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Screen
Liz Shackleton

  • Easternlight picks up Chinese trio

    9-Feb-2012

    Arclight’s Asian division, Easternlight Films, has picked up international rights to three upcoming Chinese productions – The Assassins, The Four and Hur Jin-ho’s Dangerous Liaisons.

  • TIFFCOM market moves to Tokyo Bay

    9-Feb-2012

    This year’s TIFFCOM contents market (October 23-25) will change venues from the Roppongi Hills complex to the Grand Pacific Le Daiba hotel in Odaiba, Tokyo.

  • Finecut adds Grand Heist, Ghost Sweepers to Berlin slate

    9-Feb-2012

    Seoul-based sales company Finecut has picked up two new Korean genre films – $10m period action adventure The Grand Heist, and $5m comic action horror Ghost Sweepers.

  • Lotte goes back to school with Happy End director Jung

    9-Feb-2012

    Korean financing and distribution powerhouse Lotte Entertainment is launching Eungyo (working title), the latest film from Happy End director Jung Ji-woo at the EFM.

  • Monsoon Shootout

    9-Feb-2012

    Amit Kumar, director of award-winning short The Bypass, talks about his debut feature Monsoon Shootout, produced by the UK’s Trevor Ingman.

  • Edwin

    9-Feb-2012

    The director of the first Indonesian film to be selected for Berlin Competition talks about censorship and other animals in Indonesia.

  • Indonesia’s Edwin to receive New Talent Award at AFAs

    8-Feb-2012

    Indonesian director Edwin will receive the Edward Yang New Talent Award at the upcoming Asian Film Awards (AFAs) in Hong Kong.

  • Asia Pacific Film Festival to be held in Shanghai

    6-Feb-2012

    The organisers of the Asia Pacific Film Festival have announced that the 55th edition will be held in Shanghai, marking the first time the event has been held in mainland China.

  • Fortissimo takes aim at Monsoon Shootout

    3-Feb-2012

    Fortissimo Films has picked up international rights outside India/South Asia to Amit Kumar’s UK-India production Monsoon Shootout, which recently wrapped in Mumbai.

  • Hong Kong cinema squeezed out by high rents

    1-Feb-2012

    One of Hong Kong exhibitor UA Cinemas’ flagship multiplexes closed its doors yesterday (Jan 31) after losing its rental lease on the ground floor of the busy Times Square shopping mall.

  • Singaporean, Malaysian film industries increase ties

    29-Jan-2012

    Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA) is taking a delegation of 33 media and entertainment companies to the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, as part of a drive to increase ties between the two South-East Asian neighbours.

  • It Gets Better takes audience award at inaugural Hua Hin fest

    29-Jan-2012

    Thai romantic drama It Gets Better was presented with the audience award at the closing of the first Hua Hin International Film Festival (Jan 26-29) on Sunday night.

  • Flying Swords leads nominations for Asian Film Awards

    17-Jan-2012

    Tsui Hark’s Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate scooped the highest number of nominations for this year’s Asian Film Awards (AFAs), with seven nods in all, including best film, best director and best actor (Chen Kun).

  • Celestial Tiger appoints Miller as president and COO

    11-Jan-2012

    Former Sony Pictures Television executive Todd Miller has been appointed as president and chief operating officer of newly-formed Asian media company Celestial Tiger Entertainment (CTE).

  • HAF unveils record line-up of 32 projects

    6-Jan-2012

    The Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) has unveiled an expanded line-up of 32 projects for this year’s edition (March 19-21), which is bolstered by a couple of new international tie-ups.

  • English-language Lost For Words starts shooting in Hong Kong

    5-Jan-2012

    Stanley J. Orzel’s English-language romantic drama Lost For Words started shooting this week in Hong Kong.

  • China's newest stars

    16-Dec-2011

    Village Roadshow’s Ellen Eliasoph and Greg Basser reveal the details of their United Artists-style production and distribution venture in China, which will see them working with talent including Zhang Ziyi, Stephen Chow, Chen Daming — and Keanu Reeves.

  • Next steps for Arab cinema

    16-Dec-2011

    At the Dubai International Film Festival this week, Arab filmmakers agreed they now have unprecedented access to funding, but distribution and censorship remain major challenges.

  • Tatsumi, Habibi scoop Dubai film festival awards

    14-Dec-2011

    Eric Khoo’s Tatsumi was awarded with best film in the Muhr AsiaAfrica competition at this year’s Dubai International Film Festival (Dec 7-14), while Susan Youssef’s Habibi took best film in the Muhr Arab section.

  • Dubai film festival strikes partnership with MIPTV

    13-Dec-2011

    The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) has formed a partnership with contents market MIPTV to strengthen the visibility of filmmakers in the Middle East region by exposing their works to an international audience.

  • Eros to co-produce Tamil action thriller with Photon Kathaas

    13-Dec-2011

    India’s Eros International has signed a co-production deal with Chennai-based production house Photon Kathaas Productions for the Tamil-language action thriller John: Chapter 1 (Yohan: Adhyayam Ondru).

  • Women directors take top prizes at Dubai Film Connection

    12-Dec-2011

    Two projects from women directors – Katia Jarjoura’s The Eye Of The Devil and Najwa Najjar’s [pictured] Eyes Of A Thief – were presented with DIFF awards at this year’s Dubai Film Connection (DFC).

  • Chinese Zodiac stakes out Dec 12 release date

    11-Dec-2011

    JG Group, Huayi Bros and Emperor Motion Pictures have announced that upcoming Jackie Chan blockbuster Chinese Zodiac will be released one year from today (December 12, 2012) in both regular and IMAX versions.

  • Steppe in a global direction

    9-Dec-2011

    An exciting new Kazakh director is earning comparisons with Guy Ritchie and Timur Bekmambetov and has attracted an illustrious international team to shoot a coming-of-age film aimed at global audiences. Liz Shackleton reports

  • Porfirio wins Golden Peacock at IFFI Goa

    4-Dec-2011

    Colombian drama Porfirio, directed by Alejandro Landes, was awarded the Golden Peacock for best film at the close of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) Goa on Saturday night.

  • Bollywood icon Dev Anand dies aged 88

    4-Dec-2011

    Indian actor, director and producer Dev Anand died in London on Saturday night (Dec 3). He was 88 years old.

  • EMP signs three-picture deal with Ge You

    1-Dec-2011

    Hong Kong’s Emperor Motion Pictures (EMP) has signed a five-year three-picture deal with leading mainland Chinese actor Ge You.  

  • Four Colours, Mumbai Cha Raja win Film Bazaar awards

    28-Nov-2011

    Bikas Mishra’s Four Colours took the inaugural Incredible India award at this year’s Film Bazaar (Nov 24-27), while Manjeet Singh’s Mumbai Cha Raja took the Prasad award.

  • CCVF plots Waterfront berth for Indian indies

    27-Nov-2011

    Indian film fund Cinema Capital Venture Fund (CCVF) has launched a production and financing outfit, Waterfront Films, which will focus on independent Indian movies.

  • PictureWorks brings Melancholia to India

    27-Nov-2011

    Mumbai-based distributor PictureWorks has picked up Indian rights to Lars von Trier’s Melancholia from Scandinavian sales agent TrustNordisk and plans to release it in major urban centre early next year.

  • Lamba to star in Belawadi's Pollutant

    27-Nov-2011

    Indian actor Arfi Lamba will star in Prakash Belawadi’s environmental zombie film The Pollutant, which is taking part in the Co-production Market of this year’s Film Bazaar.

  • Ladakh to host international film festival

    27-Nov-2011

    Ladakh, a high-altitude region in the north of India, is set to host its first ever international film festival from June 15-17 next year.

  • Fortissimo boards Ship Of Theseus

    27-Nov-2011

    Fortissimo Films has picked up worldwide rights to Anand Gandhi’s The Ship Of Theseus, which is taking part in the Work-in-Progress Lab at Film Bazaar (Nov 24-27) in Goa.  

  • Brazilian filmmaker Oscar Maron Filho dies at IFFI Goa

    27-Nov-2011

    Brazilian filmmaker and journalist Oscar Maron Filho collapsed and died while attending the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa today. He was 56 years old.

  • Goa projects make their mark

    25-Nov-2011

    Co-productions set up at Goa’s Film Bazaar are now gracing leading international festivals. Liz Shackleton reports

  • Khan, Chopra to head cast of Singh’s Qissa

    25-Nov-2011

    Indian actors Irrfan Khan and Tisca Chopra will star in Anup Singh’s Indo-European co-production Qissa, which is set to start shooting in India early next year.

  • Denmark’s CPH:PIX prepares Indian film festival

    25-Nov-2011

    Danish film festival CPH PIX is planning a festival of Indian cinema which will take place as part of the India Today/Copenhagen Tomorrow project in Copenhagen in August 2012.

  • Mogador turns on Television

    24-Nov-2011

    Germany’s Mogador Films and France’s Eaux Vives Productions have boarded social drama Television, to be directed by Bangladeshi filmmaker Mostofa Farooki.

  • NFDC boards Mukherjee’s Tasher Desh

    24-Nov-2011

    Film Bazaar organiser the National Film Development Corp (NFDC) has boarded Bengali filmmaker Kaushik Mukherjee’s Tasher Desh, one of a growing number of international co-productions on the organisation’s slate.

  • Kashyap conjures up Phantom Films

    24-Nov-2011

    Indian director-producer Anurag Kashyap has teamed up with three fellow filmmakers to launch a content-driven production outfit Phantom Films.

  • Indian audiences catch indie fever

    17-Nov-2011

    The local box-office success of a number of non-mainstream Indian films has prompted financiers to take note. Now the challenge is to win over distributors.

  • IFFI to open with Gonzales’ Consul Of Bordeaux

    16-Nov-2011

    The Consul Of Bordeaux, directed by Portuguese filmmaker Manuel Gonzales, will open this year’s International Film Festival of India (IFFI) which takes place in the former Portuguese colony of Goa (Nov 23-Dec 3).

  • India's NFDC unveils 22 projects for Film Bazaar

    14-Nov-2011

    India’s National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) has unveiled the 22 projects that will take part in this year’s Film Bazaar co-production market (Nov 24-27) in Goa, including projects from Danis Tanovic and India’s Dibakar Banerjee and Ketan Mehta.

  • UTV, Imtiaz Ali team for My Girlfriend Is An Agent remake

    11-Nov-2011

    Mumbai-based UTV Motion Pictures and Indian filmmaker Imtiaz Ali [pictured] will co-produce an official Hindi remake of Korean romantic action comedy My Girlfriend Is An Agent.

  • Excess all areas

    6-Nov-2011

    Finding money is not a problem in China. Finding the right money, from astute investors who bring something more to the project than their present girlfriend, is vital.

  • Well Go USA cuts to Lau's Guillotines

    4-Nov-2011

    $15m action thriller sells to the US, Germany, Benelux and Ausralia/NZ

  • EMP, Le Vision join forces for Derek Yee project

    4-Nov-2011

    Hong Kong’s Emperor Motion Pictures and Beijing-based Le Vision Pictures are joining forces to produce a murder mystery that will reunite Hong Kong director Lo Chi-leung and producer Derek Yee.

  • Village Roadshow's China venture working with Zhang, Chow

    2-Nov-2011

    Village Roadshow Entertainment Group (VREG) has unveiled details of its new China operation, including a slew of partnerships and projects with talent including Zhang Ziyi and Stephen Chow [pictured].

  • Anubhav Sinha

    27-Oct-2011

    The Mumbai-based director talks to Screen about sci-fi movie Ra.One, starring Shah Rukh Khan,which is being released worldwide this week on more than 3,500 screens.

  • India’s UTV pacts with Warner Bros for action pictures

    25-Oct-2011

    India’s UTV has struck a long-term exclusive deal with Warner Bros International Television Distribution (WBITD) to screen multiple blockbusters on its UTV Action and UTV Action Telugu channels.

  • Bhattacharya’s BMW starts shooting in Mumbai

    21-Oct-2011

    Indian director Aditya Battacharya’s crime thriller BMW: Bombay’s Most Wanted starts shooting tomorrow (Oct 22), with a cast including The Sopranos’ John Ventimiglia and Indian actress Tannishtha Chatterjee.

  • Asia moves towards regional cooperation

    20-Oct-2011

    At last week’s Asian Film Policy Forum in Busan, policy-makers from across Asia discussed how they can create region-wide support structures for film.

  • Vivek Oberoi

    20-Oct-2011

    The Bollywood star talks about his first film as producer, Watch Indian Circus, which scooped the audience award at last week’s Busan International Film Festival. 

  • Village, China Film, Wanda to finance Keanu Reeves' Man Of Tai Chi

    17-Oct-2011

    Village Roadshow, China Film and Beijing-based exhibitor Wanda Group are understood to have reached a deal to finance Keanu Reeves’ martial arts project, Man Of Tai Chi, which will mark the star’s directorial debut.

  • Ishaqzaade starts shooting for India’s Yash Raj Films

    17-Oct-2011

    India’s Yash Raj Films has started production on Ishaqzaade, written and directed by Habib Faisal and produced by Aditya Chopra, which is scheduled for a May 2012 release.

  • Film Asia launches Zombie, 3D Hunter at Busan market

    10-Oct-2011

    Start-up Hong Kong production and sales outfit, Film Asia Entertainment, is unveiling a slate of new product at the Asian Film Market, headed by Malaysian 3D thriller The Hunter and Joe Chien’s zombie movie Zombie 108.

  • Hong Kong’s Edko, Irresistible launch action duo

    9-Oct-2011

    Hong Kong-based Edko Films and Irresistible Films have unveiled two new productions for release in 2012 – crime thriller Nightfall, starring Nick Cheung and Simon Yam, and police action film Cold War.

  • Malaysia's international boost

    6-Oct-2011

    Malaysia is poised to see a raised profile on the international film scene, thanks to government support, new studios and confident local producers.

  • EFP takes delegation of 29 European companies to Busan

    4-Oct-2011

    European Film Promotion (EFP) has signed up 29 European companies for its umbrella stand at Busan’s Asian Film Market (Oct 10-13), where it will be supporting a record number of 31 European films.

  • India’s Prasad appoints Stambaugh head of NA operations

    4-Oct-2011

    India’s Prasad Corporation has appointed Paul Stambaugh as senior vice president, North American operations, based in Los Angeles.

  • Singapore overhauls film and media funding structure

    29-Sep-2011

    Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA) has announced that it will be streamlining its funding schemes from 46 to five, effective immediately.

  • Harmony Lessons wins project prize at Eurasia

    26-Sep-2011

    Psychological drama Harmony Lessons, from young Kazakh filmmaker Emir Baigazin, was awarded the top prize of inaugural projects market, Spotlight: New Kazakh Cinema, which took place during the Eurasia film fest (Sep 19-24).

  • First Rains wins best film at Eurasia film festival

    26-Sep-2011

    Japan-Kazakh co-production The First Rains Of Spring was awarded best film at the Eurasia International Film Festival, which took place in Almaty, Kazakhstan (Sep 19-24).

  • Why the US studios are struggling with Asian production

    22-Sep-2011

    The news that Disney has followed Warner Bros and Paramount in closing down local-language production or acquisition units highlights the difficulties the US studios face in this area, particularly in Asia where a very different filmmaking culture exists.

  • Mumbai film festival to roll with Moneyball

    20-Sep-2011

    The Mumbai Film Festival has announced that Moneyball, starring Brad Pitt, will open this year’s edition of the festival (Oct 13-20), while Dolphin Tale, a family drama starring Morgan Freeman, will close the event.

  • Kelvin Wu

    15-Sep-2011

    The Hong Kong-based CEO of Legendary East talks about the new joint venture between Inception producer Legendary Entertainment and Chinese partners.

  • Eurasia Film Festival launches Kazakh co-production event

    15-Sep-2011

    Kazakhstan’s Eurasia International Film Festival is launching a co-production event, Spotlight: New Kazakh Cinema, at this year’s edition of the festival in Almaty (Sep 19-24).

  • FICCI Frames to launch market at 2012 edition

    14-Sep-2011

    India’s annual FICCI Frames conference has announced that it’s planning to launch a market at the 2012 edition of the event in Mumbai (March 14-16).  

  • India’s Eros signs 50-film deal with Korea Telecom

    13-Sep-2011

    Indian studio Eros International has signed a deal with Korea Telecom (KT) to license 50 titles across various platforms including IPTV, mobile and internet.

  • Hudson to head Mumbai competition jury

    12-Sep-2011

    The Mumbai Film Festival has announced that Hugh Hudson will head the competition jury of the festival’s 13th edition which takes place October 13-20.

  • Bunohan gains Traction, sells to Universal

    9-Sep-2011

    LA-based sales company Traction Media has boarded Malaysian action drama Bunohan

  • Media Asia to co-produce Lau's Guillotines with We Pictures

    7-Sep-2011

    Hong Kong’s Media Asia Films has boarded Andrew Lau’s The Guillotines as co-producer alongside Peter Ho-sun Chan’s We Pictures. The film started shooting this week in China’s Shanxi province.

  • David R. Ellis to direct Kite remake for Distant Horizon

    4-Sep-2011

    Distant Horizon has announced that David R. Ellis will direct the live-action remake of hit Japanese anime Kite, which is scheduled to go into production in January, 2012.

  • Indian filmmaker Jag Mundhra dies aged 62

    4-Sep-2011

    Indian filmmaker Jagmohan Mundhra, whose credits include UK-set films such as Provoked and Shoot On Sight, died of cardiac arrest on Sunday. He was 62.

  • Fortissimo picks up Vietnam’s Paradise

    31-Aug-2011

    Fortissimo Films has acquired international rights to Vietnamese director Vu Ngoc Dang’s Lost In Paradise (Hot Boy Noi Loan), which will receive its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.

  • Kollywood's time to shine

    25-Aug-2011

    Is Kollywood the new Bollywood? Hollywood certainly hopes so as the studios increase their local-language collaborations with the Tamil industry to tap into a homegrown audience of 70 million.

  • China’s international ambitions

    25-Aug-2011

    What the Relativity Media and Legendary Pictures deals say about China rallying forth into the world.

  • Fortissimo wades into Wetlands

    24-Aug-2011

    Fortissimo Films has picked up international rights to French Canadian filmmaker Guy Edoin’s Wetlands (aka Marecages), which premieres at the Venice Film Festival next month.

  • Imagenation pacts with Fortissimo for Emirati slate

    23-Aug-2011

    Imagenation Abu Dhabi has signed an exclusive international sales agreement with Fortissimo Films, which will handle worldwide distribution of the company’s debut slate of local and Arabic-language features.

  • ARP takes French rights to Venice title Seediq Bale

    17-Aug-2011

    Fortissimo Films has sold French rights to Venice title Warriors Of The Rainbow: Seediq Bale to leading independent distributor ARP.

  • Yahoo! launches online movie service in India

    16-Aug-2011

    Yahoo! India has launched an on-demand movie service on the internet and is talks with local production houses to secure content.

  • The Sorcerer And The White Snake

    4-Aug-2011

    Chinese producer Chui Po-chu talks to Screen about upcoming $25m fantasy drama The Sorcerer And The White Snake, starring Jet Li, which is being sold internationally by Hong Kong-based Distribution Workshop.

  • Chan, Mak launch HK production outfit Kudos Films

    2-Aug-2011

    Veteran talent manager and producer Willie Chan has launched a Hong Kong-based production company, Kudos Films, in partnership with actor Juno Mak.

  • Rob Cohen to direct $100m war epic for CJ, Grapevine

    29-Jul-2011

    Korea’s CJ E&M Pictures and Grapevine Entertainment have attached Rob Cohen to direct $100m war epic 1950, described as the biggest-budget project ever undertaken by the Korean film industry.

  • Zhang Weiping

    28-Jul-2011

    The Beijing-based producer talks about Zhang Yimou’s upcoming Heroes Of Nanking, starring Christian Bale, which FilmNation is handling internationally.

  • Asian indies still financed the old fashioned way

    28-Jul-2011

    Despite the proliferation of new media platforms in Asia, the region’s genre filmmakers are sticking to tried-and-tested formulas to finance their films.

  • Singapore’s Golden Village to screen Ayumi concerts

    27-Jul-2011

    Singaporean exhibitor Golden Village is planning to screen two of Japanese pop star Ayumi Hamasaki’s recent concert tours at its flagship theatres.

  • Disney offers to buy out partners in India’s UTV

    27-Jul-2011

    The Walt Disney Company has made a $454m offer to buy out its partners in Mumbai-based UTV Software Communications, the parent company of film producer-distributor UTV Motion Pictures.

  • Harry Potter may end Indonesia’s US film drought

    26-Jul-2011

    Indonesian officials say that Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows - Part 2 will be released in Indonesia this weekend, ending a five-month dispute between MPAA members, the Indonesian government and local distributors.

  • Shaw Brothers movies to make debut on African pay-TV

    25-Jul-2011

    Hong Kong’s Celestial Pictures has licensed a package of martial arts titles from its Shaw Brothers library to Sony Max, the 24-hour action and reality channel operated by Sony Pictures Television in Africa.

  • Emperor stakes out Lunar New Year release for Viral Factor

    24-Jul-2011

    Hong Kong-based Emperor Motion Pictures (EMP) has announced that its upcoming $25m thriller The Viral Factor will be released in time for Lunar New Year 2012.

  • Taiwan’s Apple to open summer edition of HKIFF

    22-Jul-2011

    Taiwanese drama You Are The Apple Of My Eye will open the summer edition of the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), which runs August 9-23 in Hong Kong.

  • twofour54 launches first 3D lab in the Middle East

    20-Jul-2011

    Abu Dhabi’s twofour54 intaj has opened the first stereoscopic 3D lab in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

  • Hong Kong content, internet orgs unite to fight online piracy

    14-Jul-2011

    Twelve Hong Kong associations, representing the content and online services industries, have pledged to work together to combat online copyright theft.

  • India’s BIG Cinemas appoints Ganapathy as CEO

    14-Jul-2011

    Reliance MediaWorks has appointed Ashok Ganapathy to the newly created post of CEO of its multinational exhibition arm BIG Cinemas.

  • Reliance MediaWorks joins forces with Digital Domain

    12-Jul-2011

    India’s Reliance MediaWorks (RMW) is teaming up with California-based Digital Domain to launch visual effects studios in India and London.

  • Imagenation pacts with Empire to distribute Emirati films

    11-Jul-2011

    Imagenation Abu Dhabi has signed an exclusive deal with Beirut-based Empire International to distribute its locally-produced slate throughout the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region.

  • Shanghai

    7-Jul-2011

    The second adaptation of Greek novel Z, Dibakar Banerjee’s latest project follows three characters from different backgrounds who become embroiled in the messy politics of a small Indian town.

  • Indian new wave filmmaker Mani Kaul dies

    7-Jul-2011

    Mani Kaul, one of the leading figures of India’s new wave movement of the 1970s, died on July 7 of cancer. He was 66.

  • Santosh Sivan

    23-Jun-2011

    The Indian director talks about his new project, Urumi, a period fantasy epic which is being made in English, Hindi and Malayalam versions.

  • UTV acquires rights to best-selling novel Chanakya’s Chant

    15-Jun-2011

    Mumbai-based UTV Motion Pictures has acquired rights to Ashwin Sanghi’s best-selling novel Chanakya’s Chant, which will be adapted into a feature film by the studio.

  • Warner Bros signs China VoD deal with YOU On Demand

    15-Jun-2011

    Warner Bros has signed a pay-per-view (PPV) and video-on-demand (VoD) deal with VoD platform YOU On Demand Media, which is an official partner of Chinese state-owned movie channel CCTV-6.

  • Norwegian Wood secures release in mainland China

    15-Jun-2011

    Tran Anh Hung’s Norwegian Wood has passed censorship in mainland China and will be released in the territory later this year through China Film and Shanghai Huayu Film Company.

  • Uday Singh appointed head of MPA’s India office

    8-Jun-2011

    Uday Singh has been appointed managing director of the Mumbai-based Motion Picture Distributors Association (MPDA), which is the wholly-owned India office of the Motion Picture Association (MPA).

  • Chew, Ooi launch Singapore-based talent, production outfit

    7-Jun-2011

    Sukee Chew of Los Angeles-based Hopscotch Pictures and Andrew Ooi of Vancouver-based Echelon Talent Management have launched a Singapore-based production and talent management outfit, The COcreative Company.

  • Disney, UTV to co-produce slate of family films

    20-May-2011

    The Walt Disney Company India and Mumbai-based UTV Motion Pictures have formed a creative alliance to co-produce a slate of Disney-branded films aimed at family audiences.

  • Rana director denies cancellation of project due to star’s health

    20-May-2011

    KS Ravikumar, the director of Tamil star Rajnikanth’s latest blockbuster Rana, which is currently shooting, has denied rumours that the project has been cancelled due to the star’s ill health.

  • BOM Film Productions takes Korean rights to Wu Xia

    20-May-2011

    Hong Kong-based We Distribution has sold Korean rights to Peter Ho-sun Chan’s Wu Xia to BOM Film Productions.

  • Finecut sells festival pair to Japan

    19-May-2011

    EXCLUSIVE: Korea’s Finecut has sold both its Un Certain Regard titles to Japan – Kim Ki-duk’s Arirang has been sold to Crest International, while Hong Sangsoo’s The Day He Arrives has gone to Bitters End.

  • Viacom 18 to distribute Paramount releases in India

    18-May-2011

    Viacom 18, the 50:50 joint venture between Viacom and India’s Network 18, has announced a strategic alliance with Viacom-owned Paramount Pictures International (PPI) to distribute PPI releases across India.

  • Khoo meets his sensei

    18-May-2011

    Singaporean director Eric Khoo has been a fan of Japanese manga master Yoshihiro Tatsumi for decades, but when he picked up his autobiography, A Drifting Life, he knew he had to turn it into a film.

  • Abu Dhabi’s Sanad fund selects 11 projects

    18-May-2011

    The Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF) has unveiled the 11 projects to receive support from its Sanad fund in the first application cycle this year.

  • Easternlight scores pre-sales on White Vengeance

    18-May-2011

    EXCLUSIVE: Arclight Films’ Easternlight banner has closed a string of sales on new pick-up White Vengeance, which Daniel Lee is currently shooting in China.

  • Yellow Sea flows to Europe, Japan

    18-May-2011

    Korea’s Showbox has sold Na Hong-jin’s The Yellow Sea (aka The Murderer) to Nonstop Entertainment for Scandinavian and Baltic territories and Klockworx for Japan.

  • KNCC takes Middle East rights to Tora Bora

    17-May-2011

    Kuwait National Cinema Company (KNCC) has acquired Middle East rights to Afghanistan-set drama Tora Bora, produced by C Sky Pictures.

  • Rahman to compose music for Chopra’s next film as director

    17-May-2011

    Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman will compose the music for Yash Chopra’s long-awaited return to directing, which is set to star Shah Rukh Khan.

  • Emperor’s Bullets hit trio of territories

    17-May-2011

    EXCLUSIVE: Hong Kong-based Emperor Motion Pictures (EMP) has closed a trio of deals on Jiang Wen’s blockbuster Let The Bullets Fly including a sale to Amuse Soft in Japan.

  • Fox International Productions to present award at HAF

    17-May-2011

    Fox International Productions (FIP) and the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) are collaborating on a new award to be given out annually at HAF beginning next year.

  • Gaga announces acquisitions including Devil’s Double

    17-May-2011

    Hot off its success with The King’s Speech, Japan’s Gaga Corporation has announced a string of further acquisitions, including

  • ScreenSingapore unveils world premieres including Ready

    17-May-2011

    ScreenSingapore has announced the line-up of films that will screen at this year’s inaugural event (June 5-12), including the world premieres of Hong Kong martial arts comedy Treasure Inn and Bollywood blockbuster Ready.

  • Buyers eat up Golden Network's Seefood

    16-May-2011

    Hong Kong-based Golden Network Asia has pre-sold Malaysian animation Seefood to a string of territories including Wild Side for France and Splendid for Germany.

  • Finecut sells Un Certain Regard pair to Taiwan’s Catchplay

    16-May-2011

    Korea’s Finecut has sold Arirang, Kim Ki-duk’s controversial self-portrait, and Hong Sang-soo’s The Day He Arrives to Taiwan’s Catchplay.

  • Korea’s 9ers sells Ronin Pop and Try To Remember

    16-May-2011

    Korea’s 9ers Entertainment has scored a string of deals on sci-fi action title Ronin Pop and romantic drama Try To Remember.

  • Lall Brothers launch arthouse label with Chittagong drama

    16-May-2011

    EXCLUSIVE: Bhuvan and Akshay Lall have launched an arthouse label, Lall Brothers Filmworks, to produce and distribute a slate of high-quality Indian films.

  • Tianjin’s Rabbit hops over to Italy

    16-May-2011

    EXCLUSIVE: China’s Tianjin Film Studio has sold  3D animated feature film Legend Of A Rabbit to Italian distributor CDF Pictures.

  • Dubai Film Market reports 60% increase in business

    15-May-2011

    The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) has announced that the December 2010 edition of the Dubai Filmmart assisted sales for a record 224 films from around the world, a 60% increase from its 2009 edition.

  • Kumar’s Monsoon set to hit India

    15-May-2011

    EXCLUSIVE: Amit Kumar, director of award-winning short The Bypass, is gearing up to shoot his debut feature, The Monsoon Shootout, as a co-production between the UK, India, Netherlands and France.

  • Messer buys remake rights to Alien Vs Ninja

    15-May-2011

    EXCLUSIVE: Japan’s Nikkatsu has sold English-language remake rights to Alien Vs Ninja to Arnold Messer and Phoenix Pictures, which Messer runs with Mike Medavoy.

  • Shoreline picks up China-bound Captain Nemo

    15-May-2011

    EXCLUSIVE: Shoreline Entertainment has acquired worldwide rights to 3D action adventure Captain Nemo, which is scheduled to start shooting in Beijing in August with Hugh Bonneville heading the cast.

  • Dubai Film Connection to launch focus on documentaries

    15-May-2011

    The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) is expanding its co-production market, Dubai Film Connection, with a focus on documentary films.

  • Nikkatsu plans world tour to celebrate 100th anniversary

    15-May-2011

    EXCLUSIVE: Japan’s oldest studio Nikkatsu Corporation is planning to celebrate its 100th anniversary with a world tour of some of its iconic films.

  • Fortissimo picks up Taiwanese epic Seediq Bale

    14-May-2011

    Fortissimo Films has picked up Taiwanese epic Seediq Bale, directed by Wei Te-sheng whose Cape No. 7 is the highest-grossing local film ever in Taiwan.

  • Malaysia ramps up international co-productions

    13-May-2011

    Malaysia is stepping up its presence at Cannes this year, unveiling a slate of international projects and organising a country pavilion in the Palais for the first time.

  • Doha Film Institute unveils slate of 25 grant recipients

    13-May-2011

    The Doha Film Institute (DFI) has announced the slate of 25 projects in various stages of production that will receive grants in its second funding round.

  • UTV's Heroine starring Aishwarya Rai unveiled at Cannes

    13-May-2011

    UTV Motion Pictures unveiled its upcoming production Heroine, starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and directed by Madhur Bhandarkar, at Cannes on Friday (May 13).

  • C Sky, twofour54 Abu Dhabi strike development deal

    13-May-2011

    EXCLUSIVE: Kuwaiti filmmaker Walid Al Awadi’s C Sky Pictures has signed a three-year development deal with twofour54 Abu Dhabi to develop and produce a slate of Arabic film and TV projects.

  • Doha Tribeca to host world premiere of Black Gold

    13-May-2011

    Quinta Communications’ Arabian epic Black Gold will make its world premiere at the 2011 Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF), which is scheduled to run October 25-29 at Katara Cultural Village.

  • Icon Australia snaps up Mayday concert film from Double Edge

    13-May-2011

    Icon Film Distribution has acquired all Australian rights to concert film Mayday 3DNA from Taiwan-based Double Edge Entertainment.

  • Japan’s Free Stone launches with Heaven’s Story, Kokuei package

    13-May-2011

    Japanese sales company Free Stone Production is making its Cannes debut with award-winning Berlin title Heaven’s Story and a special package of avant-garde pinku (aka erotic) movies from Japanese production house Kokuei.

  • Thailand’s M Pictures signs up for 3D Sex And Zen

    13-May-2011

    China 3D Digital Entertainment has sold Hong Kong box office smash 3D Sex And Zen: Extreme Ecstasy to M Pictures for Thailand.

  • Eros gets Ready for starry Cannes slate

    12-May-2011

    India’s Eros International has acquired international rights to Salman Khan vehicle Ready, adding it to a star-studded Cannes slate that also includes Ra.One starring Shah Rukh Khan and Rana with Tamil superstar Rajnikanth.

  • Chinese film festival to be held during ScreenSingapore

    12-May-2011

    Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA) is organising a film festival of Chinese cinema to be held alongside the inaugural edition of ScreenSingapore (June 5-12).

  • Fortissimo sells Wong Kar Wai’s Grandmasters to Japan

    12-May-2011

    EXCLUSIVE: Fortissimo Films has sold Wong Kar-wai’s hotly-anticipated martial arts epic The Grandmasters to Gaga Corporation for Japan.

  • Five Star adds 3D horror Dark Flight to Cannes slate

    12-May-2011

    Thai production and sales outfit Five Star Production is unleashing four new high-profile titles at Cannes, including 3D horror film Dark Flight.

  • Fortissimo, WME go to New York with Maisie

    12-May-2011

    Fortissimo Films will handle international sales and WME domestic on Red Crown Productions’ What Maisie Knew, set to star Julianne Moore, Alexander Skarsgard and Steve Coogan.

  • Golden Network adds Chan’s Mural to Cannes slate

    12-May-2011

    Hong Kong-based Golden Network Asia has picked up international rights to $13m fantasy action picture Mural, written and directed by Gordon Chan.

  • Hong Kong’s Universe lines up new Chan, Pang Brothers projects

    12-May-2011

    Hong Kong’s Universe Films Distribution is launching four new titles at Cannes, including an untitled $20m action film from Benny Chan.

  • Korea’s bom sells Come Rain to Japan, launches Countdown

    12-May-2011

    Korean production house bom Film Productions has sealed a Japanese deal on its Berlin competition title Come Rain, Come Shine, which has been snapped up by Pony Canyon.

  • Taiwan’s Double Edge picks up Spin Kid, Gangster Rock

    11-May-2011

    Taiwan-based Double Edge Entertainment has acquired two music-themed Taiwanese films – Spin Kid and Gangster Rock – and also sealed two deals on concert film Mayday 3DNA.

  • Asian, Western talent sign up for Kazakh epic Myn Bala

    11-May-2011

    Talent from the US, Europe and Asia have signed up for historic adventure film Myn Bala, which has just started shooting in Kazakhstan.

  • Finecut adds Un Certain Regard titles, Leafie to Cannes slate

    11-May-2011

    Korean sales company Finecut has arrived in Cannes with several new titles including Un Certain Regard entries The Day He Arrives, directed by Hong Sangsoo, and Kim Ki-duk’s dramatic documentary Arirang.

  • M-Line seals Japanese deal on Haunters

    11-May-2011

    EXCLUSIVE: Seoul-based sales company M-Line Distribution has sealed a slew of deals on action drama Haunters, directed by Kim Min-suk, including a sale to Japanese distributor Twin Co.

  • Odin’s Eye acquires 9/11-themed drama The Space Between

    6-May-2011

    Sydney-based Odin’s Eye Entertainment (OEE) has picked up international rights to Travis Fine’s The Space Between, starring Academy Award-winning actress Melissa Leo (The Fighter).

  • India’s NFDC to promote six filmmakers at Cannes

    5-May-2011

    India’s National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) will be promoting six local filmmakers at this year’s Cannes, part of a range of activities designed to increase collaboration between Indian and overseas film industries.

  • Fortissimo jumps on Fortnight title Sur La Planche

    5-May-2011

    Fortissimo Films has acquired international rights to Moroccan director Leila Kilani’s Sur La Planche which is screening in the Directors’ Fortnight section ...

  • D-day in the developing world

    5-May-2011

    Despite the growth of DCI-compliant D-cinema, there’s still huge potential for lower resolution e-cinema in India and other emerging markets.

  • Shekhar Kapur

    5-May-2011

    The director of Elizabeth: The Golden Age talks about producing documentary, Bollywood, The Greatest Love Story Ever Told, which is screening in official selection at Cannes.

  • Khan, Kaif to star in Ek Tha Tiger for Yash Raj Films

    4-May-2011

    India’s Yash Raj Films has tapped Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif to star in upcoming romantic thriller Ek Tha Tiger, directed by Kabir Khan and produced by Aditya Chopra.

  • Tony Jaa to star in 3D sequel to Tom Yum Goong

    26-Apr-2011

    Thailand’s Sahamongkolfilm has announced that the team behind Ong Bak and Tom Yum Goong – including action star Tony Jaa – are reteaming for a sequel to Tom Yum Goong to be filmed in digital 3D.  

  • Kapur produces Bollywood documentary for Cannes

    24-Apr-2011

    Shekhar Kapur has produced a documentary about Indian cinema, Bollywood: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told, that will screen out-of-competition at Cannes.

  • Thailand’s OCAC to hold project pitching event at Cannes

    24-Apr-2011

    Thailand’s Office of Contemporary Art and Culture (OCAC) has selected four projects to take part in a pitching initiative to be held during the Cannes market.

  • Providence invests $58m in India’s UFO Moviez

    19-Apr-2011

    Global private equity firm Providence Equity Partners has pumped $58.38m (Rs2.6bn) into Indian digital cinema company UFO Moviez for an undisclosed minority stake.

  • Celestial moves into social games, expands channel business

    19-Apr-2011

    Hong Kong-based Celestial Pictures has appointed Justin Weng as vice president, Game Development and Licensing, marking the company’s entry into the social games business.

  • Gallants, Detective Dee triumph at Hong Kong Film Awards

    18-Apr-2011

    Tsui Hark’s Detective Dee And The Mystery of The Phantom Flame scooped six prizes at this year’s Hong Kong Film Awards, while kung-fu tribute Gallants picked up best film and three other awards.

  • Eros lines up worldwide release for Pakistani drama

    15-Apr-2011

    Eros International is planning a worldwide release for hard-hitting Pakistani drama Bol, directed by Shoaib Monsoor, who previously directly Khuda Kay Liye.

  • Gangs Of Wasseypur

    14-Apr-2011

    After becoming a familiar face on the festival circuit with films such as That Girl In Yellow Boots and Dev D, Mumbai-based director Anurag Kashyap is attempting something much more ambitious with his current project, Gangs Of Wasseypur.

  • Thailand approves tax breaks for actors but not VAT reduction

    14-Apr-2011

    Thailand has agreed to exempt foreign actors who are shooting in the country from paying tax, but has not approved a raft of other potential incentives including reduction of VAT.

  • Larry Crowne to screen at closing night gala of ScreenSingapore

    12-Apr-2011

    Larry Crowne, directed by and starring Tom Hanks, will screen at the closing night gala of ScreenSingapore on June 11.

  • Old Dog wins digital competition at Hong Kong fest

    4-Apr-2011

    Pema Tsedan’s Old Dog scooped the Golden Digital Award in the Asian Digital Competition at this year’s Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF).

  • Filmart 2011: Growing confidence in pan-Chinese market

    24-Mar-2011

    Hong Kong Filmart had a busy year in terms of networking and big launches, with some deals closed; but some Asian sellers bemoaned the lack of Western buyers attending.

  • Dream State, Port Of Call take top prizes at HAF

    23-Mar-2011

    Philip Yung’s Port Of Call took the HAF Award for best film project from Hong Kong at the close of the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), while Dream State, from Vietnam’s Bui Thac Chuyen, took the HAF Award for best project originating from outside Hong Kong.

  • China Lion signs up for A Beautiful Life

    23-Mar-2011

    China Lion Film Distribution has acquired rights for North America, Australia and New Zealand to Andrew Lau’s latest film A Beautiful Life from Hong Kong’s Media Asia.

  • Apichatpong to produce Concrete Clouds

    23-Mar-2011

    Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul, winner of best film at Monday’s Asian Film Awards, has boarded Lee Chatametikool’s Concrete Clouds as a producer.

  • Mutual market intelligence is key, says ACE seminar

    22-Mar-2011

    Producers in China and Europe need to reach a deeper understanding of each other’s markets before they can work together successfully, said panellists at a Sino-European co-production seminar at Filmart on Tuesday.

  • Convergence has Nuptials with Astro Shaw

    22-Mar-2011

    LA-based production company Convergence Entertainment is set to co-produce supernatural horror feature Nuptials Of The Dead with Malaysian film conglomerate Astro Shaw.

  • Uncle Boonmee takes best film at Asian Film Awards

    22-Mar-2011

    Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul echoed his Cannes Palme d’Or victory at the Asian Film Awards last night, winning best film for Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives.

  • Mei Ah Entertainment gears up for Windseeker

    22-Mar-2011

    Hong Kong’s Mei Ah Entertainment is gearing up produce 1950s-set spy thriller Windseeker, to be directed by Alan Mak and starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai.

  • Yim Ho floats City for Mandarin Films

    22-Mar-2011

    Production starts this week on Mandarin Films’ historical epic, Hundred Years Of A Floating City, to be directed by Yim Ho.

