 16th with an introduction by Frédérique Bredin(Cnc) and Yin Fu (China Cultural Center in Paris), followed by two round-table panel discussions welcoming Jean-Paul Salome, (Unifrance), Isabelle Glachant (Chinese Shadows), Valérie Lepine-Karnik (Film France) and Franck Priot (Film France), Richard Patry (Fncf), Xavier Castano (Loull Productions), Cary Cheng (Wanda), Michel Ferry (Cinéma des Carmes), Olivier Grandjean (Pathé), Gary Mak (Broadway Cinematheque) and Zhang Rengang (Tianjin North Film Group). The first round-table panel is titled “Attractiveness of French and Chinese Territories” followed by “Strategies of Exhibition and Distribution in France and China, examples of Chinese-French co-productions.”
The Marché du Film China Summit continues on Monday, May 18th and Tuesday, May 19th with the support of the Marche’s new leading Summit partner, Deloitte Consulting. Hou Po, Partner of Deloitte Consulting, Tmt Leader of Deloitte China, will introduce the discussions, the first of which, on Monday, May 18th, will provide an overview of the Chinese film distribution market, moderated by Patrick Frater (Variety) and welcoming Jeffrey Chan (Bona Film Group), Chen Sijie (Smg Pictures), James Li (Wuzhou Film Distribution Co. ltd) and Lin Ning (WeChat Movie).
The final two round-table panel discussions are scheduled for Tuesday, May 19th, the first focusing on Video On Demand opportunities in China, moderated by Liz Shackleton (Screen International) and welcoming Marc Ganis (Jiaflix Enterprises), David U. Lee (Leeding Media), Li Yansong (iQIYI) and Allen Zhu Huilong (Youku Tudou Inc.). The second session will focus on international production with China, moderated by Clifford Coonan (The Hollywood Reporter) and welcoming Wendy Reeds (Lionsgate International), Shi Nansun (Distribution Workshop), Allen Wang Jun (Yingke Law Firm) and Zhou Yuan (Linmon Pictures).
All the conferences will provide bilingual English-Mandarin simultaneous interpretation.
The Summit will this year include the third edition of the New Chinese Film Talents Fund Forum jointly established in 2013 by Champs Lis lnternational and the Marché du Film. The Forum encourages and supports promising young Chinese filmmakers in their understanding of the global cinema marketplace, of the commercial requirements of the film industry and of their approach of the international production business. Eight projects, selected by a committee of international experts, will be pitched on Monday, May 18th at 2pm. More information on the projects will be announced soon.
Marche du Film Chine Summit Schedule and Information:
1) Subject: The Attractiveness of French and Chinese Territories
Date: Saturday May 16th 15:00-16:30
Venue: Cnc Space, Gray d’Albion Beach
Introductory speeches by Frédérique Bredin, CEO of Cnc, and Yin Fu, Director of the China Cultural Center in Paris. Description: France and China share a common ambition for their film industries. They consider film to have both a cultural and an economic impact. Providing attractive shooting locations and completion of post-production is proven to benefit the local economy. Directly and indirectly the industry creates jobs and, in the long run, tourism benefits from the attractive images that are shown worldwide.
France has considered the issue of territory attractiveness a priority for many years, setting up a network of local film commissions placed under the umbrella of Film France and offering a tax incentive dedicated to foreign pictures. Valérie Lépine and Franck Priot will explain the benefits of such policies and discuss cases of Chinese producers choosing France as a shooting destination.
Moderator: Jean-Paul Salome, President of Unifrance
UniFrance Films is a non-profit organization based in Paris with representatives in Beijing, Mumbai, New York and Tokyo, its aim is to promote French cinema worldwide. This association accompanies French films in the international marketplace, from their sale all the way through to their distribution, and on the international film festival circuit. Elected in 2013 President of Unifrance and re-elected in 2015, Jean-Paul Salomé is a famous French film director and writer.