  • India's media industry up by 11% in 2010

    21-Mar-2011

    India’s media and entertainment industry grew by 11% to $14.5bn (Rs652bn) in 2010 according to a report issued by KPMG at the FICCI Frames conference in Mumbai this week.

  • Tomson signs first-look deals with Lion Rock, Abundance

    21-Mar-2011

    Tomson International Entertainment Distribution, the new outfit established by veteran producer Hsu Feng, has entered into first-look deals with John Woo and Terence Chang’s Lion Rock Productions, and Abundance Pictures, established by Chang and Laura Fu.

  • Celestial seals trio of pre-sales on My Kingdom

    21-Mar-2011

    Hong Kong-based Celestial Pictures has sealed three pre-sales on its upcoming martial arts drama My Kingdom, which is currently in post-production.

  • Emperor conjures up slate led by The Great Magician

    21-Mar-2011

    Emperor Motion Pictures (EMP) has unveiled a new slate of productions, headed by Derek Yee’s period mystery The Great Magician starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai.

  • Mori, Kwok drive CAR into North American distribution

    21-Mar-2011

    LA-based distribution veteran Ko Mori of Eleven Arts and producer Tim Kwok of Convergence Entertainment are launching a North American distribution outfit, Cinema Asia Releasing (CAR), which will focus solely on Asian product.

  • Abu Dhabi to host Priyadarshan’s Athar And Madhavan Naayar

    20-Mar-2011

    Indian filmmaker Priyadarshan is gearing up to shoot Malayalam-language project Athar And Madhavan Naayar in Abu Dhabi, with logistical support from Abu Dhabi Film Commission (ADFC).

  • India’s Yash Raj Films launches youth-oriented label

    17-Mar-2011

    Mumbai-based Yash Raj Films has launched a production banner, Y-Films, to produce films catering to India’s youth audience.

  • Fortissimo strikes deal for Yonfan library

    17-Mar-2011

    On the eve of Hong Kong Filmart (March 21-24), Fortissimo Films has signed a deal to represent the library of iconic Hong Kong director Yonfan.

  • Roger Garcia

    17-Mar-2011

    The new executive director of the Hong Kong International Film Festival, Roger Garcia, talks about his vision for the event and the challenges facing Hong Kong filmmakers.

  • Arthouse in India

    17-Mar-2011

    World cinema is alive and well in India but living on the small screen.

  • Packed houses

    16-Mar-2011

    Will pre-buying international projects become more popular with Hong Kong distributors as they fight for screens and good-quality product in this lively market? Liz Shackleton reports

  • Hong Kong's next hits

    16-Mar-2011

    Films from Tsui Hark and Johnnie To headline the exciting new projects in the pipeline in Hong Kong. Profiles by Liz Shackleton

  • Beauty in the East: Filmart 2011

    16-Mar-2011

    Hong Kong Filmart (March 21-24) is growing in importance as more international buyers and producers head to the event to conduct face-to-face business with the Asian film industry.

  • Hong Kong's top new talents

    16-Mar-2011

    A distinctive film-making culture is blooming in Hong Kong. Liz Shackleton turns the spotlight on a new generation of visionary directors

  • Shengshi Huarui boards Unison Co’s $30m Song Of Justice

    16-Mar-2011

    Start-up Chinese production outfit The Unison Company is teaming with Beijing Shengshi Huarui to produce $30m epic action movie Song Of Justice.

  • Hong Kong International Film Festival preview

    16-Mar-2011

    The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) celebrates an anniversary this year — its 35th — and is welcoming new executive director Roger Garcia, who joined in September

  • Reliance Broadcast to form joint venture with RTL Group

    11-Mar-2011

    Following its joint venture with US broadcaster CBS, India’s Reliance Broadcast Networks (RBN) is planning a similar deal with Bertelsmann-owned RTL Group to launch a bouquet of channels.

  • Abhinav Kashyap to direct next project for Viacom 18

    11-Mar-2011

    Viacom 18 Motion Pictures is teaming with Movie Temple Productions to co-produce a project to be written and directed by Abhinav Kashyap, who directed the biggest Hindi hit of 2010, Dabangg.

  • Vikram Malhotra

    3-Mar-2011

    The new COO of Viacom 18 Motion Pictures, the rebooted film division of Viacom’s India joint venture, talks about the company’s restructuring and production plans.

  • Tagore-themed drama starts production in Calcutta

    3-Mar-2011

    Production started this week on Suman Ghosh’s Nobel Thief (Nobel Chor), a drama that is being made to tie in with the 150th anniversary of the birthday of Indian writer Rabindranath Tagore.

  • Indian box office faces off with cricket

    2-Mar-2011

    The Mumbai-based film industry has lined up a diverse slate to tempt audiences during the IPL and Cricket World Cup.

  • Disney strikes out alone in Hong Kong distribution

    2-Mar-2011

    Walt Disney Studios is launching its own distribution operation in Hong Kong, effective March 1, ending a long-standing relationship with local outfit Intercontinental Film Distributors.

  • Hong Kong International Film Festival unveils line-up for 35th edition

    25-Feb-2011

    Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-fai, and Quattro Hong Kong 2, from four South-East Asian filmmakers, have been announced as the opening films of this year’s Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF).

  • India’s 52 Weeks snaps up Summit’s Source Code, The Impossible

    25-Feb-2011

    Indian distributor 52 Weeks Entertainment has acquired Indian rights to two Summit Entertainment titles – action thriller Source Code, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, and The Impossible, with Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor.

  • Fox, Huayi, Sundream join forces in Space

    23-Feb-2011

    Fox International Productions, Beijing-based Huayi Brothers and Hong Kong’s Sundream Motion Pictures are co-producing the second feature to be directed by Tony Chan and Wing Shya, Love In Space.

  • Vishal Bhardwaj

    18-Feb-2011

    Mumbai-based director Vishal Bhardwaj talks about his latest film, dark comedy 7 Sins Forgiven (7 Khoon Maaf), which has its world premiere in thePanorama Special section of Berlin.

  • Hong Kong Filmart to feature US, pan-European pavilions

    17-Feb-2011

    The organisers of the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (Filmart) have unveiled further details of this year’s event, which marks the 15th anniversary of the market.

  • Rapid Eye takes German rights to Dhobi Ghat

    17-Feb-2011

    UTV Motion Pictures has sold German rights to Kiran Rao’s Mumbai Diaries (Dhobi Ghat) to Rapid Eye Movies.

  • Inseparable

    17-Feb-2011

    While US stars are pouring into China this year to work on co-productions and local projects, black comedy Inseparable can claim to be the first fully Chinese production to tap a major Hollywood actor.

  • Fortissimo to receive special award at 5th Asian Film Awards

    11-Feb-2011

    The Asian Film Awards has announced that it will give a special award to Hong Kong and Amsterdam-based Fortissimo Films for its long-time promotion of Asian cinema.

  • India's digital warriors look overseas

    10-Feb-2011

    Whilst racing to convert their home territory, India’s digital cinema integrators, Scrabble and UFO Moviez, are planning to expand to other emerging markets.

  • Detective Dee, Assassins lead race for Hong Kong Film Awards

    8-Feb-2011

    Tsui Hark’s Detective Dee And The Mystery Of The Phantom Flame and Su Chao-Pin’s Reign Of Assassins scooped the most nominations for this year’s Hong Kong Film Awards with 13 and 11 nods apiece.

  • Net worth

    7-Feb-2011

    With 450 million internet users and moves to tackle piracy, the online video market in China has huge potential. Liz Shackleton assesses a burgeoning market which is striking content deals with Hollywood

  • When East meets West

    7-Feb-2011

    International film-makers are increasingly exploring Chinese co-productions — not least because it means a film can bypass the territory’s import quotas. Liz Shackleton looks at the opportunities for co-producing with China

  • Internet pioneers

    7-Feb-2011

    Liz Shackleton profiles China’s major online players

  • Entering the dragon

    7-Feb-2011

    The Chinese market may be booming, but with quotas very much in place it remains off-limits to many foreign films. Liz Shackleton explores the reality of releasing in China

  • The China hotlist, 2011-12

    7-Feb-2011

    Liz Shackleton profiles some of the hottest new films coming out of China

  • Viacom 18 unveils new slate including Kashyap gangster musical

    3-Feb-2011

    Viacom 18 Motion Pictures, the new film division of India’s Viacom 18 joint venture, has unveiled its slate for 2011, including Anurag Kashyap’s two-part gangster musical, Gangs Of Wasseypur.

  • The glitch behind China’s gold rush

    27-Jan-2011

    Investment is pouring into Chinese films, but the industry still relies too heavily on big-budget costume epics, many of which are losing money.

  • India’s Inox takes management control of Fame

    26-Jan-2011

    Indian exhibitor Inox Leisure has taken management control of rival Fame India following a protracted takeover battle which was resolved earlier this month.

  • Mumbai film festival to take place October 13-20

    25-Jan-2011

    The Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) has announced that the next edition of the Mumbai Film Festival will take place Oct 13-20.

  • Bullets, Confessions lead nominations for Asian Film Awards

    20-Jan-2011

    Japanese drama Confessions, directed by Nakashima Tetsuya, and Jiang Wen’s satirical action adventure Let The Bullets Fly topped the nominations for this year’s Asian Film Awards (AFAs), with six nods apiece.

  • Sundance, Mahindra join forces on two filmmaking initiatives

    20-Jan-2011

    India’s Mahindra Group is tying up with the Sundance Institute to launch an annual Screenwriters Lab in India and the Mahindra Global Filmmaking Award.

  • Hong Kong film fest draws award-winning directors for Quattro

    14-Jan-2011

    The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) is planning a second omnibus project, Quattro Hong Kong 2, with short films directed by Thailand’s Apichatpong Weerasethakul, the Philippines’ Brillante Mendoza, Malaysia’s Ho Yuhang and Hong Kong’s Stanley Kwan.

  • Celestial movie channels to be carried by Indonesia’s Skynindo

    13-Jan-2011

    Hong Kong’s Celestial Pictures has signed carriage deals with Indonesia’s Skynindo PT for its pay-TV channels Celestial Movies and Celestial Classic Movies.

  • Fox, China Lion to co-distribute Butcher in three territories

    12-Jan-2011

    Fox International Productions (FIP) is teaming with China Lion Film Distribution to release Wuershan’s The Butcher, The Chef And The Swordsman in North America, Australia and New Zealand.

  • Film shoots up in Thailand despite political unrest

    10-Jan-2011

    Thailand’s Department of Tourism has announced that the country earned $60m (baht1.8bn) from foreign shoots in 2010, doubling the $30m (baht900m) earned the previous year.

  • HAF unveils line-up of 28 projects

    6-Jan-2011

    Hong Kong’s Stanley Kwan and Death Note director Shusuke Kaneko from Japan are among the filmmakers who have had projects selected for this year’s edition of the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF).

  • Hong Kong 2010 box office increases by 13%

    6-Jan-2011

    Hong Kong’s total box office grew by 13% to $172m (HK$1.34bn) in 2010, thanks to a strong line-up of 3D and other releases, according to local industry body the Motion Picture Industry Association (MPIA).

  • Egypt's New Wave

    6-Jan-2011

    A new wave of Egyptian filmmakers came under the spotlight at the recent Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) – writers and directors who are working outside Egypt’s major studios and tackling controversial subjects and themes.

  • Onir

    6-Jan-2011

    Mumbai-based filmmaker Onir directed one of India’s first crowdsourced films, I Am, and is developing his latest project through the NFDC’s Screenwriters’ Lab.

  • Hong Kong’s Celestial Pictures expands into Taiwan

    5-Jan-2011

    Hong Kong-based Celestial Pictures has appointed Jeffrey Soong as managing director of its newly opened Taiwan office.

  • AMR, FUNimation seal VoD partnership for North America

    5-Jan-2011

    US-based VoD distributor Asian Media Rights (AMR) has sealed a distribution partnership with FUNimation Entertainment, which is the largest distributor of Japanese animation in North America.

  • Indian censors give Inshallah, Football an adult certificate

    5-Jan-2011

    India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has issued an A (adult) certificate to Ashvin Kumar’s Kashmir-set documentary Inshallah, Football, which its director and producer say effectively blocks its release in India.

  • Expanded Dubai Filmmart racks up more than 3,000 screenings

    21-Dec-2010

    The Dubai International Film Festival’s Dubai Filmmart has announced that 3,193 screenings took place through its popular Cinetech trading platform, and at least two major deals were concluded during the week-long event (Dec 12-19).

  • Stray Bullet, Screaming Man take top prizes at 7th Dubai fest

    20-Dec-2010

    Stray Bullet from Lebanon’s Georges Hachem took the first prize in the Muhr Arab competition at the 7th Dubai International Film Festival, while A Screaming Man was awarded the same honour in the Muhr AsiaAfrica section.

  • India’s Scrabble Entertainment moves into the Middle East

    17-Dec-2010

    India’s Scrabble Entertainment has signed non–exclusive D-cinema deployment agreements with five US studios to roll out digital screens in the Middle East.

  • If You Are The One 2 to get US release on Dec 24

    17-Dec-2010

    China Lion Film Distribution is to release Feng Xiaogang’s If You Are The One 2 in North America simultaneously with its China release on December 24.

  • Headshot

    16-Dec-2010

    Thai director Pen-ek Ratanaruang recently started shooting his latest project, Headshot, a film noir about a hitman trying to forget his past.

  • Wild Side picks up French rights to Pen-ek’s Headshot

    16-Dec-2010

    Wild Side Films has acquired French rights to Headshot, the new film from acclaimed Thai director Pen-ek Ratanaruang.

  • China’s digital future

    15-Dec-2010

    Liz Shackleton examines how China is racing ahead of other markets in terms of digital delivery of film.

  • Dubai kicks off with Firth, Mulligan on the red carpet

    13-Dec-2010

    Colin Firth, Carey Mulligan and a host of Arab stars walked the red carpet at the opening of the seventh Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) at the Madinat Jumeirah on Sunday night (Dec 12).

  • A new sphere

    9-Dec-2010

    Launched at the AFM, the Hemisphere Media Capital fund is utilising Japanese partners to invest in studio films. Liz Shackleton talks to co-founder Jean-Luc De Fanti

  • Cracking the US market

    9-Dec-2010

    At the recent AFM, there was a new breed of buyer seeking innovative means to bring Asian product to American audiences. Liz Shackleton investigates.

  • Park appointed to distribution role at Sony Pictures Television

    9-Dec-2010

    Catherine Park, former head of sales at Korea’s Sidus IHQ, has been appointed executive director, distribution, Asia Pacific for Sony Pictures Television (SPT).

  • Global Film Initiative unveils line-up for 2011 Global Lens

    9-Dec-2010

    US-based Global Film Initiative (GFI) has announced the line-up of nine films that it has selected to  headline the Global Lens 2011 film series.

  • Star Chinese Movies signs pay-TV deal with Huayi Brothers

    6-Dec-2010

    Star Chinese Movies and Beijing-based Huayi Brothers have signed a deal under which Huayi will offer the channel exclusive cable TV, pay-per-view and VoD rights to its 2011 upcoming productions for Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore.

  • Yuet-fung Ho appointed as director of Asian Film Awards

    2-Dec-2010

    The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) has announced that Yuet-fung Ho has been appointed as director of the Asian Film Awards.

  • Singapore’s Forever to receive double world premiere

    1-Dec-2010

    Wee Li Lin’s Forever will become the first Singaporean film to receive a double world premiere today (Dec 1) – screening at both the Jakarta and Cairo international film festivals.

  • Film Bazaar’s fourth edition wraps with deals, awards

    27-Nov-2010

    Umesh Kulkarni’s Temple (Deool), a Marathi-language satire set in rural India, took the Hubert Bals award at the close of the fourth edition of India’s Film Bazaar (Nov 23-26).

  • Locarno’s Open Doors lab to focus on India in 2011

    24-Nov-2010

    The Locarno Film Festival has announced that next year’s Open Doors co-production lab will focus on India. The announcement was made by Locarno artistic director Olivier Pere and Nadia Dresti, head of the festivals’ industry office, on the second day of Film Bazaar in Goa.

  • Celestial signs output deal with Distribution Workshop

    23-Nov-2010

    Hong Kong-based Celestial Pictures, which operates the Celestial Movies channel, has signed an output deal with sales agent Distribution Workshop for first-run pay-TV rights of its upcoming slate of Chinese movies.

  • India’s NFDC unveils 18 projects for Film Bazaar

    15-Nov-2010

    India’s National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) has unveiled the 18 projects that will take part in this year’s Film Bazaar co-production market, including seven projects from other South Asian nations.

  • ACE to launch co-production lab at next year's HAF

    15-Nov-2010

    Ateliers du Cinema European (ACE) and consultancy Sinapses Asia will launch the first ACE Co-production Lab Hong Kong at this year’s Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF).

  • Amanda Palmer

    11-Nov-2010

    Amanda Palmer, executive director of the Doha Film Institute (DFI), talks about the second edition of the Doha Tribeca Film Festival and how the DFI is supporting Arab filmmaking.

  • Toei takes Japanese rights to Korean hit The Man From Nowhere

    8-Nov-2010

    Japan’s Toei has acquired Korean hit The Man From Nowhere from Seoul-based M-Line Distribution which is handling Asian territories on the film.

  • KOFIC unveils new Korean film incentives

    7-Nov-2010

    The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) unveiled its new location shooting and post-production incentives at a seminar at the AFM on Friday.

  • Buyers bark with Toei's Wasao

    7-Nov-2010

    Japanese studio Toei has sold puppy drama Wasao to Hong Kong’s Golden Scene, Taiwan’s Catchplay and Encore Films for Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.

  • Finecut takes on Poongsan

    7-Nov-2010

    Seoul-based sales company Finecut has picked up international rights to Poongsan, directed by Juhn Jaihong and produced by acclaimed filmmaker Kim Ki-duk.

  • Mega-Vision makes sales debut with All About Love, Naked Soldier

    7-Nov-2010

    Hong Kong’s Mega-Vision Pictures (MVP), the production company founded by veteran producer Wong Jing, is making its debut as a sales company at the AFM.

  • Fortissimo hungry for Jiro Dreams of Sushi

    7-Nov-2010

    Fortissimo Films has acquired all rights outside North America to David Gelb’s food-themed documentary feature Jiro Dreams Of Sushi.

  • ScreenSingapore unveils details of inaugural event

    7-Nov-2010

    Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA) and Singapore Airshow & Events have unveiled further details of inaugural film showcase, ScreenSingapore, to be held in the city-state next June.

  • Jackie Chan's 1911 sells to US, UK

    6-Nov-2010

    Jackie Chan’s Jackie & JJ Productions has sold historical epic 1911 to Well Go USA for North America and Showbox for the UK.

  • Fortissimo scares up Rabbit Horror

    6-Nov-2010

    Fortissimo Films has picked up worldwide rights, excluding Japan, to Takashi Shimizu’s 3D The Rabbit Horror.

  • Singapore's MDA launching $50m fund with CJ, Bang, AMTC

    5-Nov-2010

    Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA) is launching a $50m film fund in partnership with Korea’s CJ Entertainment, production company Bang Singapore and Singapore-based Asia Media & Technology Capital (AMTC).

  • Sex and Zen heats up AFM sales

    5-Nov-2010

    Hong Kong producer Stephen Shiu’s 3D Sex And Zen: Extreme Ecstasy is raising temperatures at the AFM just a few days after it wrapped in Hong Kong.

  • Bruce Lee, My Brother strikes slew of deals for Media Asia

    5-Nov-2010

    Media Asia Distribution has sold Bruce Lee, My Brother, a biopic of the Hong Kong action legend, to a slew of territories including North America which was snapped up by The Weinstein Co.

  • Cultivating partners in India

    5-Nov-2010

    India has historically not been an active co-producer, but some European producers are finding ways to work with local talent. On the eve of the Film Bazaar co-production forum (Nov 23-26), Liz Shackleton explores the realities of co-producing international features in India

  • Hollywood tries to bridge the gap between US-Japan content

    5-Nov-2010

    Hollywood producers Don Murphy, Roy Lee (pictured) and Jason Hoffs gave advice on bridging the gap between the US and Japanese content industries at a seminar about adapting Japanese IP on Wednesday (November 3).

  • Twin Co in deal for Fortune Star library

    5-Nov-2010

    The exclusive deal will cover more than 300 library titles.

  • Karate Girl kicks off slew of deals for T-Joy

    5-Nov-2010

    Japan’s T-Joy has clinched a string of deals on Karate Girl starring hot up-and-coming action star Takeda Rina. 

  • CJ's Man From Nowhere travels to US

    5-Nov-2010

    Korea’s CJ Entertainment has sold US rights to The Man From Nowhere to Well Go USA.

  • IFTA gets financial boost for US film export, to launch Filmart Pavilion

    4-Nov-2010

    The Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) has been awarded $248,000 to boost the export of US films, starting with an American Pavilion at Hong Kong Filmart in 2011.

  • Wu Xia

    4-Nov-2010

    Peter Ho-sun Chan talks about his first martial arts film as director, which also marks the first on-screen pairing of action hero Donnie Yen and heartthrob Takeshi Kaneshiro.

  • Finecut sells I Saw The Devil to Japan, Germany

    4-Nov-2010

    Korea’s Finecut has sold Kim Jee-woon’s grisly revenge thriller I Saw The Devil to Japan’s Broadmedia Studios and Splendid Film for German-speaking Europe and Benelux.

  • We signs record setting deal for Wu Xia

    4-Nov-2010

    We Distribution has sold Peter Ho-sun Chan’s $20m Wu Xia to Luxuries Resources for both Singapore and Malaysia for a record-breaking seven-digit figure.

  • Fortissimo extends relationship with Jet Tone

    4-Nov-2010

    Fortissimo Films and Wong Kar Wai’s Jet Tone Films have announced that Fortissimo chairman Michael J. Werner has boarded Wong’s The Grandmasters as associate producer.

  • StudioCanal strikes Japanese deal for The Last Exorcism

    4-Nov-2010

    StudioCanal has sold all Japanese rights on horror hit The Last Exorcism to Comstock Group.

  • Summit: US filmmakers need right partners in China

    3-Nov-2010

    US producers aiming to work with China were advised to find the right partner and make films that Chinese audiences can relate to at the US-China Film Summit on Tuesday (Nov 2).

  • Golden Network Asia adds two to slate

    3-Nov-2010

    Hong Kong-based Golden Network has added two projects to its AFM slate - Malaysian animated feature Seefood and Zhang Meng’s The Piano In A Factory, which recently scooped the best actor prize at the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF).

  • LaMolinara to direct Canada-Asia co-production Bubblegum Crisis

    3-Nov-2010

    Anthony LaMolinara has been brought on board to direct Bubblegum Crisis – Knight Sabers, a Canada-Asian co-production which will be shot in 3D at China’s Hengdian World Studios from May next year.

  • Double Edge boards Yip's Chinese Ghost Story

    3-Nov-2010

    Taiwan-based Double Edge Entertainment has picked up North American rights to Wilson Yip’s $20m A Chinese Ghost Story.

  • Doha panellists call for "CAA of the Arab world"

    28-Oct-2010

    Panellists at the on-going Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF) spoke of the need to create pan-Arab talent agencies as a key step in the development of a regional film industry.

  • Marie-Pierre Macia

    28-Oct-2010

    The head of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival’s Sanad fund talks about how the new initiative is supporting Arab filmmakers from across the region.

  • Dubai International Film Festival to open with The King’s Speech

    26-Oct-2010

    The King’s Speech, directed by Tom Hooper, will open the 7th edition of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) on December 12.

  • Silent Souls, Rain take top prizes at Abu Dhabi’s Black Pearl Awards

    23-Oct-2010

    Silent Souls, from Russia’s Aleksei Fedorchenko, won the award for best narrative film in the Black Pearl Awards at the close of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival (Oct 14-23).

  • Gaga snatches Bodyguards And Assassins

    22-Oct-2010

    Gaga Corporation has acquired Japanese rights to Teddy Chen’s Bodyguards And Assassins, which will open China Film Week at the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) this week.

  • Abu Dhabi announces winners of Emirates and Short Film Competitions

    22-Oct-2010

    Ahmed Zain’s Gheamt Shroog won the first prize for best short narrative in this year’s Emirates Competition, while Hadi Shuaib’s The Queen took first prize in the best short documentary section.

  • Celestial signs output deal with Emperor Motion Pictures

    22-Oct-2010

    Hong Kong-based Celestial Pictures has signed a multi-year output deal with Emperor Motion Pictures (EMP), giving it exclusive first run pay-TV rights to screen EMP’s upcoming slate on its Celestial Movies channel.

  • Wuershan

    21-Oct-2010

    Chinese director Wuershan talks about martial arts comedy, The Butcher, The Chef And The Swordsman, which is the second Chinese-language project from Fox International Productions.

  • Co-production conundrum

    21-Oct-2010

    A flurry of co-production treaties have been signed between Asian nations over the past few years, but are they really necessary? Liz Shackleton reports from last week’s Asian Film Policy Forum in South Korea.

  • Rourke, Ho join cast of Hany Abu-Assad’s The Courier

    20-Oct-2010

    Mickey Rourke and Josie Ho have joined Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Til Schweiger in the cast of Arclight Films’ action thriller The Courier which started shooting in Louisiana this week.

  • Cirkus Columbia, Majority win top prizes at Golden Orange

    18-Oct-2010

    Danis Tanovic’s Cirkus Columbia won best picture in the international competition of this year’s Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival (Oct 9-14), while Seren Yuce’s Majority took best film in the national competition.

  • Hamdan, Kharsa split Shasha grant at close of Circle Conference

    17-Oct-2010

    Dima Hamdan’s The Kidnap and Kasem Kharsa’s Shelter were chosen as the recipients of this year’s Shasha Grant at the close of Abu Dhabi’s Circle Conference (Oct 13-15).

  • China Lion roars into North America with Aftershock

    15-Oct-2010

    Start-up company China Lion Film Distribution has entered into an exclusive partnership with US exhibitor AMC Entertainment to release Chinese movies in the North American market, starting with Feng Xiaogang’s Aftershock.

  • Eleven Arts takes US rights to Treasure Hunter

    13-Oct-2010

    LA-based Eleven Arts has acquired all US rights to Kevin Chu’s The Treasure Hunter from Taiwan’s Double Edge Entertainment.

  • Bee quits international sales post at Huayi Brothers

    13-Oct-2010

    Felice Bee has quit has her position as director of international sales and co-productions at Beijing-based Huayi Brothers Media, effective October 15.

  • Asian filmmakers fly with film festival funds

    12-Oct-2010

    Funds launched by international film festivals are becoming an important financing tool for filmmakers in Asia, with many films at the on-going Pusan fest backed by funds such as Hubert Bals and the World Cinema Fund (WCF).

  • Media Asia picks up world rights to Kidnapper

    12-Oct-2010

    Hong Kong producer-distributor will also introduce $6m action thriller Wind Blast at the upcoming AFM.

  • Global stars attend 15th Pusan International Film Festival

    8-Oct-2010

    Stars from most of the world’s major film industries including Willem Dafoe, Juliette Binoche, Aishwarya Rai, Tang Wei and Jang Dong-gun turned out for the 15th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), the last to be officially presided over by festival director Kim Dong-ho.

  • Bollywood's boom and bust

    7-Oct-2010

    Bollywood is officially in recovery, but unless it applies the brakes, it runs the risk of over-heating again quite soon.

  • Subhash Ghai

    30-Sep-2010

    Bollywood producer Subhash Ghai talks to Screen about his plans to expand Mumbai-based film school, Whistling Woods, on an international level.

  • Hong Kong’s OSGH invests in Legendary Pictures

    28-Sep-2010

    Hong Kong’s Orange Sky Golden Harvest (OSGH) is forging a partnership with LA-based Legendary Pictures to work on film and media ventures in mainland China.

  • Hong Kong, China announce foreign-language Oscar submissions

    28-Sep-2010

    Hong Kong has selected Alex Law’s Echoes Of The Rainbow, while China has picked Feng Xiaogang’s box office hit Aftershock.

  • Kazakhstan steps up as international co-producer

    27-Sep-2010

    Located at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, Kazakhstan is in the right geographical spot to become an international co-producer, and now with a burgeoning local film industry, it’s developing the talent and the financing power too.

  • Light Thief strikes at Eurasia International Film Festival

    26-Sep-2010

    The Light Thief, from Kyrgyzstan director Aktan Arym Kubat, was awarded best film and the FIPRESCI prize at the 6th edition of the Eurasia International Film Festival (Sep 21-25), which was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan.  

  • Chinese film libraries set for digital reboot

    23-Sep-2010

    The shifting distribution models that have changed the library business globally may lead to a slightly more hopeful picture for the Chinese-speaking world.

  • Shaw to introduce digital IMAX to Singapore

    16-Sep-2010

    Singapore’s Shaw Theatres is set to open the territory’s first digital IMAX screen when it reopens its flagship Lido Cineplex in April next year.

  • Cause, Picture Palace to co-produce Spottiswoode’s First Class Man

    15-Sep-2010

    Cause Entertainment, an Indian fund established to invest in socially conscious movies, has announced that its first project will be Roger Spottiswoode’s A First Class Man, a biopic about Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan.

  • Abu Dhabi unveils 28 recipients of Sanad film fund

    15-Sep-2010

    The Abu Dhabi Film Festival has announced the first round of grant recipients for its Sanad film fund for Arab filmmakers.

  • Kam to replace Chia as CEO of Singapore’s MDA

    13-Sep-2010

    Singapore’s Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA) has announced that Dr Christopher Chia is stepping down from his position as CEO of the Media Development Authority (MDA).

  • Easternlight takes on Malaysian action drama Bunga Lalang

    12-Sep-2010

    Arclight Films’ Asian division Easternlight has picked up Malaysian action drama Bunga Lalang, directed by Dain Iskandar Said and produced by Convergence Entertainment and Malaysia’s Apparat.

  • Easternlight shines for Chen Kaige's epic Sacrifice

    10-Sep-2010

    Easternlight Films has acquired worldwide rights excluding China and Japan to Sacrifice, the new film from Chinese auteur Chen Kaige.

  • Kiran Rao

    9-Sep-2010

    Mumbai-based filmmaker Kiran Rao talks about her directorial debut, Dhobi Ghat, which is receiving its world premiere inToronto.

  • Mongolia to hold first ever film forum and festival

    9-Sep-2010

    The Arts Council of Mongolia (ACM) is set to host the inaugural East Meets West Film Forum and Festival in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar from October 5-8.

  • Hong Kong’s Celestial appoints Zhao as China managing director

    9-Sep-2010

    Hong Kong-based Celestial Pictures has appointed Gillian Zhao Fang as managing director, China.

  • Upcoming Bollywood releases

    6-Sep-2010

    Liz Shackleton profiles a selection of the hottest upcoming Hindi-language titles

  • A Hollywood beginning

    6-Sep-2010

    Encouraged by the potential of the Indian market, US studios are becoming more involved in local-language production. Liz Shackleton explores the realities of producing in India and profiles the current players

  • Big's global ambition

    6-Sep-2010

    Reliance Big Entertainment, headed by Amit Khanna, has been investing heavily in the film business at home and overseas. He talks to Liz Shackleton about the base for growth

  • The real India

    6-Sep-2010

    A string of high-profile deals in recent years made India look like it was shaping up to become Hollywood’s financial saviour. But against a global climate of financial uncertainty, the territory’s major players are turning their focus back onto their local market. Liz Shackleton reports

  • Jan de Bont to direct Zhang Ziyi in Mulan

    6-Sep-2010

    Jan de Bont has signed on to direct live-action epic adventure Mulan starring Zhang Ziyi, which is scheduled to start shooting at China’s Hengdian studios this autumn.

  • Warner Bros to release CG animation Ramayana in India

    3-Sep-2010

    Warner Bros has picked up Indian rights to locally-produced CG animated feature Ramayana The Epic and plans to release it across the country on October 15.

  • Garcia appointed executive director of Hong Kong film festival

    2-Sep-2010

    The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) has appointed Roger Garcia as executive director, effective from the end of September.

  • Campion to head jury of Mumbai Film Festival

    1-Sep-2010

    Jane Campion will head the jury of this year’s Mumbai Film Festival, which is scheduled to run from October 21-28.

  • PRIMEXCHANGE to hold second forum in Warsaw, Goa

    31-Aug-2010

    Germany’s PrimeHouse will hold the second edition of its Indo-European project packaging forum PRIMEXCHANGE in Warsaw and during Film Bazaar in the Indian state of Goa.

  • Woo’s Flying Tigers to be shot in IMAX format

    30-Aug-2010

    John Woo and producer Terence Chang’s upcoming action epic Flying Tigers will be digitally re-mastered into the IMAX format, marking IMAX Corporation’s second release in China following blockbuster Aftershock.

  • Tribute: Colette Koo

    25-Aug-2010

    Hong Kong film producer and night club owner Colette Koo died on Monday, aged 50, following complications related to cancer.

  • Chang joins board of Hong Kong International Film Festival

    25-Aug-2010

    Taiwanese actress and filmmaker Sylvia Chang has joined the board of the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) in the role of vice chairman.

  • Chan set to shoot Wu Xia starring Yen, Kaneshiro

    25-Aug-2010

    Hong Kong’s Peter Ho-sun Chan is set to start shooting $20m action thriller Wu Xia, starring Donnie Yen, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Chinese actress Tang Wei.

  • Tomson Group launches Hong Kong distribution outfit

    20-Aug-2010

    Veteran producer-turned-property developer Hsu Feng is making a return to the film business by establishing a Hong Kong-based company, Tomson International Entertainment Distribution, which will initially focus on theatrical distribution.

  • NETPAC celebrates 20th anniversary with Imaging Asia

    19-Aug-2010

    The Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a five-day film festival and conference (Aug 18-22), Imaging Asia, which kicked off in Delhi today.

  • MDA unveils dates for inaugural ScreenSingapore

    16-Aug-2010

    Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA) has confirmed that the inaugural ScreenSingapore event will be held from June 5-12, 2011, with the trade exhibition section scheduled to run from June 7-9.

  • Haifaa Al Mansour

    5-Aug-2010

    Saudi-born filmmaker Haifaa Al Mansour talks about her upcoming feature debut Wajda, which was awarded the $100,000 Shasha Grant at the Circle Conference in Abu Dhabi last year.

  • Reign Of Assassins

    5-Aug-2010

    Currently in post production, John Woo and Su Chao-pin’s martial arts action thriller Reign Of Assassins stars Michelle Yeoh as a retired female assassin whose past returns to haunt her.The film will have its world premiere at Venice.

  • The start of something Big

    30-Jul-2010

    The 2009 deal between Reliance Big Entertainment and DreamWorks marked a major new alliance between India and Hollywood. Reliance chairman Amit Khanna tells Liz Shackleton about the company’s global ambitions

  • Disney to handle video distribution of UTV titles

    27-Jul-2010

    The Walt Disney Company India has signed an agreement with UTV Motion Pictures under which it will handle home entertainment distribution for some key titles from UTV.

  • Sharma launches international sales outfit for Indian films

    26-Jul-2010

    Former Reliance Big Pictures and Yash Raj Films executive Jawahar Sharma has launched a sales outfit in partnership with Cinergy Productions to handle international distribution of Indian films.

  • China, Singapore sign co-production agreement

    23-Jul-2010

    China and Singapore have signed a film co-production agreement which covers feature films and telemovies across live-action, animation and documentaries.

  • India races to restore its film classics

    22-Jul-2010

    India is renowned for having one of the world’s most prolific film industries, but it’s only in the last couple of years that the country has started to think seriously about preserving its cinematic heritage.

  • Bollywood gets serious

    22-Jul-2010

    Mumbai’s mainstream film industry is starting to mix serious subject matter with commercial elements for some interesting results, Liz Shackleton writes.

  • Leung, Chung join cast of Bruce Lee, My Brother

    22-Jul-2010

    Tony Leung Ka-fai and Christie Chung have joined the cast of Hong Kong studio Media Asia Film’s Bruce Lee, My Brother, which is being made to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the late action star’s birthday.

  • Metan enters into strategic relationship with China's Ruyi Film

    22-Jul-2010

    Los Angeles-based Metan Development Group has entered into a strategic relationship with China’s Beijing Ruyi Xinxin Film Investment Company under which they will work together on film and TV projects.

  • Shin to direct Hong Kong sci-fi epic Future Fighters

    22-Jul-2010

    Korean filmmaker and animation producer Nelson Shin has boarded $10m 3D sci-fi epic Future Fighters, with Hong Kong’s Ken Siu as assistant director.

  • Pre-production of Buddha biopic placed on hold

    19-Jul-2010

    Financier Dr. BK Modi and director Ashutosh Gowariker have announced that they’ve placed pre-production of their big-budget biopic Buddha on hold as they haven’t been able to find the right face to play the young Buddha.

  • Viacom 18 considers takeover of The Indian Film Company

    6-Jul-2010

    Viacom 18, the 50:50 joint venture between Viacom Inc and India’s IBN18, is considering making a voluntary offer to buy out film investment fund The Indian Film Company (TIFC), which is listed on the London-based Alternative Investment Market (AIM).

  • Vietnam competition authorities announce probe into MegaStar

    1-Jul-2010

    The Vietnam Competition Authority (VCA) has announced that it is officially investigating a class action law suit brought against distributor-exhibitor MegaStar Media by six local cinema operators.

  • Wayne Borg

    1-Jul-2010

    The COO of Abu Dhabi’s twofour54 talks about his ambitions for the media zone, and what makes it different from other entertainment organisations.

  • Legend Of The Fist: The Return Of Chen Zhen

    1-Jul-2010

    Currently in post-production, Legend Of The Fist: The Return Of Chen Zhen is one of Asia’s most highly-anticipated late summer releases.

  • Indian film's tender shoots

    1-Jul-2010

    Against a backdrop of social and economic change, Indian cinema has started to diversify. But it will take more time for India’s new wave of film-makers to compete at an international level

  • Beyond China’s Borders

    25-Jun-2010

    Liz Shackleton argues that the Chinese film industry can’t overlook the usefulness of Hollywood and the international film business.

  • Thailand’s Extra Virgin revives arthouse distribution project

    25-Jun-2010

    Thai producer-distributor Extra Virgin and the independent film community have revived the Director’s Screen project which aims to give commercial releases to local and international arthouse films in Bangkok.

  • The sky's the limit

    22-Jun-2010

    Ross Pollack, the new CEO of Hong Kong’s Celestial Pictures is looking to build the company brand and exploit its Shaw Brothers library digitally.

  • Hong Kong’s Media Asia set to produce Bruce Lee biopic

    21-Jun-2010

    Media Asia Films has announced that it is producing a $4.5m (HK$35m) film about martial arts legend Bruce Lee, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the late star’s birthday.

  • IMAX, Major sign deal for five theatres in Thailand

    21-Jun-2010

    IMAX Corp has signed a deal with leading Thai exhibitor Major Cineplex to install five IMAX digital theatres in Thailand, starting with two in Bangkok.

  • Thailand picks up the pieces

    17-Jun-2010

    Thailand’s film business suffered during the country’s civil unrest — and at least one arthouse cinema shuttered — but the situation is now getting back to normal, Liz Shackleton reports.

  • Hong Kong’s OSGH, Cyberport join venture to screen 3D World Cup

    17-Jun-2010

    Hong Kong exhibitor Orange Sky Golden Harvest (OSGH) has teamed with local partners to screen live 3D broadcasts of World Cup matches in its cinemas starting on June 18.

  • Eros teams with Vistaar Religare to co-produce Mausam

    14-Jun-2010

    India’s Eros International is teaming with local film fund Vistaar Religare and production house Cinergy to co-produce love story Mausam starring Shahid Kapur and Sonam Kapoor.

  • The Weinstein Company picks up Woo’s Reign Of Assassins

    11-Jun-2010

    The Weinstein Company (TWC) has acquired North American and South African rights to upcoming martial arts blockbuster Reign Of Assassins, produced by John Woo and starring Michelle Yeoh.

  • Imagenation, ADFC launch internship programme

    8-Jun-2010

    Imagenation Abu Dhabi and the Abu Dhabi Film Commission have jointly launched an internship programme, Mawaheb, which offers Emirati student filmmakers the chance to gain hands-on experience overseas.

  • Film Auckland, China Film Association sign agreement

    8-Jun-2010

    New Zealand-based industry organisation Film Auckland and the China Film Association have signed a memorandum of understanding designed to form a closer working relationship between the two countries.

  • MDA appoints organiser for ScreenSingapore event

    3-Jun-2010

    Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA) has appointed Singapore Airshow & Events as the official organiser for its recently-announced international cinema event ScreenSingapore.

  • Media Asia’s Legend Of The Fist sells to 18 territories

    1-Jun-2010

    Hong Kong’s Media Asia Films has wrapped up 18 deals on Andrew Lau’s Legend Of The Fist: The Return Of Chen Zhen, starring hot action star Donnie Yen, after screening 11 minutes of footage during Cannes.

  • Thailand’s GTH pre-sells Knowing Me Knowing You

    22-May-2010

    Thai producer-distributor GMM Tai Hub (GTH) has scored an early pre-sale on romantic comedy Knowing Me Knowing You, which has been acquired by Queen Film for Indonesia.