Panelists to Include:
Isabelle Glachant, Producer and Delegate of Unifrance in China
Producer and Delegate of Unifrance in China, Glachant began her film career with Shanghai Dreams (Jury Prize in Cannes), then worked on the productions of numerous Chinese directors including Li Yu, Lu Chuan, Lou Ye and Wang Xiaoshuai, including 11 Flowers, the first official French-Chinese co-production. Her company Chinese Shadows focuses on Production, through Asian Shadows she represents Asian directors.
Valérie Lepine-Karnik, CEO of Film France
Lépine-Karnik, joined Film France as CEO in 2014. She previously held the position of Deputy Director of the Cinema Department at the Centre National du Cinéma et de L’image Animée (Cnc), after heading the international Federation of Film Producers associations (Fiapf).
Franck Priot, COO of Film France
Priot is Chief Operating Officer of Film France, the French Film Commission. His areas of responsibility include overseeing the Tax rebate for international productions. He is currently the key person spearheading Film France’s efforts to increase relationships with China, having worked with on numerous Chinese films and TV series, including Jackie Chan’s Chinese Zodiac and Leon Lai’s Wine War.
2) Subject: Strategies of Exhibition and Distribution in France and China, Examples of Sino-French Co-Productions
Date: Saturday May 16th 16:30-18:00
Venue: Cnc Space, Gray d’Albion Beach
Description: Since the April 2010 French-Chinese Co-production agreement was signed, two French directors have shot their films in Chinese in China. The Nightingale and The Wolf Totem are pictures of different natures, but for both directors, the experience of working in China was both challenging and rewarding. This accomplishment was particularly impressive in the case of The Wolf Totem, which found great success at the box office in France and in China. The round table will discuss the issues of distribution and exhibition in France and in China. Can art houses and commercial theaters co-exist and draw large audiences in both countries? How do co-produced films succeed at the box office?
Moderator: Richard Patry, President of the French Cinema Exhibitors’ Association
Patry has served as President of the French Cinema Exhibitors’ association since January 2013 and was unanimously re-elected in January 2015. He is also CEO of Noe Cinémas which operates 62 screens in Normandy, the East of France and in the Paris region, and President of the grouping of Normandy Cinemas, a professional organization which brings together cinemas across the region’s 5 departments. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Festival de Cannes.
Panelists to Include:
Xavier Castano, Loull Productions
Cary Cheng, Head of International Production & Development, Wanda
Michel Ferry, Cinéma des Carmes
Olivier Grandjean, Head of exhibition, Pathé
Gary Mak, CEO of Broadway Cinematheque
Zhang Rengang, CEO of Tianjin North Film Group
3) Subject: Chines Film Market Overview
Date: Monday May 18th 10:00-12:00
Venues: Cinema Olympia 1
Media Partner: Variety
Description: With the great development of the Chinese theatrical network, China strengthens its position as the world’s second largest box office market. High profile panelists will illustrate the preferences and characteristics of Chinese audiences, the distribution protocols and the influence of marketing strategies on movie success.
Moderator: Patrick Frater, Asia Bureau Chief, Variety
Patrick Frater has over 20 years of experience writing about and analyzing the international film industry. He was Asia editor of Variety between 2005 and 2009 and re-joined the publication in July 2013. In 2010, he co-founded regional film trade publication Film Business Asia and consultancy firm F Media. He travels widely within the Asia-Pacific region, and is a regular radio pundit, conference host and public speaker.
Panelists to Include:
Jeffrey Chan, COO and Board member of Bona Film Group
Jeffrey Chan has over 20 years of experience in the film distribution and entertainment industry (Media Asia Holdings Limited, Pccw/Cable & Wireless Ltd). He joined Bona Film in 2008 and co-founded Distribution Workshop, a Hk based joint venture subsidiary of Bona. Bona Film Group is a leading film distributor in China, with an integrated business model encompassing film distribution, production, exhibition and talent representation.
James Li, General Manager of Wuzhou Film Distribution Co., ltd
James Li has worked in China’s film industry over the past 17 years, and has overseen and distributed over 200 films in China. He served as the Director of Film Distribution Department at Wanda Media from 2011. At the end of 2014, Wanda Media, Dadi Times Film Distributor, Guangzhou Jinyi International Cinemas, and Hengdian World Studios co-founded the Wuzhou Company which is a leading company in media industry focusing on film distribution, film marketing and branding.
Lin Ning, Founder of Beijing Weying Technology Co,Ltd,( WeChat Movie).
Lin Ning is an entrepreneur of internet and media who founded Weying in 2014. Their product Weipiao has covered more than 300 cities in China within a year, linked to 3500 cinema and 1200 theater's ticket system. As the exclusive service company embedded in WeChat with 700 million users, Weying’s marketing distribution model based on social networking has gained a large popularity among most distributors and producers.
Chen Sijie, CEO, Smg Pictures
With experiences in journalism and the world wide web industries, Chen Sijie is a major figure in the new media industry. Established in 2011, Smg Pictures is majority owned by Shanghai Media group, the 2nd largest media conglomerate in China. Smg Pictures conducts diversified business in the filmed entertainment industry, such as script development, production, distribution and entertainment marketing. Smg Pictures has a partnership with international mainstream media and production houses.
(Introduction by Hou Po, Partner of Deloitte Consulting, Tmt Leader of Deloitte China)
4) Subject: Video on Demand Opportunities in China
Date: Tuesday May 19th 10:00-12:00
Venues: Cinema Olympia 1
Media Partner: Screen Intentional
Description: Due to its rapid growth, the Chinese VOD market attracts the attention of professionals from the world over. New key players in this booming industry will talk about their business strategies, present characteristics of the Chinese audience and share their experiences.
Moderator: Liz Shackleton, Asia Editor, Screen International
Liz Shackleton is Screen’s Asia Editor based in Hong Kong. She is also the founder of Chime Consulting, which helps Western companies and government organisations to work with the fast-developing Chinese and Indian film industries. She was also recently appointed as Asia Programmer and Producer for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).
Panelists to Include:
Marc Ganis, President, CEO and Co-Founder of Jiaflix Enterprises
Marc Ganis, co-founder of Jiaflix Enterprises, has been active in China for more than a decade in the capital markets, sports and entertainment sectors. In partnership with China Movie Channel/CCTV6 and its digital subsidiary 1905.com, Jiaflix has established Wow Cinema, a subscription and pay-per-view portal in China. Ganis has established with Jiaflix an affordable monthly subscription fee and developed strong anti-piracy efforts.
David U. Lee, Founder and CEO of Leeding Media
David U.Lee is one of the most accomplished entrepreneurs who successfully bridges the U.S. and China film industries. Under his leadership, Leeding Media has become an experienced marketer of international films in China. The company helped the subscription streaming service between Alibaba Group and Lionsgate. It also controls the exclusive digital distribution rights to the Lakeshore, Myriad, Im Global, Voltage, Exclusive Media and Sierra/Affinity libraries.
Li Yansong VP of iQIYI, President of iQIYI Motion Pictures
Li Yansong was one of the first to join the newly founded iQIYI in 2010. iQIYI, one of China's leading online video platforms, has successfully set up China’s first copyrighted video library covering diverse contents including movie, TV drama, variety show, comic, documentary etc. After managing iQIYI's Film Channel Division, he was recently appointed as President of iQIYI Motion Pictures as well as Vice President of iQIYI.
Allen Zhu HuilongSVP of Youku Tudou Inc. & CEO of Heyi Film
Zhu Huilong has joined Youku in 2006 and was a driving force to advance Subscription video-on-demand model in mainland China in 2009. Youku Tudou Inc., China’s leading Internet television company, has gradually set cooperation with major Hollywood studios for content acquisition and it began from 2012 to focus on trade cooperation between the Internet and the film industry. From 2014, Zhu Huilong became also the CEO of Heyi Film, a production company, wholly owned by Youku Tudou.