  • Brave new world for Chinese cinema

    20-May-2010

    Chinese movies have not been as widely distributed to diaspora communities as Indian cinema but New Zealand distributor SkyCity Cinemas is succeeding in enticing overseas Chinese back to the cinema by investing in new films and day-and-date releases.

  • Splendid, Stars take The Showdown

    20-May-2010

    The Korean company has completed deals on action thriller The Showdown and drama Wedding Dress.

  • Dubai Film Connection expands awards for 2010

    19-May-2010

    The Dubai International Film Festival’s projects market has added an award for a first-time film-maker.

  • Kites flies with sales for IM Global

    19-May-2010

    Both the English and original Hindi version of the film have done brisk

  • Odin’s Eye strikes UK deal for Damned By Dawn

    19-May-2010

    The horror flick has also been sold in the Middle East and Indonesia.

  • Image Forum, Bewiz launch new Japanese promo organisation

    19-May-2010

    The new body will promote local films abroad, coordinate showcases and collaborate with foreign organisations on cultural events.

  • NTV strikes Gantz deals

    19-May-2010

    The Japanese outfit has closed a raft of territories on Shinsuke Sato’s Gantz.

  • Reliance MediaWorks expands London offerings

    18-May-2010

    Reliance MediaWorks, the film services arm of India’s Reliance ADA group, has expanded its lab capacity in London so it can handle feature film work.

  • The Housemaid cleans up for Mirovision

    18-May-2010

    Seoul-based producer and sales agent Mirovision has closed a slew of deals on Im Sang-soo’s The Housemaid.

  • Fortissimo strikes slate deal with MDA

    17-May-2010

    The development initiative will support up to five projects in its first year.

  • Venice to honour Mani Ratnam

    17-May-2010

    The 67th Venice Film Festival, which runs September 1-11, will pay tribute to Indian film-maker Mani Ratman (pictured).

  • Finecut books trio of deals on Competition title Poetry

    17-May-2010

    The film has gone to Golem Distribucion for Spain and Andorra, MCF MegaCom Film for ex-Yugoslavia and Khan Entertainment for Taiwan.

  • Toei plans 3D version of cult thriller Battle Royale

    17-May-2010

    The 3D version of the original will be ready for market screenings in October and released in Japan on November 20.

  • Buyers strike for M-Line’s Blades

    17-May-2010

    Lee Joon-ik’s (pictured) epic action title Blades Of Blood sells to a raft of territories including the UK and Thailand.

  • Dubai pacts with Lebanese doc group

    17-May-2010

    The festival will provide support in bid to strengthen Lebanese documentary film-making.

  • Fortune Star sells package deals

    17-May-2010

    The company closes sales on two packages of library titles, including Johnnie To’s Running Out Of Time (pictured) and John Woo’s Hitman.

  • Vietnam plans first film festival for October

    17-May-2010

    The Northern city of Hanoi will host the country’s first film festival this October.

  • Qatar unveils umbrella organisation Doha Film Institute

    16-May-2010

    The state of Qatar launched the Doha Film Institute (DFI), an umbrella organisation to oversee its various film-related activities, in Cannes yesterday.

  • Finecut signs two new output deals

    16-May-2010

    The Seoul based sales agent has signed with two Korean companies.

  • Global One takes Hindi remake rights to Alone

    16-May-2010

    Parkpoom Wongpoom’s 2007 film was a hit across Asia.

  • Indonesia in Cannes to entice more foreign productions

    16-May-2010

    The country recently hosted Plan B Entertainment’s Eat Pray Love (pictured) starring Julia Roberts.

  • Swarovski moves into film with Shekhar Kapur's Paani

    15-May-2010

    Swarovski Entertainment, the newly-launched film arm of the luxury crystal brand, and India’s Walkwater Media have boarded Shekhar Kapur’s (picture) passion project Paani (Water).

  • Chinese pop star Cui Jian plans to direct for Beijing Antaeus

    15-May-2010

    The Chinese outfit reveals packed Cannes slate, including the debut film from China’s rock father Cui Jian.

  • Imagenation unveils first Emirati production

    15-May-2010

    The company has developed, financed and produced Sea Shadow, to be directed by Nawaf-Al-Janahi.

  • MDA strikes four-year partnership with Tiger Gate

    14-May-2010

    The slate of projects, which are intended for both theatrical and TV distribution, will be jointly selected and financed by Tiger Gate and the MDA.

  • Big-budget 3D trilogy planned for China's Creation of the Gods

    14-May-2010

    Beijing-based financier Baiyi Chen, Shanghai’s Dream Tube Entertainment and Taiwan-based producer Steve Chicorel are joining forces for the project.

  • Keisha Castle-Hughes, Kristin Kreuk join Iwai Shunji's Vampire

    14-May-2010

    A hot cast of young Western stars has joined Vampire, the English-language debut of Japanese director Iwai Shunji, including Keisha Castle-Hughes (pictured) and Rachael Leigh Cook.

  • Indian fund Cause aims to raise $45 for socially conscious films

    14-May-2010

    Mumbai-based financial services company DM Capital Advisors is launching a venture capital fund, Cause Entertainment (CE), to invest in socially conscious movies.

  • Sunstone warms to Teen Patti

    14-May-2010

    Mumbai-based Sunstone Entertainment has picked up international rights to Teen Patti starring Ben Kingsley and Amitabh Bachchan.

  • Dubai Film Market counts $2m in deals from 2009 market

    13-May-2010

    The market reveals distribution deals worth $2m (AED7.3m) following its 2009 edition, including Shoreline’s acquisition of City Of Life.

  • Singapore to launch new international film showcase in June 2011

    13-May-2010

    Singapore is gearing up to launch an international cinema event, ScreenSingapore, to showcase Hollywood and Asian cinema, starting in June 2011.

  • Fox Searchlight strikes US deal for Wang's Snow Flower

    13-May-2010

    Gianna Jun and Li Bing Bing star in the adaptation of Lisa See’s bestseller about female friendship in 19th century China.

  • Finecut sells I Saw The Devil to France's ARP

    13-May-2010

    The film is currently in production and scheduled for Korean release in summer this year. Finecut is showing 12 minutes footage of the film here at Cannes.

  • India's Avinaash Jumani starts PictureWorks

    13-May-2010

    WEG India sales chief Avinaash Jumani has launched a new company, PictureWorks, to acquire world cinema content for India and produce and sell Bollywood films.

  • Kong's Edko sells Life Is A Miracle

    13-May-2010

    Bill Kong’s Edko Films is launching international sales on award-winning Chinese director Gu Changwei’s Life Is A Miracle, starring Zhang Ziyi and Aaron Kwok, here at Cannes.  Set in a small Chinese village, where an illicit trade in human blood has resulted in the spread of HIV, the film follows two fellow AIDS sufferers, played by Zhang and Kwok, who fall in love with each other. Produced by China’s Stellar Megamedia and Beijing Forbidden City Film Co, the film ...

  • Japan’s Gaga Corp announces slew of acquisitions

    12-May-2010

    Japanese distributor Gaga Corporation has announced a slew of acquisitions made since last September, including Buried, directed by Rodrigo Cortes, Sam Taylor Wood’s Nowhere Boy and Tom Ford’s A Single Man.

  • Finecut sets buyers blazing on 71: Into The Fire

    12-May-2010

    South Korean sales agent Finecut has pre-sold John H. Lee’s big-budget war drama 71: Into The Fireto Ascot Elite for German-speaking Europe and Benelux.

  • Heather Graham joins 3D animated adventure The Flying Machine

    12-May-2010

    Beijing-based Bona International Film Group has also boarded the project as co-producer alongside Polish animation studio Breakthru.

  • Bladesman cuts to Easternlight

    12-May-2010

    Hong Kong based Easternlight Films has picked up international rights to Alan Mak and Felix Chong’s The Lost Bladesman.

  • Fortissimo pacts with Fox International Productions

    11-May-2010

    The first two titles under the deal will be Italian-language production Vallanzasca, directed by Michele Placido, and Russian-language Alien Girl, directed by Anton Barmatov.

  • MDA unveils Cannes slate of 25 Singapore productions

    6-May-2010

    Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA) will be promoting a slate of 25 new locally-produced films at the upcoming Cannes market, a 25% increase on last year’s slate, highlighting the growing production volume of the city state.

  • Sidus FNH picks up worldwide rights to The Showdown

    4-May-2010

    South Korea’s Sidus FNH has picked up worldwide rights to The Showdown, a period action thriller produced by Bidangil Pictures whose credits include The Chaser.

  • Gowariker launches online search to find Buddha

    29-Apr-2010

    Ashutosh Gowariker, the Indian filmmaker who is set to direct the upcoming biopic Buddha, has launched a global online audition to find a fresh face to play the role of the young Buddha.

  • Tiger Gate channels launch in Hong Kong, Singapore

    28-Apr-2010

    Hong Kong-based Tiger Gate Entertainment has secured distribution for its action channel KIX and thriller/horror channel Thrill in both Hong Kong and Singapore.

  • iDream adds Banerjee's LSD, Panda's I Am Kalam to Cannes slate

    27-Apr-2010

    London and Mumbai-based iDream Independent Pictures has pick up international rights to Nila Madhab Panda’s I Am Kalam and Dibakar Banerjee’s recent break-out hit LSD: Love Sex Aur Dhokha.

  • Survey shows Hong Kong support for warnings from ISPs

    27-Apr-2010

    A survey has found that 82% of Hong Kong internet users would be likely to stop illegal file-sharing after receiving a warning from their internet service providers (ISPs).

  • Sex Volunteer takes top prizes at Singapore’s Silver Screen Awards

    26-Apr-2010

    Korean drama Sex Volunteer, directed by Cho Kyeong-duk, was awarded best film and best director in the Asian feature competition of the Silver Screen Awards at this year’s Singapore International Film Festival.

  • Senn Moses

    22-Apr-2010

    The managing director of Cimarron Group Asia talks to Liz Shackleton about introducing aspects of Western-style marketing to Asia.

  • Bodyguards, Echoes dominate Hong Kong Film Awards

    19-Apr-2010

    Teddy Chen’s action thriller Bodyguards And Assassins scooped this year’s Hong Kong Film Awards, winning eight prizes from its 18 nominations, although the much smaller drama Echoes Of The Rainbow also put up a brave fight by taking four awards.

  • Hong Kong’s Celestial signs two-picture deal with Teddy Chen

    19-Apr-2010

    Celestial Pictures has kick-started its move back into production by signing a deal with filmmaker Teddy Chen (Bodyguards And Assassins) who will direct and produce two features films for the Hong Kong studio.

  • A tale of three cities

    16-Apr-2010

    The rise of mainland China as a massive market could have stubbed out originality across Chinese-speaking Asia, but production centres in Taipei and Hong Kong have ensured diversity and fresh vision.

  • Panorama scores deal to bring 3D World Cup to Asian cinemas

    14-Apr-2010

    Hong Kong-based Panorama Entertainment Group has secured a deal to bring live 3D broadcasts of the 2010 FIFA World Cup to cinemas and select venues across Asia.

  • Singapore’s MDA, Fremantle partner for animation fund

    12-Apr-2010

    Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA) has launched a fund for animated TV series, telemovies and theatrical features in partnership with FremantleMedia Enterprises.

  • Indies can skyrocket with CG animation

    8-Apr-2010

    One area where independent producers can carve a niche, and occasionally even trump the studios, is computer-generated animation.

  • Hong Kong's box office booms, driven by 3D

    8-Apr-2010

    Hong Kong’s box office grew 29% in the first quarter of 2010, thanks to films like Avatar as well as new multiplex openings.

  • Lionsgate, Saban form joint venture to expand Tiger Gate

    6-Apr-2010

    Private equity player Saban Capital Group has formed a 50:50 partnership with Lionsgate to operate and manage Hong Kong-based film and TV venture Tiger Gate.

  • Hong Kong International Film Festival chooses the High Life

    31-Mar-2010

    Zhao Dayong’s The High Life picked up both the Silver Digital Award the FIPRESCI prize at the 34th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), while the Golden Digital Award went to Yang Heng’s Sun Spots.

  • Mama Eve takes inaugural Wouter Barendrecht Award

    24-Mar-2010

    Kit Hung’s Mama Eve became the first recipient of the Wouter Barendrecht Award at the close of the 8th Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF).

  • Mandarin scores North American deal on Ip Man duo

    24-Mar-2010

    Hong Kong’s Mandarin Films has sold North American rights to Ip Man and its sequel Ip Man 2 to Well Go USA Inc.

  • Star signs carriage deal with TMNet

    24-Mar-2010

    Star Greater China has signed a multi-year non-exclusive distribution deal with Malaysian IPTV platform TM Net.

  • Hong Kong ramps up 3D production

    24-Mar-2010

    Hong Kong filmmakers and post-production professionals discussed the challenges that the territory faces in embracing 3D production at a Filmart conference on Tuesday (March 23).

  • Ning Hao Lands at Fortissimo

    24-Mar-2010

    Fortissimo Films has picked up Chinese director Ning Hao’s highly-anticipated road movie No Man’s Land, starring Yu Nan (Tuya’s Marriage) and rising mainland actor Huang Bo (pictured).

  • Media Asia unveils Johnnie To, Gao Qunshu projects

    24-Mar-2010

    Hong Kong’s Media Asia Films announced a packed slate of productions at Filmart, including a romantic comedy from Johnnie To (pictured) and Wai Ka-fai, and a new project from The Message director Gao Qunshu.

  • Cut and thrust

    23-Mar-2010

    With some sophisticated CGI houses and a world-class studio facility, Hong Kong’s services sector is one of the strongest in the region. Liz Shackleton reports

  • Iwai speaks English with Fortissimo

    23-Mar-2010

    Fortissimo Films has acquired the first English-language feature from acclaimed Japanese director Shunji Iwai, whose credits include Love Letter and April Story.

  • Korea’s Mother tops Asian Film Awards

    23-Mar-2010

    Korean thriller Mother, directed by Bong Joon-ho, scooped three awards including best film, best screenwriter and best actress for Kim Hye-ja’s performance at the 4th Asian Film Awards (AFAs) on Monday night.

  • Greenwood to score Tran Anh Hung’s Norwegian Wood

    23-Mar-2010

    Jonny Greenwood, the BAFTA and Grammy-nominated musician and member of rock band Radiohead, will compose the soundtrack to Tran Anh Hung’s upcoming Norwegian Wood.

  • Star sells 20 to Malaysian broadcaster

    23-Mar-2010

    Regional broadcaster Star has sold a package of 20 titles from its Fortune Star movie library to Malaysian broadcaster Media Prima Berhad.

  • AON/Ruben makes push into Asia market

    23-Mar-2010

    US entertainment insurance broker AON/Albert G. Ruben is making an aggressive push into the Asian market to tap into the region’s booming production industries.

  • Chan, Tong plot Yuefai TV series

    22-Mar-2010

    Jackie Chan and Stanley Tong are planning to produce a 30-part international TV series based on the life of Chinese war hero Yuefei.

  • Geddes donates Chinese film haul to Toronto University

    22-Mar-2010

    Chinese cinema history has received a shot in the arm with the donation of more than 400 Hong Kong and Taiwanese feature films and trailers, collected by curator and festival programmer Colin Geddes, to the University of Toronto. 

  • Yun’s Homerun corrals hot Asian talent in debut slate

    22-Mar-2010

    Former Raintree Pictures head Daniel Yun has unveiled the debut slate of his new venture, Homerun Asia, including collaborations with leading filmmakers such as Peter Chan, Terence Chang and John Woo, and Australia’s Tony Ayres.

  • Fortissimo Films gets Wasted

    22-Mar-2010

    Fortissimo Films has picked up Australian high school drama Wasted On The Young, the debut feature from hot up-and-coming director Ben C. Lucas.

  • Distribution Workshop lands What Women Want

    22-Mar-2010

    Hong Kong-based Distribution Workshop is handling international sales on Chen Daming’s Chinese remake of Paramount romantic comedy What Women Want, which is set to star Andy Lau and Fan Bingbing (pictured).

  • Hong Kong’s Anyplex signs VoD deal with Sony

    22-Mar-2010

    Hong Kong video-on-demand (VoD) service Anyplex has signed a content licensing deal with Sony Pictures Television (SPT), covering blockbuster titles such as 2012,Michael Jackson’s This Is It and Angels & Demons.

  • Hyde Park Imagenation hires two for Asia, Middle East

    22-Mar-2010

    Hyde Park Imagenation, the joint venture between Imagenation Abu Dhabi and LA-based Hyde Park Entertainment, has hired two Asia-based creative executives, Jason Mirch and Yee Yeo Chang. 

  • Gateway to opportunity

    19-Mar-2010

    Against the backdrop of an astounding boom in China’s box office, Hong Kong Filmart (March 22-25) is a key place to do business in Asia. Liz Shackleton profiles this year’s event, and the financing forum and festival which run alongside it

  • Hong Kong International film festival and other expo events

    18-Mar-2010

    This year’s Hong Kong International Film Festival has a strong emphasis on local cinema.

  • Hong Kong turns up the volume

    18-Mar-2010

    On the eve of the 34th Hong Kong International Film Festival and Filmart, Liz Shackleton looks at whether the current surge in Hong Kong cinema really amounts to a revival.

  • Tony Chan & Wing Shya

    18-Mar-2010

    The co-directors of Fox’s first Chinese-language production Hot Summer Days talk about making a studio film and the challenges posed by the weather.

  • Mao’s Last Dancer to open Singapore film festival

    18-Mar-2010

    This year’s Singapore International Film Festival (April 15-24) will open with Mao’s Last Dancer, directed by Bruce Beresford.

  • AFAs to present Bachchan with Lifetime Achievement Award

    12-Mar-2010

    Indian superstar Amitabh Bachchan will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 4th Asian Film Awards.

  • Disney enters production for Southern Indian audiences

    12-Mar-2010

    The Walt Disney Company Indiais shooting a Telugu-language epic fantasy adventure, which marks the studio’s first production aimed at Southern Indian audiences.

  • Singapore Film Commission awards funding to four projects

    3-Mar-2010

    The Singapore Film Commission (SFC) has awarded funding to four projects under its New Feature Film Fund for local directors, including Endless Day from Ho Tzu Nyen, whose feature debut Here screened in Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes.

  • Hong Kong film festival reveals 2010 line-up

    25-Feb-2010

    The Hong Kong International Film Festival has revealed a strong line-up of local titles for this year edition, which opens on March 21.

  • HAF pays tribute to Wouter Barendrecht with new award

    25-Feb-2010

    The Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum dedicates new award to the memory Wouter Barendrecht, who passed away last year.

  • Hong Kong Filmart launches documentary market

    2-Feb-2010

    Hong Kong Filmart is launching a three-day documentary event at this year’s edition.

  • Hitting a Homerun

    8-Jan-2010

    Daniel Yun is galvanising the Singapore film community with his latest venture — Homerun Pictures. He tell Liz Shackleton how he is setting up film funds with China and Australia and launching an international sales outfit

  • Singapore’s Zhao Wei Films builds Sandcastle

    23-Dec-2009

    Singaporean production outfit Zhao Wei Films, founded by filmmaker Eric Khoo and James Toh, is set to start shooting Sandcastle, the debut feature from award-winning shorts director Boo Junfeng (pictured), on Jan 2, 2010.

  • WTO rejects China’s appeal against opening its film market

    23-Dec-2009

    The World Trade Organization (WTO) has rejected China’s appeal against a ruling that it must stop forcing US content owners to use state-owned companies to distribute movies and books.

  • Worlds apart but moving closer

    17-Dec-2009

    While a gulf still exists between India’s overtly commercial and star-driven film industry and its European counterpart, there are signs that producers from both regions are looking for ways to secure crossover success.

  • IIFAs to be held in Toronto in 2011

    10-Dec-2009

    The organisers of the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFAs) have announced that the 2011 edition of the event will be held in Toronto, marking the first time that the Bollywood awards show has been held in North America.

  • GDC announces slew of 3D deals at close of CineAsia

    10-Dec-2009

    Digital cinema provider GDC Technology announced a slew of deals to equip Asian exhibitors with 3D technology, provided by RealD, as the three-day CineAsia conference drew to a close.

  • Hong Kong's Golden Scene joins the Break-up Club

    9-Dec-2009

    Hong Kong sales and distribution outfit Golden Scene has picked up international rights to Barbara Wong Chun-chun’s upcoming docu-drama Break-up Club.

  • CineAsia opens with focus on mainland China’s growth

    9-Dec-2009

    The CineAsia distribution and exhibition conference got underway in Hong Kong on Tuesday, with a focus on multiplex development and the rollout of d-cinema systems in the mainland China market, which is currently enjoying 40% box office growth.

  • Reliance, In-Three team for 3D conversions

    7-Dec-2009

    India’s Reliance MediaWorks, owned by the Reliance ADA group, has partnered with California-based In-Three to establish a facility in Mumbai to convert 2D films and videos into 3D.

  • Twosome takes Hubert Bals award at busy Film Bazaar

    27-Nov-2009

    Siddharth Sinha’s Hindi-language drama Twosome picked up the Hubert Bals award for most promising feature film project at the close of a busy three days of networking and project meetings at India’s Film Bazaar (Nov 24-26).

  • The Asian dimension

    27-Nov-2009

    On the eve of this year’s CineAsia in Hong Kong (Dec 8-10), Liz Shackleton asks if the imminent release of 20th Century Fox’s epic Avatar can jumpstart the rollout of 3D in Asia and help stem the tide of piracy

  • Film Bazaar focuses on packaging, digital distribution

    24-Nov-2009

    The third edition of Film Bazaar kicked off in Goa on Tuesday (Nov 24), with delegates discussing how to package projects for both India and European markets, and how Indian filmmakers can increase revenues by exploiting digital rights.  

  • Mo Tzu Yi joins cast of Singaporean comedy Forever

    24-Nov-2009

    Rising Taiwanese star Mo Tzu Yi is heading the cast of Singaporean director Wee Li Lin’s (pictured) romantic comedy Forever, which started shooting in Singapore this week.

  • India’s indies set global goals

    19-Nov-2009

    It is too early to talk of an Indian film wave, but certain indie titles from the country are gaining recognition among international buyers. Liz Shackleton looks at the challenges they face in finding a global audience.

  • Meeting at the crossroads

    19-Nov-2009

    Film Bazaar in Goa, which takes place this week, is where the independent indian cinema sector meets the international film industry. Liz Shackleton takes a look at what is on offer.

  • Chin Han joins cast of Gus Van Sant’s next project

    16-Nov-2009

    Singaporean actor Chin Han has joined Mia Wasikowska, Henry Hopper and Ryo Case in the cast of Gus Van Sant’s next as-yet-untitled project, which is being produced by Imagine Entertainment and Columbia Pictures.

  • Dadi seals Asian deals on $23m biopic Confucius

    9-Nov-2009

    China’s Dadi Entertainment has wrapped up a string of Asian deals on its $23m biopic Confucius, including sales to Korea’s J.L. International, Thailand’s Sahamongkol and Singapore’s Cathay Keris Films.

  • Cinetic, Phase 4 tie up rights for Salute from Odin’s Eye

    9-Nov-2009

    Odin’s Eye Entertainment has signed separate deals with Cinetic Media and Phase 4 for North American rights to award-winning documentary Salute, chronicling the story behind the iconic black power salute.

  • Huayi Brothers boards EMP’s Stool Pigeon

    8-Nov-2009

    Beijing-based Huayi Brothers Media Corporation has boarded Dante Lam’s The Stool Pigeon, produced by Hong Kong’s Emperor Motion Pictures (EMP), as an equity partner.

  • Toei pre-sells Memoirs to Hong Kong

    7-Nov-2009

    Japanese studio Toei has pre-sold US-Japan co-production Memoirs Of A Teenage Amnesiac to Hong Kong distributor Golden Scene.

  • Distribution Workshop adds Monga to AFM slate

    7-Nov-2009

    Hong Kong’s Distribution Workshop has picked up international rights to Monga, an edgy gangster drama from Taiwanese actor turned director “Doze” Niu Chen-zer.

  • Margate House debuts with Indonesian epic

    7-Nov-2009

    Jakarta-based production company Margate House is making its AFM debut to launch sales on Indonesia’s biggest ever production – $6m trilogy Merah Putih, about Indonesia’s fight for independence.

  • Showbox sells Take Off to Japan’s Amuse Soft

    7-Nov-2009

    Korea’s Showbox Mediplex has scored a Japanese deal on local box office smash Take Off, which was snapped up by Amuse Soft Entertainment.

  • United, M-Line seal German, Asian deals on Woochi

    7-Nov-2009

    South Korea’s United Pictures and M-Line Distribution have pre-sold $12m action fantasy Woochi to Splendid for Germany and Benelux and Viscom Suraya for Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.

  • Singapore’s Mega Media to co-finance Floating Life

    7-Nov-2009

    Vietnam Media Corp has secured financing from Singapore’s Mega Media for its upcoming drama The Immense Floating Life, which is set to be one of Vietnam’s biggest productions in 2010.

  • Antichrist gets Enlightened deal for home video in India

    6-Nov-2009

    India’s Enlighten Film Society has bought home video rights to Lars von Trier’s Antichrist at the Reliance Big Entertainment-backed Mumbai Film Festival (MFF) which closed on Nov 5.

  • Fortissimo strikes up partnership with CJ Entertainment

    6-Nov-2009

    Fortissimo Films has entered into a strategic partnership with Korea’s CJ Entertainment that covers co-production and library sales, and gives CJ a first-look deal for Fortissimo’s upcoming titles.

  • We Distribution sells Bodyguards to E1, CJ

    6-Nov-2009

    Hong Kong’s We Distribution has sold Cinema Popular’s $23m action thriller Bodyguard & Assassins to E1 Entertainment for the UK and Canada, CJ Entertainment for Korea and Gulf Films for the Middle East.

  • MDA unveils first project from International Film Fund

    6-Nov-2009

    Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA) has announced the first project under its International Film Fund (IFF), a Singapore-China-Korea co-production, Neon Sign, to be directed by Korea’s Pil Gam-Sung.

  • CJ sells Good Morning President to Japan

    5-Nov-2009

    Korea’s CJ Entertainment has had a busy start to the AFM, scoring sales on new titles White Night and Killer Bride’s Perfect Crime and selling Good Morning President to SPO Entertainment for Japan.

  • Finecut unveils second collaboration with Trapero

    5-Nov-2009

    Korea’s Finecut is co-producing and handling international sales on Argentinean director Pablo Trapero’s new film, tentatively titled Carancho, marking their second collaboration following Lion’s Den.

  • Double Edge picks up Chu’s $15m Treasure Hunter

    4-Nov-2009

    Taipei-based Double Edge Entertainment has picked up a slew of rights on Kevin Chu’s $15m Treasure Hunter, starring Taiwanese idol Jay Chou, and sealed a Chinese deal on sci-fi action film The King Of Fighters.

  • Japan’s Nikkatsu to unleash Sushi Typhoon

    4-Nov-2009

    Japanese studio Nikkatsu is launching an extreme gore label, Sushi Typhoon, to produce films from Japan’s leading cult directors including Takashi Miike (Yatterman) and Yoshihiro Nishimura (Tokyo Gore Police).

  • Fortissimo gets cutting edge with The Hairdresser

    4-Nov-2009

    Fortissimo Films has made its first ever German acquisition, picking up worldwide rights outside Germany, Austria and Switzerland to Doris Dorrie’s The Hairdresser.

  • Finecut sells A Brand New Life to Japan

    4-Nov-2009

    Seoul-based sales company Finecut has sealed a Japanese deal on Ounie Lecomte’s A Brand New Life, selling the Korean-French co-production to Crest International.

  • EMP adds Stool Pigeon to star-studded AFM slate

    3-Nov-2009

    Hong Kong’s Emperor Motion Pictures has started shooting The Stool Pigeon, featuring the team behind last year’s sleeper hit The Beast Stalker, one of four high-profile action films on the company’s AFM slate.

  • Fox to release Khan on Valentine’s weekend

    2-Nov-2009

    Fox has announced that it will release My Name Is Khan, starring Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, in more than 40 territories on February 12, 2010, to coincide with Valentine’s Day weekend. 

  • Former UIP exec Kurt Rieder joins Artisan Gateway

    2-Nov-2009

    Kurt Rieder, who has headed UIP’s Asian operations for the past six years, has joined theatrical consultancy Artisan Gateway as managing director, based in Singapore.

  • Greater China at AFM

    1-Nov-2009

    Box-office growth boosts new action and comedy projects

  • Far East festivals compete for market attention

    29-Oct-2009

    In an Asian version of the Venice-Toronto marathon, the credits have now rolled on the Pusan and Tokyo film festivals. International buyers and sellers tell Liz Shackleton which event they found to be the most useful.

  • Raintree Pictures appoints Man as managing director

    22-Oct-2009

    Man Shu Sum has left his position as CEO of Mark Burnett Productions’ Singapore-based Asian arm to join MediaCorp Raintree Pictures as managing director.

  • Secrets takes TPG award at close of busy TIFFCOM

    22-Oct-2009

    Izuru Kumasaka’s Secrets On The Table took the Tokyo Project Gathering (TPG) award at the close of the four-day projects market, and a successful edition of accompanying contents market TIFFCOM.

  • Japanese lessons

    22-Oct-2009

    The days of big MGs from Japanese distributors may be over, but there is still a market in Japan for a certain kind of movie that is sold at the right price.

  • Chow Yun-fat to star in Jiang Wen’s Let The Bullets Fly

    21-Oct-2009

    Chow Yun-fat has joined mainland Chinese actor Ge You in the cast of Jiang Wen’s action comedy Let The Bullets Fly.

  • Sales and co-production under the spotlight at TIFFCOM

    21-Oct-2009

    The Japanese film industry grappled with how to sell films to the international market and collaborate with its neighbours in East Asia on the opening day of the TIFFCOM market in Tokyo (Oct 20-22).

  • Fortissimo picks up Michelle Yeoh martial arts thriller

    19-Oct-2009

    Fortissimo Films has picked up international rights to martial arts thriller Jianyu Jianghu (working title), starring Michelle Yeoh and produced by John Woo and Terence Chang’s Lion Rock Productions.

  • Taiwan’s Zeus set to produce triptych love story Juliet

    16-Oct-2009

    Taiwanese producer Khan Lee is lining up a portmanteau love story, Juliet (working title), as the second installment in its Pushing Hands initiative, designed to support new talent.

  • Japan tempts overseas talent

    15-Oct-2009

    The Tokyo International Film Festival (Oct 17-25) is growing in importance as a crucial gateway into the huge but challenging Japanese market.

  • Tiffcom: 'A great place to sell to Asian territories'

    15-Oct-2009

    Tiffcom contents market (Oct 20-22) is shaping up to be a big draw as Japanese buyers stay close to home.

  • Asian film commissions to jointly develop incentives system

    14-Oct-2009

    Seven film commissions and government bodies pledged to work together to develop production incentives and other schemes to create a film-friendly environment in Asia, at the close of the second edition of Film Policy Plus (FPP) on Wednesday night.

  • Double Edge scores raft of Korean deals at Pusan market

    14-Oct-2009

    Taipei-based Double Edge Entertainment sealed a raft of deals during the Asian Film Market, including the sale of Hachiko, starring Richard Gere, and Smother, with Liv Tyler and Diane Keaton, to Korean distributor Cinaste.

  • Cambodia, Japan film commissions come into focus

    14-Oct-2009

    Recently-launched film commissions from two vastly different filmmaking cultures – Cambodia and Japan – were introduced at the BIFCOM locations showcase and Film Policy Plus (FPP) in Pusan this week.

  • Asian producers bemoan dearth of bond companies

    13-Oct-2009

    Industry experts bemoaned the global decline in completion bond companies at a financing seminar during Pusan’s Asian Film Market, observing that only one or two companies remain to bond independent films.

  • Won Bin is the Man for United Pictures

    11-Oct-2009

    Korean actor Won Bin, who recently starred in Bong Joon-ho’s Mother, has been cast as the lead in action drama This Man (working title), which is being sold internationally by United Pictures.

  • KRU Studios appoints Epic Pictures as sales agent

    9-Oct-2009

    Malaysia’s KRU Studios has appointed Los Angeles-based Epic Pictures as its sales agent for its slate of international feature films.

  • Golden Shell winner City continues selling streak

    6-Oct-2009

    Hong Kong’s Media Asia Films has sold Lu Chuan’s City Of Life And Death to Latin America and Greece, following its success at San Sebastian where it won the Golden Shell for best film and best cinematography.

  • Box-office growth hits legal stumbling block

    2-Oct-2009

    Huge population should equal huge box office. But despite a surge in local films, a new law and lack of competition are holding Indonesia back.

  • Emperor hires Ivy Ho to head marketing

    29-Sep-2009

    Hong Kong’s Emperor Motion Pictures (EMP) has appointed Ivy Ho as general manager of marketing, responsible for all marketing activities relating to the company’s production and acquisition activities.  

  • XME licenses Lionsgate’s More Than A Game

    28-Sep-2009

    Beijing-based Xinhua Media Entertainment (XME) has licensed mainland China distribution rights to basketball documentary More Than A Game from Lionsgate.

  • Convergence signs up Singapore’s Chai Yee-wei

    28-Sep-2009

    Los Angeles-based Convergence Entertainment has signed a deal with Singaporean filmmaker Chai Yee-wei to represent him as a director outside Singapore under the company’s management division.

  • China, Philippines make Oscar selections

    28-Sep-2009

    China has selected Chen Kaige’s Forever Enthralled as its entry for the best foreign-language film category of the Academy Awards, while the Philippines has picked Soxie Topacio’s Grandfather Is Dead.

  • China appeals WTO ruling

    24-Sep-2009

    As expected, China has appealed against a recent World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling that would open the country’s market for US movies, music and books.

  • Rising Singapore star signs two-year deal with Scorpio East

    23-Sep-2009

    Singaporean actor Christopher Lee is signing an exclusive two-year film contract with local producer-distributor Scorpio East Pictures, which will represent the rising star in exploring movie options both locally and across the region.

  • Yun set to strike Home Run for Singapore

    22-Sep-2009

    Former Raintree Pictures chief Daniel Yun is joining forces with Festive Films’ Low Yuen Ping and former Salon Films executive John Sim to launch a Singapore-based outfit, Home Run Pictures, with a focus on executive producing and international sales.

  • Media Asia scores deals on Venice title Accident

    16-Sep-2009

    Hong Kong’s Media Asia Distribution had a busy Toronto, sealing a string of deals on Soi Cheang’s Accident, which recently premiered in competition at Venice.

  • Bangkok film festival to open with Bad Lieutenant

    15-Sep-2009

    Werner Herzog’s Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call New Orleans will open this year’s Bangkok International Film Festival (BKIFF), fresh from its Venice premiere, while local production Sawasdee Bangkok will close the event.

  • Small - but perfectly formed

    11-Sep-2009

    It may be tiny today, but the Vietnamese market has the pieces in place to enjoy huge growth. Liz Shackleton reports.

  • Putting art before politics

    10-Sep-2009

    The recent decision by Taiwan’s Government Information Office to revoke its subsidy for Miao Miao does not help the long-term development of the Taiwanese film industry.

  • Indonesian filmmakers condemn new film law

    10-Sep-2009

    The Indonesian film industry is protesting against a film bill, passed into law on Tuesday, that increases censorship of local production and limits the distribution of foreign films.

  • Taiwan’s GIO to revoke Prince Of Tears subsidy

    9-Sep-2009

    Taiwan’s Government Information Office (GIO) has informed Prince Of Tears director Yonfan that it will take back the film’s $306,000 (NT$10m) subsidy unless it withdraws as Hong Kong’s selection for the foreign-language category of the Academy Awards.

  • Prince Of Tears, No Puedo submitted for Oscars

    9-Sep-2009

    Hong Kong has selected Yonfan’s Prince Of Tears as its entry for the best foreign-language film category of the Academy Awards, while Taiwan has chosen Leon Dai’s award-winning No Puedo Vivir Sin Ti.

  • Tiger Gate completes financing, launches channels

    7-Sep-2009

    Tiger Gate, the Lionsgate-backed Asian film and TV venture, has brought on board two additional financial partners and started the roll-out of its two genre channels Thrill and KIX.

  • Beijing Screenings postponed to October

    4-Sep-2009

    The Beijing Screenings, China Film Group’s annual showcase of recent Chinese film production, has been postponed from September to October.

  • Film critics Tioseco, Bohinc killed in Manila robbery

    2-Sep-2009

    Renowned Filipino-Canadian film critic Alexis Tioseco and his partner, Slovenian critic and programmer Nika Bohinc, were shot dead during a robbery at their home in Quezon City on Tuesday night.

  • Keeping the edge

    28-Aug-2009

    The Fortissimo Films chief — now steering the company alone after his partner Wouter Barendrecht died earlier this year — tells Liz Shackleton how he and his team are adjusting their strategy in a tough international sales market

  • Angelopoulos, Kapoor to be honoured at Mumbai Film Festival

    27-Aug-2009

    The Mumbai Film Festival (Oct 29-Nov 5), organised by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI), has announced that it will present lifetime achievement awards to Greek filmmaker Theo Angelopoulos and Indian actor-director Shashi Kapoor.

  • Fortissimo picks up Shimizu’s 3D Shock Labyrinth

    26-Aug-2009

    Fortissimo Films has acquired worldwide rights, excluding Japan, to live-action 3D thriller The Shock Labyrinth, directed by Takashi Shimizu and produced by Japan’s Asmik Ace.

  • Beineix to head Pusan’s New Currents jury

    25-Aug-2009

    The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) has announced that Jean-Jacques Beineix has been appointed head of the jury for the New Currents competition, which highlights emerging Asian filmmakers.

  • China set to appeal WTO ruling

    18-Aug-2009

    China’s Ministry of Commerce has said that it’s preparing an appeal to a ruling last week by the World Trade Organization (WTO) that could open the country’s market for US movies, music and books.

  • Inarritu to head jury at Tokyo International Film Festival

    18-Aug-2009

    The Tokyo International Film Festival has announced that award-winning director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu will be the jury president of the international competition at the festival’s 22nd edition (Oct 17-25).

  • Reliance Big Pictures pushes into East Asian market

    17-Aug-2009

    Mumbai-based Reliance Big Pictures has sold action title Ghajini to Korea’s Activers Entertainment and a quartet of pictures to Chinese broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV).

  • Yun exits Singapore’s MediaCorp Raintree Pictures

    14-Aug-2009

    Daniel Yun is leaving his post as managing director of Singapore-based production and distribution company MediaCorp Raintree Pictures after 11 years in the job.

  • Scorpio East expands production, distribution activities

    14-Aug-2009

    Singapore-based distributor and film investor Scorpio East has made a couple of key appointments as it ramps up its production activity and moves into theatrical distribution in neighbouring Malaysia.

  • Maggie Q set to star with Bettany in Priest

    13-Aug-2009

    Asian action star Maggie Q has been cast opposite Paul Bettany in vampire horror Priest which Scott Stewart is directing for Screen Gems.

  • Eleven Flowers wins Open Doors production grant

    13-Aug-2009

    Eleven Flowers, a project to be directed by Wang Xiaoshuai and produced by Isabelle Glachant, was awarded a production grant of $46,000 (50,000 swiss francs) at the Locarno Film Festival’s 2009 Open Doors Factory.

  • First steps of a box-office giant

    30-Jul-2009

    The news that China has become the second biggest territory outside the US for Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen, with a $62m (rmb423m) gross as of July 19, demonstrates the dizzying potential of the country’s box-office market.

  • Forbidden Door takes top honours at PiFan

    24-Jul-2009

    The Forbidden Door, a thriller from Indonesian director Joko Anwar, was awarded the Best of Puchon prize at the Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan) on Thursday night.

  • India digs for box-office gold

    23-Jul-2009

    A surge in multiplex construction is expected in the still under-screened Indian market now the producers’ strike is over. But can air-conditioning and plush seats alone finally prise open the box office for foreign films?

  • Orengo to head up Sony Pictures Television Asia

    17-Jul-2009

    Sony Pictures Television (SPT) has appointed Angel Orengo as senior vice president, distribution, Asia Pacific, replacing Ross Pollack who is leaving the company to head up Hong Kong-based Celestial Pictures.

  • DreamWorks set to receive $825m initial financing

    16-Jul-2009

    DreamWorks Studios looks set to receive $825m in initial financing from India’s Reliance ADA Group and its distribution deal with Disney, the Indian conglomerate has announced.

  • Pollack appointed as CEO of Celestial Pictures

    16-Jul-2009

    Former Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) executive Ross Pollack has been appointed as CEO at Hong Kong-based Celestial Pictures, owned by Malaysia’s Astro Group.

  • No Puedo takes top honours at Taipei film festival

    13-Jul-2009

    Leon Dai’s No Puedo Vivir Sin Ti was the big winner at the close of the Taipei Film Festival on Saturday night, winning four prizes including best film, best actor and supporting actor and the media choice award.