(Introduction by Hou Po, Partner of Deloitte Consulting, Tmt Leader of Deloitte China)
5) Subject: International Production with China
Date: Tuesday May 19th 15:00-17:00
Venues: Cinema Olympia 1
Media Partner: The Hollywood Reporter
Description: International co-productions come under different arrangements. How is it with China, under a co-production treaty or not? Insiders will discuss the advantages and the pitfalls of co-producing with China. And how to co-produce films for the Chinese market, and abroad.
Moderator: Clifford Coonan, Asia Bureau Chief, The Hollywood Reporter
Clifford Coonan has worked as a correspondent in China for over a decade, enjoying a front-row seat on this world's second biggest movie market and on the fastest growing entertainment sector on the planet: Asia. Before moving to Beijing, he was a Reuters correspondent for seven years. He is widely published in The Irish Times, The Independent, Variety and The Times and has appeared on BBC Radio and NPR.
Panelists to Include:
Wendy Reed, Evp, International Sales of Lionsgate International
A 20-year int’l sales and distribution veteran, Wendy Reeds is in charge of licensing films in all of Asia, including China. For many
years, she ran Celestial Tiger Entertainment out of Hong Kong. She has been instrumental in building Lionsgate’s operations in
China, with 17 films released over the past 3 years. Lionsgate recently announced a multifaceted partnership with Hunan TV for slate financing, film production and distribution, and a content licensing agreement with The Alibaba Group
Shi Nansun Chairman, Distribution Workshop
Shi Nansun has produced such blockbusters as The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate 3D and Young Detective Dee – Rise of the Sea Dragon. She founded Cinema City and Film Workshop Co Ltd. with acclaimed Producer/Director Tsui Hark. She was a member of the International Jury at the Berlinale 2007. She was a jury member at the 2011 Festival de Cannes. In 2013, she received the French title of Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. In 2014, she was awarded as Best Independent Producer at Locarno Film Festival.
Allen Wang Jun, Senior Partner of Yingke Law Firm
Allen Wang has been named an Asia-Pacific leading Tmt/Entertainment lawyer consecutively for the last three years. He was named amongst the Top 15 Litigators in China in 2015. He represents more than 20 of the leading Chinese entertainment including Huayi Brothers, Hunan TV, Alibaba’s Entertainment Investment, Kofic and more. Yingke Law Firm is one of the largest Chinese law firms with over 25 offices across China and 24 international offices.
Zhou Yuan, Evp of Linmon Pictures
Zhou Yuan was the former Head of Motion Pictures of Smg Pictures, where he built up the company's film business by investing in project development, expanding distribution networks, delivering integrated marketing services as well as establishing an intimate relationship with international partners .In August 2014, he left Smg Pictures and founded Linmon Pictures, a new generation entertainment company invested by China's largest Internet service provider Tencent. As the Executive Vice President, he is responsible for the Motion Pictures business, Corporate Strategy and Investment.
(Introduction by Hou Po, Partner of Deloitte Consulting, Tmt Leader of Deloitte China)...
- 5/9/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Leading Chinese executives including producer and former Cannes jury member Shi Nansun to participate in discussions.
Cannes’ Marché du Film (May 13-22) has confirmed the programme and speakers for the inaugural Marché du Film China Summit, which will begin on May 16 and continue May 18-19.
The summit has been established to help film industry professionals learn more about the Chinese marketplace and enable Chinese professionals to connect with industry peers, promoting international business connections.
The series of conferences and events, reserved for Marché Badge holders, includes panel discussions focusing on key topics identified as most relevant to the current Chinese market, including theatrical and VOD distribution as well as a discussion on international productions.
A section of the Summit is to be co-hosted by Cnc (Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée), which will hold two discussions during the three day event. Screen International and The Chinese Film Market are among the supporting media partners...
Cannes’ Marché du Film (May 13-22) has confirmed the programme and speakers for the inaugural Marché du Film China Summit, which will begin on May 16 and continue May 18-19.
The summit has been established to help film industry professionals learn more about the Chinese marketplace and enable Chinese professionals to connect with industry peers, promoting international business connections.
The series of conferences and events, reserved for Marché Badge holders, includes panel discussions focusing on key topics identified as most relevant to the current Chinese market, including theatrical and VOD distribution as well as a discussion on international productions.