  • Taiwanese film industry looks to China for growth

    12-Jul-2009

    Taiwan’s major film organisations look set to make an aggressive push into the mainland China market, in a bid to develop a mainstream film industry to complement the country’s current output of low-budget indie fare.

  • Bangkok film festival to take place September 24-30

    10-Jul-2009

    The organisers of the Bangkok International Film Festival (BKIFF) have confirmed that this year’s edition of the event will be held September 24-30.

  • Quotas open market for pirates

    9-Jul-2009

    Liz Shackleton brings you the Asian piracy lowdown.

  • Star unveils slate of Chinese movie acquisitions

    7-Jul-2009

    Star Chinese Movies, owned by pan-Asian broadcaster Star, has unveiled a slate of acquisitions that it will screen over the coming year.

  • Imagenation Abu Dhabi promotes Brunner to COO

    7-Jul-2009

    Imagenation Abu Dhabi has promoted Stefan Brunner to the position of chief operating officer, responsible for all operational activities of the company, at the same time as continuing in his present role of chief financial officer.

  • Hong Kong’s TVB set to take control of pay-TV unit

    6-Jul-2009

    Hong Kong’s leading broadcaster, Television Broadcasts (TVB), is set to regain control of its pay-TV unit, TVB Pay Vision, after agreeing to buy a 31% stake from local content producer See Corp.

  • How the West can win in Asia

    2-Jul-2009

    Mainstream films face increasing local competition in China and India, but as both markets grow, there will still be room for strong stories and speciality product, writes Liz Shackleton, Asia Pacific editor, Screen International.

  • Wong launches Hong Kong production outfit Pegasus

    2-Jul-2009

    Veteran Hong Kong producer Raymond Wong is launching a new production outfit, Pegasus Films, as a vehicle for his son Edmond Wong who has scripted hits such as Dragon Tiger Gate and Ip Man.

  • Taipei film festival opens with Yang Yang

    26-Jun-2009

    The Taipei Film Festival kicks off today (June 26) with the screening of local filmmaker Cheng Yu-chieh’s Yang Yang and will close on July 12 with Chang Tso-chi’s How Are You, Dad?

  • Creative Kingdom plans $650m Thai studio complex

    24-Jun-2009

    Los Angeles-based themed architecture designer, Creative Kingdom, has unveiled plans for a $650m movie studio and residential development, CNXMovie World Studios, in Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand.

  • Jodhaa Akbar sweeps the IIFA Awards

    15-Jun-2009

    Ashutosh Gowariker’s period epic Jodhaa Akbar swept the 10th IIFA Awards in Macau on Saturday night, winning 11 prizes including best film and best director.

  • Chinese Stories

    11-Jun-2009

    Fresh off a prize win at Cannes for Spring Fever, controversial film-maker Lou Ye tells Liz Shackleton why any portrait of Chinese people in cinema also involves politics.

  • IIFAs open in Macau as Bollywood targets China

    11-Jun-2009

    The three-day Videocon IIFA Weekend kicked off in Macau today with the aim of expanding the global audience for Indian cinema into China and other East Asian markets.

  • Wong, First Vanguard launch $100m film fund

    10-Jun-2009

    Hong Kong producer Raymond Wong and asset manager First Vanguard are teaming up to launch a $100m fund for film and TV programming targeting the mainland China market.

  • Big Cinemas pacts with More2Screen for alternative content

    10-Jun-2009

    Indian exhibitor Big Cinemas has signed a deal with London-based alternative content provider More2Screen under which it will screen operas and classical concerts in Indian cinemas.

  • Locarno selects 12 Chinese projects for Open Doors

    10-Jun-2009

    The Locarno Film Festival has selected 12 projects for its Open Doors co-production lab which this year is devoted to Greater China.

  • EFP doubles support for films at Shanghai fest

    9-Jun-2009

    European Film Promotion (EFP) is doubling the number of films that it is supporting at the upcoming Shanghai International Film Festival (June 13-21) by backing the marketing campaigns of 13 European titles.

  • Osian’s Cinefan film festival changes dates to October

    8-Jun-2009

    The organisers of the Osian’s Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema, which takes place annually in New Delhi, have announced that this year’s edition has changed its dates to October 24-30.

  • Scorpio East, RAM to co-finance Tong’s Kidnapper

    3-Jun-2009

    Singaporean filmmaker Kelvin Tong is set to direct a suspense thriller, Kidnapper, which will be co-financed by Singapore’s Scorpio East Pictures and Malaysia’s RAM Pictures & PMP Entertainment.

  • Finecut finds new homes for A Brand New Life

    3-Jun-2009

    Korean sales agent Finecut has announced a slew of deals closed during Cannes, including the sale of Ounie Lecomte’s A Brand New Life to Cineart for Benelux and Filmhouse for Mexico, among other territories.

  • Dubai Film Market unveils deals round-up

    1-Jun-2009

    The Dubai Film Market has announced a round-up of deals that were concluded during and in the months following its inaugural edition in December 2008.

  • Saminathan steps down as chairman of Pyramid Saimira

    28-May-2009

    P.S. Saminathan has stepped down as chairman of Indian exhibitor Pyramid Saimira following huge losses and a scandal over share price rigging at the company.

  • Korea’s Showbox bucks pre-sales trend on Sword With No Name

    20-May-2009

    Bucking the trend for buyers to wait for completed product, Korea’s Showbox has pre-sold big-budget martial arts epic The Sword With No Name to the UK and Germany.

  • Film Messenger takes Korean rights to Go, Thaddeus

    20-May-2009

    Singapore production outfit Lighthouse Pictures has pre-sold Korean rights to Yasmin Ahmad’s upcoming Go,Thaddeus! to Seoul-based distributor and sales agent Film Messenger.

  • Taiwan pumps $228m into local film and co-productions

    20-May-2009

    Taiwanese government announced that it will pump $228m (NT$7.5bn) over five years into its local film industry.

  • Korea’s CJ closes deals on Thirst and Mother

    20-May-2009

    Korea’s CJ Entertainment has closed a batch of sales on Park Chan-wook’s competition title Thirst and Bong Joon-ho’s Mother, which screened in Un Certain Regard.  

  • Toei sells Good Husband to K&Entertainment

    20-May-2009

    Japan’s Toei has sold love fantasy A Good Husband, directed by Isao Yukisada, to South Korea’sK&Entertainment.

  • Vivendi takes US multi-platform rights to Palisades Tartan titles

    20-May-2009

    Vivendi Entertainment has acquired US home video, digital and mobile rights to the Palisades Tartan catalogue, marking the first time the films will be available digitally to US audiences.

  • Asia’s Fox Star to develop Tamil films with Murugadoss

    20-May-2009

    Fox Star Studios, the pan-Asian joint venture between Twentieth Century Fox and broadcaster Star, has signed a two-picture deal with Tamil filmmaker AR Murugadoss, director of recent blockbuster Ghajini. 

  • Chang and Woo unveil 3D fantasy epic Magic Bell

    19-May-2009

    Terence Chang and John Woo’s Lion Rock Productions has unveiled details of upcoming 3D fantasy epic LegendOf The Magic Bell, to be directed by renowned Korean TV director Kim Jonghak.

  • Japan's Sion Sono summons Lords of Chaos for English debut

    19-May-2009

    Hot Japanese director Sion Sono is set to make his English-language debut with Lords Of Chaos, about Norway’s black metal music scene, which has Twilight’s Jackson Rathbone lined up to star.

  • Fortissimo picks up international rights to Yonfan's Prince of Tears

    19-May-2009

    Fortissimo Films has picked up international rights outside China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan to Prince Of Tears from acclaimed filmmaker Yonfan and has already sold it to Ocean Films for France.

  • Singapore's MDA appoints Distribution Workshop to handle first IFF titles

    19-May-2009

    Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA) has appointed Hong Kong-based Distribution Workshop as the international sales agent for the first batch of films produced under its International Film Fund (IFF).

  • Thailand's Five Star turns Macabre for first international pick up

    19-May-2009

    Thailand’s Five Star Entertainment has picked up Asian rights to horror film Macabre, marking the first time the Bangkok-based studio has handled a non-Thai film.

  • Miike to direct $30m adaptation of Terasawa’s Takeru

    18-May-2009

    Japanese director Takashi Miike is set to direct a $30m adaptation of Buichi Terasawa’s original manga Takeru.

  • India's NFDC teams up with Locarno on Screenwriters Lab

    18-May-2009

    India’s National Film Development Corp (NFDC) is teaming up with the Locarno International Film Festival for the third edition of its Screenwriters Lab.

  • Ong Bak 2 kicks it to EuropaCorp, Aurum

    18-May-2009

    Thailand’s Sahamongkolfilm International has sold action title Ong Bak 2, starring Tony Jaa, to France’s EuropaCorp and Aurum for Spain.

  • Mumbai's CCVF readies $50m for international, Indian projects

    18-May-2009

    The management team behind $50m Mumbai-based Cinema Capital Venture Fund (CCVF) is in Cannes looking for international projects.

  • Korea's Showbox closes deals on Breathless, The Murderer

    18-May-2009

    Korea’s Showbox has closed a duo of French distribution deals in the early days of the market – selling Breathless to Tadrart Films and The Murderer to Wild Side.

  • Dubai Film Festival puts France in the spotlight

    17-May-2009

    The Dubai International Film Festival has announced that this year’s edition will include a focus on French cinema.

  • We Distribution closes sales on Bodyguards And Assassins

    17-May-2009

    Beijing and Hong Kong-based We Distribution has closed a raft of South-East Asian sales on Teddy Chen’s $23m Bodyguards And Assassins, starring Donnie Yen.  

  • Indian Film Company strikes digital deal with Saavn

    17-May-2009

    The Indian Film Company (TIFC) has struck a deal with New York-based digital distributor Saavn for 14 titles to be released across the company’s cable VoD network in the UK and North America.

  • Fortissimo reteams with Demme for Neil Young Trunk Show

    17-May-2009

    Fortissimo Films has picked up all rights outside North America to Neil Young Trunk Show, directed by Jonathan Demme.

  • Eleven Arts takes on Vampire Girl Vs. Frankenstein Girl

    17-May-2009

    Los Angeles-based Eleven Arts has picked up international rights to Vampire Girl Vs. Frankenstein Girl.

  • Vanguard picks up US rights to Distant Course and Island Etude

    17-May-2009

    Taipei-based producer-distributor Joint Entertainment International has sold two award-winning Taiwanese titles – The Most Distant Course and Island Etude – to Vanguard International Cinema for the US.

  • First members join Tokyo's Green Carpet Club

    16-May-2009

    The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) has signed up the first raft of members for its environmental initiative, the Green Carpet Club (GCC), including Jon Voight, John Woo, Fernando Meirelles and Julianne Moore.

  • Finecut sells French speaking rights on Like You Know It All

    16-May-2009

    South Korea’s Finecut has sold Hong Sang-soo’s Directors’ Fortnight title, Like You Know It, to CTV International for French-speaking territories.

  • Fortissimo sets off on Road, Movie

    15-May-2009

    Fortissimo Films is continuing its foray into Indian cinema by picking up international rights outside Indian territories to Dev Benegal’s Road, Movie.

  • ADFC unveils initiatives for local film-makers

    15-May-2009

    The recently-launched Abu Dhabi Film Commission (ADFC) has unveiled a raft of initiatives to support the country’s burgeoning film and TV industry, including a tie-up with Mira Nair’s Maisha Film Lab.

  • Easternlight Films buys rights to Future X-Cops

    14-May-2009

    Arclight Films’ Asian division, Easternlight Films, has acquired world rights excluding Hong Kong, China and Taiwan to sci-fi action film Future X-Cops, starring Andy Lau.

  • Arclight and Axxis pop for Bubblegum Crisis

    14-May-2009

    Arclight Films and Singapore’s Axxis International are among the companies involved in a six-country collaboration to produce a $30m live-action feature based on Japanese anime series Bubblegum Crisis.

  • IFC Entertainment picks up US rights for Korea's Death Bell

    14-May-2009

    IFC Entertainment has acquired North American rights to high school horror title Death Bell from South Korea’s Mirovision.

  • Dadi Film moves into sales for Confucius

    14-May-2009

    Beijing-based production outfit Dadi Film has set up an international sales arm to shop its $23m biopic of Chinese philosopher Confucius, starring Chow Yun-fat and Zhou Xun.

  • Finecut sells Iris to the world

    14-May-2009

    Seoul-based sales agent Finecut has picked up worldwide rights to $20m thriller Iris: The Movie, starring Korean heartthrob Lee Byung-hun and actress Kim Tae-hee.

  • Odin’s Eye teams with Prime on joint sales venture

    14-May-2009

    Australian sales agent Odin’s Eye Entertainment (OEE) has struck a deal with Korea’s Prime Entertainment for joint representation of a slate of 14 Korean titles.

  • Reliance Big Entertainment reveals A-list productions

    14-May-2009

    India’s Reliance Big Entertainment (RBE) has announced the first raft of projects to be approved for development financing through the deals it has struck with the production vehicles of nine Hollywood stars.

  • Fortissimo takes international sales on Norwegian Wood

    14-May-2009

    Fortissimo Films has struck a deal with Japan’s Asmik Ace Entertainment to handle international sales on Tran Anh Hung’s adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s best-selling novel Norwegian Wood.

  • Imagenation Abu Dhabi boards first two films with Participant

    13-May-2009

    Imagenation Abu Dhabi has announced that the five-year revolving fund it created last year with Participant Media will partner in the productions of family comedy Furry Vengeance and horror/thriller The Crazies.

  • Fortissimo takes on Tian’s Warrior, Indian doc

    13-May-2009

    Fortissimo Films has picked up Tian Zhuangzhuang’s The Warrior And The Wolf and Indian documentary Children Of The Pyre on the eve of the Cannes market.

  • Korea's Sidus to co-produce One Armed Swordsman remake

    13-May-2009

    Korean production outfit Sidus FNH is set to co-produce a $10m Korean-language remake of 1967 Shaw Brothers classic One Armed Swordsman with Hong Kong’s Celestia

  • Cinema Popular unveils China's first superhero movie

    13-May-2009

    Start-up production and financing outfit Cinema Popular is unveiling four new projects at Cannes, including China’s first superhero movie.

  • Easternlight sharpens 14 Blades with Visualizer

    13-May-2009

    Arclight Films’ Asian division Easternlight is partnering with Hong Kong’s Visualizer Film Productions and the Shanghai Film Group to co-produce $20m martial arts action title 14 Blades.

  • Singapore’s MDA launches fund for international projects

    12-May-2009

    Singapore’s Media Development Authority (MDA) has unveiled details of a new fund, dubbed the International Film Fund (IFF), that will invest up to $3.4m (S$5m) each in 17-20 international projects.

  • Gowariker to direct Buddha biopic

    11-May-2009

    Indian filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker has signed up to direct Buddha, a big-budget English-language biopic, which is being financed by billionaire Bhupendra Kumar Modi.

  • Glen quits as CEO of animation producer Imagi

    11-May-2009

    Imagi International Holdings, the Hong Kong and Los Angeles-based CG animation producer, has announced that Douglas E. Glen has resigned his position as CEO and executive director of the company.

  • Hulu signs deal to stream Bollywood films

    8-May-2009

    US online video service Hulu.com has signed a deal with New York-based Saavn, a digital distributor of Bollywood entertainment, to stream Hindi-language films free to the consumer.

  • Fortissimo Films checks into Pang’s Dream Home

    7-May-2009

    Fortissimo Films has picked up worldwide rights, excluding Hong Kong, to Pang Ho-cheung’s upcoming slasher film Dream Home, starring Josie Ho.

  • Asmik Ace unwraps third film in Tetsuo franchise

    6-May-2009

    Japan’s Asmik Ace Entertainment has announced details of a long-awaited third installment in the cult Tetsuo franchise, which will also mark director Shinya Tsukamoto’s English-language debut.

  • Mainland mission

    4-May-2009

    Leading Chinese producer Peter Ho-sun Chan tells Liz Shackleton why he is trying to put together a slate of China-centric projects.

  • Tenth edition of the IIFAs to be held in Macau in June

    1-May-2009

    The organisers of the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFAs) have announced that the tenth edition of the awards will be held June 11-13 in Macau.

  • Media Asia adds Dante Lam, Ning Hao titles to Cannes slate

    29-Apr-2009

    Hong Kong-based Media Asia Distribution is bulking up its Cannes slate with a new project from hotHong Kong action director Dante Lam and Chinese director Ning Hao’s smash hit comedy CrazyRacer.

  • Hong Kong video distributors, retailers tussle over fees

    28-Apr-2009

    Hong Kong video distributors are pushing for a rental rights fee of 50% of the wholesale price of a disc, a move that local rental shops are claimingwill put them out of business.

  • Ocean Films takes French rights to Kore-eda's Air Doll

    27-Apr-2009

    France’s Ocean Films has snapped up all French rights to Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Air Doll from Fortissimo Films. The film has secureda berth in the Un Certain Regard section of this year’s Cannes film festival.

  • Huayi Brothers' Tracing Shadow sells across Asia

    27-Apr-2009

    Beijing-based Huayi Brothers has tied up a slew of Asian sales on Hong Kong actor Francis Ng’s martial arts comedy Tracing Shadow, which is proving to be a hot seller in the run-up to Cannes.

  • Reliance cables Bollywood films to US cinemas

    21-Apr-2009

    Adlabs Films has gained access to sister company Reliance Globalcom’s massive global fibre-opticnetwork to deliver Indian films to digital screens in the US.

  • Hong Kong film festival announces shorter run for 2010

    21-Apr-2009

    The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) has announced that the 34th edition of the festival will run over 16 days in 2010 (March 21-April 6), compared to the 23-day run it had this year.

  • The Way We Are, Ip Man top Hong Kong Film Awards

    20-Apr-2009

    Ann Hui’s gritty drama The Way We Are scooped best director and three other prizes at the Hong KongFilm Awards last night, although the best film prize went to martial arts biopic Ip Man, produced byRaymond Wong and directed by Wilson Yip.

  • The Asian Equation - studios turn to Asian audiences, not crossover hits

    9-Apr-2009

    Nearly all the major US studios and many of the larger indies are now involved in local-language production in Asia. Their varying goals, strategies and levels of success were discussed by a panel of senior executives at the recent Filmart convention in Hong Kong.

  • Asian film industry in mourning for Barendrecht

    7-Apr-2009

    The Asian film industry was in shock on Monday at the news of the death of Fortissimo Films founder and co-chairman Wouter Barendrecht.

  • Perfect Life takes Golden Digital award at HKIFF

    1-Apr-2009

    Emily Tang’s Perfect Life, about people coming to terms with the new social and economic realities of mainland China, was awarded the Golden Digital Prize in the Asian Digital Competition at this year’s Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF).

  • Young's Christmas Rose receives full financing at HAF

    25-Mar-2009

    Charlie Young's Christmas Rose received the HAF Excellence Award at the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) today, for managing to raise its entire $2m budget at the three-day event.

  • Filmart takes on regional flavour

    25-Mar-2009

    As Filmart reached the half-way point on Tuesday, sellers were reporting that the market was relatively busy but much more Asia-focused than in previous years.'We've been quite busy but most of our meetings have been with Asian buyers - there are fewer companies from the US and Europe and substantially less from Japan,' said Distribution Workshop co-founder Jeffrey Chan.Indeed, most of the sales reported by Tuesday afternoon ...

  • Fortissimo seals deals on Food, Mishima, Face

    24-Mar-2009

    Fortissimo Films has sealed a slew of deals on food industry documentary Food, Inc following its screening at the Berlinale and during Filmart, including a sale to A-Films for Benelux and Cafe Groove for Japan.The film, which world premiered at Toronto before it screened in Berlin, has also gone to United King for Israel, Golden Village for Singapore and Deltamac for Hong Kong and Taiwan.

  • Fortissimo picks up rights outside Japan to Kore-eda's Air Doll

    23-Mar-2009

    Fortissimo Films has picked up all rights outside Japan to Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Air Doll. Japan’s Asmik Ace Entertainment negotiated the deal on behalf of its co-production partners on the film - Engine Film, Bandai Visual, TV Man Union and Eisei Gekijo.Kor-eda won the Asian Film Award for best director last night for his most recent film Still Walking ...

  • Sundream takes Hong Kong rights to TWC's musical Nine

    23-Mar-2009

    Hong Kong’s Sundream Motion Pictures has acquired all Hong Kong rights to Rob Marshall’s musical Nine from The Weinstein Company (TWC).Sundream has an output deal with TWC but, according to Sundream vice president of buinsess development, Tom Cheung, the expensive film was acquired outside that arrangement.Currently in post-production for US release at the end of the year,

  • Japanese cinema triumphs at Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong

    23-Mar-2009

    Japanese cinema triumphed at the Asian Film Awards last night, with three Japanese dramas -Tokyo Sonata, Still WalkingandDepartures- clinching four of the top prizes.Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Tokyo ...

  • Cinema Popular unveils $23m historical epic Bodyguards & Assassins

    23-Mar-2009

    Start-up production and financing outfit Cinema Popular is unveiling its debut production today at Filmart - $23m historical epic Bodyguards And Assassins - to be directed by Teddy Chen.The film, which starts shooting in early April, features a host of Hong Kong and Chinese stars including Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Nicholas Tse and Chinese actor Wang Xueqi (Forever ...

  • Hong Kong's 852 Films begins production on first feature Dream Home

    23-Mar-2009

    New Hong Kong production and financing outfit 852 Films has started production on award-winning director Pang Ho Cheung’s latest film,Dream Home, starring Josie Ho, Anthony Wong and Eason Chan.The film, in which Ho plays a woman who will stop of nothing to own her dream home, is Pang’s first foray into the slasher genre. His credits ...

  • Germany's M-Appeal picks up internationalto Yang Yang

    23-Mar-2009

    Germany’s M-Appeal has picked up international rights to Taiwanese director Cheng Yu-chieh’sYang Yang, which recently had its world premiere in the Panorama section at Berlin.The film, which follows a young Eurasian woman in Taiwan struggling with cultural identity issues, is also screening at the awards gala of the Hong Kong International ...

  • Universe puts Filmart buyers on Alert with Benny Chan actioner

    23-Mar-2009

    Hong Kong’s Universe Films Distribution is introducing the latest project from hot action director Benny Chan - $10m sci-fi action title City On Alert (working title) - to buyers at Filmart.Chan is producing and will direct the film, which is set to star Aaron Kwok, Wu Jing and Shu Qi. Currently in pre-production, it revolves around a troupe of circus performers who embark on a crime spree when they accidentally acquire superhuman skills.

  • Distribution Workshop adds Road, Curse to sales slate

    23-Mar-2009

    Distribution Workshop has added a further two projects to its fast-growing slate - Derek Chiu’s romantic dramaThe Road Less Travelledand Lo Chi-leung’s horrorCurse Of The Deserted- both of which started shooting at the end of last month.

  • Animax Asia unveils first original HD production LaMB

    20-Mar-2009

    Sony's Animax Asia channel has unveiled its first original HD animation production, LaMB, which is set to be released over multiple platforms including TV, internet and mobile phones.

  • Filmart's hottest projects for international buyers

    20-Mar-2009

    This year's Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (Filmart) gets underway at a difficult time for the international film industry - a period when production finance is scarce and travel budgets are being trimmed. But while ripples from the global financial tsunami - as it is known in this region - are sure to be felt at the four-day market (March 23-26), visitors will also find that East Asian film industries are relatively buoyant.

  • HAF: high-profile directors and Philippines focus

    20-Mar-2009

    The seventh edition of the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) will present 27 Asian projects over three days from March 23-25.

  • HKIFF to showcase changing local industry

    20-Mar-2009

    Both of the opening films of this year's Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) - Derek Yee's Shinjuku Incident and Ann Hui's Night And Fog - are from Hong Kong film-makers, reflecting the creative strength of the local film industry despite the challenges it now faces.

  • Star appoints Yim as head of Chinese filmprogramming

    19-Mar-2009

    Regional broadcaster Star has appointed Cora Yim as vice president, programming for Star Chinese Movies and Star Chinese Movies 2.

  • SPHE appoints Meade to oversee China operations

    17-Mar-2009

    Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) has appointed Tim Meade as vice president, SPHE China. He was previously vice president, Asia Emerging Markets for the studio.

  • Sutherland, Hurt, Stone to attend 33rd HKIFF

    11-Mar-2009

    The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) has announced that Kiefer Sutherland, William Hurt and Oliver Stone will be attending the33rd edition of the festival which kicks off later this month (March 22-April 13).

  • Hong Kong's Celestial strikes Canadian licensing deal

    11-Mar-2009

    Hong Kong-based Celestial Pictures has signed a licensing deal with Canada's Rogers Cable Communications under which select titles from its Shaw Brothers library will be available on Rogers' On Demand digital cable platform.

  • Opinion: Eastern promisesin the long term

    6-Mar-2009

    At the recent FICCI Frames conference in Mumbai, Anand Mahindra, a leading industrialist and recent entrant to the film business, said he was convinced India's economy would recover more quickly than other major economies for two reasons.

  • HKIFF to open with Shinjuku Incident, Night And Fog

    26-Feb-2009

    Derek Yee's Shinjuku Incident, starring Jackie Chan, and Ann Hui's Night And Fog will open this year's Hong Kong International Film Festival (March 22-April 13) which announced its line-up today.

  • HKIFF to celebrate 25th anniversary of Film Workshop

    25-Feb-2009

    This year's Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) will feature a special sidebar programme celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong production house Film Workshop, founded by filmmaker Tsui Hark and veteran producer Nansun Shi.

  • AWPto handle sales onTaraporevala's Little Zizou

    24-Feb-2009

    LA-based American World Pictures (AWP) has picked up international rights to Indian screenwriter Sooni Taraporevala's directorial debut, Little Zizou, from The Indian Film Company (TIFC).

  • Wonderful Town wins top honours at Thai Oscars

    23-Feb-2009

    Aditya Assarat's Wonderful Town scooped five awards, including best film and best director, at Thailand's leading film honours, the Subhanahongsa Awards, on Sunday night (Feb 22).

  • Frames wraps with talk of cost-cutting and collaboration

    20-Feb-2009

    As the three-day FICCI Frames media and entertainment conference came to a close in Mumbai yesterday, industry leaders had agreed on three recession-busting strategies - collaboration, improving consumer relations and cutting costs.

  • Dasgupta quits as CEO of India's Multi Screen Media

    20-Feb-2009

    Kunal Dasgupta has quit as CEO of India's Multi Screen Media (MSM), previously known as Sony Entertainment Television (SET), after almost 14 years in the role.

  • Indian film industry revenues to remain flat in 2009

    17-Feb-2009

    Following years of rapid growth, the combined revenues of the Indian film industry, including box office and ancillary revenues, are expected to remain flatin 2009at around $2.2bn (Rs109.2bn), according to a joint FICCI-KPMG report.

  • Motion Picture Association opens Mumbai office

    16-Feb-2009

    The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has opened an office in Mumbai to represent the US film, video and TV industries at a time when the US studios are stepping up their investment in Indian film and TV.

  • Red Cliff leads the charge for Hong Kong Film Awards

    16-Feb-2009

    John Woo's war epic Red Cliff is the front-runner for this year's Hong Kong Film Awards, with 14 nominations, followed by biopic Ip Man and fantasy epic Painted Skin with 12 nods each.

  • Latido closes number of deals on Sex, Party & Lies

    12-Feb-2009

    Madrid-based sales outfit Latido has closed several sales on Sex, Party & Lies by Albacete and Menkes.

  • Media Asia closes slew of saleson The Sniper

    12-Feb-2009

    Media Asia has closed deals on Dante Lam's The Sniper for territories including Germany, France, the UK and Turkey.

  • Rapid Eye picks up Phantom'sLove Exposure

    12-Feb-2009

    Rapid Eye has acquired all German-speaking rights to Forum title Love Exposure from Japan's Phantom Film.

  • WKW's Jet Tone recruits Chengto directProtein Girl

    12-Feb-2009

    Wong Kar-wai's production outfit Jet Tone Films hasbrought on boardTaiwanese director Cheng Hsiao-tse to write and direct urban comedy drama Protein Girl.

  • Asmik Ace picks up Kore-eda's Air Doll

    11-Feb-2009

    Japan's Asmik Ace has picked up worldwide sales rights to Hirokazu Kore-eda's project Air Doll (working title), which stars Korean actress Bae Doo-na.

  • Magnolia kicks up US rights to Ong Bak 2

    11-Feb-2009

    Magnolia Pictures has acquired US rights to Thai martial arts action title Ong Bak 2 from Sahamongkolfilm International.

  • Fireball deals snowball for Golden Network

    10-Feb-2009

    Golden Network Asia has scored a slew of deals on Thai action title Fireball, including sales to the UK's E1 Group, France's Metropolitan and Germany's Splendid.

  • Germany's Ascot Elite chews up Chaw

    10-Feb-2009

    South Korea's Fine Cut has clinched a trio of pre-sales on Shin Jung-won's $7m creature feature Chaw, including the sale of all German-speaking rights to Ascot Elite.

  • M-Line seals European, Japan deals on Flower

    10-Feb-2009

    Seoul-based sales agent M-Line Distribution has sealed a raft of deals on recent pick-ups A Frozen Flower and Scandal Makers, which are both currently huge hits in Korea.

  • Buyers hungry for CJ's Thirst

    9-Feb-2009

    Bucking the cautious buyer trend, South Korea's CJ Entertainment has sealed a string of pre-sales on Park Chan-wook's Thirst and Bong Joon-ho's Mother, along with effects-laden action title Haeundae.

  • Jaa starts shooting Ongbak 3

    9-Feb-2009

    Thailand 's Sahamongkolfilm International has started shooting the third installment in its successful Ong Bak franchise - starring Muay Thai maestro Tony Jaa.

  • iDream sells three to Turkey

    8-Feb-2009

    London and Mumbai-based sales company iDream Independent Pictures has sold a package of three films, including Santosh Sivan's Tahaan, to Turkey's Horizon International here at the EFM.

  • Mirovision boards The Boat

    7-Feb-2009

    South Korea 's Mirovision has picked up international rights to Kim Young-nam's drama The Boat, starring Korean actor Ha Jung-woo and Japan's Tsumabuki Satoshi.

  • Reliance seals deals with Julia Roberts and Brett Ratner

    6-Feb-2009

    Reliance Big Entertainment has signed a further two development deals in Hollywood - with Julia Roberts' Red Om Films and Brett Ratner's Rat Entertainment - to add to the seven similar deals announced last year at Cannes.

  • Korea's Fine Cut wraps up pre-EFM sales

    6-Feb-2009

    Seoul-based sales agent Fine Cut has wrapped up a slew of sales on the eve of the EFM, including the sale of Antique, which screens here in the Culinary Cinema section, to Thailand's Rose Media.

  • Distribution Workshop picks up Snowfall, Overheard

    5-Feb-2009

    Distribution Workshop, the new Hong Kong-based sales outfit founded by Nansun Shi and Jeffrey Chan, has picked up two new titles - Alan Mak and Felix Chong's Overheard and Snowfall In Taipei from Chinese director Huo Jianqi.

  • Fortissimo rounds out Berlin slate with Asian auteurs

    5-Feb-2009

    Fortissimo Films has arrived in Berlin with several additions to its slate including new titles from threefilmmakers that the company regularly works with - Taiwan’s Tsai Ming-liang, Thailand’s Pen-ekRatanaruang and Dutch director Alex van Warmerdam.

  • Kites flies on Reliance Big Pictures' debut slate

    5-Feb-2009

    India's Reliance Big Pictures is launching its international sales division here at the European Film Market, with a busy slate of product headed by $30m English-language romantic drama Kites.

  • Cheung, Tang Wei set to star in Crossing Hennessy

    2-Feb-2009

    Hong Kong singer Jacky Cheung and Chinese actress Tang Wei have been lined up to star in Crossing Hennessy, the second film from Ivy Ho, which she is directing for Hong Kong-based Irresistible Films.

  • TheIndian film industry and the global economic crisis

    23-Jan-2009

    How well is the Indian film industry positioned to ride out the global economic crisis' Screen takes a look at the impact of the crunch on production and multiplex expansion as well as the country's high-profile international financing deals.

  • Profile: David U Lee's The Beijing connection

    16-Jan-2009

    China-US co-productions have become popular over recent years - a trend that is likely to continue given the success of action adventure The Forbidden Kingdom. But, as many producers have discovered, navigating China's political landscape and vastly different production culture can be as daunting as one-on-one armed combat with the Monkey King.

  • Hong Kong's Celestial strikes pay-TV deal with Viasat

    6-Jan-2009

    Hong Kong-based Celestial Pictures has sealed an exclusive pay-TV deal with Viasat to broadcast Shaw Brothers movies in 15 territories across Russia, the CIS and the Baltic states.

  • Kawase, Taiwan's Wei among HAF line-up of 27 projects

    5-Jan-2009

    Japanese filmmaker Naomi Kawase and Wei Te-sheng, director of Taiwanese blockbuster Cape No. 7, are among the filmmakers who have had projects selected for the seventh edition of the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF).

  • Run Run Shaw offers to take Shaw Brothers private

    23-Dec-2008

    Sir Run Run Shaw has offered to buy the 25.08% stake in Hong Kong's legendary Shaw Brothers that he does not already own for $171.6m (HK$1.33bn).

  • Firaaq scoops top honours at Singapore's AFFF

    11-Dec-2008

    Firaaq, directed by award-winning Indian actress Nandita Das, scooped best film and best screenplay at the Asian Festival of 1stFilms (AFFF) in Singapore on Wednesday night (Dec 10).

  • GDC signs VPF deals for Asia with three US studios

    10-Dec-2008

    GDC Technology has signed separate virtual print fee (VPF) financing deals with three US studios - Twentieth Century Fox, Paramount Pictures International and Universal Pictures International - for the deployment of digital cinema across Asia.

  • CineAsia kicks off with focus on India's growing exhibition sector

    9-Dec-2008

    The CineAsia exhibition conference in Macau (Dec 9-11)got off to a surprisingly robust start, given the current global financial crisis, with a focus on India's growing exhibition market and the announcement of a funding deal for a new Chinese cinema chain.

  • APEX secures funding for Chinese cinema chain

    9-Dec-2008

    New York-listed Entertainment Properties Trust (EPR) has established a strategic alliance with start-up multiplex operator, APEX International Cinemas Investment (HK) Ltd, and its Chinese joint venture partner to open a chain of cinemas in mainland China.

  • Ong Bak 2 opens at top of Thai box office

    8-Dec-2008

    Tony Jaa's Ong Bak 2 topped the box office in Thailand over its opening three-day weekend (Dec 5-7), grossing an impressive $2m (70m baht) despite the political unrest that has rocked the country in the past few weeks.

  • Disney takes majority stake in India's UTV

    8-Dec-2008

    Walt Disney Co and the founders of UTV Software Communications have jointly acquired an additional 23% stake in the Indian company.

  • Syria: Postcard from Damascus

    5-Dec-2008

    With the recent emergence of film festivals in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the Middle East's festival calendar is getting busy. But one of the oldest in the region - the Damascus International Film Festival - is determined to raise its international profile, despite operating on budgets that are a fraction of those in the Gulf.

  • Highlight, Rosem team for Indo-French co-production

    28-Nov-2008

    India's Highlight Films is joining forces with France's Rosem Films to co-produce The Conqueror, written and to be directed by female Indian filmmaker Alka Raghuram.

  • Valley Song wins Hubert Bals award at Film Bazaar

    28-Nov-2008

    Pushpendra Misra's Valley Song was presented with the Hubert Bals award for most promising feature film project at the Film Bazaar in Goa on Friday night.

  • Film Bazaar 2008: Feature Projects

    28-Nov-2008

    Animal's People

  • XME teams with US-Chinese talent on five-picture slate

    25-Nov-2008

    Xinhua Media Entertainment (XME), a subsidiary of Chinese media group XFMedia, has announced a slate of five China-US co-productions to be made over the next three years.

  • Production - Attracting a partner

    24-Nov-2008

    Back in 2002 when Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas screened at Cannes, the Indian film industry was still regarded as an exotic item - fun to have at the party but the international industry did not really know how to talk to her. Fast forward through six years of a booming Indian economy and corporatisation of the local film industry and an array of suitors are lining up for her hand.

  • Hallyday, Testud to star in To's HK-French Vengeance

    24-Nov-2008

    French actors Johnny Hallyday and Sylvie Testud have been cast in Johnnie To's upcoming thriller Vengeance which is being made as a co-production between France's ARP, To's Milkway Image and Hong Kong-based Media Asia Group.

  • Beyond Bollywood: Focus on Goa Film Bazaar

    21-Nov-2008

    In the wake of a string of deals between the US studios and Indian entertainment companies, India has become the subject of global scrutiny. But for the majority of Indian film-makers, particularly those working outside the Bollywood mainstream, there is still a huge disconnect between them and the international market.

  • Production - Box office - The India-pudding

    21-Nov-2008

    With Bollywood keen to expand internationally beyond the Indian diaspora, and global interest in India at an all-time high, there have been many attempts to make films that combine elements of Indian and Western culture. Not all have been successful.

  • Asian Festival of 1st Films unveils nominations

    20-Nov-2008

    The Asian Festival of 1st Films, a Singapore-based film and documentary festival for first-time filmmakers, has unveiled the nominations for the festival's fourth edition to be held December 4-10.

  • Sony to release Blu-ray discs in mainland China

    19-Nov-2008

    Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) is releasing 30 titles on high-definition Blu-ray discs in the mainland China market, making it the first studio to distribute the new format in the territory.

  • Sverak's Bottles picks up top prize at Damascus fest

    12-Nov-2008

    Czech director Jan Sverak's Returnable Bottles was awarded with Gold in the feature competition of the 16th Damascus International Film Festival (November 1-11) on Tuesday night.

  • Kashyap, Nair among film-makers selected for Film Bazaar

    5-Nov-2008

    Camera d'Or winners Murali Nair and Shaji Karun and hot up-and-coming writer-director Anurap Kashyap are among the filmmakers who have had projects selected for the second edition of India's Film Bazaar co-production market (Nov 26-29).

  • AFM buzz - Hong Kong, China and Taiwan

    31-Oct-2008

    The Chinese-language production sectors, in both Hong Kong and Beijing, were hit badly this year by a slow-down in mainland China's censorship process in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics. As a result, there will not be a huge amount of new Chinese product at this year's AFM.

  • AFM buzz - Thailand

    31-Oct-2008

    It has been a difficult year for the Thai film industry, coping with the double whammy of political unrest and inflation which have battered the economy and impacted on audience spending power. But although local studios have been cautious and there have been delays to production schedules, there are some big projects set to emerge over the coming year.

  • Easternlight picks up international rights to Champions

    29-Oct-2008

    Arclight Films' Easternlight division will handle international sales, excluding certain Asian territories, to recently completed martial arts action epic Champions, produced by Hong Kong-based Sundream Motion Pictures.

  • Tiger Gate gears up to launch two channels across Asia

    28-Oct-2008

    Lionsgate's new Asian venture, Tiger Gate, is gearing up to launch two 24-hour genre channels across Asia - action channel KIX, and Thrill which is themed around suspense films and thrillers.

  • Asia PacificFilm Festivalpostponed due to lack of delegates

    23-Oct-2008

    The 52nd Asia Pacific Film Festival, which was scheduled to run November 18-21 in Jakarta, Indonesia, has been postponed due to a lack of overseas visitors, organisers have announced.

  • Singapore's Raintree partners with Irresistible Films

    17-Oct-2008

    Singapore's MediaCorp Raintree Pictures is to become the third partner inHong Kong-basedfilm fund, Irresistible Films, alongside producer Bill Kong and Japan's Avex Group.

  • In focus - Asian Film Funds Forum - New approaches needed in Asia

    17-Oct-2008

    The Asian film business should avoid over-supply and ensure the interests of distributors and investors are aligned, said panellists at a seminar on Asian film funds at Pusan's Asian Film Market.

  • In focus - Asian Film Market - Mixed messages at market

    17-Oct-2008

    Pusan's Asian Film Market (October 3-6) closed its third edition last week with most delegates agreeing it had been a quiet event, but many saying they had still found it productive. Certainly there was not much footfall at the market, held for the first time on three floors of the Seacloud Hotel, and few deals were announced or reported. Market organisers said 4,640 participants - or 128 companies from 28 countries - attended the market and accompanying locations showcase Bifcom. But ...

  • Movie Plus, Xinhua Media team for live-action Mulan

    15-Oct-2008

    Canada's Movie Plus, China Film Group and Beijing and LA-based Xinhua Media Entertainment (XME) are joining forces to co-produce a $30m live-action version of the Chinese classic folk take Mulan.

  • Shaw Brothers calls off saledue to financial crisis

    15-Oct-2008

    Hong Kong's Shaw Brothers has announced to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that is has ended all talks to sell a majority stake in the company, citing the current global financial crisis.

  • Moment In June to open World Film Festival of Bangkok

    9-Oct-2008

    Thai drama A Moment In June, directed by Nattapong O Wongtrinetrakul, will open this year's World Film Festival of Bangkok (Oct 24-Nov 1), while Martin Scorsese's Shine A Light will close the event.