A section of the Summit is to be co-hosted by Cnc (Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée), which will hold two discussions during the three day event. Screen International and The Chinese Film Market are among the supporting media partners...
- 5/7/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Distribution Workshop sales chief Virginia Leung has been made a director of the company, now majority owned by co-founders Nansun Shi and Jeffrey Chan.
Leung has been given a seat on the board along with Shi and Chan, who recently increased their joint shareholding in the Hong Kong-based sales company to 60%, while previous majority shareholder, Beijing-based studio Bona Film Group, holds 40%.
Leung started her sales career with Media Asia in 1995 and has also worked at Universe Films Distribution and Mandarin Films. She joined Distribution Workshop when the company was launched in 2008.
Following the ownership changes at Dw, the company plans to move into production and financing with an eye on international markets and possibly English-language films. “We’ll be ‘bridging the dragon’ between China and international territories,” said Chan.
Chan is continuing in his role as Bona Film Group COO and Dw will continue to handle sales on Bona-produced films.
Dw’s Filmart...
Leung has been given a seat on the board along with Shi and Chan, who recently increased their joint shareholding in the Hong Kong-based sales company to 60%, while previous majority shareholder, Beijing-based studio Bona Film Group, holds 40%.
Leung started her sales career with Media Asia in 1995 and has also worked at Universe Films Distribution and Mandarin Films. She joined Distribution Workshop when the company was launched in 2008.
Following the ownership changes at Dw, the company plans to move into production and financing with an eye on international markets and possibly English-language films. “We’ll be ‘bridging the dragon’ between China and international territories,” said Chan.
Chan is continuing in his role as Bona Film Group COO and Dw will continue to handle sales on Bona-produced films.
Dw’s Filmart...
- 3/23/2015
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
In Day 1 of THR's Hong Kong Filmart Daily, the market sees a 25 percent increase in Hollywood attendees, Tsui Hark discusses his latest blockbuster in China and super producer Nansun Shi discusses making smaller budget films. U.S. Pins Asia Hopes on Filmart The Hong Kong market sees a record number of Hollywood dealmakers looking to crack the world’s hottest film sector. “It’s essential to attend” says one insider. Korea's Mbc Inks Island TV Deals Serenity Media Group’s Christie Hsiao has signed a partnership with South Korea’s Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (Mbc) network to make a TV series and stage
read more...
read more...
- 3/22/2015
- by THR Staff
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Bridging The Dragon is an association connecting European and Chinese film professionals.
Euro-China initiative Bridging The Dragon is hosting its first public event at Efm tomorrow (Feb 10), a panel discussion and case study with speakers including producer Nansun Shi and X-Filme’s Stefan Arndt.
Shi and Arndt will join Bona Film Group’s Jeffrey Chan and Constantin Film’s Martin Moszkowicz in a discussion on the challenges and opportunities of co-producing between Europe and China.
Producer Lorna Tee will then speak to Unifrance’s Isabelle Glachant about what works in China and understanding the Chinese audience.
Launched at Locarno Film Festival last year, Bridging The Dragon is an association connecting European and Chinese film professionals through events, networking opportunities and consultancy services.
The initiative, which has a strategic partnership with Efm, will also host residential labs and pitching sessions around Shanghai Film Festival and Locarno later this year.
“China has been more focused on gaining expertise from the...
Euro-China initiative Bridging The Dragon is hosting its first public event at Efm tomorrow (Feb 10), a panel discussion and case study with speakers including producer Nansun Shi and X-Filme’s Stefan Arndt.
Shi and Arndt will join Bona Film Group’s Jeffrey Chan and Constantin Film’s Martin Moszkowicz in a discussion on the challenges and opportunities of co-producing between Europe and China.
Producer Lorna Tee will then speak to Unifrance’s Isabelle Glachant about what works in China and understanding the Chinese audience.
Launched at Locarno Film Festival last year, Bridging The Dragon is an association connecting European and Chinese film professionals through events, networking opportunities and consultancy services.