  • Bigfoot strides into US theatrical distribution

    9-Oct-2008

    US-Asian production and finance company Bigfoot Entertainment is entering US theatrical distribution with the release of its horror feature Midnight Movie on October 17.

  • Asian Film Market wraps quiet but productive third edition

    6-Oct-2008

    Pusan's Asian Film Market (Oct 3-6) closed its third edition on Monday night, with most delegates agreeing it had felt like a quiet event, but many saying they had still found it productive.

  • Ahmad, Lee Chang-dong take top PPP awards

    6-Oct-2008

    Malaysian director Yasmin Ahmad's Forget-Me-Not, which is being produced by Japan's Wa Entertainment, picked up the $20,000 Pusan Awardat the closing of the Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP) on Monday night.

  • PT Jababeka, Multivision team on Indonesian studio

    6-Oct-2008

    Indonesian real estate company PT Jababeka and production house Multivision Plus are joining forces to build a major studio complex, Indonesia Movieland, in the suburbs of Jakarta.

  • RGM set to tap Asian material for global distribution

    6-Oct-2008

    Singapore-based RGM Entertainment, which has recently completed raising a $400m production fund, is now actively seeking Asian material with the aim of producing big-budget features for global distribution, said CEO Devesh Chetty at Pusan's Asian Film Funds Forum (AFFF)on Sunday.

  • Korea's ACTI set to launch pan-Asian film fund

    5-Oct-2008

    Korean venture capital firm Asia Culture Technology Investment (ACTI) is planning to launch a five-year $24m (30bn won) pan-Asian film fund, with the aim of boosting the region's output and competitiveness with Hollywood.

  • Irresistible Films outlines strategy, new management team

    5-Oct-2008

    New Hong Kong-based production company and filmfund, Irresistible Films, has announced its management team, including managing director Nansun Shi and general manager Lorna Tee.

  • The Weinstein Company's Asian Film Fund casts wide net

    5-Oct-2008

    The Weinstein Company's vice president, Asian acquisitions and co-production Bey Logan, explained the company's criteria for selecting projects for its $285m Asian Film Fund, at Pusan's Asian Film Funds Forum over the weekend(Oct 3-5).

  • Asian financiers urged to learn from mistakes in the West

    4-Oct-2008

    The Asian film biz should avoid over-supply and ensure that the interests of distributors and investors are aligned, said panellists at a seminar on Asian film funds at Pusan's Asian Film Market (Oct 3-6).

  • Singapore Film Commission awards $1.6m to new directors

    3-Oct-2008

    Nine Singapore directors have each received $170,000 (S$250,000) to direct their first feature-length film under the Singapore Film Commission's New Feature Film Fund.

  • Asian Film Finance: Debt financing

    2-Oct-2008

    In a region awash with equity, where film-makers and banks eye each other with caution, it is not surprising the Asian film industry does not use debt financing to a great degree. In general, banks are not familiar with production companies and distributors so do not know how to measure risk, while the film-makers are unwilling to burden themselves with the rigours of accounting and scheduling that banks and completion-bond companies ...

  • Asian Film Finance: Asian film funds on the rise

    2-Oct-2008

    Outside of Korea, where the influx of funds and venture capital helped the local film industry grow to become a regional force, film funds have had a few false starts across the rest of Asia. Several funds have been announced but failed to leave the starting blocks or to fill their coffers. And the longer-established funds that invest in filmed content - such as the IDG China Media Fund and Taiwanese entrepreneur Alan Lin's Media Vantage - only dabble in film, while they focus ...

  • Distribution Workshop kickstarts slate with Rain Fall

    1-Oct-2008

    Distribution Workshop, the new Hong Kong-based production and sales outfit founded by Nansun Shi and Jeffrey Chan, has picked up international rights outside Japan to upcoming Japanese thriller Rain Fall, starring Gary Oldman.

  • Tigerlily wraps production on Guo Xiaolu's La Chinoise

    1-Oct-2008

    The UK's Tigerlily Films has wrapped production on London-set drama La Chinoise (working title), which is directed by Chinese writer and filmmaker Guo Xiaolu.

  • Asia Film Finance: The world turns East

    29-Sep-2008

    From an investor's point of view, the East Asian film industry is an exciting story: large markets across the region, lower production costs relative to the US and Europe, and the major growth engine of China, where box office has quadrupled to $459m in five years. Due to the rising box office and the strength of local product in many territories, there is no shortage of deep-pocketed individuals and corporations, both within and outside the industry, willing to invest in production. ...

  • PVC-1 takes top prize at Bangkok's Golden Kinnarees

    28-Sep-2008

    Colombian feature PCV-1, directed by Spiros Stathoulopoulos, took the grand prix in the main competition of the Bangkok International Film Festival's Golden Kinnaree Awards on Sunday night.

  • Thai Entertainment Expo wraps brave but quiet first edition

    28-Sep-2008

    The first ever Thailand Entertainment Expo (Sep 24-28) wrapped on Sunday, after a slightly busier weekend as the event was opened to the public, but overall business and buyers were thin on the ground.

  • Maggie Q heads cast of Tian's Warrior And The Wolf

    26-Sep-2008

    Maggie Q has been cast to play the lead role in Chinese Fifth Generation director Tian Zhuangzhuang's epic drama The Warrior And The Wolf, which is being produced by Hong Kong's Bill Kong and partners from Japan, China and Singapore

  • In Focus: Is Asia Crunch proof'

    26-Sep-2008

    On a macro level, the credit crunch is only just starting to bite in Asia, a year after North America and Europe, but is not expected to have the same impact. Most pundits agree the major economies of the region will continue to grow in 2009, albeit more slowly than in previous years, while Japan remains flat as it has for decades.

  • Magnet draws Thai martial arts hit Chocolate

    24-Sep-2008

    Magnet, the recently launched genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, has acquired North American rights to Thai martial arts action title Chocolate from Sahamongkolfilm International.

  • Universal, Focus team with CJ on Park's Thirst

    12-Sep-2008

    Universal Pictures International (UPI) and Focus Features are teaming up with Korea's CJ Entertainment to co-produce award-winning director Park Chan-wook's upcoming vampire thriller Thirst.

  • Vicky Cristina, Langkasukatoopen Bangkok fest

    8-Sep-2008

    Despite current political unrest in Thailand, the Bangkok International Film Festival (BKIFF) will kick off as planned on Sept 23 with a screening of Woody Allen's Vicky Christina Barcelona.

  • Singapore selects My Magic as foreign-language Oscar entry

    8-Sep-2008

    The Singapore Film Commission (SFC) has selected Eric Khoo's My Magic as Singapore's entry to the best foreign-language film category of next year's Academy Awards.

  • Kerala film festival announces dates, makes call for entries

    4-Sep-2008

    The organisers of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) have announced that this year's edition will be held December 12-19 in Trivandrum, Kerala.

  • Star group to sell its 26% stake in India's Balaji Telefilms

    19-Aug-2008

    Regional broadcaster Star Group and India's Balaji Telefilms have agreed to terminate the deal signed in August 2004, in which Star bought a 26% stake in the Mumbai-based film and TV producer.

  • Bona Group set toraise $30m in second funding round

    19-Aug-2008

    Beijing-based producer-distributor Bona International Film Group is set to raise $30m in its second funding round from venture capital groups Sequoia Capital China and SIG Asia Investments.

  • Celluloid Dreams picks up Birdwatchers, Plastic City

    18-Aug-2008

    Celluloid Dreams has added two Venice competition titles to its autumn slate - Yu Lik-wai's Plastic City and Marco Bechis' Birdwatchers - both of which are set in Brazil and are co-productions with Brazil's Gullane Filmes.

  • Celestialsigns distribution deals withUS trio

    14-Aug-2008

    Hong Kong's Celestial Pictures has signed distribution agreements with BCI, Media Blasters and Well Go USA to release Shaw Brothers martial arts titles on home video in the US and Canada.

  • Avex Group, Media Asiaestablish $50 film fund

    9-Aug-2008

    Hong Kong's eSun Holdings, parent of the Media Asia Entertainment Group, and Japan's Avex Group have announced the creation of a film fund of $50m over five years, to be jointly financed by both parties.

  • RGM Entertainment launches $400m production fund

    5-Aug-2008

    Singapore-based RGM Entertainment is launching a fund to back $400m worth of commercial English-language film and TV projects over a period of four years.

  • India's NFDC set to host second edition of Film Bazaar

    4-Aug-2008

    India's National Film Development Corp (NFDC) has unveiled details of the second edition of its co-production market, Film Bazaar, to be held November 26-29 at the Marriott Resort in Goa.

  • Celestial pacts with Netmovie for cyber cafe distribution

    1-Aug-2008

    Celestial Pictures has signed a deal with Beijing Netmovie Co which will see 662 Shaw Brothers films distributed through chains of internet cafes in mainland China.

  • Palisades, Media Asia clash over Tartan library titles

    30-Jul-2008

    New York-based Palisades Media Corp has reasserted its ownership of the Tartan Films' library, after Hong Kong producer-distributor Media Asia announced last week that it was retrieving rights to seven films it had previously licensed to the UK distributor.

  • Thai star Tony Jaa goes missing from Ong Bak sequel

    28-Jul-2008

    Thai film studio Sahamongkol held a press conference in Bangkok on Friday (July 25) to confirm that Ong Bak star Tony Jaa has been missing for the past two months.

  • Hong Kong's Media Asia takes back Infernal rights

    25-Jul-2008

    Hong Kong's Media Asia has announced that it has retrieved rights to seven films it had previously licensed to UK-US distributor Tartan Group, including its hugely successful Infernal Affairs trilogy.

  • Disney acquires home video rights to Hindi hit

    22-Jul-2008

    Walt Disney Co has acquired home video rights for North America, the UK and Australia to hit Hindi movie, Taare Zameen Par, directed by and starring Aamir Khan.

  • Tokyo Sonata wins best film at Osian's Cinefan

    21-Jul-2008

    Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Tokyo Sonata was awarded best film at the Osian's Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema on Saturday night (July 19).

  • MegaStar Media opens fifth multiplex in Vietnam

    18-Jul-2008

    Vietnamese exhibitor MegaStar Media has opened its fifth multiplex in Vietnam, in the central coastal city of Danang.

  • The Mummy 3 cleared for mainland China release

    16-Jul-2008

    The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor has been cleared for release by Chinese film censors and will be released in mainland China after the Beijing Olympics, according to local distributor Edko Films.

  • Chin Hanjoins cast ofEmmerich's 2012

    10-Jul-2008

    Singapore-born actor Chin Han, who starred in 3 Needles and plays one of the main villains in The Dark Knight, has landed a role in Roland Emmerich's 2012.

  • Thai government plans tax incentives for foreign shoots

    7-Jul-2008

    Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports is planning to introduce tax incentives for foreign film productions, in a bid to increase the country's appeal as an international shooting location.

  • In Focus: World cinema arrives in India

    3-Jul-2008

    Despite its huge population, India is still classed as a tiny territory by international sales agents, one where even the US studios have failed to make much of a dent in the Bollywood juggernaut.

  • Korea's Marine Boy splashes down in Cebu

    2-Jul-2008

    Korean production Marine Boy has wrapped a five-day shoot at Bigfoot Studios' recently completed underwater shooting tank in Cebu, the Philippines.

  • Chang, Yeoh launch management outfit Stellar Entertainment

    23-Jun-2008

    Actress Michelle Yeoh, producer Terence Chang and Taiwanese media veteran David Tang officially unveiled their joint talent management company, Stellar Entertainment, in Hong Kong on Saturday.

  • Leung joins Distribution Workshop as head of sales

    20-Jun-2008

    Hong Kong distribution executive Virginia Leung has joined start-up international sales outfit Distribution Workshop as head of sales.

  • Reliance in talks to invest in DreamWorks

    18-Jun-2008

    India's Reliance ADA Group is close to a deal with DreamWorks' chiefs Steven Spielberg and David Geffen to launch a new venture that would enable them to split with Paramount Pictures, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. Click here to see article.

  • Chinese developer close to deal to acquire Shaw Brothers

    18-Jun-2008

    Chinese property developer Yeung Kwok-keung is close to finalising a deal to buy a 75% stake in Hong Kong's Shaw Brothers from Sir Run Run Shaw.

  • Ng calls for changes to China's co-production policy

    17-Jun-2008

    The chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers, Ng See-yuen, called for a rethink of co-production policy at a seminar on Sino-foreign co-production at the Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) on Tuesday.

  • Investors assess risks, rewards in China film market

    17-Jun-2008

    China's booming film industry could provide huge returns to venture capitalists, funds and other investors, but the market is still in its infancy and it'sstill not clearin which areas to invest.

  • Bangkok International Film Festival announces new dates

    16-Jun-2008

    The Bangkok International Film Festival (BKIFF) has announced that this year's edition will take place September 23-30.

  • Malaysia's KRU Studio backs US thriller Deadline

    13-Jun-2008

    Malaysia's KRU Studio is co-producing US psychological thriller Deadline, starring Brittany Murphy, marking its first foray into financing Hollywood films.

  • Jupiter picks up French-speaking territories to Yasukuni

    24-May-2008

    Jupiter Communications has picked up all rights for French-speaking territories to Li Ying's documentary Yasukuni, from Hong Kong-based sales agent The Film Library.

  • Warlords conquers more territories including India, Brazil

    23-May-2008

    Hong Kong-based Media Asia Distribution has sealed several more deals on Peter Ho-sun Chan's The Warlords, including the sale of Indian rights to Palador Pictures.

  • Arthouse Films and Fortissimo sign first-look and output deal

    21-May-2008

    New York and LA-based Arthouse Films has struck a first-look and output deal with Fortissimo Films, which will represent projects from Arthouse Films, Curiously Bright Entertainment and LM Media.

  • Japan's SPO acquires seven-film package from Taiwan's Joint Entertainment

    21-May-2008

    Japanese distributor SPO has acquired a package of seven films from Taiwan 's Joint Entertainment.

  • Little Magic conjures up Kikuchi deal

    21-May-2008

    New York-based Little Magic Films has secured a deal to represent the works of best-selling Japanese cult novelist Hideyuki Kikuchi for English-language film and TV live-action adaptations.

  • Eros and Lionsgate form joint distribution venture

    20-May-2008

    Lionsgate has formed a wide-ranging joint venture with Indian film giant Eros International for the distribution of its own and third-party content in the booming South Asian market.

  • Fortissimo picks up Woo's next project 1949

    20-May-2008

    Fortissimo Films has acquired worldwide rights outside China to the next project to be directed by John Woo, $40m historical epic 1949.

  • Katapult dives in for Ocean Flame

    19-May-2008

    Katapult Film Sales has picked up Chinese director Liu Fendou's Un Certain Regard title Ocean Flame, produced by Hong Kong 's Filmko Entertainment.

  • Japanese buyers take Antique, Love First

    19-May-2008

    Korean sales agent Fine Cut has pre-sold Min Kyu-dong's Antique to Showgate in Japan for a mid six-figure sum.

  • The Warlords march into France, Germany

    18-May-2008

    Hong Kong 's Media Asia Distribution has sold Peter Ho-sun Chan's The Warlords, starring Jet Li, Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro, to KSM in Germany and ARP in France.

  • India's Reliance becomes financier to Hollywood stars

    18-May-2008

    India's Reliance Big Entertainment has unveiled plans to provide development funds to the production vehicles of seven Hollywood stars, including Brad Pitt's Plan B Entertainment and Tom Hanks' Playtone Productions.

  • India's Studio 18 signs five-film Acme deal

    18-May-2008

    The Indian Film Company-Studio18 is pushing Bollywood into new territories, including the Baltics, where the company has signed a five-picture deal with Acme Films.

  • Tokyo festival goes green to boost global profile

    18-May-2008

    The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) is launching a new section and award around the theme of ecology as part of a push to reposition the festival as a more international event.

  • Thai Studio GTH sells Body to Germany, Indonesia

    16-May-2008

    Thai studio GMM Thai Hub (GTH) has sold suspense thriller Body to Germany 's I-On New Media and Indonesian distributor PT Cakarwala Pesona Jaya Film.

  • India's Reliance Big Entertainment sets out $1bn ambitions

    16-May-2008

    Reliance BIG Entertainment, owned by India 's massive Reliance ADA Group, is poised to become one of the most aggressive players in the global film business.

  • Fortissimo climbs on board Magic Bus

    16-May-2008

    Fortissimo Films has acquired worldwide rights, excluding the US and UK, to Jigsaw Film's upcoming documentary Magic Bus.

  • Bruce Beresford named jury president of Asia Pacific Screen Awards

    16-May-2008

    Bruce Beresford will be president of the international jury for the second Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSAs), to be held on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia on Nov 11, 2008.

  • Shanghai turns spotlight on co-production

    16-May-2008

    The Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) has announced the line-up of projects for its Co-production Film Pitch and Catch (Co-FPC) initiative, which aims to stimulate co-production with an emphasis on the Asian region.

  • NonStop acquires Park Chan-wook's vampire film

    16-May-2008

    Sweden 's NonStop Entertainment has acquired two vampire features - Park Chan-wook's highly-anticipated Thirst and Not Like Others from Swedish director Peter Pontikis. Both films are still in production and will premiere later this year. Nonstop has acquired rights to both films for Scandinavia, Iceland and the Baltics.

  • Infinity Film Completion Services launches financing and production arms

    16-May-2008

    Indian completion bond outfit Infinity Film Completion Services has launched a film financing and production company which is producing Colours Of Passion from The Rising director Ketan Mehta and a slate of martial arts movies.The new outfit, Infinity Filmed Entertainment, plans to produce four to five features a year for the next two years for the international market.Mehta's

  • Zhang Ziyi heads cast for Susanne Bier's Lost For Words

    16-May-2008

    Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi is set to star in romantic comedy Lost For Words, which Susanne Bier is directing for the UK's Working Title Films. Hugh Grant is also in talks to join the film.

  • TF1 picks up worldwide rights to Rosem's Wang Chao project Starting Over

    15-May-2008

    TF1 International has picked up worldwide rights to drama Starting Over from Chinese director Wang Chao, whose last film Luxury Car won the top prize in Un Certain Regard in 2006.

  • Star licenses 20 titles to Japan's Tsutaya Discas

    14-May-2008

    Pan-Asian broadcaster Star has signed a deal with Japanese online content provider Tsutaya Discas, which will distribute 20 movie titles from Star's Fortune Star library via internet in Japan.

  • Osian's Cinefan festival to honour Sen, Lacaba

    14-May-2008

    Osian's-Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema is presenting two lifetime achievement awards at this year's edition (July 10-20).

  • Fortissimo is big in France with ARP, La Fabrique de Films

    14-May-2008

    Fortissimo Films has sealed a raft of sales to various distributors in France, including ARP, which has acquired out-of-competition title Ashes Of Time Redux, and La Fabrique de Films, which has snapped up Madonna documentary I Am Because We Are.In addition, Films sans Frontieres has acquired Iranian director Majid Majidi's Berlin Silver Bear winner Song Of Sparrows. ...

  • Nikkatsu unveils Miike's $20m Yatterman

    13-May-2008

    Japanese studio Nikkatsu is unveiling Takashi Miike's $20m manga adaptation Yatterman at Cannes, the cult director's biggest project.The live-action picture is in production at the Nikkatsu studios, scheduled for a wide Japanese release in spring 2009. Nikkatsu and Shochiku are co-distributing in Japan.Nikkatsu was acquired by Index Corp in 2005 and has since been ramping up its production and sales activities. ...

  • Fortissimo Filmsacquires Killer, Epoch'sGigantic

    13-May-2008

    Fortissimo Films has picked up Gigantic, an off-beat comedy with a stellar cast headed by Zooey Deschanel, Paul Dano and John Goodman, from US production outfits Killer Films and Epoch Films.

  • Edko to launch Claustrophobia at Cannes

    12-May-2008

    Hong Kong-based Edko Films will commence international sales at Cannes on Claustrophobia, which is one of the first films to be backed by Irresistible Films, a film fund established by Bill Kong and Japan's Avex Group Holdings.

  • Fortissimo to debut Dance Subaru! at Cannes

    8-May-2008

    Fortissimo Films has boarded pan-Asian co-production Dance Subaru! as sales agent outside of Asia, and will be introducing the film at this year's Cannes film festival.

  • Yim joins animation house Imagi in Hong Kong

    6-May-2008

    Former Media Asia executive Cora Yim has joined Los Angeles and Hong Kong-based animation house Imagi as director of marketing and strategic planning with immediate effect.

  • iDream bolsters Cannes slate with Ocean Of Pearls

    2-May-2008

    London-based sales agent iDream Independent Pictures has added Ocean Of Pearls, directed by Dr Sarab Singh Neelam, to its Cannes line-up.

  • Focus: the changing face of Japanese distribution

    2-May-2008

    As the world's third largest box-office territory behind the US and UK, Japan is a hugely influential player in the international sales business. And until a few years ago, Japanese distributors would regularly stump up 10%-12% of the budget of heavyweight independent films.

  • Oh quits CJ Entertainment to join Fox Korea

    1-May-2008

    Fox Korea has appointed Tom Oh as managing director, replacing Jay Shim, effective from May 9. He will report to Fox vice president, Asia Pacific, Sunder Kimatrai.

  • UK film-maker wins top prize at Nyon doc fest

    24-Apr-2008

    Martin Blaney in Nyon

  • Polybona sets up international sales outfit

    16-Apr-2008

    Beijing-based distributor Polybona is entering the international sales arena by taking a 51% stake in start-up sales outfit Distribution Workshop, established by Hong Kong film industry veterans Nansun Shi and Jeffrey Chan.

  • TWC's Shanghai to shoot in UK, Thailand from May

    16-Apr-2008

    The Weinstein Company has confirmed that Mikael Hafstrom's Shanghai, starring John Cusack, Gong Li and Ken Watanabe, will start shooting on May 5 in London.

  • The Warlords rules the roost at Hong Kong Film Awards

    14-Apr-2008

    Peter Ho-sun Chan's epic war drama The Warlords dominated the Hong Kong Film Awards last night (April 13), scooping eight prizes including best film, best director and best actor for Jet Li.

  • Celestial launches two movie channels on Now TV

    11-Apr-2008

    Hong Kong-based Celestial Pictures is launching two new movie channels - Celestial Movies Asia (CMA) and Celestial Classic Movies (CCM) - which will be carried by PCCW's now TV IPTV service in Hong Kong.

  • Celestial pacts with Kadokawa, MGM Central Europe

    7-Apr-2008

    Hong Kong-based Celestial Pictures has signed two new distribution deals for its Shaw Brothers library with MGM Channel Central Europe and Kadokawa Entertainment in Japan.

  • Frames: Indian industry leaders sound note of caution

    28-Mar-2008

    India's entertainment industry may be booming, and Mumbai-based film companies eyeing global expansion, but local industry leaders rang several alarm bells at the FICCI-Frames conference this week.

  • Adlabs cinema chain set for global, digital expansion

    28-Mar-2008

    India's largest exhibitor Adlabs, owned by Reliance Entertainment, has unveiled plans for global expansion, as well as the roll-out of a D-cinema circuit in the domestic Indian market.

  • In focus - Closing the deal

    28-Mar-2008

    Although box office is still booming in many parts of the region, the Asian film market presents unique challenges to Western sales companies. Local product has a market share of at least 40% in the major territories, and as US studio product is also strong, there is little room for independent English or foreign-language movies. Although China and India both have an expanding middle class and are witnessing rapid multiplex development, both markets are problematic. Local product has ...

  • Heart, Yasukuni take top prizes at Hong Kong fest

    27-Mar-2008

    Takahashi Izumi's What the Heart Craves has won the Golden Digital Award in the Asian Digital Competition section of this year's Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF).

  • Ellis promoted to president of MPA Asia Pacific

    25-Mar-2008

    The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has announced the promotion of Michael Ellis to president and managing director of its Asia Pacific operations.

  • Film finance: India INC extends its global reach

    21-Mar-2008

    It has been a busy year for the Indian film industry's corporate players, what with floating on stock markets and signing content deals with local producers, not to mention forging partnerships with Hollywood.India's film finance giantsFICCI Frames line-up

  • SPECIAL REPORT: HONG KONG & CHINA 2008

    20-Mar-2008

    SCREEN SPECIAL REPORT CONTENTS (click to view)Hong Kong: Territory overview Hong Kong: Indie finance Hong Kong and China: Hot projects Hong Kong: Box office ...

  • Shanghai film festival pays tribute to Minghella

    19-Mar-2008

    The Shanghai International Film Festival has issued the following statement regarding the death of Anthony Minghella who had been appointed president of the festival's competition jury this year:

  • CEC strikes financing deal for Osborne's Laundry Warrior

    19-Mar-2008

    Specialty finance and investment company Continental Entertainment Capital (CEC) has announced a single-picture financing deal for highly-anticipated, English-language action feature The Laundry Warrior.

  • Pang Ho-cheung, Ning Hao win top HAF awards

    19-Mar-2008

    Pang Ho Cheung's The Bus picked up the HAF Award for best Hong Kong project at the close of the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF)today (March 19).

  • Hong Kong's Salon Films forms pan-Asian alliance

    19-Mar-2008

    Hong Kong's Salon Films has formed an affiliation of pan-Asian production and financing companies to help facilitate international productions in the region.

  • EFP gives support to seven films at Hong Kong film festival

    17-Mar-2008

    The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) has, for the first time, been included in the list of non-European film festivals eligible for European Film Promotion's Film Sales Support (FSS) initiative.

  • Mandarin brings Bruce Lee's kung-fu master to big screen

    17-Mar-2008

    Hong Kong's Mandarin Films is producing a biopic of Ip Man, the kung-fu master of global superstar Bruce Lee, which is set to star Donnie Yen and Simon Yam.

  • Secret Sunshine lights up Asian Film Awards

    17-Mar-2008

    Korea's Secret Sunshine was the big winner at the second edition of the Asian Film Awards (AFAs) last night, scooping best film, best director for Lee Chang-dong and best actress for Jeon Do-yeon's performance.

  • Empress finds champion in Golden Network

    16-Mar-2008

    Hong Kong-based Golden Network Asia has picked up worldwide rights outside Asia to martial arts epic An Empress And The Warriors from United Filmmakers Organization.

  • Ramy Choi's Fame to develop new Taiwanese talent

    16-Mar-2008

    Former Fortissimo Films executive Ramy Choi has launched a production and talent management outfit, Fame Universal Entertainment, which aims to develop up-and-coming talent with a focus on Taiwan.

  • US independents march on Asia

    16-Mar-2008

    US interest in Asia's film and entertainment industries is hotting up with Lionsgate becoming the latest mini-major, following The Weinstein Company and Hyde Park Entertainment, to make a major investment in the region.

  • Sundream signs output deal with The Weinstein Company

    16-Mar-2008

    Hong Kong's Sundream Motion Pictures has sealed an output deal and a two-picture co-production pact with The Weinstein Company (TWC), and is also lining up a slate of new productions.

  • Distant Horizon unveils cast of Chan's Don't Look Up

    14-Mar-2008

    Hong Kong filmmaker Fruit Chan's remake of Hideo Nakata's Don't Look Up will start shooting in Los Angeles on April 14, with a cast including Henry Thomas, Kevin Corrigan, Lothaire Bluteau, Carmen Chaplin and Reshad Strik.

  • CHINA: RISING STARS

    7-Mar-2008

    Jiang Yiyan, actress

  • HONG KONG: INDIE FINANCE

    7-Mar-2008

    Launched last April, the Film Development Council (FDC) advises the Hong Kong government on policy for the promotion and development of the local film industry. It also oversees the $38m (hk$300m) Film Development Fund and related areas, such as training and promotion of film literacy.

  • FILMART: ASIA GETS DOWN TO BUSINESS

    7-Mar-2008

    The oldest and arguably most established film market in Asia, Filmart (March 17-20) has emerged as one of the leading events on the global film industry's calendar.

  • HKIFF:ADDING THE GLAMOUR

    7-Mar-2008

    Primarily an audience festival, the Hong Kong International Film Festival (Hkiff) nonetheless achieves greater international recognition by taking place at the same time as Filmart and the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF). In turn, it helps to increase the film-maker quotient at both industry-heavy events.

  • HONG KONG BOX OFFICE: GOLDEN TICKETS

    7-Mar-2008

    Hong Kong's overall box office leapt 11% to just over $129.6m (hk$1bn) in 2007, marking the first time the territory's box office has bounced back above the hk$1bn level since 2001.

  • Hong Kong Overview - Financing - A lifeline for independent producers

    7-Mar-2008

    Launched last April, the Film Development Council (FDC) advises the Hong Kong government on policy for the promotion and development of the local film industry. It also oversees the $38m (hk$300m) Film Development Fund and related areas, such as training and promotion of film literacy.

  • HONG KONG: TERRITORY OVERVIEW

    7-Mar-2008

    Looking solely at the numbers, the Hong Kong film industry had a tough time last year, with a further decline in the number of films produced to a record low of 50, according to figures from the Motion Picture Industry Association (Mpia). Their combined share of the Hong Kong box office also contracted to just 23%, compared to 31% the previous year.

  • Fortissimo adds Konchalovsky's Gloss to line-up

    27-Feb-2008

    Fortissimo Films has acquired worldwide rights outside Russia and France to Andrei Konchalovsky's Gloss, which will receive a gala screening at next month's Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF).

  • Chen, McLachlan to star in Beresford's Last Dancer

    26-Feb-2008

    Kyle McLachlan, Bruce Greenwood and Joan Chen have been cast in Bruce Beresford's adaptation of the best-selling book, Mao's Last Dancer, which starts shooting in China next month.

  • Chuang takes up distribution post at restructured Star

    22-Feb-2008

    Hong Kong-based regional broadcaster Star Group has folded its Fortune Star division back into its main TV programming production and distribution operation, and appointed Yvonne Chuang as vice president, programme syndication and distribution, effective March 10.

  • Hui's The Way We Are to have world premiere at HKIFF

    22-Feb-2008

    Ann Hui's The Way We Are and Vincent Chui's Love Is Elsewhere are among the local films making their world premiere at this year's Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF).

  • FDC grants funding to McDull WuDang, Claustrophobia

    20-Feb-2008

    Animation McDull WuDang and live-action feature Claustrophobia have become the first two film projects to be approved for funding by Hong Kong's recently-established Film Development Fund (FDF).

  • Kabei, Demon to open Hong Kong InternationalFilm Festival

    20-Feb-2008

    The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) has announced that Japanese director Yoji Yamada's Kabei - Our Mother and Soul Of A Demon, directed by Taiwan's Chang Tso-chi, will open the 32nd edition of the festival (March 17-April 6).

  • Disney more than doubles its stake in India's UTV

    18-Feb-2008

    The Walt Disney Company has invested around $203m (Rs8.05bn) to more than double its stake in India 's UTV Software Communications from 13.7% to 32.1%.

  • Fortissimo sings with Majidi's Song Of Sparrows

    18-Feb-2008

    Fortissimo Films has picked up worldwide rights outside of Iran to Majid Majidi's The Song Of Sparrows, winner of the Silver Bear for best actor at this year's Berlin Film Festival.

  • David Lee steps down as EVP at Weinstein Company in Asia

    14-Feb-2008

    DavidLee has stepped down as executive vice president of Asian Operations atThe Weinstein Company, where he was responsible for overseeing creativeaspects of the company's Asian Film Fund. He will be partially replaced by Steve Squillante who has come on board as a consultant for the fund. Squillantewill work alongside TWC's internal team - including ...

  • Fortissimo seals raft of deals on Marley, CSNY docs

    13-Feb-2008

    Fortissimo Films has closed a raft of deals on its recently-announced Bob Marley documentary, which Martin Scorsese is directing for delivery in 2010.

  • Hong Sang-soo's Woman goes to France with Umedia

    13-Feb-2008

    Korea's Mirovision has sealed a French deal on Hong Sang-soo's previous film, Woman On The Beach, which has been sold to Umedia.

  • Host co-producer Jang prepares Pepper in London

    13-Feb-2008

    Korean female producer Junyoung Jang, who was one of the producers on The Host, has relocated to London where she is setting up a $10m time travel adventure film, entitled Charlie Pepper.

  • T-Joy acquires Japanese rights to Bodrov's Mongol

    11-Feb-2008

    Japan's T-Joy has pounced on Oscar-nominated epic drama Mongol, acquiring all Japanese rights through its recently-established Laterna label.

  • Palador Pictures acquires Indian rights to Shine A Light

    10-Feb-2008

    Mumbai-based Palador Pictures has acquired Indian rights to Berlin opening film Shine A Light from Fortissimo Films.

  • Minghella to head Shanghai film festival jury

    10-Feb-2008

    Anthony Minghella will serve as president of the international jury at this year's Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF), which takes place June 14-22.

  • Japan's Iseki Satoru to produce Korean epic Sharaku

    10-Feb-2008

    Japanese producer Iseki Satoru (Battle Of Wits) has boarded epic mystery fantasy Sharaku (working title), which Park Tae-choon is directing for Korea's Studio2.0. Studio 2.0 is co-financing and handling international sales on the $8m Korean-Japanese co-production, which will be shot in Japan with a mostly Japanese cast and crew. Behind-the-scenes talent confirmed so far includes DoP Sakamoto Yoshitaka (

  • TWC's Shanghai and other foreign shoots face China crisis

    10-Feb-2008

    The Chinese authorities have refused to grant shooting permission to Mikael Hafstrom's period drama Shanghai, set to star John Cusack and Gong Li, forcing the producers to scramble to find another Asian location.The Weinstein Company is backing the production, which has been in pre-production in China since last September and was scheduled to start shooting next month. It's the biggest project so far to be backed by TWC's Asian Film Fund.

  • CJ Entertainment to sell The Good, The Bad And The Weird

    9-Feb-2008

    Korea's CJ Entertainment has confirmed that it has picked up worldwide rights, excluding Japan, to Kim Jee-woon's The Good, The Bad And The Weird, while producer Barunson is handling Japanese rights.

  • Eros takes international rights to Ram Gopal Varma's Sarkar Raaj

    9-Feb-2008

    Indian powerhouse Eros International has acquired international rights to Ram Gopal Varma's upcoming Sarkar Raaj. Starring the hot family trio of Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, the film is a sequel to Varma's award-winning Sarkar, which delves into the links between politicians and the underworld in modern-day Mumbai. While Sarkar ...

  • iDream looks into The Voyeurs by Dasgupta

    9-Feb-2008

    London and Mumbai-based iDream Independent Pictures has picked up worldwide rights, excluding India, to The Voyeurs directed by veteran Bengali filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta.The film follows a young man who falls in love with the girl next door, and looks at whether our obsession with surveillance has really made the world a safer place. It premiered in the masters section of last year's Toronto International Film Festival and also played ...

  • The Weinstein Company, Showbox hot for Chocolate

    9-Feb-2008

    Thai actioner Chocolate - which opened at the top of the Thai box office this week - has been gobbled up by several international distributors including The Weinstein Company which has taken North American rights. Produced and sold by Sahamongkolfilm International, the picture has also been sold to Showbox Media for the UK, Taewon Entertainment for South Korea, Intercontinental Films for Hong Kong, Innoform for Singapore, Medyavizyon ...

  • Kurosawa's Tokyo Sonata sold to Japan, France

    8-Feb-2008

    Japan's Entertainment Farm - Fortissimo Films' producing partner on Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Tokyo Sonata - has secured Japanese distribution for the film via PiX Inc, a subsidiary of Avex Entertainment founded in December last year.

  • Soros acquires 3% stake in India's Reliance Entertainment

    8-Feb-2008

    Billionaire venture capitalist George Soros has bought a 3% stake in India's Reliance Entertainment for $100m.

  • Fortissimo makes donation to Scorsese's WCF

    8-Feb-2008

    Fortissimo Films will be presenting Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Foundation (WCF) with a $50,000 cheque at a special reception at the Berlin International Film Festival tonight (Feb 8).

  • Japan's Toei lands in Berlin with Orochi: Blood

    8-Feb-2008

    Japanese studio Toei has made a last-minute decision to attend the European Film Market, and will be selling the new horror title from Norio Tsuruta, who previously directed the J-Horror Theatre title Premonition.

  • KOFIC launches fund to support Korean films overseas

    8-Feb-2008

    The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) is launching a $420,000 fund to support the overseas theatrical release of Korean films.

  • Scorsese, Shangri-La to shine a light on Bob Marley

    8-Feb-2008

    Following his Bob Dylan and Berlin-opening Rolling Stones documentaries, Martin Scorsese is planning to make a film on the life of Reggae star Bob Marley.

  • Cinema Libre welcomes Zombie to the US

    7-Feb-2008

    Grace Lee's American Zombie, the first English-language film from Korean producer-distributor iHQ, has been acquired for US distribution by Cinema Libre Studio.

  • Fortissimo picks up Sundance winner Sleep Dealer

    7-Feb-2008

    Fortissimo Films has acquired worldwide rights, excluding North America, to Alex Rivera's Sleep Dealer, which recently scooped several awards at the Sundance Film Festival where it played in competition.

  • Suh slices through international market with Fine Cut

    7-Feb-2008

    Cineclick Asia founder Youngjoo Suh is leaving the company to establish a new international sales outfit, Fine Cut, to handle a more diverse slate of international projects.

  • Protege, Warlords lead race for Hong Kong Film Awards

    4-Feb-2008

    Derek Yee's Protege, produced by Peter Ho-sun Chan, and The Warlords, directed and produced by Chan, dominated the nominations for this year's Hong Kong Film Awards.

  • India's UTV changes name to avoid AIM listing confusion

    1-Feb-2008

    India's UTV Motion Pictures, which floated on London's Alternative Investment Market (AIM) last year, has changed its name to UMP Plc to avoid confusion with another AIM-listed company, UTV Media Plc (formerly Ulster Television Plc).

  • Strand Releasing takes US rights to Lee's Help Me Eros

    1-Feb-2008

    Fortissimo Films has announced a slew of sales coming out of the Rotterdam Film Festival and in the run up to next week's European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin.

  • Fortissimo adds Son Of ALion, Hold Me Tight to EFM slate

    29-Jan-2008

    Fortissimo Films has bolstered its slate for the upcoming European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin with two acquisitions.

  • SPTI seals mobile VoD deal with Korea's SK Telecom

    29-Jan-2008

    Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) has sealed a video-on-demand (VoD) licensing deal with South Korean mobile operator, SK Telecom.

  • Mei Ah Entertainment sells BIG stake to mainland investor

    28-Jan-2008

    Hong Kong producer-distributor Mei Ah Entertainment has sold a 21% stake in local production outfit BIG Media Group to Chinese investor Brandon Wen Rui Feng for $10.3m (HK$80m).

  • Star launches second Chinese Movies channel

    23-Jan-2008

    Regional broadcaster Star has launched Star Chinese Movies 2, a new channel that will screen Chinese-language films produced from the 1970s to the 1990s.

  • Production - Mumbai Calling

    18-Jan-2008

    One of the world's most crowded and at times dysfunctional cities, shooting in Mumbai is not for the faint-hearted. But it is also the centre of one of the world's largest film industries, with production costs around one-fifth of those in the West. For projects with a story set in Mumbai, filming in the Indian mega-city is not an insurmountable task.

  • Fortissimo picks up Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young documentary

    17-Jan-2008

    Fortissimo Films has acquired worldwide rights outside North America to documentary feature CSNY: Dejà Vu on the eve of its debut at the Sundance Film Festival in the closing night slot.

  • Osian's Cinefan to award $250,000 in prize money

    16-Jan-2008

    Osian's Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab cinema has announced that it will offer prize money of around $250,000 (approx Rs10m) for the competition sections and lifetime achievement awards at its upcoming edition (July 10-20).

  • China Broadband takes 23% stake in Asian Union

    16-Jan-2008

    Private equity fund China Broadband Capital Partners has taken a 23% stake in Beijing-based film and TV producer Asian Union New Media.

  • Kite Runner banned from release in Afghanistan

    16-Jan-2008

    Afghanistan has banned the import and exhibition of DreamWorks-produced drama The Kite Runner on the grounds that it could incite violence.

  • Olympic challenge for international film in China

    4-Jan-2008

    As the finishing touches are being made to Beijing's sports venues, there is an air of nervous anticipation in the Chinese capital.

  • Japan, Korea make strong showing in HAF 2008 line-up

    2-Jan-2008

    Japan's Nakata Hideo (Ring series) and South Korea's Park Chan-wook (Old Boy) and Bong Joon-ho (The Host) are among the world-renowned Asian filmmakers who have had projects selected for the 2008 edition of the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF).

  • China Film raises capital for digital production centre

    19-Dec-2007

    Continuing its capital-raising streak, Chinese state-owned conglomerate, China Film Group Corporation, has issued $67.7m (RMB500m) in corporate bonds to finance digital film production and cinemas.

  • Hong Kong's Pang Brothers to direct Storm Riders sequel

    12-Dec-2007

    Hong Kong-based Universe Entertainment is lining up a sequel to 1998 martial arts fantasy The Storm Riders, to be directed by the Pang Brothers (Bangkok Dangerous, Re-cycle).

  • 3D dominates discussions at biggest ever CineAsia

    6-Dec-2007

    3D and digital cinema have been the major talking points of this year's CineAsia conference (Dec 4-6), which is being held for the first time in the gambling mecca of Macau.