The initiative, which has a strategic partnership with Efm, will also host residential labs and pitching sessions around Shanghai Film Festival and Locarno later this year.
“China has been more focused on gaining expertise from the...
- 2/10/2015
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Singapore’s Zhao Wei Films and Hong Kong-based Distribution Workshop are co-producing Eric Khoo’s erotic drama, In The Room, which started shooting in Singapore today.
Distribution Workshop’s Nansun Shi is producing and the script is co-written by Khoo and Jonathan Lim.
The high-concept erotic drama is set in a single room in a Singapore hotel over a time period spanning from World War II to the future.
Six short stories, all directed by Khoo, revolve around six different couples and explore Singapore’s history, along with changing attitudes to sex, love and relationships. The pan-Asian cast includes Hong Kong actress Josie Ho.
The film marks Khoo’s first feature since Tatsumi, an animation about manga artist Yoshihiro Tatsumi, which premiered at Cannes in 2011. Khoo is also one of seven Singaporean filmmakers directing a short for an omnibus film to celebrate Singapore’s 50th anniversary.
Distribution Workshop’s Nansun Shi is producing and the script is co-written by Khoo and Jonathan Lim.
The high-concept erotic drama is set in a single room in a Singapore hotel over a time period spanning from World War II to the future.
Six short stories, all directed by Khoo, revolve around six different couples and explore Singapore’s history, along with changing attitudes to sex, love and relationships. The pan-Asian cast includes Hong Kong actress Josie Ho.
The film marks Khoo’s first feature since Tatsumi, an animation about manga artist Yoshihiro Tatsumi, which premiered at Cannes in 2011. Khoo is also one of seven Singaporean filmmakers directing a short for an omnibus film to celebrate Singapore’s 50th anniversary.
- 9/3/2014
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Locarno director talks highlights and UK presence at the festival and looks to 2015.
Locarno festival director Carlo Chatrian has outlined some of his highlights and regrets from this year’s festival, and ambitions for next year, in an exclusive interview with ScreenDaily ahead of the event’s closing weekend.
“Experiencing cinema as a community”, is high up on the list of this year’s treats, he said.
The world premiere of Swiss film-maker Peter Luisi’s Unlikely Heroes on Wednesday (Aug 13) was “one of those nights on the Piazza where you really felt that the audience is with the film.
“There was a lot of applause and people came up to me afterwards with great enthusiasm. I think Unlikely Heroes is the kind of film which works very well because it’s strongly experiencing cinema as a community,” he continued.
He added that he had also been “very happy“ with the night on the Piazza Grande when Agnes Varda...
Locarno festival director Carlo Chatrian has outlined some of his highlights and regrets from this year’s festival, and ambitions for next year, in an exclusive interview with ScreenDaily ahead of the event’s closing weekend.
“Experiencing cinema as a community”, is high up on the list of this year’s treats, he said.
The world premiere of Swiss film-maker Peter Luisi’s Unlikely Heroes on Wednesday (Aug 13) was “one of those nights on the Piazza where you really felt that the audience is with the film.
“There was a lot of applause and people came up to me afterwards with great enthusiasm. I think Unlikely Heroes is the kind of film which works very well because it’s strongly experiencing cinema as a community,” he continued.
He added that he had also been “very happy“ with the night on the Piazza Grande when Agnes Varda...
- 8/15/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Locarno director talks highlights and UK presence at the festival and looks to 2016.
Locarno festival director Carlo Chatrian has outlined some of his highlights and regrets from this year’s festival, and ambitions for next year, in an exclusive interview with Screen Daily ahead of the event’s closing weekend.
“Experiencing cinema as a community”, is high up on the list of this year’s treats, he said.
The world premiere of Swiss film-maker Peter Luisi’s Unlikely Heroes on Wednesday (Aug 13) was “one of those nights on the Piazza where you really felt that the audience is with the film.
“There was a lot of applause and people came up to me afterwards with great enthusiasm. I think Unlikely Heroes is the kind of film which works very well because it’s strongly experiencing cinema as a community,” he continued.
He added that he had also been “very happy“ with the night on the Piazza Grande...
Locarno festival director Carlo Chatrian has outlined some of his highlights and regrets from this year’s festival, and ambitions for next year, in an exclusive interview with Screen Daily ahead of the event’s closing weekend.
“Experiencing cinema as a community”, is high up on the list of this year’s treats, he said.
The world premiere of Swiss film-maker Peter Luisi’s Unlikely Heroes on Wednesday (Aug 13) was “one of those nights on the Piazza where you really felt that the audience is with the film.
“There was a lot of applause and people came up to me afterwards with great enthusiasm. I think Unlikely Heroes is the kind of film which works very well because it’s strongly experiencing cinema as a community,” he continued.
He added that he had also been “very happy“ with the night on the Piazza Grande...
- 8/15/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Above: Pedro Costa's Horse Money
The Locarno Film Festival has announced their lineup for the 67th edition, taking place this August between the 6th and 16th. It speaks for itself, but, um, wow...
"Every film festival, be it small or large, claims to offer, if not an account of the state of things, then an updated map of the art form and the world it seeks to represent. This cartography should show both the major routes and the byways, along with essential places to visit and those that are more unusual. The Festival del film Locarno is no exception to the rule, and I think that looking through the program you will be able to distinguish the route map for this edition." — Carlo Chatrian, Artistic Director
Above: Matías Piñeiro's The Princess of France
Concorso Internazionale (Official Competition)
A Blast (Syllas Tzoumerkas, Greece/Germany/Netherlands)
Alive (Jungbum Park, South Korea)
Horse Money (Pedro Costa,...
The Locarno Film Festival has announced their lineup for the 67th edition, taking place this August between the 6th and 16th. It speaks for itself, but, um, wow...
"Every film festival, be it small or large, claims to offer, if not an account of the state of things, then an updated map of the art form and the world it seeks to represent. This cartography should show both the major routes and the byways, along with essential places to visit and those that are more unusual. The Festival del film Locarno is no exception to the rule, and I think that looking through the program you will be able to distinguish the route map for this edition." — Carlo Chatrian, Artistic Director
Above: Matías Piñeiro's The Princess of France
Concorso Internazionale (Official Competition)
A Blast (Syllas Tzoumerkas, Greece/Germany/Netherlands)
Alive (Jungbum Park, South Korea)
Horse Money (Pedro Costa,...
- 7/25/2014
- by Notebook
- MUBI
Us features Listen Up Philip and Buzzard to play in competition at this year’s Locarno Film Festival, which promises “a strong American independent cinema contingent”.
The Locarno International Film Festival (Aug 6-16) has teased two titles from the line-up of its 67th edition.
Listen Up Philip, from Us director Alex Ross Perry, will receive its international premiere at Locarno, as part of the International Competition line-up.
The dark comedy stars Jason Schwartzman as an anxious author dealing with crises in his creative and personal lives. The film, which debuted at Sundance and co-stars Jonathan Pryce and Mad Men star Elisabeth Moss, was acquired this week by Tribeca Film for Us distribution.
Perry last competed at Locarno in 2011’s Filmmakers Of The Present competition with The Color Wheel.
Buzzard, the sophomore feature of Joel Potrykus, will feature in the Filmmakers Of The Present competition, which includes first and second films. The feature...
The Locarno International Film Festival (Aug 6-16) has teased two titles from the line-up of its 67th edition.
Listen Up Philip, from Us director Alex Ross Perry, will receive its international premiere at Locarno, as part of the International Competition line-up.
The dark comedy stars Jason Schwartzman as an anxious author dealing with crises in his creative and personal lives. The film, which debuted at Sundance and co-stars Jonathan Pryce and Mad Men star Elisabeth Moss, was acquired this week by Tribeca Film for Us distribution.
Perry last competed at Locarno in 2011’s Filmmakers Of The Present competition with The Color Wheel.
Buzzard, the sophomore feature of Joel Potrykus, will feature in the Filmmakers Of The Present competition, which includes first and second films. The feature...
- 6/24/2014
- ScreenDaily
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