  • Taiwan's Wall takes top honours at IFFI Goa fest

    4-Dec-2007

    Taiwanese director Lin Chih Ju's The Wall was awarded the Golden Peacock and a cash prize of $25,500 (Rs1m) at the closing of the 38th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa last night.

  • Lumiere, Infinity FCS join forces for Indo-Brazilian alliance

    30-Nov-2007

    Indian film completion guarantor, Infinity Film Completion Services, has taken a 25% stake in Brazilian producer-distributor Lumiere as the first step in an Indo-Latin American alliance spanning production and distribution.

  • Mumbai, London sign co-operation agreement

    22-Nov-2007

    London and Mumbai have solidified the relationship between their two film production industries by signing a city-to-city agreement.

  • Indie India - A parallel reality

    16-Nov-2007

    Just as the US has film-makers working outside the studio system, India has a whole army of directors and producers attempting to carve a niche away from the vast and all-consuming Bollywood film industry.

  • Indie India - Get set, Goa!

    15-Nov-2007

    After struggling to find its feet in the past few years, the film market of the International Film Festival of India (Iffi) in Goa is undergoing a radical overhaul this year in partnership with government agency, the National Film Development Corporation (Nfdc).

  • Korea's Studio2.0 scores sales on Epitaph, Lovers

    15-Nov-2007

    Korean production and sales company Studio2.0 clinched a string of sales on new titles Epitaph and Lovers Of 6 Years at the recent AFM.

  • Tanovic, Lichtenberg among mentors for Goa script workshop

    12-Nov-2007

    Danis Tanovic, Bernd Lichtenberg and Olivia Hetreed are among the high-profile writers who will mentor eight students at a script development workshop, Screenwriters Bloc, to be held next week in Goa, India (Nov 18-23).

  • Paramount, DreamWorks pact for Chinese DVD distribution

    8-Nov-2007

    Warner Home Video has inked an agreement with Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Animation to distribute their upcoming DVDs in mainland China.

  • Da Silva launches boutique consultancy Novo Films

    5-Nov-2007

    EuropaCorp artistic advisor Francois Da Silva has left the company to establish his own boutique consultancy, Novo Films.

  • Film Library picks up Chinese dramaBefore The Sunrise

    5-Nov-2007

    Hong Kong-based sales outfit The Film Library has picked up international rights to Derek Chiu's historical drama Before The Sunrise (previously known as Road To Dawn).

  • iDream sells Shelley to South Africa, Australia

    5-Nov-2007

    India's iDream Independent Pictures has sold Lorraine Senna's Americanizing Shelly, starring Beau Bridges and Namrata Singh Gujral, to several territories including South Africa 's Ster Kinekor and Rialto for Australia and New Zealand.

  • Korea's Megabox snaps up Penelope, Ramen Girl

    5-Nov-2007

    Continuing the Korean buying spree at the AFM, Seoul-based exhibitor Megabox has snapped up two titles - romantic comedy Penelope, starring Reese Witherspoon, from Hyde Park International, and The Ramen Girl, starring Brittany Murphy, from Media 8 Entertainment.

  • Korea's Mirovision startscreating Tomorrow News

    5-Nov-2007

    Korea's Mirovision has unveiled two new productions - disaster thriller Tomorrow News and epic romantic comedy Once Upon A Time.

  • Japan's Madhouse sells Ninja Scroll remake rights

    5-Nov-2007

    Japanese animation studio Madhouse has sold live-action remake rights to cult anime title Ninja Scroll to Warner Bros Pictures.

  • Mirovision leads Korean buying charge at AFM

    4-Nov-2007

    South Korea is re-emerging as a buying force at this market with several Korean distributors making multiple acquisitions of hot US and international product. Mirovision has been the most aggressive on the buying front, acquiring nine titles, including Ed Zwick's Defiance from Essential Entertainment, The Women from Inferno Distribution and Juno from Mandate ...

  • CJ pre-sells Park Chan-wook's new project to France, Russia

    4-Nov-2007

    Korea's CJ Entertainment has pre-sold Park Chan-wook's Untitled Project, set to star Song Kang-ho, to France's Wild Side Films and Russia's Maywin Media. Currently in pre-production, the film is about a small-town priest who volunteers for a medical experiment which fails and turns him into a vampire. It was previously known as Bat. Maywin Media also acquired Russian rights to Lee Chang-dong's Secret ...

  • iDream takes on Santosh Sivan's Boy With Grenade

    4-Nov-2007

    Mumbai and London-based iDream Independent Pictures has boarded Boy With Grenade, the latest project from Indian filmmaker Santosh Sivan whose Before The Rains screened at Toronto this year. iDream will fully finance and handle international sales on Boy With Grenade which was one of the selected projects at this year's Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP) in South Korea. Set in Kashmir, the ...

  • Asian Content Center launched with NHK support

    3-Nov-2007

    Former Amuse executives Hisashi Yamamoto and Takaomi Deguchi have launched a film and TV production outfit, Asia Content Center (ACC), with an innovative financing model backed by its ties to Japanese public broadcaster NHK.

  • Golden Network pacts with Dadi Century for three

    3-Nov-2007

    Hong Kong-based sales agent Golden Network Asia has picked up three titles from China 's Dadi Century Film, including martial arts drama Wushu, which now has Jackie Chan on board as executive producer.

  • UFO beams up Empress And The Warriors

    3-Nov-2007

    Hong Kong production house United Filmmakers Organization (UFO) is attending the AFM to directly sell romantic action picture An Empress And The Warriors, directed by Tony Siu-Tung Ching.

  • First Look takes US rights to Blood Brothers

    2-Nov-2007

    First Look Studios has acquired US rights to John Woo and Terence Chang-produced Blood Brothers, which is being sold by Fortissimo Films.

  • Jaman seals strategic partnership with Terra.com

    2-Nov-2007

    Online film community Jaman.com has signed a multi-year strategic partnership with leading Latino internet portal Terra.com.

  • Korea's M&FC makes market debut with Sword Of Zen

    2-Nov-2007

    Korean film and music company M&FC is making its debut as a seller at the AFM with a varied slate including Park Heung-sik's action epic A Sword Of Zen.

  • Phat Phishteams up with Morgan for international push

    2-Nov-2007

    Start-up Indian production company Phat Phish has brought on board veteran sales agent Kathy Morgan as a consultant in its aim to secure international distribution for a slate of independent Indian features.

  • Chengtian acquires 25% stake in Golden Harvest

    1-Nov-2007

    Beijing-based Chengtian Entertainment Group has reached a deal with Raymond Chow, chairman of Hong Kong 's Golden Harvest Entertainment, to buy his shareholding in the company.

  • J.A. Media picks up Lin's Somersault Punk

    1-Nov-2007

    Beijing-based J.A. Media has picked up worldwide rights to Taiwanese filmmaker Lin Yu-hsien's upcoming sports drama Somersault Punk.

  • Muay Thai Chaiya kicks its way to France, Germany

    1-Nov-2007

    Thailand 's Five Star Entertainment has sold action title Muay Thai Chaiya to France 's Wild Side Films, Germany 's EMS and Brazil 's Global Media Holdings, among other territories.

  • Pretty Pictures stares into Jiang Wen's Sun

    1-Nov-2007

    France 's Pretty Pictures has acquired Jiang Wen's Venice competition entry The Sun Also Rises from Hong Kong 's Emperor Motion Pictures (EMP).

  • Asian buyers eat up Show East's Le Grand Chef

    1-Nov-2007

    Korean seller Show East has closed a raft of Asian deals on foodie drama Le Grand Chef.

  • Lau to produce Water Margin trilogy for Media Asia

    31-Oct-2007

    Hong Kong filmmaker Andrew Lau, who was behind the three Infernal Affairs films, is lining up a second trilogy, this time based on the Chinese classic novel, Water Margin.

  • Fortissimo duo to receive excellence award at CineAsia

    31-Oct-2007

    Fortissimo Films co-chairmen Michael J. Werner and Wouter Barendrecht have been selected to be the recipients of a special CineAsia 'Award of Excellence' for their achievements in promoting Asian cinema worldwide.

  • Fortissimo dives in with Callahan's Against The Current

    31-Oct-2007

    Fortissimo Films has acquired worldwide rights to US drama Against The Current, directed by Peter Callahan and starring Joseph Fiennes. Callahan previously directed 2001 award-winning indie title Last Ball. His new project stars Fiennes as a man coping with grief who sets out to swim the 150 mile-long Lower Hudson River. The cast also includes Elizabeth Reaser (The ...

  • Japan's Gaga Films arrives at AFM with co-production ambitions

    31-Oct-2007

    Gaga's production and sales arm, Gaga Films, is attending the AFM with a slate of co-productions, underscoring the Japanese outfit's strategy to become active in pan-Asian as well as international co-productions.Cyborg She, financed by a Japanese production consortium and Korea's Centurion Movie & Knowledge 3rd Investment Fund, is being directed by Korean filmmaker Kwak Jae-young, whose credits include pan-Asian hits

  • Japan's Fuji TV unveils big-budget AFM slate

    26-Oct-2007

    Japanese broadcaster and film financier Fuji TV has announced a slate of big-budget titles which are being handled by sales agents Gaga Communications and Pony Canyon at the AFM.

  • Disney India taps Samat, Star ups Shankar, Kumar

    26-Oct-2007

    Walt Disney International president Andy Bird has announced that Mahesh Samat has been appointed as managing director of Mumbai-based Walt Disney Company India.

  • Shochiku closes raft of Asian sales on Midnight Eagle

    24-Oct-2007

    On the last day of the TIFFCOM market, Japanese studio Shochiku announced that it has closed a raft of Asian sales on action thriller Midnight Eagle, which opened the Tokyo International Film Festival last week.

  • Golden Network carries Case, Peach Blossom to AFM

    24-Oct-2007

    Hong Kong-based sales agent Golden Network Asia has picked up worldwide rights excluding mainland China to two titles from Chinese producer Lola Zhang's Yunnan New Film Project - Wang Fen's The Case and Peach Blossom Land, to be directed by Huang Ruxiang.

  • TIFFCOM: Nonzee's Chao Phraya River wins TPG award

    24-Oct-2007

    Thai director Nonzee Nimibutr's Just As Chao Phraya River Flows picked up the first ever Tokyo Project Gathering (TPG) Award at the conclusion of the TIFFCOM market on Wednesday night (Oct 24).

  • TIFFCOM: US talent agents advise Japan on creating demand

    23-Oct-2007

    Find top US directors to support your talent and capitalise on US films shooting in Japan were among the nuggets of advice that Hollywood agents and casting directors offered to Japan's talent powerhouses at a TIFFCOM seminar today.

  • Fung appointed as Hong Kong FDC secretary general

    23-Oct-2007

    Wellington Fung has been appointed as secretary-general of Hong Kong's recently-established film industry support body, the Film Development Council (FDC).

  • TIFFCOM gets underway with 15% increase in visitors

    22-Oct-2007

    The fourth edition of the TIFFCOM market (Oct 22-24) got underway in Tokyo this morning with 3,366 registered participants, an increase of 15% from last year, according to organisers.

  • Pusan cements regional role

    19-Oct-2007

    As it turned 12 this year, the Pusan International Film Festival (Piff) started to exhibit growing pains. But the burgeoning South Korean festival, with its mandate to discover and support Asian cinema, is still widely recognised as the premiere event in Asia - putting it in the rankings that follow Cannes, Venice and Berlin as must-attend events.

  • PUSAN: Asian Film Market better for schmoozing then selling

    12-Oct-2007

    As the second Asian Film Market wound down on Thursday (Oct 11), the consensus seemed to be that Pusan is still a key meeting point for the pan-Asian film industry - as it was before the launch of the market - but has some way to go before it becomes a major international platform for buying and selling.

  • PUSAN: Wang's 11 Flowers wins Pusan Award

    11-Oct-2007

    Chinese director Wang Xiaoshuai's 11 Flowers was presented with the $20,000 Pusan Award at the closing of the Asian Film Market and Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP) on Thursday night.

  • PUSAN NEW SELLER: Taiwan's Joint moves into international sales

    8-Oct-2007

    Taiwan's Joint Entertainment, founded by James Liu, has expanded from distribution into international sales.

  • PUSAN NEW SELLER: Movie Plus sets sights on Asian production

    8-Oct-2007

    Movie Plus Group, the international producer-distributor founded by French animation producer Jean Chalopin, is making its Asian market debut here in Pusan.

  • PUSAN: Asian Film Market has quiet but steady opening

    8-Oct-2007

    The second edition of the Asian Film Market kicked off in Pusan on Monday (Oct 8) with quiet corridors on the sales office floors, but a strong turn-out at concurrent seminars and projects markets.

  • MIPCOM: Celestial expands reach into Slovenia, Israel

    8-Oct-2007

    Hong Kong-based Celestial Pictures has signed exclusive TV distribution deals for its Shaw Brothers library with Slovenia's Viasat Broadcasting UK Limited (Viasat) and Israel's SAT-Interactive Limited (SAT).

  • PUSAN: KOFIC, UK Film Council sign distribution agreement

    7-Oct-2007

    The UK Film Council (UKFC) and Korean Film Council (KOFIC) have signed a co-distribution agreement, under which they will provide p&a support to films from each other's territories.

  • PUSAN: Huayi Brothers to produce $20m D-Project

    5-Oct-2007

    Chinese producer-distributor Huayi Brothers will be commencing sales on a $20m suspense thriller, to be directed by Hong Kong 's Tsui Hark, at Pusan 's Asian Film Market next week.

  • Tsi joins Soft-Trek as head of content production

    4-Oct-2007

    Former Hong Kong International Film Festival director Peter Tsi has joined Chinese production and artist management company, Soft-Trek Media, as general manager of content development and production.

  • Hong Kong's HAF projects market open for submissions

    4-Oct-2007

    The Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) has made its first call for project submissions, which it will accept until November 15.

  • Hong Kong's FDC unveils details of film fund

    3-Oct-2007

    Hong Kong's Film Development Council, established by the government earlier this year to support the ailing local film industry, has unveiled details of its Film Development Fund (FDF), which aims to provide financial support for small-to-medium budget film productions.

  • PUSAN'S AFM STAKES ITS CLAIM

    28-Sep-2007

    Now in its second year as a fully fledged market, Pusan's Asian Film Market (October 8-11) is still relatively small and takes place at one of the busiest times of the year - but is already considered a key event by many international buyers and sellers.

  • Lust, Caution has strong opening in HK, Taiwan

    27-Sep-2007

    Ang Lee's Lust, Caution had a record-breaking opening in Hong Kong and Taiwan on September 25, which was also the date of this year's mid-autumn festival public holiday.

  • Warner Bros, TWC sign up for two Imagi features

    27-Sep-2007

    Hong Kong and Los Angeles-based Imagi Animation Studios has signed a deal with Warner Bros Pictures and The Weinstein Company for worldwide distribution of its upcoming 3D animated features Gatchaman and Astroboy.

  • Forbidden Kingdom moves to South Korea for effects work

    27-Sep-2007

    Relativity Media's kung-fu action adventure The Forbidden Kingdom, starring Jet Li and Jackie Chan, has wrapped in China and will now move to South Korea for visual effects work.

  • Hong Kong selects Exiled as Oscar submission

    24-Sep-2007

    Hong Kong's Federation of Motion Film Producers of Hong Kong (FMFP) has selected Johnnie To's Exiled as the territory's entry for the best foreign-language film category of next year's Academy Awards.

  • Columbia, French buyers get busy at Beijing Screenings

    21-Sep-2007

    State-owned China Film Group announced a slew of sales and co-production deals on the last day of the four-day Beijing Screenings (Oct 18-21).

  • China Film Group reveals plans to launch IPO

    19-Sep-2007

    China Film Group chairman Han San Ping announced the state-owned conglomerate's intention to list on the Chinese stock market through an IPO, at the opening of the Beijing Screenings yesterday (Sep 18).

  • Sony, Eros to co-finance slate of Hindi films

    19-Sep-2007

    Sony Pictures Entertainment and global Bollywood producer-distributor Eros International plan to co-invest in a slate of Hindi films, to be released in India and around the world.

  • A match made in Bollywood

    14-Sep-2007

    A Chinese-language, partially studio-backed film, Ang Lee's Lust, Caution, may have just walked off with the top prize from Venice, but these days the US studios seem more intent on learning Hindi than Mandarin Chinese.

  • Tokyo Project Gathering unveils 38 projects

    13-Sep-2007

    The organisers of the third Tokyo Project Gathering (TPG) have unveiled the 38 projects that will take part in this year's edition (Oct 21-24).

  • Tsi resigns as director of Hong Kong film festival

    6-Sep-2007

    Peter Tsi has resigned as executive director of the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), citing personal reasons.

  • Chan makes English-language debut with Don't Look Up

    5-Sep-2007

    Distant Horizon has announced that award-winning Hong Kong director Fruit Chan will direct the English-language remake of Japanese filmmaker Hideo Nakata's Don't Look Up.

  • Blood Brothers has strong opening in mainland China

    28-Aug-2007

    Alexi Tan's Blood Brothers, produced by Lion Rock Productions and Taiwan 's CMC Entertainment, has raked in around $3m (RMB23m) in mainland China between its opening on August 16 and last Sunday (Aug 26).

  • Warner Bros enters Hindi-language film production

    22-Aug-2007

    Warner Bros has announced its long-anticipated move into local production in India by boarding action comedy Made In China, to be directed by Nikhil Advani and star action hero Akshay Kumar.

  • India's Adlabs lines up multi-territory release for Marigold

    6-Aug-2007

    Indian studio Adlabs has lined up an Aug 17 day-and-date release in the US, UK and India for Hollywood/Bollywood romantic comedy Marigold. The long-gestating fusion pic, starring Ali Larter and Bollywood star Salman Khan, will be rolled out on 80-100 prints in the US, around 50 in the UK and 300 plus in India. Filmed in English, the $10m production has been dubbed into Hindi for the Indian release, although some English prints will also ...

  • Imagi appoints Cheung to head Hong Kong animation

    2-Aug-2007

    Imagi International Holdings has appointed former DreamWorks CGI animator Tim Cheung as vice president, animation.

  • Desert Dream wins best film at India's Cinefan festival

    30-Jul-2007

    Korean-French co-production Desert Dream , directed by Zhang Lu, was awarded best film in the Asian-Arab competition of this year's Cinefan film festival, which wrapped in New Delhi on Sunday night (July 29).

  • Osian's launches fund for Asian, Arab filmmakers

    25-Jul-2007

    Indian arts organisation Osian's, organiser of the Cinefan film festival which is currently in progress in Delhi, is launching a development fund to support filmmakers from India, Asia and the Arab region.

  • Chan to star in Tokyo-set drama Shinjuku Incident

    23-Jul-2007

    Hong Kong's JCE Movies is set to produce Japan-set drama The Shinjuku Incident, starring Jackie Chan and directed by Derek Yee.

  • Cinefan opens with Iran-Azerbaijan co-production Raami

    21-Jul-2007

    Osian's Cinefan 9th Festival of Asian & Arab Cinema opened in Delhi on Friday night (July 20) with the international premiere of Iran-Azerbaijan co-production Raami.

  • Hong Kong's Sundream appoints Nan Wong as distribution chief

    18-Jul-2007

    Hong Kong distribution executive Nan Wong has joined local producer-distributor Sundream Motion Pictures as general manager of distribution.

  • TWC homes in on Chan's Invisible Target

    11-Jul-2007

    The Weinstein Company (TWC) has picked up all rights for North America, Australia and South Africa to Benny Chan's upcoming action drama Invisible Target from Hong Kong 's Universe Films Distribution.

  • Salon Films' Charles Wang dies aged 74

    11-Jul-2007

    Charles Wang, managing director of Hong Kong-based production services group Salon Films, died from cancer last week (July 6) in a New York City hospital at the age of 74.

  • FIAPF defends film festival accreditation system

    9-Jul-2007

    International producers' association FIAPF has issued a statement in response to criticisms of its film festival accreditation system that were made in a public forum at the recent Shanghai International Film Festival.

  • Celestial Pictures launches kung-fu mobile TV channel

    28-Jun-2007

    Hong Kong-based Celestial Pictures has launched a mobile TV channel, Kung Fu TV, on leading Thai mobile network provider Advanced Info Service (AIS).

  • SIFF awards new Asian talents in two ceremonies

    24-Jun-2007

    Sheng Zhimin's Bliss won best film at the Shanghai International Film Festival's Asian New Talent Awards on Saturday night (June 23).

  • France's Rosem Films sets up Hong Kong beachhead

    21-Jun-2007

    French producer Rosem Films has established a Hong Kong production office, which will produce the next projects from award-winning Chinese directors Wang Chao and Guo Xiaolu.

  • Shanghai Film Forum delegates talk finance, festivals

    18-Jun-2007

    Marketing is no longer a dirty word in the new China and indeed a whole day was devoted to the topic on the second day of the Jin Jue International Film Forum at this year's Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF).

  • Shanghai fest announces projects for China Film Pitch

    17-Jun-2007

    The organisers of the inaugural China Film Pitch & Catch (CFPC) have unveiled the 30 projects that will be seeking finance during the two-day event, which is being held as part of this year's Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF).

  • Flashpoint acquires remake rights to Hong Kong's Phoenix

    27-May-2007

    LA-based Flashpoint Entertainment has acquired the English-language remake rights to Hong Kong action comedy Enter The Phoenix from JCE Movies.

  • Deltamac snaps up Diving Bell, Lionsgate titles

    25-May-2007

    Hong Kong distributor Deltamac had a busy Cannes where it picked up competition film The Diving Bell And The Butterfly and two other titles.

  • Rintaro's Japanese 3D penguins go Wild

    24-May-2007

    Wild Bunch has acquired worldwide rights, excluding Asia and North America, to 3D CG-animated feature Yona Yona Penguin, which is being directed by Japanese anime master Rintaro. Japanese animation studio Madhouse Inc and Paris-based Denis Friedman Productions are co-producing the film which is scheduled for release in Japan in December 2008. Shochiku will handle Japanese distribution and Hong Kong-based Golden Network Asia is handling ...

  • Chase marks first Indian movie shot entirely in Italy

    24-May-2007

    India's Adlabs Films and production house ASP White are planning to shoot $5m action adventure Chase in Rome, marking the first time that an Indian feature has been entirely filmed in Italy. ASP White founder Anubhav Sinha will direct and is producing the film, which is scheduled to shoot in August/September, with Aditya Bhattacharya as executive producer. Most of the technical and artistic heads of department and crew will be Italian, ...

  • Monsoon and IdtV make first co-production with Nadra

    23-May-2007

    Singapore production company Monsoon Pictures and Dutch filmmakers IdtV Film are joining forces to co-produce $6.5m drama Nadra.The project, which marks the first co-production between Singapore and the Netherlands, tells the true story of a 13-year-old Dutch girl at the centre of a fierce custody battle between her birth parents and Malay adoptive mother.The controversial case erupted into riots between Muslims and Christians ...

  • Madman buys Imagi's animated Highlander

    23-May-2007

    Madman Entertainment has acquired rights for Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to Imagi International Holdings' Highlander: The Search For Vengeance.The first animated feature in the 20-year-old Highlander franchise, the film is directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri.Starz Media has US and UK rights while Tohokushinsha pre-bought Japanese rights. Hong Kong and LA-based Imagi also produced ...

  • Style Jam finds Korean buyers for four titles including Drifting

    23-May-2007

    Japan's Style Jam has closed sales of four titles which are currently in post-production to South Korea.Shinji Aoyama's Sad Vacation, starring Tadanobu Asano, and Miki Satoshi's Drifting have been acquired by Korea's Sponge Entertainment.Meanwhile Korea's Cinema Valley also acquired two titles from Style Jam - Ryo Iwamatsu's Then Summer Came, ...

  • BIG Media rides with Jingle Ma's Playboy Cops

    22-May-2007

    Hong Kong's BIG Media Group is joining forces with mainland Chinese digital cinema operator Time Antaeus to co-produce Jingle Ma's next project Playboy Cops.Chinese actor Chen Kun and Hong Kong's Shawn Yue are set to star in the $2.2m action comedy which is scheduled to start shooting at the end of June. Yue will play a Hong Kong cop with a rich but corrupt father working with a mainland cop who has inherited a fortune.Ma ...

  • Double Edge comes on board for King Of Fighters

    22-May-2007

    Taiwan's Double Edge Entertainment has boarded King Of Fighters: The Movie which it will jointly finance and produce with Japan's Micott & Basara and Arclight Films/Easternlight Films.Bobby Sheng, CEO of the Los Angeles and Taipei-based production and finance outfit, will produce alongside Axis Entertainment's Joseph Chou and Convergence Entertainment's Tim Kwok.The live-action adaptation of SNK Playmore's best-selling video ...

  • Fortissimo fires up Wong Kar Wai's Ashes sales

    22-May-2007

    Wong Kar Wai's Ashes Of Time Redux is proving to be a hot seller at Cannes with Fortissimo Films closing deals with Germany's Splendid, Brazil's Imagem Filmes and Svensk Filmindustri for Scandinavia, among other territories. Poland's Monolith, Turkey's D Productions and Romania's Media Rights have also snapped up Wong's reworking of his 1994 martial arts classic, which Sony Pictures Classics acquired at the start of the market.

  • Chow's Star rises with Columbia collaboration

    22-May-2007

    Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia (CPFPA) has sealed a multi-picture production collaboration with Hong Kong filmmaker Stephen Chow's The Star Overseas. The two companies, which previously collaborated on Chow's hit action comedy Kung-fu Hustle, will work together on a series of niche films featuring emerging Asian talent both above and below the line. The first project under the new relationship will be

  • Distant Horizon takes North American rights to Flash Point

    22-May-2007

    Anant Singh's Distant Horizon has acquired North American rights to Hong Kong martial arts film Flash Point from Mandarin Films. This latest collaboration between director Wilson Yip Wai-shun and actor Donnie Yen, follows a cop and his undercover colleague trying to take down a ruthless gang of triads in 1997 Hong Kong. Yen also choreographed the action, which features a variety of martial arts styles. Louis Koo, Collin Chou, ...

  • Kiriyama makes directing debut on Yoroi

    21-May-2007

    Japanese scriptwriter Isao Kiriyama, a regular collaborator with cult director Ryuhei Kitamura, is set to make his directing debut on horror project Yoroi for Gaga Communications. Kitamura has developed the project which he will also produce alongside Ring producer Shinya Kawai. The story revolves around a hostage family on the run from samurai zombies. Kitamura shot to international ...

  • Sleepless writer turns to the devil with Pacifica

    21-May-2007

    Christine Iso's LA-based Pacifica International is producing an action adventure that tells the story behind the devil's fall from grace, which is being scripted by Sleepless In Seattle writer David S. Ward.

  • JA Media unveils debut five-picture slate

    20-May-2007

    Start-up Chinese production outfit JA Media has unveiled plans to invest $200m in film and TV production over the next five years, along with details of its debut $30m five-picture slate.

  • Golden Harvest rings L's bells

    20-May-2007

    Hong Kong-based Golden Harvest Entertainment has pre-bought Hong Kong and Taiwanese rights to Nippon Television Network's upcoming Death Note spin-off which has the working title L. The original Death Note and its sequel grossed more then $67m in Japan. The spin-off, directed by Hideo Nakata and starring Kenichi Matsuyama, is scheduled to start ...

  • UTV looks to acquisitions for new channels

    19-May-2007

    India's UTV is ramping up its acquisition activities here at Cannes ahead of the launch of a bouquet of new movie channels over the coming months. The first to launch will be Bindass Movies, a companion to general entertainment channel Bindass, both of which are aimed at upwardly mobile 16-35 year-olds. UTV's acquisitions team is acquiring mostly English-language product for Bindass Movies which is scheduled to launch on July 15. In November, UTV aims to also launch ...

  • Arclight and Micott & Basara fund fighters

    19-May-2007

    Arclight Films and Japan's Micott & Basara will jointly finance and produce a live-action adaptation of bestselling video game King Of Fighters, which is set to be directed by Hong Kong film-maker Gordon Chan.Chan (The Medallion, Fist Of Legend) will direct from a script by Chris Chow who wrote the Bill Kong-produced features Fearless and

  • Germany's Splendid takes on Jaa's Ong Bak 2

    18-May-2007

    Germany's Splendid has become the first distributor to pounce on Ong Bak 2, starring and directed by Tony Jaa, since The Weinstein Company surrendered international rights to the project. TWC acquired all rights excluding Asia and the UK to the film last year, from Thailand's Sahamongkolfilm International, but recently renegotiated the deal and handed back all territories except North America. Currently in production, the ...

  • New Line takes North America on Darclight's Sick House

    18-May-2007

    New Line Cinema has acquired North American rights from Darclight Films to the British horror film The Sick House.Directed and co-written by Curtis Radclyffe, the film tells the story of an archaeologist, played by Gina Phillips (Jeepers Creepers), who becomes trapped in an abandoned hospital and is preyed upon by an incarnation of the plague. The film is screening in the Cannes market on May ...

  • Last Vampire gets first bite in UK

    18-May-2007

    Hong Kong producer Bill Kong has sealed one of the first major deals on upcoming action title Blood: The Last Vampire in the first days of the market, by selling all UK rights to Pathe UK Distribution. Chris Nahon is directing the $35m English-language film starring Korean superstar Gianna Jun (aka Jeon Ji-hyun) and Western actors Allison Miller, Liam Cunningham and Colin Salmon. Cory Yuen, who previously worked with Nahon ...

  • Fortissimo ties the knot with Iceland's Country Wedding

    18-May-2007

    Fortissimo Films has acquired all rights outside Scandinavia to Icelandic comedy Country Wedding, currently shooting in Snaefellsness, Iceland.

  • Japanese in Cannes talk co-production cash

    18-May-2007

    Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunka-Cho) is attending Cannes this year to talk up the subsidies that are available in Japan for international co-productions.

  • Thailand's GMM Tai Hub sells Alone to UniKorea

    18-May-2007

    Thailand's GMM Tai Hub (GTH) has sold Korean rights to horror hit Alone to UniKorea. The company also sold to a string of other territories including France, Benelux and Brazil. Alone stars Thai pop singer-model-TV actress Marsha Wattanapanich as an expat wife living in Korea. The second film from the directors of Shutter, Parkpoom ...

  • CMC boards Chen Kaige's biopic of opera singer Mei Lanfang

    17-May-2007

    Taiwan's CMC Entertainment has boarded Chen Kaige's upcoming biopic of Chinese opera singer Mei Lanfang as co-producer alongside China Film Group. Leon Lai and Zhang Ziyi are being lined up to star in the $15m film which is tentatively scheduled to start shooting in July. Mei, who was famous for playing women on stage, provided inspiration for Chen's award-winning Farewell My Concubine which shared the Palme d'Or with

  • Easternlight makes Fatal Contact with TWC

    17-May-2007

    The Weinstein Company (TWC) has acquired North American rights to Hong Kong martial arts action title Fatal Contact from Arclight Films' Asian division Easternlight.

  • SCB on board for gap finance of Hippo's Wushu

    17-May-2007

    Hong Kong 's Hippopotamus Films has concluded a financing deal with Standard Chartered Bank (SCB), which will help arrange gap finance on its upcoming martial arts drama Wushu.

  • UTV launches new film banner Spotboy

    17-May-2007

    India's UTV Motion Pictures is launching a second motion picture brand, Spotboy Motion Pictures, to be headed by Vikas Bahl, who was formerly business head of Indian broadcaster SAB TV.

  • Fukusaku and Oshii unite to lead Toei's Rebellion

    16-May-2007

    Japanese studio Toei is developing a sci-fi action project, Rebellion: The Killing Isle (working title), uniting two of Japan's hottest film-making talents - Kenta Fukasaku and Mamoru Oshii.Battle Royale II director Fukasaku is set to direct the $10m film from a script by Oshii - director of acclaimed anime titles Ghost In The Shell ...

  • Emperor takes stake in Jay Chou project Kung Fu Dunk

    16-May-2007

    Hong Kong-based Emperor Motion Pictures (EMP) has taken an equity position in the new Jay Chou martial arts action comedy Kung Fu Dunk, and will handle sales of the film to all territories in Europe and the Americas.

  • Universe strikes Asian deals for Invisible Target

    16-May-2007

    Hong Kong's Universe Films Distribution has concluded several Asian deals on Benny Chan's upcoming action title Invisible Target between Hong Kong Filmart and Cannes.

  • Hong Kong's Triangle added to Cannes official selection

    14-May-2007

    Hong Kong-Chinese action thriller Triangle, directed by Tsui Hark, Ringo Lam and Johnnie To, has been added to Cannes official selection just days before the festival begins.

  • India on parade

    11-May-2007

    The Indian film industry is rapidly expanding its worldwide reach. On the eve of Cannes, Liz Shackleton looks at how the territory's leading producers and distributors are making their films more attractive to an international audience.

  • India: who's who at the market

    11-May-2007

    Liz Shackleton profiles some of the leading Indian film companies and what they are selling at Cannes.

  • India's Seven ramps up with Moser Baer backing

    10-May-2007

    Mumbai-based producer Seven Entertainment is making its Cannes debut with an expanded line-up of independent pictures, just a few months after securing backing from optical disc manufacturer Moser Baer.

  • Warner Bros signs Hong Kong VoD deal with Video Online

    10-May-2007

    Start-up video-on-demand operator VideoOnline Communications has signed a multi-year VoD and subscription VoD agreement with Warner Bros International Television Distribution (WBITD) for Hong Kong rights to all current feature-length films in addition to hundreds of library titles.

  • Hong Kong's first IMAX cinema to open with Panda Adventure

    10-May-2007

    Hong Kong 's first IMAX cinema, the seven-screen UA MegaBox, is set to open in June withthe screening of large-format title China: The Panda Adventure.

  • Mandarin finds Tsui Hark's Missing on Cannes slate

    9-May-2007

    Hong Kong 's Mandarin Films Distribution has added the latest picture from Tsui Hark, romantic thriller Missing, to its Cannes slate.

  • Hong Kong's Johnnie To splits from Milkyway Image

    8-May-2007

    Leading Hong Kong director Johnnie To is parting ways from Milkyway Image, the production outfit he founded with fellow filmmaker Dennis Law, which is listed on Hong Kong's Growth Enterprise Market (GEM).

  • Network 18 launches $110m fund for Indian film

    30-Apr-2007

    India's Network 18 Group is launching a fund to invest in both Indian films and films targeted at Indian audiences, which aims to raise $110m via a flotation on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.

  • China's J.A. Media taps Chan, Shi as consultants

    26-Apr-2007

    Start-up Chinese producer-distributor J.A. Media has tapped former Media Asia sales chief Jeffrey Chan and leading Hong Kong producer Nansun Shi as consultants as it ramps up its film distribution activities.

  • Emperor Motion Pictures appoints Ng as sales chief

    23-Apr-2007

    Former Celestial Pictures executive Alan Ng has joined Hong Kong-based Emperor Motion Pictures (EMP) as assistant general manager, distribution.

  • Fortissimo's Eye In The Sky turns to Constantin

    16-Apr-2007

    German distributor Constantin Film has acquired all rights to Hong Kong action thriller Eye In The Sky from Fortissimo Films.

  • Hong Kong government unveils Film Development Council

    16-Apr-2007

    The Hong Kong government has announced the establishment of the long-awaited Hong Kong Film Development Council (HKFDC) to be chaired by Jack So who is currently chairman of the existing Film Development Committee.

  • Love, Betelnut conquer Hong Kong film festival awards

    4-Apr-2007

    Malaysian director Tan Chui-mui and China's Yang Heng continued their awards sweep at the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) yesterday where both picked up prizes in the Asian Digital Competition.

  • Columbia Asia acquires worldwide rights to Chow's A Hope

    30-Mar-2007

    Sony's Hong Kong-based content arm, Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia (CPFPA), has acquired worldwide rights, excluding China, to Stephen Chow's latest comedy feature A Hope.

  • Market focus - Double ahead for India

    30-Mar-2007

    India 's film industry is expected to more than double in value in the next five years, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers. The business will be worth $4.1bn (rup175bn) by 2011, compared to the $2bn (rup84.5bn) it was worth in 2006, according to the report presented at this week's Ficci-Frames conference in Mumbai.

  • Chan exits Hong Kong's Media Asia Distribution

    29-Mar-2007

    Jeffrey Chan, head of distribution and sales at Hong Kong producer-distributor Media Asia, is leaving his position after five years with the company.

  • Indian film industry to double in value to $4bn in five years

    26-Mar-2007

    India 's film industry is estimated to more than double in value to $4.05bn (Rs175bn) by 2011, compared to the $1.96bn (Rs84.5bn) it was worth in 2006, according to a PriceWaterhouseCoopers report presented at the FICCI-Frames conference in Mumbai today.

  • Filmart wraps with 20% increase in overseas visitors

    23-Mar-2007

    Hong Kong Filmart closed on Friday (March 23) with organisers reporting a 20% increase in overseas visitors to 1,900, while the number of exhibitors was up 11% to 453 from more than 30 territories.

  • Chiao signs 10-picture output deal with Meridian Pictures

    22-Mar-2007

    Taiwanese producer Peggy Chiao has signed an output deal with David Dong's Meridian Pictures, under which she will produce a slate of ten films for the Shanghai-based production and financing entity.

  • Big Media Group unveils plans to produce 100 movies

    22-Mar-2007

    In defiant response to Hong Kong 's falling production levels, local producer BIG Media Group has unveiled a strategy to produce 100 movies in five years.

  • First Asia, then the world, says talent management panel

    21-Mar-2007

    Asian production and talent management companies should worktogether to create stars that have impact at a regional level beforeattempting to break into Hollywood, said panelists at aScreen-organised seminar here yesterday.'In Korea, we have good producers but lack good networking opportunities outside the country,' said Teddy Hoon-tack Jung, CEO of Korean entertainment giant iHQ.'We are trying to create some content for our actors to launch them into the US, but ...

  • Katherine Lee joins ARM as vp distribution

    21-Mar-2007

    ARM Distribution has appointed Katherine Lee as vice president of distribution effective April 2. ARM is handling sales on films jointly produced by Ruddy Morgan Organization and Applause Pictures' Peter Ho-sun Chan such as crime thriller Protege, directed by Derek Yee and starring Daniel Wu, and Chan's The Warlords, co-produced with China Film and Media Asia and starring Jet Li, Andy Lau and ...

  • ARP takes all French rights to Eye In The Sky

    20-Mar-2007

    French distributor ARP Selection has acquired all rights to Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) opener Eye In The Sky from Fortissimo Films.Produced by Hong Kong's Milkyway Image for Sundream Motion Pictures, the film is the directorial debut of award-winning scriptwriter Yau Nai Hoi whose credits include Johnnie To's Election.The deal with ARP was concluded at Hong Kong Filmart ...

  • Hong Kong's Emperor makes Home Run with new production slate

    20-Mar-2007

    Hong Kong's Emperor Motion Pictures has unveiled a slate of new productions that have been developed by COO Philip Chan who joined the company last summer to ramp up its production activities.The slate includes in-house productions and projects to be co-produced with partners from other Chinese-speaking markets including mainland China, Singapore and Taiwan.First to start shooting is drama Home Run, to be directed Fang Gang-liang, ...

  • Mandarin Films banks on Wong's Wonder Woman

    20-Mar-2007

    Hong Kong's Mandarin Films is commencing sales on Barbara Wong Chun-chun's upcoming comedy drama Wonder Woman here at Filmart.Gigi Leung and Fiona Sit will head the cast of the film which follows a local career woman during the period from the handover of Hong Kong until the present day.'Barbara will use a comical style to tell a story about the survival of career women in the past ten years,' says Mandarin distribution manager ...

  • The Host wins the most at inaugural Asian Film Awards

    20-Mar-2007

    Bong Joon-ho's hit monster movie The Host was the big winner at the inaugural Asian Film Awards last night, scooping four out of ten prizes including best film and best actor for Song Kang-ho. The film, which is South Korea's biggest-grossing local production, also picked up best cinematographer for Kim Hyung-goo and best visual effects for US-based The Orphanage. Currently number one at the China box office,

  • Hong Kong's Mei Ah Entertainment scales Red Cliff

    19-Mar-2007

    Mei Ah Entertainment has acquired all Hong Kong rights to John Woo's upcoming military epic Red Cliff.

  • Fortissimo picks up Yau Nai Hoi's Eye In The Sky

    16-Mar-2007

    Fortissimo Films has acquired worldwide rights, excluding Asia but including Japan and Korea, to action thriller Eye In The Sky from Hong Kong 's Sundream Motion Pictures.

  • Entertainment Expo Hong Kong - Power surge

    16-Mar-2007

    HONG KONG

  • Entertainment Expo Hong Kong 2007

    16-Mar-2007

    This year's edition sees many changes as Expo raises its profile in the international calendar. Filmart, HAF and Hkiff will start on the same day and work more closely to provide a platform to support the production and distribution of Asian and other international films.

  • Filmart - HK market stakes global claim

    16-Mar-2007

    This year, many Asian sellers decided to skip Berlin's European Film Market in February and focus on the Hong Kong event (March 20-23) instead - a telling sign that the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (Filmart) is raising its international profile.

  • HAF 2007 - Invested interest

    16-Mar-2007

    Co-production markets have become a must-have accessory at film festivals from New York to Tokyo. The Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) is slightly different, however, in that it is a financing platform that was conceived independently and only later became attached to a film festival.Organised for the past two years by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and local industry body the Mpia, HAF was taken over by the Hong Kong International Film Festival (Hkiff) after ...

  • Hong Kong International Film Festival - Match makers

    16-Mar-2007

    This year marks a radical shift in the ambitions of the 31-year-old Hong Kong International Film Festival (Hkiff). Although respected for the quality of its programming, the festival has traditionally focused on local audiences and has not had a high profile on the global film-festival circuit or been regarded as a key industry event.

  • Ambitious Hong Kong ready to scale new heights

    12-Mar-2007

    This year's multi-faceted Hong Kong film season stretches to nearly a month of world-class events under the Entertainment Expo banner.Each distinct event is looking to stretch its brand to new limits. Three events - Filmart, co-production market HAF and the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) - all kick off on March 20 while the Expo runs until the Hong Kong Film Awards gala on April 15. Screen will be offering the best coverage of the event ...

  • Kaneshiro to replace Leung in Woo's Red Cliff

    12-Mar-2007

    Taiwanese-Japanese star Takeshi Kaneshiro has replaced Tony Leung Chiu-wai in the cast of John Woo's upcoming military epic Red Cliff, after the Hong Kong actor had to quit the project due to scheduling conflicts.

  • Fortissimo teams with Entertainment Farm for Sonata

    9-Mar-2007

    International sales and production company Fortissimo Films is partnering with Japan's Entertainment Farm to co-produce the tentatively titled Tokyo Sonata, to be directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa. Fortissimo will also handle international sales on the film.

  • Media Asia, Stellar to co-produce Lu's Nanking! Nanking!

    5-Mar-2007

    Hong Kong's Media Asia is set to co-produce Chinese director Lu Chuan's upcoming period war drama Nanking! Nanking! with Beijing-based Stellar Megamedia and the China Film Group.

  • Hong Kong Filmart adds TV, locations showcases

    2-Mar-2007

    This year's Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (Filmart) will host two new thematic pavilions - TV World and Locations World - as part of its drive to become the leading cross-media trading platform in the region.

  • HK government earmarks $38m for local film industry

    28-Feb-2007

    The Hong Kong government has earmarked $38.4m (HK$300m) for the creation of a fund to support local film production and foster new talent.

  • Hong Kong film festival to feature 16 world premieres

    22-Feb-2007

    This year's Hong Kong International Film Festival will feature 16 world premieres as part of an expanded line-up that reflects its new industry and international ambitions.

  • Chinese authorities ban film shooting in nature reserves

    19-Feb-2007

    China has issued a new regulation that bans film shooting in nature reserves, scenic spots and at sites of historical interest across the country, according to state-owned news agency Xinhua.

  • Cyborg to open Hong Kong International Film Festival

    14-Feb-2007

    Park Chan-wook's I'm A Cyborg, But That's OK, which is screening in competition at Berlin this year, has been selected as the opening film of the 31st Hong Kong International Film Festival.

  • Fu to head Fox Home Entertainment China

    13-Feb-2007

    Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (TCFHE) has appointed Alvin Fu as managing director of its China operations, effective immediately.

  • Original version of Lost In Beijing to screen at EFM

    6-Feb-2007

    The production and sales companies behind Berlin competition title Lost In Beijing say they plan to screen the original version of the film at the European Film Market, rather than the modified version that was approved yesterday by China 's censors.

  • Hong Kong to host region-wide Asian Film Awards

    29-Jan-2007

    Hong Kong is set to host the first ever Asian Film Awards (AFA), recognising talent from across the region, on the first night of the 31st Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) on March 20.

  • Asian locations: China

    26-Jan-2007

    China is not the easiest country to shoot in - the language barrier and script approval are just two obstacles that foreign producers face - but many filmmakers are finding the upside is worth it.

  • Asian locations: sets appeal

    26-Jan-2007

    Asia has been attracting international productions for decades, but in recent years it has become a prime destination for footloose international producers in search of the cheapest and most exotic locations.

  • Easternlight picks up worldwide rights to Fatal Contact

    19-Jan-2007

    Arclight Films' Asia-focused label Easternlight has picked up worldwide rights to Hong Kong action film Fatal Contact, which stars wushu champion and up-and-coming action star Wu Jing.

  • Shanghai International Film Festival to launch film market

    19-Jan-2007

    The Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) is launching a film market at this year's edition which is scheduled to run June 16-24.

  • Celestial, Jaman sign online deal for Shaw Brothers package

    18-Jan-2007

    Hong Kong's Celestial Pictures has reached a long-term deal with Silicon Valley-based Jaman Inc, under which the online movie distributor has acquired internet distribution rights to 50 titles from the Shaw Brothers library for the US and Canada.

  • Hong Kong 's Universe lines up Invisible Target at EFM

    17-Jan-2007

    Hong Kong 's Universe Films Distribution will be unveiling Benny Chan's latest action title at the upcoming European Film Market (EFM), an $8m cop drama starring Nicholas Tse, Shawn Yue and Jaycee Chan.

  • Hong Kong - Turtles can fly at Imagi

    12-Jan-2007

    Once regarded as a surefire bet at the box office, 3D CG animation has become a riskier business, as more studios enter the fray and the novelty of the genre declines with a flood of releases.

  • Chinese exhibition: What future for international investment'

    6-Jan-2007

    When the Chinese government barred foreign companies from holding majority ownership of exhibition companies it led to the withdrawal of Warner Bros International Cinemas.Although it didn't come as a huge surprise, the recent decision by Warner Bros International Cinemas (WBIC) to pull out of China has taken some of the sheen off one of the world's fastest growing cinema markets. Multiplex development has been rapid in China over the past five years with WBIC, local ...

  • Leading Asian filmmakers selected for HAF

    4-Jan-2007

    Leading Asian directorsincluding South Korea'sKim Jee-woon, China's Lou Ye and Japan's Kore-eda Hirokazu are among the 25 filmmakers whohave had projects selected for this year's edition of the Hong Kong Asia FilmFinancing Forum (HAF). Kim, whose ...

  • Hong Kong box office remains flat in 2006

    3-Jan-2007

    Hong Kong's box officeremained flat in 2006 with overall takings of $116.5m (HK$907m), a marginalincrease of 0.22% compared to the $116.3m (HK$905m) taken the previous year. At the same time, localproduction continued its steady decline although the decreases in box officeand production volumes were not as great as some in the industry had predicted.Combined box office of localproductions was down by a ...

  • Curse continues to be blessed in Asian rollout

    2-Jan-2007

    Zhang Yimou's $45m Curse Of The Golden Flower topped the box office in China, Hong Kong and Malaysia over the Christmas holidays.Following its record-breaking opening in China over the weekend of Dec 14-17, the lavish costume drama had grossed ...

  • Chinese fine Sohu and Shanghai store for copyright infringement

    1-Jan-2007

    Chinese courts madetwo separate judgements against copyright infringers over the Christmasholidays, reflecting the increasing pressure that the country is under tocombat its high levels of piracy. On December 27, aBeijing court ruled that Beijing Sohu Internet Information Service Co, asubsidiary of NASDAQ-listed web portal Sohu.com, was guilty of copyrightinfringement when it posted digital files of movies on www.sohu.com ...

  • Sohu and Shanghai store fined for copyright infringement

    1-Jan-2007

    Chinese courts have made two separate judgements against copyright infringers over the holiday period, reflecting the increasing pressure that the country is under to combat its high levels of piracy. On December 27, a Beijing court ruled that Beijing Sohu Internet Information Service Co, a subsidiary of NASDAQ-listed web portal Sohu.com, was guilty of copyright infringement when it posted digital files of movies on www.sohu.com for downloading ...

  • Focus duo leave company to form production outfit

    1-Jan-2007

    Daniel Yu, chiefoperating officer of Andy Lau's Hong Kong-based Focus Films, and marketing anddistribution chief Lorna Tee, have left the company to form their ownproduction outfit. From Jan 1, 2007their roles are being filled by Simon Li, a director of Focus Films Limited,and marketing executive Sharon Cheng. Details of Yu andTee's new company will be announced later but the duo said they would continueto ...

  • Emperor Motion Pictures boards Jiang Wen's Sun

    7-Dec-2006

    Hong Kong's Emperor Motion Pictures has boarded Jiang Wen'supcoming The Sun Also Rises as salesagent and equity investor.

  • CJ to distribute Paramount titles in South Korea

    29-Nov-2006

    Paramount PicturesInternational (PPI) has announced that CJ Entertainment (CJE) will become theexclusive distributor of Paramount titles in South Korea from February 1, 2007.

  • Hong Kong revs up for first ever drive-in

    29-Nov-2006

    Hong Kong may be losing its only dedicated arthouse theatre,but is about to gain its first ever drive-in cinema.

  • China experiments with movie on-demand services

    10-Nov-2006

    With its huge broadband andmobile phone subscriber base, not to mention its ability to leapfrog entireepochs in the evolution of consumer technology, China is well placed to set trends in the distribution ofmovies over new media platforms. But as with the country's traditional media,high levels of piracy, censorship and patchy infrastructure are holding themarket back.

  • China experiments with on-demand services

    10-Nov-2006

  • Media Asia seals further deals on Confession, Exiled

    8-Nov-2006

    As the AFM draws to a closetoday, Hong Kong's Media Asia has sealed several more sales on its upcomingAndrew Lau and Alan Mak title ConfessionOf Pain and Johnnie To's Exiled.

  • China Vision Group pursues international production plans

    6-Nov-2006

    Start-up Chineseproducer-distributor China Vision Group has retained global law firm Melveny& Myers (OMM) as part of its push into international production.

  • Hong Kong's Golden Network sells five to Brazilian distributors

    6-Nov-2006

    Hong Kong-based GoldenNetwork Asia has secured a slew of sales to Brazil, which is emerging as one ofthe most acquisitive territories at the AFM.

  • The Core sells two to WPM in Thailand

    6-Nov-2006

    Korean sales company TheCore Studio has sold two titles to Thailand's WPM -black comedy actionpicture No Mercy For The Rude andLee Myung-Se's new project M.

  • Tohokushinsha takes Japan on Scorsese's Stones doc

    6-Nov-2006

    Tohokusinsha FilmCorporation has acquired all Japanese rights to Martin Scorsese's documentaryfeature about The Rolling Stones which is one of the hottest titles at the AFM.

  • Fortissimo on board for Hamilton's Mama's Boy

    6-Nov-2006

    FortissimoFilms has picked up international rights outside North America to comedy Mama'sBoy from Warner Independent Pictures(WIP).Directedby Tim Hamilton, whose short film Truth In Advertising screened in competition at Cannes in 2001, Mama'sBoy stars Jon Heder who first cameto notice in indie hit Napoleon Dynamite.DianeKeaton, ...

  • Gaga moves into genre production with Ryuhei Kitamura

    6-Nov-2006

    Japan's Gaga Communications,which has recently made a push into production with a slate of dramas, is nowmoving into genre filmmaking with cult Japanese director Ryuhei Kitamura.

  • Media Asia assembles buyers for Feng

    6-Nov-2006

    Hong Kong-based Media Asiahas boarded Feng Xiaogang's The Assemblyas co-producer and already sold almost all the territories it's handling on the$10m war epic.

  • Hong Kong film festival sets new industry direction

    5-Nov-2006

    The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) is changing dates next year - to coincide with Hong Kong Filmart - and is undergoing a major repositioning to reflect changes in the international festival scene.Next year's HKIFF will open on March 20 and run for 18 days. The first nine days will focus on international guests, press and industry, while the second half will be geared more towards the local audience in Hong Kong. ...

  • Japan's Style Jam picks up sales, remake rights to Seven Days

    4-Nov-2006

    Japan's Style Jam haspicked up international sales and remake rights to comedy drama, Seven DaysOf Assistant Manager Tsubakiyama,which is scheduled for a wide release in Japan on Nov 18.Produced by Be Wild,the film is about a fat, bald middle manager who passes away, but gets thechance to return ...

  • Chang takes lead in Kim Ki-duk's love story Breath

    3-Nov-2006

    Taiwanese actor Chang Chen will star in Kim Ki-duk's upcoming lovestory Breath, markingthe first time that the acclaimed Korean director has worked with a foreignactor.

  • Shochiku sells three titles to Houston-based ADV

    3-Nov-2006

    Shochiku has closed amulti-picture deal with Houston-based ADV Films which has acquired two features- Ghost Train and Synesthesia - and TV series Le Chevalier D'Eon from the Japanese studio.Under the terms of thedeal, ADV has acquired North American theatrical, video and TV rights ...

  • Thai Warrior sells to Japan, Brazil

    3-Nov-2006

    Following its sale to Magnolia Pictures at the beginning of themarket, hot Thai action title Dynamite Warrior (Tabunfire) has sold to Japan and Brazil.

  • Tsui Hark signs to direct The Eye 3 with Chan

    3-Nov-2006

    Leading Hong Kong filmmaker Tsui Hark will direct The Eye 3 - the next installment in thepopular horror franchise - marking his first collaboration with producerPeter Ho-sun Chan.

  • Huayi Brothers signs on for Blood Brothers

    2-Nov-2006

    Beijing-based Huayi Brothers has become the first distributor to sign on for Alexi Tan's Blood Brothers, acquiring all rights for mainland China to the $10m period drama which is produced by John Woo and Terence Chang's Lion Rock Productions.

  • Celestial to remake two Shaw Brothers classics

    2-Nov-2006

    Hong Kong-based CelestialPictures is introducing remakes of two martial arts classics in its ShawBrothers library - Five Deadly Venoms and The Flying Guillotine - here at the AFM and has attached leadingdirectors to both.

  • Magnolia seals Dynamite deal on Thai actioner

    2-Nov-2006

    In the first domestic deal of the market, Magnolia Pictures has closed on North American rightsto Thai action adventure Dynamite Warrior (Tabunfire), starringThailand's latest action export Dan Chupong.Sahamongkolfilm ...

  • Pretty Pictures acquires Crossing The Line

    2-Nov-2006

  • Wong Kar-wai remodels classic Ashes Of Time

    2-Nov-2006

    Wong Kar-wai is reworkinghis 1994 martial arts epic Ashes Of Time and the film is being sold at AFM by Fortissimo Films under the title AshesOf Time - Redux.

  • Applause teams with Ruddy Morgan to launch sales outfit ARM

    1-Nov-2006

    Hong Kong productionoutfit Applause Pictures has teamed up with the Ruddy Morgan Organization tocreate an international sales company, ARM Distribution, which is making itsdebut at the AFM. The new outfit is beingassisted by Robbie and Ellen Little's The Little Film Company.

  • Scorsese's Stones doc goes to Paramount, Fortissimo

    1-Nov-2006

    The long-gestating RollingStones documentary, which Martin Scorsese recently joined as director, hasstarted shooting in New York with Paramount Pictures on board as domesticdistributor and Fortissimo Films handling international rights.Scorsese, hot off thebiggest box office hit of his career in The ...

  • Dragon Tiger Gate's Yip, Yen reteam on City With No Mercy

    1-Nov-2006

    The team behind Hong Kongaction hit Dragon Tiger Gate- director Wilson Yip and action director Donnie Yen - arereteaming in action adventure City With No Mercy, which Hong Kong's Mandarin Films Distribution islaunching at the AFM.

  • Japan still on outer edge of pan-Asian market

    25-Oct-2006

    Japan may be Asia's largest box office territory, and currently one ofthe region's most active producers, but it's still only a peripheral player inthe developing pan-Asian market, according to speakers at a TIFFCOM seminar onTuesday.

  • Love Conquers All, Betelnut take top Pusan prizes

    20-Oct-2006

    Malaysian drama Love Conquers All, directed by Tan ChuiMui, and Chinese director Heng Yang's Betelnutwere jointly awarded Best New Asian Filmmaker of the Year at the PusanInternational Film Festival (PIFF) on Friday night (Oct 20).

  • PIFF to expand to LA, launch TV channel

    20-Oct-2006

    The Pusan International FilmFestival is collaborating with JoongAng Broadcasting Corporation (JBC) to setup a Los Angeles edition of the festival and also launch aPIFF-branded cable channel in South Korea.

  • PUSAN: Asian Film Market deals round-up

    18-Oct-2006

    Cineclick Asia had a busymarket selling two horror titles to France's Wild Side Films - Hanzel And Gretel, directed by YimPil-sung (Antartic Journal), and Mommy's Risen, a co-production betweenCineclick and Blue Storm. Meanwhile, Thailand's J-bics picked up a package ofKim Tae-yong's quirky family drama FamilyTies; melodrama Love ...

  • PUSAN: Pang's Ibrahim takes top prize at PPP

    18-Oct-2006

    The Pang Ho Cheung project, One Day Of Ibrahim, picked up the topprize at this year's Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP) - the $20,000 Busan Awardpresented by the Metropolitan City of Busan.

  • PUSAN: Taiwan's Three Dots unveils DNA cast

    17-Oct-2006

    Taiwanese actors Terri Kwanand Eddie Peng and Hong Kong's Peter Ho are set to star in Three DotsEntertainment's My DNA Says I Love You,written and to be directed by Robin Lee.

  • PUSAN: Avex boards Apple, Chen Kaige project

    16-Oct-2006

    Following its investment in Beijing-basedChengtian Entertainment, Japan's Avex is making a push into Chinese production by co-financingtwo of the company's upcoming productions - Li Yu's Apple and a biopic to be directed by Chen Kaige.

  • PUSAN: Taiwan's Serenity signs up for Pain

    16-Oct-2006

    Serenity EntertainmentInternational has acquired Taiwanese rights to Andrew Lau and Alan Mak's Confession Of Pain from Hong Kong's Media Asia.

  • PUSAN: Cha joins cast of Studio 2.0's Highway Star

    15-Oct-2006

  • Asian Film Market - a Screen guide

    12-Oct-2006

  • PUSAN: CJ Entertainment joins Focus: First Cuts

    12-Oct-2006

    Korea's CJ Entertainment has boarded the Focus: First Cuts series of films,launched by Hong Kong star Andy Lau's Focus Films, as a project partnerand will distribute all six films in Korea from early 2007.

  • Leung to star in See Movie's Chinese Fairy Tale

    8-Oct-2006

    Tony Leung Ka-fai has signedup to star in Lam Wai Lun's The ChineseFairy Tale (working title), to be co-produced by Hong Kong's See Movie and mainland Chinese partners.

  • Hong Kong's Innotion to launch CG feature at AFM

    5-Oct-2006

    Start-up Hong Kong animationstudio Innotion is launching what it describes as the world's first CG bearmovie, Tonki Bear, at upcomingmarkets including MIPCOM and the AFM.

  • Celestial signs deals with Australian duo

    5-Oct-2006

    Hong Kong-based CelestialPictures has sealed separate deals with Australian broadcasters SBS and Pan TVfor distribution of its Shaw Brothers library.

  • Avex Asia appoints Koo to head production arm

    4-Oct-2006

    Avex Asia, the Hong Kong-based subsidiary of Japan's Avex Group, has established a film production armto be headed by former Applause Pictures executive Esther Koo.

  • Hong Kong selects Banquet; Taiwan chooses Cha Cha

    28-Sep-2006

    Hong Kong has selected period epic The Banquet as its entry for the best foreign-language filmcategory of next year's Academy Awards.

  • Fortune Star producing Dead Air with Chen

    25-Sep-2006

    Production started today onthriller Dead Air which acclaimedfilmmaker Teddy Chen is producing for Star Group's Fortune Star Entertainment.

  • Asia feasts on Feng Xiaogang's Banquet

    19-Sep-2006

    Chinese director FengXiaogang's $20m The Banquet had astrong four-day opening weekend across Asia, grossing $8.5m from five territories.

  • Fortune Star acquires China Star library

    16-Sep-2006

    Regional broadcaster StarGroup's content arm, Fortune Star, has acquired 100 library titles from Hong Kong's China Star Entertainment Group, in a deal valued at $18m.

  • Yamada to direct World War II drama for Shochiku

    13-Sep-2006

    Japanese major Shochiku isproducing the next film from Yoji Yamada following his acclaimedsamurai trilogy - a World War II drama with the working title Kabei, set to star veteran actressSayuri Yoshinaga.

  • Hong Kong set to lose only arthouse cinema

    11-Sep-2006

    Hong Kong's only dedicated arthouse cinema, the Cine-ArtHouse, is facing closure as its owner Sil-Metropole Organisation is havingdifficulty renewing the lease.

  • Jia's Still Life added to Venice competition

    5-Sep-2006

    Chinese director JiaZhangke's Still Life (Sanxia Haoren) has been added to thecompetition section of this year's Venice International Film Festival, whichwraps on Saturday.

  • Focus joins One Ton on Wisit's Armful

    1-Sep-2006

    Hong Kong's Focus Films is teaming up with Singapore-based OneTon Cinema to co-produce Thai director Wisit Sasanatieng's upcoming film Armful.

  • Bet Collector scoops top prizes at Cinefan

    24-Jul-2006

    The Bet Collector, directed by the Philippines' Jeffrey Jeturian, was awarded best film and bestactress for Gina Pareno's performance in the Asian Competition at Osian'sCinefan in New Delhi on Sundaynight.

  • Warner China Film unveils local release slate

    21-Jul-2006

    Following its success with thedistribution of Ning Hao's black comedy CrazyStone, Warner China Film HG Corporation has announced its release slate forthe rest of the year.

  • India's Cinefan opens with Valley Of Flowers

    16-Jul-2006

    The 8th Osian'sCinefan (July 14-23) held its opening gala in Delhi on Saturday night, followedby the world premiere of France and India-based director Pan Nalin's Valley Of Flowers.

  • Hong Kong action maestros set to draw Triangle

    13-Jul-2006

    Three of Hong Kong's leadingaction directors - Tsui Hark, Ringo Lam and Johnnie To - are gearing up to worktogether on an innovative action thriller with the working title Triangle.

  • Golden Harvest to raise $13m for mainland cinemas

    13-Jul-2006

  • Q&A with Shanghai jury president Luc Besson

    26-Jun-2006

    In the same year that Canneshad its first Chinese jury president in Wong Kar-wai, China's leading filmfestival returned the honour by appointing a French jury president - filmmakerand EuropaCorp co-founder Luc Besson.

  • Hong Kong's EMP teams with Shanghai Film Studio

    19-Jun-2006

    Hong Kong's Emperor Motion Pictures and Shanghai Film Studiohave formed a joint venture encompassing film production and talent management.

  • Shanghai unveils plans for new studio facility

    19-Jun-2006

    Shanghai Media andEntertainment Group has unveiled ambitious plans to build a studio andentertainment complex on the outskirts of the city as competition to lure overseasproductions heats up.

  • Shanghai film festival gets off to glittering start

    18-Jun-2006

    Judging by the openingweekend, the Shanghai International Film Festival (June 17-25) is finallystarting to take advantage of its position as mainland China's leading film festival and industry platform.

  • Celestial's Shaw Bros titles set for release in Iran

    9-Jun-2006

    Hong Kong's Celestial Pictures has sealed exclusive deals withIran's Century 21 VMC, Portugal's Lusomundo and the Netherlands' Dutch Film Works, which extend the distribution ofits Shaw Brothers library to 56 countries.

  • Emperor crowns Chan as production chief

    9-Jun-2006

    In a move that was widely anticipated,Hong Kong's Emperor Motion Pictures has appointed filmindustry veteran Philip Chan as head of production.

  • Huayi Brothers' Matrimony wraps in Shanghai

    1-Jun-2006

    Teng Hua-tao's The Matrimony (working title), producedby Beijing-based Huayi Brothers Film Investment, has wrapped after a two-monthshoot in Shanghai.

  • UIP signs with Intercontinental for Hong Kong and Macau

    30-May-2006

    Hong Kong's Intercontinental Film Distributorshas signed an agreement with United International Pictures (UIP) for theatricaldistribution of its slate in Hong Kong and Macau. UIP previously worked with distribution and exhibition group GoldenHarvest ...

  • Emperor closes raft of sales on Rob-B-Hood

    25-May-2006

  • Fortissimo serves up Waiter to France...

    25-May-2006

    Fortissimo Films has sold Waiter, the company's fourth venturewith Dutch director Alex van Warmerdam, to France's BAC and Israel's United King.

  • Magnolia strikes three-territory deal for The Host

    25-May-2006

  • Mandarin closes Gate on Cannes deals

    25-May-2006

  • Pusan's Asian Film Market lines up companies

    25-May-2006

    The upcoming Asian FilmMarket will have a focus on Asian talent and talent agencies with companiessuch as Korea's Namoo and IHQ, Japan's Stardust and Hong Kong's Jet Tone set toattend the four-day market (October 15-18).

  • StudioCanal takes a seat at Feng's Banquet

    25-May-2006

  • Sundream sells package to Sahamongkol

    25-May-2006

    Hong Kong producer-distributor Sundream Motion Pictures has solda package of three titles - Battle OfWits, 49 Days and Eye In The Sky - to Thailand's Sahamongkol Films.

  • Fortune Star sells remake rights to A Better Tomorrow

    24-May-2006

    Korean production companyFingerprint Pictures has acquired remake rights to classic Hong Kong actiontitle A Better Tomorrow, directedby John Woo in 1986, from Hong Kong-based Fortune Star Entertainment.

  • Rapid Eye gets German rights to two from UTV

    24-May-2006

  • Stella Sze takes key role at Global Entertainment Group

    24-May-2006

  • PolyBona readies Sky Fighters release in China

    23-May-2006

    China's Beijing PolyBona hasscheduled a June 23 theatrical release for Gerard Pires' Sky Fighters, one offour French titles recently acquired by the company which is stepping updistribution of foreign films.

  • Shane and Romano plan $120m Buddha biopic

    23-May-2006

  • Rapid Eye takes German rights to Yo-Yo Girl Cop

    22-May-2006

  • SPO strikes Japan deals for Go Master and Invisible Waves

    22-May-2006

  • Bangkok changes dates to pre-Berlin slot

    21-May-2006

    The BangkokInternational Film Festival has changed its dates to Jan 26 - Feb 5 after thisyear's new post-Berlin slot proved unsuccessful.

  • Chinese press given warning

    21-May-2006

  • Fortissimo sells Solondz happy return

    21-May-2006

    Fortissimo Filmshas boarded the as-yet-untitled new film from Todd Solondz, a companion pieceto his earlier break-through piece Happiness,and will commence pre-sales immediately in Cannes.

  • Gaga enters Dragon Tiger Gate

    21-May-2006

    Hong Kong's Mandarin Films has sold Wilson Yip's Dragon Tiger Gate to Gaga Communications(Japan), Flashstar (Brazil), Indofilm (India), Italia Film (Middle East), and Cinebox (Vietnam.)

  • Match Factory lights up German-Asian Drummer

    21-May-2006

  • Match Factory, Emperor to handle The Drummer

    21-May-2006

    Michael Weber's The MatchFactory and Hong Kong-based Emperor Motion Pictures (EMP) will handleinternational distribution of Kenneth Bi's The Drummer, set to star Simon Yam and Lee Sinje.

  • Wu and Costo plan adoption drama Shanghai Blue

    21-May-2006

    Chinese actress Vivian Wuand filmmaker Oscar Luis Costo are planning to shoot a drama about adoption in China, Shanghai Blue,from February 2007.

  • MK2 takes Lau and Mak's Confession

    20-May-2006

    Hong Kong's Media Asia Distribution haspre-sold all French-speaking rights to Andrew Lau and Alan Mak's ConfessionOf Pain to France's MK2.Infernal Affairs star Tony Leung Chiu-wai willstar in the $8-10m project which is scheduled to start shooting in ...

  • Three Dots bask in Eternal Summer

    20-May-2006

    Taiwan's Three Dots Entertainment, whichrecently launched a sales arm, has picked up international rights to LesteChen's gay youth drama Eternal Summer, starringJoseph Chang, Bryant Chang and Kate Yeung.The film, currently is shooting in Taiwan,tells ...

  • Brazil and Australia deals struck for 3 Needles: The Director's Cut

    19-May-2006

  • Fortissimo picks up global on desert pic

    19-May-2006

    Fortissimo Films has picked up world rights toSounds Of Sand directed by award-winning Belgiandirector Marion Hansel.Set against the backdrop of the Africandesert, the film features actors from Burkino Faso, Djibouti and Belgium in thestory of a group ...

  • Korea's Mirovision gets Hong Sang-soo's next film

    19-May-2006

    Korea's Mirovision has inkeda deal with local production house bom Film Productions for both domestic andinternational distribution of Hong Sang-soo's next film, Woman On The Beach, which is currently in production.

  • Younggu Art hires Hollywood crew to finish D-War

    19-May-2006

  • Dutch Filmworks strikes deal for King's Black Sheep

    18-May-2006

  • Klockworx snaps up Japanese rights to Ong Bak 2

    18-May-2006

    Thailand's SahamongkolfilmInternational has sold hotly anticipated Tony Jaa vehicle Ong Bak 2 to Japan's Klockworx.

  • Korea's Core Studio takes on Lee Myung-se horror project

    18-May-2006

  • Cannes to go ahead with Summer Palace premiere

    17-May-2006

  • Fortissimo closes raft of sales on Frank Gehry

    17-May-2006

    Fortissimo Films has closedseveral sales on Sydney Pollack's documentary Sketches Of Frank Gehry on the eve on Cannes.

  • Hong Kong's Emperor, Sundream set to steal together

    17-May-2006

    Hong Kong's Emperor Motion Pictures (EMP) has added severalnew titles to its slate in the run-up to Cannes, including action adventure Let's Steal Together, set to star pop duo Twins.

  • Shochiku does Kafka in animation debut

    17-May-2006

    Japan's Shochiku is launching two animatedfilms from high-profile directors at Cannes, marking the first time it hasproducedtheatrical animations in-house.The first film, The Country Doctor,is based on Franz Kafka's short prose of the same name and ...

  • Weinstein Co takes US rights to Seven Swords

    15-May-2006

    The Weinstein Company has acquiredUS theatrical and video rights to Tsui Hark's martial arts epic Seven Swords from Fortissimo Films.

  • SCB pacts with Kong for Golden Flower financing

    12-May-2006

    Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) has signed an agreement with award-winning local producer Bill Kong toprovide financing for the production of Zhang Yimou's Curse Of The Golden Flower.

  • Fortissimo acquires Apichatpong's Syndromes

    11-May-2006

    Fortissimo Films hasacquired worldwide rights to acclaimed Thai director ApichatpongWeerasethakul's Syndromes And A Century.

  • Movie Eye's Longest Night shooting in Shanghai

    9-May-2006

    Japan's Movie Eye Entertainment has teamed up with Beijing-based MegadiaEntertainment to co-produce a $5m romantic drama with the working title The Longest Night In Shanghai.

  • Star backs high-def trio from Hong Kong's Yee

    8-May-2006

    Star Chinese Movies isinvesting in three high-definition films to be executive produced byaward-winning Hong Kong filmmaker Derek Yee.

  • Fortissimo drawn to Sketches Of Frank Gehry

    5-May-2006

    Fortissimo Films hasacquired worldwide rights outside the US, France, Benelux and Italy to SydneyPollack's documentary Sketches Of FrankGehry, which screens in official selection, in an out-of-competition slot, atthis year's Cannes.

  • China greenlights secure box office reporting system

    1-May-2006

    Auckland-based VistaEntertainment Solutions has been granted permission to sell its cinemamanagement software independently in China and has made its first sale to Hong Kong exhibitor MCL's new cinema in Shenzhen.

  • Taking Father Home wins digital prize at HKIFF

    18-Apr-2006

    Shanghai-based director Ying Liang's Taking Father Home was awarded the Golden Digital Award at this year's Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF). The film tells the story of a country boy who travels to the big city in search of his father whom he believes has become a rich property developer - but soon discovers that the reality is quite different. It was also awarded the Special Jury ...

  • Election takes top prizes at Hong Kong Film Awards

    9-Apr-2006

    Johnnie To's Election was awarded best film and bestdirector at this year's Hong Kong Film Awards on Saturday night (April 8).

  • Canada's Seville swoops on Seven Swords

    28-Mar-2006

    Fortissimo Films has soldTsui Hark's martial arts epic SevenSwords to Canada's Seville Pictures, one of several deals that the Dutch/HK-based salesagent concluded at last week's Filmart in Hong Kong.

  • Filmart wraps with record attendance

    23-Mar-2006

    The tenth edition of Filmartwrapped today with the organisers reporting record attendance and delegatesagreeing that this year was the biggest and busiest yet.

  • Fat Englishmen among winners at HAF

    22-Mar-2006

    Lawrence Gray's Fat Englishmen, about a group ofbeer-swilling Brits who get cast as Sumo wrestlers in a Japanese beercommercial, was presented with the HAF Award for a Hong Kong project at the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) today.

  • Filmko, Fortissimo come up for Air

    22-Mar-2006

    Fortissimo Film Sales andHong Kong production company FilmkoEntertainment have boarded Zhang Yang's Air(working title), one of 25 projects participating at this year's Hong Kong AsiaFilm Financing Forum (HAF).

  • Antony Szeto's Wushu gets golden touch

    21-Mar-2006

    Golden Network has picked up international rights to Hong Kong-based director Antony Szeto's Wushu, which is currently in pre-production.

  • Drummer marches to a German-Asian beat

    21-Mar-2006

    Germany's Twenty Twenty Vision Filmproduktion has boarded Hong Kong director Kenneth Bi's upcoming drama The Drummer as co-producer alongside Hong Kong's Kenbiroli Films and Taiwan's Arc Light Films.

  • Filmart focuses on European and Asian co-operation

    21-Mar-2006

    Now is a great time forEuropean and Asian producers to start talking to one other about potentialcollaborations, if only because they are at least nine months away from doingbusiness together under any one of the official co-production treatiescurrently being negotiated.

  • Action star Sammo Hung to direct gangster saga

    20-Mar-2006

    Sundream MotionPictures, the film production arm of Hong Kongcable operator i-Cable, has lined up veteran actionstar Sammo Hung to direct big-budget period epic Howling Arrow.

  • Dot-com murder tale to be shot twice

    20-Mar-2006

    US and Asia-based production company Bigfoot Entertainment plans to start shooting thriller Irreversi in Hong Kong next Monday. But the project has an unusual twist in that the two versions will have distinct casts and crews will be filmed simultaneously in Mandarin and English.

  • Sammo Hung to direct Sundream Motion Pictures latest film

    20-Mar-2006

    Sundream MotionPictures, the film production arm of Hong Kongcable operator i-Cable, has lined up veteran actionstar Sammo Hung to direct big-budget period epic Howling Arrow.

  • China's Lotus remakes Japanese smash

    19-Mar-2006

    Hong Kong and Beijing-basedproduction house Lotus Entertainment has acquired the Chinese-languageadaptation rights to 1980s Japanese blockbuster Kamata Koshin Kyoku (TheFall Guy).

  • Media Asia unveils brace from Infernal Affairs duo

    19-Mar-2006

    Hong Kong's Media Asia isplanning to produce two films this year from Infernal Affairs directors Andrew Lau and Alan Mak as part of anambitious slate of between eight and ten productions.

  • MPA to host film production workshops in Beijing

    17-Mar-2006

    The Motion PictureAssociation (MPA) is holding a series of workshops on film production andscreenwriting in Beijing starting this weekend.

  • Hong Kong festival to open with Election 2 world premiere

    2-Mar-2006

    This year's Hong KongInternational Film Festival (HKIFF) will open with two local films - the worldpremiere of Johnnie To's Election 2and Pang Ho Cheung's Isabella, whichrecently won a Silver Bear for best score at Berlin.

  • Celestial Pictures launches youth culture channel

    27-Feb-2006

  • Hong Kong FilMart set for 15% increase in exhibitors

    21-Feb-2006

    The Hong Kong TradeDevelopment Council (TDC) is expecting more than 400 exhibitors from 20countries to attend this year's Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FilMart),a 15% increase on last year.

  • Emperor Motion Pictures closes sales on The Myth

    16-Feb-2006

    Hong Kong's Emperor Motion Pictures (EMP) has closed three major European territories on Jackie Chan actionadventure The Myth at the European FilmMarket.

  • Nexo eats Fortissimo's Candy

    16-Feb-2006

    Fortissimo Films sold hot Competitiontitle Candy to Italy's Nexo just prior to its official screening in Berlin.

  • Gaga sells Waters to Intercontinental Group

    15-Feb-2006

    Japan'sGaga has sold Waters, the first filmfrom its Gaga Films production banner, to Hong Kong'sIntercontinental Group.

  • Shochiku closes multiple deals on Fox

    15-Feb-2006

    Continuing the Fox feverthat has swept through the EFM, Japan's Shochiku has sealed several deals on itslive-action Helen The Baby Foxincluding a sale to France's Metropolitan.

  • Gaga reveals ambitious domestic and international plans

    13-Feb-2006

    Japan's new-look Gaga plans to produce up to 10Japanese films a year, in addition to international co-productions, as part ofa drive to expand its production activities.

  • Wong Kar-wai prepares Nights with Norah Jones

    13-Feb-2006

    Wong Kar-wai is gearing upto work this year with multi-platinum singer Norah Jones who will make heracting debut in his first English-language film which has the working title My Blueberry Nights.

  • Pusan fest cements plans for AFM

    12-Feb-2006

    The Pusan International FilmFestival (PIFF) has unveiled details of the full-scale film market it plans tolaunch this year - the Asian Film Market (AFM) - which takes place during the11th edition of the festival from Oct 15-18.

  • Korea's iHQ to branch into English-language filmmaking

    11-Feb-2006

    Korea's iHQ is set to branch into English-languagefilmmaking with documentary-style comedy horror American Zombie to be directed by Korean-American filmmaker GraceLee.

  • Fortissimo sells Cut Sleeve Boys to here! Films

    10-Feb-2006

    US independent here! Films hasacquired North American rights to UKcomedy Cut Sleeve Boys fromFortissimo Films.

  • Listener secures sales and slot in Berlin's special section

    9-Feb-2006

    Fortissimo Films has secured a raft ofpost-Sundance sales on The NightListener, starring Robin Williams and Toni Collette, including Telepool in Germany andIcon in the UK.The ...

  • Media Asia Distribution pre-sells Johnnie To's Exiled

    9-Feb-2006

    Hong Kong's Media Asia Distributionhas pre-sold Johnnie To'supcoming thriller Exiled to a raft ofterritories including Sharada for Italyand Cineart for Benelux.

  • Chinese masters crank up new productions

    31-Jan-2006

    Two of mainland China's leading film-makers - Zhang Yimou and Jiang Wen -are currently working on new projects that look set to raise considerableinterest in international markets.

  • Fearless storms across Asia over Chinese New Year

    31-Jan-2006

    Fearless,the latest martial arts epic from uber-producer Bill Kong, had a strong openingweekend (Jan 26-29) across Asia over the Chinese New Year holiday grossing $7.5mfrom six territories.

  • China's Huayi Brothers brings Banquet to Berlin

    26-Jan-2006

    Beijing-based productioncompany Huayi Brothers Film Investment will be making its debut as a seller atthe upcoming European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin.

  • Miike's Big Bang Love joins Panorama line-up

    25-Jan-2006

    Japan's Shochiku hasannounced that Big Bang Love, Juvenile A,the latest outing by prolific cult filmmaker Takashi Miike, has been selectedto compete in the Panorama section of the upcoming Berlin International FilmFestival.

  • Warner Bros goes west with Sichuan partnership

    22-Jan-2006

    Warner Bros InternationalCinemas (WBIC) is expanding into the mid-south and southwest corners of China through a strategic partnership with Sichuan PacificCinema Circuit, one of the leading circuits under China Film Group.

  • Disney denies plans for Beijing theme park

    17-Jan-2006

    Disney has denied reports inthe Hong Kong and mainland China press that it plans to build a theme park in Beijing by 2010.

  • Shochiku adds four dramas to busy Berlin slate

    13-Jan-2006

    In addition to its upcomingsamurai films, Japan's Shochiku has added four new dramas to its international sales slate,which it will be launching at the upcoming European Film Market in Berlin.

  • Media Asia appoints Chong as CEO

    12-Jan-2006

  • Asia Focus: China and the international market

    23-Dec-2005

    Due to its location and perhaps also timing, the recent CineAsia conference in Beijing (Dec 13-15) turned out to be an opportune platform for the US studios to air some of their long-held opinions and grievances about the China film market.

  • China box office, production levels up in 2005

    22-Dec-2005

    China's box office grew by 30% to $248m (RMB2bn) in 2005, according tofigures announced on Wednesday by the Film Bureau of the State Administrationof Radio, Film and Television (SARFT).

  • Chen's Promise has record-breaking China opening

    19-Dec-2005

    Chen Kaige's fantasy epic The Promise (aka Master Of The Crimson Armor) scored a record-breaking opening of $9m (RMB74m) in its first four days of release in China (Dec 15-18), according to revised estimates.

  • Exhibitors call for clarification on Chinese cinema ownership

    15-Dec-2005

    Exhibitors speaking at aCineAsia panel on Wednesday said they're urgently seeking clarification on China's regulations concerning foreign investment in thecinema industry.

  • Disney unveils first China co-production

    14-Dec-2005

    Disneyhas unveiled its first Chinese co-production - family-themed feature The Secret Of The Magic Gourd - which iscurrently shooting in Hangzhouin southern China.

  • Piracy high on the agenda at Beijing CineAsia

    13-Dec-2005

    China'srampant piracy was a recurrent theme during the first day of the CineAsia trade show and conference which is being held forthe first time in Beijing(Dec 13-15).Duringhis keynote speech at the opening night ceremony, Motion ...

  • CineAsia opens in Beijing with Glickman address

    12-Dec-2005

    CineAsia gets underway forthe first time in Beijing today (Dec 13) with an opening address from MPAA CEODan Glickman and a screening of Chen Kaige's The Promise which opens across China later this week.

  • Hong Kong's Focus turns to Father And Son

    1-Dec-2005

    Hong Kong's Focus Films has picked up international rights toPatrick Tam Ka-ming's Father And Son,starring Aaron Kwok (Divergence) andCharlie Young (Seven Swords), whichstarts shooting this month in Malaysia.

  • Kadokawa partners with Hong Kong's Intercontinental

    28-Nov-2005

    Japan's Kadokawa Holdings has made an aggressive move into the Chinese andSouth-East Asian film markets by forming a wide-ranging partnership withIntercontinental Group in Hong Kong.

  • Hong Kong lines up Chinese New Year blockbusters

    23-Nov-2005

    A live-actiontake on popular animated character McDull, martial arts legend Huo Yuanjia and a comedy about shopping are set to battle itout in Hong Kong and other Chinese-speaking territories next Chinese New Year.

  • Legal download sites launched in Hong Kong

    23-Nov-2005

    Two legal movie downloadsites are being launched in Hong Kong - by government-ownedIT flagship Cyberport and private film company Mei Ah Entertainment - amidindustry discussion about their feasibility and audience demand.

  • Chan wins best actor at Golden Roosters

    14-Nov-2005

    Hong Kong star Jackie Chan was awarded best actor for his rolein Benny Chan's New Police Story atthis year's edition of mainland China's Golden Rooster Awards.

  • Gold Circle to remake Breaking News

    7-Nov-2005

    Gold Circle Films hasacquired remake rights to Johnnie To action movie Breaking News from Hong Kong's Media Asia.

  • Warner Japan buys Korean weepie My Girl And I

    7-Nov-2005

    Warner Bros Japan hasacquired Korean romantic drama My Girl And I from start-up Korean sales company iHQ.

  • Core Studio unveils Yoichi Sai gangster thriller

    6-Nov-2005

    Start-up South Koreanproduction and sales outfit Core Studio has unveiled its slate for 2006, whichincludes the first Korean production from Japanese-Korean director Yoichi Sai (Quill, Blood And Bones).

  • Film Messenger beams Pusan winner to Lighthouse

    6-Nov-2005

    Singapore's LighthousePictures has acquired its first Korean film by snapping up Pusan winner TheUnforgiven from Korea's FilmMessenger.

  • Goldview sells Camus to North America

    6-Nov-2005

    Japan's Gold View has soldNorth American rights to Who's Camus Anyway', directed by Mitsuo Yanagimachi, to LarryMeistrich's Film Movement.

  • Weinstein Co snatches SPL

    6-Nov-2005

    The Weinstein Company hasacquired rights for North America, the UK and Ireland to Hong Kong actionthriller SPL.

  • Cineclick, Happinet board Barmak's Opium War

    4-Nov-2005

    Korean sales agent CineclickAsia has picked up worldwide sales rights to Opium War, the second film from Afghan director Siddiq Barmakfollowing Osama which won aGolden Globe for best foreign-language film in 2004.

  • Fortissimo's Sunflower blooms in Spain

    4-Nov-2005

  • Fortissimo's Sunflower blooms in Spain

    4-Nov-2005

  • Fortissimo's Sunflower set to bloom in Spain

    4-Nov-2005

    Fortissimo Films has soldZhang Yang's San Sebastian winner Sunflower to Spain's Diorama.

  • Japan's Nikkatsu snaps up Welcome To Dongmakgol

    4-Nov-2005

    Korean major Showbox hassold drama Welcome To Dongmakgolto Japan's Nikkatsu for a sum ofaround $2m.

  • Taiwan's CMC rolls out Silk for market debut

    4-Nov-2005

    Taiwanese distributor CMCEntertainment Group is attending AFM for the first time as a seller followingits recent move into production with big-budget sci-fi horror Silk.

  • Celestial, Image pact on Shaw Brothers titles

    3-Nov-2005

    Hong Kong's CelestialPictures has signed a long-term deal with Image Entertainment for US andCanadian video distribution of 30 titles from its Shaw Brothers library.

  • Chang boards Korean war epic Christmas Cargo

    3-Nov-2005

    Terence Chang is teaming upwith Korean production company Blue Storm and sales agent Cineclick Asia toproduce $20m Korean war epic Christmas Cargo.

  • Cineclick generates market buzz with Korean duo

    2-Nov-2005

    Korean sales agent CineclickAsia is introducing two new productions to international buyers at the AFM- Blue Swallow, based onthe true story of Korea's first female aviator, and Bong Joon-ho's $10m monstermovie The Host.

  • Fortissimo adds The Bridge to AFM slate

    2-Nov-2005

    Fortissimo Films has pickedup worldwide rights outside North America to documentary The Bridge, which marks the directing debut of former studioproduction executive Eric Steel.

  • Hong Kong's Focus sells First Cuts, Love to Japan

    2-Nov-2005

    Hong Kong star Andy Lau'sFocus Films has sold its entire FOCUS: First Cuts series of Chinese-languagefeatures to Japanese distributor and talent management company IMX.

  • Hong Kong court convicts BitTorrent user

    26-Oct-2005

  • Asian producers unveil historical epic Battle Of Wisdom

    20-Oct-2005

    The four co-producers behind pan-Asian historicalepic Battle OfWisdom officially unveiled the production at a press conference in Beijingtoday.

  • HK government appoints film committee members

    18-Oct-2005

    The Hong Kong government has appointed 11 members to the newly-established FilmDevelopment Committee (FDC), which was first unveiled by chief executive DonaldTsang last week.

  • HK government to set up film development board

    14-Oct-2005

    Hong Kong's new chief executive Donald Tsang has outlinedplans to set up a film development board to support the territory's ailing filmindustry.

  • Fairy Tale, Heartbreak share top PPP award

    12-Oct-2005

    Korean directorLee Kwang-mo's Fairy Tale Of A Picture Tree and Thai project HeartbreakPavilion shared the top prize at this year's Pusan Promotion Plan (PPP) -the $20,000 Busan Award - supplied by the city of Busan.

  • Pusan market wraps with flurry of deals

    12-Oct-2005

    Although sellers weren't expecting much action until the AFM, the marketat the Pusan filmfestival closed with several major sales on Wednesday (Oct 12).

  • Pusan unveils plans for 'biggest' Asian film market

    12-Oct-2005

    The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF)has unveiled ambitious plans for a full-scale market which it claims will bethe biggest and most comprehensive in Asia.

  • Shoe Fairy flies to Japan's IMX

    12-Oct-2005

    Hong Kong star Andy Lau's Focus Films has sold Robin Lee's TheShoe Fairy, the first film to emerge from its Focus: First Cuts series, toJapan's IMX.

  • Lee joins Celestial as production chief

    11-Oct-2005

    Hong Kong's Celestial Pictures has appointed respectedproducer Philip Lee as vice president, New Film Contents, as part of its driveto become more involved in production and content acquisition.

  • Fortissimo adds Hart Sharp collection to library

    5-Oct-2005

    Fortissimo Films hasexpanded its library of TV rights by acquiring the five-film catalogue of NewYork-based production company Hart Sharp Entertainment.

  • Hong Kong's See Corp set to produce digital slate

    2-Oct-2005

    See Corporation, a Hong Kong-basedcontent company backed by local tycoon Lawrence Yu, plans to invest $3.8m-5.2m(HK$30-40m) in a slate of high definition (HD) films, in an attempt to boost Hong Kong's flagging production industry.

  • Dragon Tiger Gate starts production at Hengdian

    29-Sep-2005

    Hong Kong director Wilson Yip Wai-shunhas started shooting $10m kung-fu action movie, Dragon Tiger Gate, at China's Hengdian World Studios with acombination of talents from China and Hong Kong.

  • HK bets on Love, China has Promise in Oscar race

    27-Sep-2005

    Peter Chan's musical PerhapsLove has been selected as Hong Kong's candidate for thebest foreign-language film category at next year's Oscars, while China has submitted Chen Kaige's fantasy epic ThePromise.

  • Heirloom scares up strong opening weekend

    19-Sep-2005

    Horror picture TheHeirloom has racked up the biggest opening for a local film in Taiwan this year, grossing $105,500 (NT$3.49m) over thethree-day weekend (Sept 16-18) in Taipei.

  • Hong Kong producers look West and East

    15-Sep-2005

    After a strong showing atthis year's Venice and Toronto film festivals, not to mention a few big hitsover the summer, Hong Kong producers currently have several reasons to feelconfident. But the trend towards declining production numbers is unlikely to bereversed before the end of the year.

  • Disney eyes China as Hong Kong park opens to public

    12-Sep-2005

    Hong Kong Disneyland opensits door to the paying public today after a weekend of celebrations attended byDisney president Robert Iger, outgoing CEO Michael Eisner, China's vice president Zeng Qinghong and a host a localcelebrities.

  • Rosem secures international deals for Chinese pair

    9-Sep-2005

    Frenchproduction house Rosem Films has secured international distribution for two ofits upcoming features from Chinese auteurs Lou Ye and Wang Chao.

  • Chinese film companies launch anti-piracy agency

    31-Aug-2005

    The China Film Copyright Protection Association (CFCA), anon-profit organisation formed by 62 film-related companies, was officiallylaunched in Beijing on Monday.Headedby former Shanghai Film Group president Zhu Yongde, the association aims tohelp the Chinese film industry to combat the nation's high levels of DVD, VCDand online piracy.

  • Chinese media giant takes stake in Oz film channel

    27-Jul-2005

    ShanghaiOriental Pearl Group (OPG), owned by China's second largest media conglomerate,the Shanghai Media Group (SMG), is acquiring a stake in Australian TV channeloperator Pan TV, according to local press reports.

  • String of international projects gear up for China shoots

    25-Jul-2005

    IfChina wasn't such a big place, the film crews would be tripping over each otherthis summer. Several international productions are gearing up to shoot in thecountry which, following a temporary Sars-induced blip, has once again become ahot production base.

  • Fraser in frame for Spottiswoode's Sea in China

    24-Jul-2005

    Brendan Fraserhas been lined up to star in historical drama The Bitter Sea which Roger Spottiswoode is set todirect in China later this year.

  • China blocks summer release of foreign films

    20-Jul-2005

  • Chow Yun-fat hops on board Ann Hui project

    19-Jul-2005

    Chow Yun-fat is reteamingwith Hong Kong director Ann Hui on the US$5m drama, The Aunt's PostmodernLife, produced by start-up Beijing-based production outfit Cheerland Films.

  • Zhang Ziyi boards Feng's $15m Banquet

    18-Jul-2005

    Zhang Ziyi is attached to star in Feng Xiaogang's $15mperiod drama The Banquet which has been set up as a co-productionbetween Beijing-based Huayi Brothers and Hong Kong's Media Asia. Thefilm's stellar cast also includes Feng regular Ge You, hot up-and-comingactress Zhou Xun and Hong Kong star Daniel Wu. Production is scheduled to startin September or October with a crew ...

  • MPA strikes anti-piracy deal with Chinese government

    18-Jul-2005

  • Lau takes lead in Lee's Three Kingdoms

    7-Jul-2005

    Hong Kong star Andy Lau has signed on to play the lead in$10-15m period drama, Three Kingdoms: Resurrection Of The Dragon(working title), to be directed by Black Mask director Daniel Lee.

  • Broadcasters boost backing for Hong Kong film

    5-Jul-2005

    There was acollective sigh of relief in the Hong Kong film industry last week as the firstlocal release of the summer - Media Asia's drift racing drama Initial D -burnt rubber in five Asian territories, including an impressive haul of US$2.6min its first week in Hong Kong.

  • Initial D burns box-office records across Asia

    27-Jun-2005

    Media Asia's Initial D zoomed to the top ofthe box office chart in five Asian territories on its opening weekend (June23-26).The $12m car racing drama has also smashed records inall five territories. It scored the biggest opening of all films so far thisyear in Hong Kong, China and Malaysia and the biggest opening of all Chinesefilms ...

  • Village Album picks up top prize at Shanghai fest

    20-Jun-2005

    The Village Album, from Japanese director Mitsuhiro Mihara, picked upbest film and best actor in the main competition of the Shanghai InternationalFilm Festival (SIFF) on Sunday night.

  • Chinese film-makers eye global distribution at Shanghai

    16-Jun-2005

    'Be realistic about your film'sinternational potential' and 'don't ignore your home market' were the twostrongest messages delivered at a seminar on the global distribution of Chinesefilms at the Shanghai International Film Festival this week.

  • Huayi Brothers unveils $15m Feng project The Banquet

    16-Jun-2005

    Beijing-based production anddistribution outfit Huayi Brothers Film Investment has announced the nextproject from hot Chinese director Feng Xiaogang - a US$15m period film with theworking title The Banquet.

  • Chinese director Ning comes into Lau's Focus

    8-Jun-2005

    China's Ning Hao has been selected as the sixth director toparticipate in the regional film project, Focus: First Cuts, which was launchedin March by Hong Kong star Andy Lau's Focus Films and Star Chinese Movies. Focusalso announced that it will co-produce Ning's as-yet-untitled film withBeijing-based Concord Creation International. The film, which is set to startshooting in ...

  • Fortissimo signs up Wong library

    24-May-2005

    Fortissimo Films has signed a deal with Cannesjury president Wong Kar-wai's Jet Tone Films to handle the increasing list oftitles in the director's library, including films not previously represented byFortissimo.The deal is an expansion of the long-standingrelationship ...

  • Fortissimo scores flurry of Snow Cake deals

    20-May-2005

    Fortissimo Filmshad a busy Cannes closing deals with several distributors the company hasn'tworked with before including Svensk which took Scandinavian rights to MarcEvans' Snow Cake.

  • Chan film to focus on landmines in Cambodia

    19-May-2005

    Jackie Chan plans to head toCambodia next year to direct and star in a film that will draw attention to theproblem of landmines in the former war-torn country.

  • Beta Cinema goes into battle with Genghis Khan

    18-May-2005

    Germany's Beta Cinema hasunveiled details of $10m biopic, Mongol - The Early Years Of Genghis Khan, which starts shooting in July with Japanese starAsano Tadanobu playing the Mongol warrior.

  • Celestial's Love travels to Korea, Japan

    18-May-2005

    Celestial Pictures hasscored a pair of major pre-sales on Peter Chan's musical Perhaps Love to Korea's Show East and Nippon Herald for Japan.

  • Toho pre-sells Shining Boy And Little Randy

    18-May-2005

  • Finns fly to China for kung fu co-production Jade Warrior

    17-May-2005

    Beijing-based MingProductions has boarded AJ Annila's Jade Warrior, billed as Finland's "first ever martial arts movie",which is set to shoot in China, Finland and Estonia starting in August.

  • Fortissimo, Notro in TV deal

    17-May-2005

    FortissimoFilms' recently-established TV sales division has closed its first majormulti-rights deal by selling a package of nearly 50 film titles to Spain'sNotro Films.

  • Lou Ye wraps Summer Palace

    17-May-2005

  • Huayi Brothers takes Battle to Cannes

    16-May-2005

    China's leading privateproduction company Huayi Brothers has unveiled a high-profile slate ofproductions headed by $20m period epic Battle Of Wisdom.

  • Taiwan launches first Asian tax finance incentives

    16-May-2005

    Taiwan has become the firstdestination in Asia for producers looking for tax-based financing.

  • Weinsteins on a Promise with Chen

    16-May-2005

    Harvey and Bob Weinstein areback in business with Chen Kaige, the Chinese director whose Farewell MyConcubine shared the Palme d'Or in1993 and gave Miramax one of its breakthrough Chinese hits.

  • CAA advances on Asia with Loehr hire, WEB alliance

    15-May-2005

    Hollywood talent powerhouse CAA has confirmed itsaggressive moves into Asia,bringing China's Hengdian Group to the Croisette to meetwestern players, unveiling an alliance with start-up Korean entertainmentcompany WEB, and advising both Taiwan's private equity fund Double Edge andJapanese giant Kadokawa.

  • Fortissimo ices Snow Cake, Shanghai sales

    15-May-2005

    Fortissimo Films has closeda string of sales on Competition title Shanghai Dreams and drama Snow Cake, starring Sigourney Weaver, and racked up furtherdeals on The Night Listener and U-CarmeneKhayelitsha.

  • MK Pictures sells Last Bang to France

    15-May-2005

    Korea's MK Pictures has soldIm Sang-soo's Directors' Fortnight title The President's Last Bang to France's CIPA and also revealed details of thedirector's next project.

  • Artist Film morphs into Style Jam

    14-May-2005

    Naoki Kai, president of Japan's Artist Film, isheading a management buyout of the company, creating a new outfit called Style Jam focussing on producing films aimed at the international market. The new company, which launches ...

  • Japanese embark on Korean buying spree

    14-May-2005

    In a repeat of Berlin'sEuropean Film Market, Japanese buyers are devouring Korean product in pre-salesworth millions of dollars.

  • Endeavour tries China with Shanghai Media Group

    13-May-2005

    Hollywood talent agencyEndeavor has entered into a strategic partnership with China's second-largestmedia giant, the Shanghai Media Group (SMG), and its subsidiary, ShanghaiInteractive Television (SiTV).

  • Foreign films return to Thailand in post-tsunami recovery

    13-May-2005

    Foreign shoots are startingto return to Thailand after a slight downturn due to the tsunami according toTourism Authority of Thailand governor Juthamas Siriwan.

  • Fortissimo Mob-ilises triad drama

    12-May-2005

  • Gladiator producer to remake Korean blockbuster

    12-May-2005

    The Los Angelesarm of Korean production powerhouse MK Pictures has struck a deal withOscar-winning writer and producer David Franzoni to remake Korean blockbuster JointSecurity Area (JSA).

  • Fortissimo scores pre-Cannes sales on high profile pair

    11-May-2005

    Fortissimo Films has secureda slew of sales on two titles - The Night Listener starring Robin Williams and Berlin Golden Bear winnerU-Carmen eKhayelitsha - in therun-up to the Cannes market.

  • Queens join Golden parade

    11-May-2005

    Hong Kong-based sales agent GoldenNetwork Asia has added Thai director Nonzee Nimibutr's big-budget actionadventure The Queens Of Pattani to a busy Cannes slate. Produced by Nimibutr's Cinemasia with backing from Thai studioSahamongkol, the ambitious two-part feature is scheduled to start shooting nextJanuary for delivery by the end of 2006.

  • Queens join Golden parade

    11-May-2005

    Hong Kong-based sales agent GoldenNetwork Asia has added Thai director Nonzee Nimibutr's big-budget actionadventure The Queens Of Pattani to a busy Cannes slate. Produced by Nimibutr's Cinemasia with backing from Thai studioSahamongkol, the ambitious two-part feature is scheduled to start shooting nextJanuary for delivery by the end of 2006. Loosely ...

  • Cheung steps up in Celestial hierarchy

    11-May-2005

    Hong Kong's CelestialPictures has promoted international sales chief Gordon Cheung to the newposition of executive vice president, acquisitions & distribution.

  • Hong Kong raises stakes in online piracy battle

    28-Apr-2005

    Illegaldownloaders in Hong Kong are facing a two-pronged attack as both the Hong KongCustoms and Excise Department and the local film industry have taken the firstconcrete steps towards curbing online piracy.

  • Hong Kong veteran steps in as new Barber director

    25-Apr-2005

    Veteran Hong Kong filmmaker Ng See Yuen has stepped in todirect mainland Chinese production The Barber following the death ofShanghai-based director Chen Yifei.Thefilm, which is backed by Century Hero Film Investment Co and the China FilmGroup, has had a troubled production history. It started shooting in 2002 withChen at the helm and Jiang Wen in a lead role but was ...

  • Hong Kong looks to summer after poor first quarter

    21-Apr-2005

    HongKong's production and distribution companies are looking to the summer seasonto claw back market share after a disappointing first quarter of the year. Thefirst quarter of 2005 saw only 14 local films released grossing $7m (HK$54.69m)between them, around 26% of total box office during this period. In comparison,over the last five years, ...

  • Hong Kong Festival wraps on ticket sales high

    7-Apr-2005

    This year's Hong Kong International Film Festival (March 22- April 6) achieved an impressive 30% increase in ticket sales as a result ofnew marketing policies and programming strands. Thefestival, which wrapped yesterday with screenings of Jia Zhang-ke's TheWorld and Alain Corneau's Words In Blue, sold around 85,000 ticketsand about one quarter of screenings were ...

  • FilMart wraps on a high

    24-Mar-2005

    Moving to a pre-Cannes slot has proved successful for HongKong's FilMart as this year's market, which wrapped Thursday (March 24), was byfar the biggest and busiest yet.

  • Au cranks up Nana in Hong Kong

    23-Mar-2005

    Hong Kong's Daniel Wu and Chinese actress Zhou Xun are set tostar in Nana, the feature debut of acclaimed music video director SusieAu which starts shooting tomorrow (March 24) in Hong Kong.

  • Lau turns Focus onto Asian film-making talent

    23-Mar-2005

    Hong Kong starAndy Lau's Focus Films plans to finance a series of six high definition (HD)features from up-and-coming Asian filmmakers, as part of a drive to bring newtalent into the Chinese-language film industry.

  • Celestial beefs up international sales activities

    21-Mar-2005

    Hong Kong's CelestialPictures is expanding its international distribution activities beyond the ShawBrothers library to include third-party pick-ups and films it has co-financed,such as Peter Chan's upcoming musical Perhaps Love.

  • ...as Hong Kong producers focus on big budget films

    20-Mar-2005

    While the inaugural Entertainment Expo looks set toreinforce the local film industry's international status, it takes placeduring a difficult chapter in the evolution of Hong Kong cinema.

  • Hong Kong's inaugural Expo lures international players

    20-Mar-2005

    HongKong's first ever Entertainment Expo (March 22 - April 6) gets underwaytonight with a splashy opening ceremony attended by local stars including HongKong's "Entertainment Ambassador" Tony Leung Chiu-wai andsinger Coco Lee.

  • Chinese box office surges 50% in 2004

    16-Mar-2005

    China's box office increased by 50% to $180m in 2004,according to figures from the country's State Administration of Radio, Film andTelevision (SARFT). The figure far surpasses industry estimates of 30% growth.

  • Media Asia unveils 2005 production slate

    16-Mar-2005

    Hong Kong's Media Asia Films has unveiled its productionslate for the coming year which kicks off with US$3.8m (HK$30m) fantasy Wait'Til You're Older starring Andy Lau, Felix Wong and Karen Mok. Thefilm, which commenced principal photography yesterday, tells the story of ayoung boy who ages ten years a day over the course of a week.

  • Arclight takes on Dragon Squad rights

    14-Mar-2005

    Arclight Films has picked up international rights excludingAsia to Dragon Squad, a US$4.5m martial arts action film which marks thefirst time that Steven Seagal has produced an Asian picture.

  • Applause chief to direct $10m musical in Shanghai

    7-Mar-2005

    Peter Ho-sun Chan's $10mmusical Perhaps Love startsshooting in Shanghai next month with a hot pan-Asian cast and backing frombroadcasters TVB and Astro.

  • Applause enters distribution market with Baby

    7-Mar-2005

    Hong Kong production outfit Applause Pictures has launched alocal distribution arm and set Clint Eastwood's multiple Oscar-winning MillionDollar Baby as its first release.

  • China centennial takes Centre Stage at HK Fest

    25-Feb-2005

    Thisyear's Hong Kong International Film Festival (March 22 - April 6) plans tocelebrate the 100th anniversary of Chinese cinema by screening a digitallyremastered version of Stanley Kwan's 1992 period drama Centre Stage.

  • HONG KONG 22 February

    22-Feb-2005

  • Hong Kong film industry calls for greater anti-piracy measures

    18-Feb-2005

    Hong Kong's nine major filmcompanies and representatives from five trade organisations gathered yesterday(Feb 17) to present their official response to the government's current reviewof the territory's copyright laws.

  • Emperor names Tse as international sales chief

    14-Feb-2005

    Hong Kong production and distribution outfit Emperor MotionPictures (EMP) has appointed Ricky Tse to oversee its international salesactivities in the role of distribution general manager.

  • HONG KONG 14 February

    14-Feb-2005

  • Hong Kong has a new box-office champion

    9-Feb-2005

    Stephen Chow's Kung-fuHustle has become the highest-grossing local film ever at the Hong Kong boxoffice, overtaking the previous record holder, Shaolin Soccer, alsostarring and directed by Chow.

  • HONG KONG 7 February

    7-Feb-2005

  • Chinese film giant moves towards Hong Kong listing

    4-Feb-2005

    China's Asian Union Film and Media has sold a 50%stake to Hong Kong's Universal Holdings, in a move that leads toward aback-door listing in Hong Kong.

  • Hong Kong pay-TV leader moves into film production

    3-Feb-2005

    Hong Kong's leading pay-TV operator, i-CABLECommunications, has unveiled plans to move into film production by investing upto $38.5m (HK$300m) in 10-20 features over the next two years.

  • Warner Bros to open five more cinemas in China

    1-Feb-2005

    WarnerBros has signed an agreement with the state-owned Shenzhen International Trust& Investment Corp to open five joint venture cinemas in China, according tothe Xinhua news agency.

  • Kung-fu Hustle scoops Hong Kong Film Award nods

    1-Feb-2005

    Stephen Chow's Kung-fuHustle heads the pack in the nominations for this year's Hong Kong FilmAwards, bagging 16 nods including best film, best director and best actor forChow.

  • Task force to investigate production decline

    1-Feb-2005

  • HONG KONG 31 January

    31-Jan-2005

  • Anytime strikes Asian VoD deal with US studios

    26-Jan-2005

    Singapore-basedvideo-on-demand company Anytime has signed content supply deals with three USstudios, resulting in what it claims is the largest single offering in Asia ofHollywood product for VoD.

  • Hong Kong industry urges anti-online piracy action

    24-Jan-2005

    Hong Kong's film, TV and music industries have jointlycalled on the government to address the growing problem of online piracy whichthey say is "threatening the very survival" of the territory's content supplyindustries.Thecall was made at a symposium held by the Film, Television and RecordingIndustries' Copyright Concern Group on Sunday (Jan 23) and attended by topindustry ...

  • HONG KONG 21 January

    21-Jan-2005

  • 28 projects set for Hong Kong financing market

    19-Jan-2005

    The organisers ofHong Kong's first ever Entertainment Expo (March 22 - April 6) have unveiledthe 28 projects that will participate in the Hong Kong-Asia Film FinancingForum (HAF), one of eight events to take place during the 16-day film andentertainment mega event.

  • HONG KONG 14 January

    14-Jan-2005

  • 2004: Hong Kong film flattened by US competition

    24-Dec-2004

  • China unveils tougher penalties for pirates

    22-Dec-2004

    China has strengthened its anti-piracy laws to make iteasier to prosecute copyright violations and to allow tougher sentences to behanded out to offenders.Thenew rules cover many kinds of copyright and patent violations but are specificabout film and other software. Starting from Dec 22, anyone found copying anddistributing more than 5,000 pirated copies of films, television ...

  • Justice takes Taiwan doc festival top prize

    21-Dec-2004

    Dutch director Maria Ramos was awarded the grand prize atthe Taiwan International Documentary Festival (Dec 11-17) for herfeature-length film Justice about daily life in a Brazilian courtroom.

  • HONG KONG 20 December

    20-Dec-2004

    FengXiaogang's A World Without Thieves knocked Bridget Jones off thetop spot but failed to lift the overall box office out of its recent downwardslide.The action drama, co-produced by Hong Kong's MediaAsia and Beijing-based Huayi Brothers, grossed US$342,335 from 48 screens.Itperformed ...

  • Hong Kong sets up task force as production levels fall

    17-Dec-2004

    Although hopes were high atthe beginning of the year, the number of films produced in Hong Kong has fallento an all-time low of around 65 this year and many films performed belowexpectations over the summer. As a result, 20 film professionals have set up anemergency task force to find solutions to the industry's continuing decline.

  • Three Dots unveils horror Heirloom

    14-Dec-2004

    Three Dots Entertainment,the Taiwanese production company behind hit gay comedy Formula 17, hasunveiled a slate of three new productions for 2005.

  • Tom Group invests in leading Chinese film outfit

    9-Dec-2004

    Hong Kong's Tom Group has joined the rush of overseas mediagroups investing in China's film and television industry by acquiring a 35%stake in leading private film producer and distributor Huayi BrothersInternational Holdings.

  • China creates international media advisory board

    29-Nov-2004

    The Chinese government has invited a group of domestic and foreign media companies to form a board to advise on how capital markets can help modernise the mainlands burgeoning media industry, according to the South China Morning Post.

  • HONG KONG 26 November

    26-Nov-2004

  • HONG KONG 22 November

    22-Nov-2004

  • Hong Kong group to invest in Chinese production company

    17-Nov-2004

    Hong Kong's TomGroup is in talks to acquire a 20% stake in Beijing-based production companyHuayi Brothers - currently the largest private film producer in mainland China- according to local press reports.

  • Emperor signs output deal with News Corp's Star

    16-Nov-2004

    Hong Kong production andsales outfit Emperor Motion Pictures(EMP) has signed a three-year multi-territory output deal with News Corp's StarChinese Movies channel covering Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, the Philippines andSingapore.

  • Grant boosts Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Festival

    15-Nov-2004

  • Johnnie To cranks up Election drama

    15-Nov-2004

    Hong Kong director Johnnie To has started shooting triaddrama Election - the first project inwhich his production company Milkyway Image has made an investment - andannounced that the $6.4m (HK$50m) production will be made as two films.

  • HONG KONG 12 November

    12-Nov-2004

  • HONG KONG 8 November

    8-Nov-2004

  • AFM: Emperor to handle own sales slate

    3-Nov-2004

    Hong Kong's Emperor MotionPictures (EMP) is making its debut at the AFM as a fully-fledged sales outfit,handling world sales on a busy slate of product headed by Jackie Chan actionadventure The Myth.

  • HONG KONG 1 November

    1-Nov-2004

  • Golden Harvest closes Taiwan exhibition deal

    28-Oct-2004

    Following lengthynegotiations, Hong Kong's Golden Harvest Entertainment has reached a deal toacquire Taiwan's Warner Village cinema circuit - a joint venture between WarnerBros and Australia's Village Roadshow - with a consortium of Taiwanese partnersfor US$38m.

  • Universal takes New Police Story for Japan, Korea

    27-Oct-2004

  • HONG KONG 4 October

    4-Oct-2004

  • ...as re-edited 2046 opens across China

    1-Oct-2004

    There-edited version of Wong Kar Wai's 2046 opened thisweek in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan following a whistle-stop promotional touraround the region's major cities.

  • Kidman eyes Wong Kar Wai's Lady From Shanghai

    1-Oct-2004

    Hong Kong's hippestdirector has revealed that he's planning to work with Nicole Kidman on aproject with the working title The LadyFrom Shanghai.

  • Taiwan selects 20:30:40 as foreign-language Oscar entry

    30-Sep-2004

  • Celestial to launch movie channel into China

    26-Sep-2004

    Hong Kong-based film studio Celestial Pictures has beengiven the go-ahead to launch its 24-hour Asian movie channel, Celestial Movies,into upscale hotels and residential compounds throughout the People's Republicof China.The channel, which features contentfrom the Shaw Brothers library, Golden Harvest, Korea's Cinema Service andother Asian film studios, has ...

  • Media Asia plans Tokyo Raiders sequel

    23-Sep-2004

    Hong Kong's Media Asia is planning a Korea-set sequel toJingle Ma's 2000 box office smash Tokyo Raiders that is set to star TonyLeung Chiu-wai, Richie Jen and Shu Qi.The$5.1m (HK$40m) action comedy - which has the working title Korea Raiders- is scheduled to start shooting in October for release during next Chinese NewYear (February 2005). Ma will again direct ...

  • Shanghai Story dominates at top Chinese awards

    22-Sep-2004

    Peng Xiaolian's Shanghai Story won four awardsincluding best picture and best director at China's leading film awards, theGolden Roosters, on Sunday night despite it not having had a wide,commercial release.

  • HONG KONG 13 September

    13-Sep-2004

  • UIP scoops up remaining Fahrenheit territories

    10-Sep-2004

    Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 is set for a furthertheatrical lease of life as United International Pictures (UIP) has acquiredall remaining territories to the film, including six in Asia.

  • Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum to be revived

    8-Sep-2004

    The organisers ofthe Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) have called for submissions fornext year's edition which marks the long-awaited return of the Hong Kong-basedprojects market following a four-year hiatus.

  • HONG KONG 6 September

    6-Sep-2004

  • Hong Kong-Chinese JV to build post-production facility

    1-Sep-2004

    Hong Kong'sMandarin Entertainment is setting up a joint venture with China's HengdianGroup to build a film processing and post-production facility at Hengdian FilmCity in Zhejiang province near Shanghai.

  • HONG KONG 30 August

    30-Aug-2004

  • Martial arts stars align for Yip action drama

    26-Aug-2004

    Three generations of martial artists have joined forces forWilson Yip's upcoming action drama SPL (working title), which is nearingthe end of a four-month shoot in Hong Kong.

  • Media Asia IPO application investigated

    24-Aug-2004

    Media Asia Group's proposed listing on theSingapore stock exchange has reportedly been put on hold as the MonetaryAuthority of Singapore (MAS) has requested further information about somemembers of the company's management team.

  • Hong Kong pins hopes on history, horror

    23-Aug-2004

    The summer boxoffice period has been disappointing for Hong Kong productions. Although localfilms were starting to claw back market share earlier in the year, they've lostout whenever they've squared off against Hollywood's tentpole summer releases.But Hong Kong producers remain bullish in the long-term and several big-budgetprojects - aimed at the pan-regional market but with the potential to travelmuch further - are currently in production.

  • HONG KONG 20 August

    20-Aug-2004

  • Tsui Hark readies $12m martial arts epic

    19-Aug-2004

    Acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker Tsui Hark is gearing up tostart shooting his next feature as director - the US$12m wuxia epic Seven Swords which is scheduled to startproduction next month.

  • Hong Kong selects foreign-language Oscar entry

    19-Aug-2004

    Johnnie To and Wai Ka-fai's Running On Karma has been selected as Hong Kong's official entryfor the best foreign-language film category of next year's Academy Awards

  • HONG KONG 16 August

    16-Aug-2004

  • Earth And Ashes, Missing feted at Cinefan

    28-Jul-2004

    Afghan-French co-production Earth And Ashes (pictured),directed by Atiq Rahimi, and The Missingfrom Taiwan's Lee Kang-sheng were jointly awarded best film at the sixthedition of Cinefan (July 16-25) which wrapped in Delhi on Sunday night.

  • HONG KONG 19 July

    19-Jul-2004

  • Jackie Chan embarks on Hong Kong adventure

    4-Jul-2004

    Production restarted this week at Shanghai Film Studio onJackie Chan's new project which reunites the star with Hong Kong actiondirector Stanley Tong.

  • FilMart News: Deals and speeches lift FilMart's final June edition

    28-Jun-2004

    Hong Kong's Filmart (June 23-25) closedon a rousing note on Friday with rallying cries from industry leaders andfurther details of next year's mega-event, Entertainment Expo Hong Kong 2005.Sellers agreed that they had seen fewer visitors from the US and Europe, possibly an effect of timing thatreflected the ...

  • HONG KONG 28 June

    28-Jun-2004

  • Asian CGI producer unveils US production deals

    27-Jun-2004

    GDC Entertainment, the content development arm of Hong Kongand Singapore-based GDC Holdings, announced three collaborative ventures atFilMart on Friday.

  • FilMart News: Three...Extremes unites top Asian talent

    24-Jun-2004

    Hong Kong's ApplausePictures unveiled its mouthwatering contribution to the second instalment ofhorror omnibus Three at Filmart on Thursday. Entitled Dumplings,the horror-thriller brings together some of the territory's top creative talentincluding director Fruit Chan, producer Peter Ho-sun Chan and award-winningcinematographer Christopher Doyle.

  • Thai distributor Nontanund to double acquisitions

    24-Jun-2004

    Thailand's largestexhibitor Major Cineplex is moving into distribution with the acquisition ofindependent Thai distributor Nontanund Entertainment.Thelong-expected move, which Major Cineplex announced to the Thai stock exchangeon Wednesday, follows the recent announcement that the cinema chain is mergingwith Thailand'ssecond ...

  • FilMart News Hong Kong arthouse cinema goes digital

    24-Jun-2004

  • FilMart News Shanghai Media Group, Jade Dynasty team for animated Monkey

    24-Jun-2004

  • HONG KONG 21 June

    21-Jun-2004

  • HONG KONG 15 June

    15-Jun-2004

  • Leading Thai exhibitors to merge

    14-Jun-2004

    Thailand's two leading exhibitors - Major Cineplex Group andEGV Entertainment - are merging to create one of the largest cinema circuits inSouth-East Asia.Althoughboth companies are headed by members of the Poolvaraluck family, they've beenbattling for market supremacy for the past decade. According to Major Cineplexpresident, Vicha Poolvaraluck, the merger will allow them to ...

  • Hong Kong's Filmart goes multimedia

    9-Jun-2004

    Multimedia convergence will be the major theme at thisyear's Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (Filmart), which takesplace June 23-25.Theeight-year-old market, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council(TDC), aims to expand its exhibitor base with new media companies and provide aplatform for cross media collaboration.

  • Pang brothers' Re-cycle notches Cannes pre-sales

    25-May-2004

    Hong Kongproduction and distribution outfit Universe Entertainment clinched a string ofpre-sales at Cannes on its Pang brothers' horror movie, Re-cycle.The $5m film has been sold to Pathe Distribution forFrance, Tartan Films for the UK, Audio One for Malaysia and TT Warner Picturesfor Indonesia. The Malaysian deal was secured even before a promo reel screenedin the Cannes market last ...

  • Three Thai film companies join forces to create production powerhouse

    24-May-2004

    Three Thai filmcompanies - GMM Pictures, Tai Entertainment and Hub Ho Hin - are joining forcesto create a production powerhouse in response to increasing competition in thefast-growing Thai market.

  • Media Asia revs up Initial D with Infernal Affairs talent

    14-May-2004

    Hong Kong productionpowerhouse Media Asia has confirmed the directors and cast for its big-budgetcar racing drama, Initial D, which reunites key talent from its hugelysuccessful Infernal Affairs trilogy.

  • New talent invigorates Hong Kong production

    11-May-2004

    Now that local films areincreasing their share of the Hong Kong box office, there are several signs ofrenewed vigour in the domestic production industry. Budgets are getting bigger,investors are becoming more adventurous and the range of films on offer isbecoming increasingly diverse.

  • HONG KONG 9 May

    9-May-2004

    Gangster thriller JiangHu dominated the Hong Kong box officethis week grossing US$1.15m in seven days from 51 screens. The star-studdedfilm took almost four times the tally of its nearest competitor, Kill Bill 2, which opened with US$288,786 from 25 screens.

  • HONG KONG 4 May

    4-May-2004

    FilmkoEntertainment's Koma - a thriller starring acclaimed up-and-comingactresses Karena Lam and Lee Sin-je - opened in top position at the Hong Kongbox office this week, grossing $513,815 from 36 screens.

  • Zhu's Clouds scoops Hong Kong festival prizes

    15-Apr-2004

    Chinese director Zhu Wen's South Of The Clouds scooped two prizes at the awards gala of the Hong Kong International Film Festival (April 6-21) on Thursday night - the Golden Firebird Award and the award of the FIPRESCI jury.

  • Teen comedy Formula cracks Taiwan box office

    6-Apr-2004

    Taiwanese teen comedy Formula 17, produced by start-up production company Three Dots Entertainment, has surpassed expectations for a local film over its opening weekend in Taipei, achieving a screen average of US$11,777 (NT$387,660) - the highest among all new releases.

  • Karma proves a winner at Hong Kong Film Awards

    5-Apr-2004

  • HONG KONG

    26-Mar-2004

    Horror sequel The Eye 2, produced by Hong Kong's Applause Pictures, has outperformed the original film in its opening week, grossing US$741,729 from 40 screens.

  • Chen starts high-profile Promise

    16-Mar-2004

    Acclaimed Chinese director Chen Kaige has started shooting The Promise (Wu Ji), a big-budget fantasy epic that brings together some of Asia's top talent both in front of and behind the camera.

  • Chinese pair to open Hong Kong Festival

    4-Mar-2004

    The Hong Kong Arts Development Council has unveiled the line-up of the 28th Hong Kong International Film Festival (April 6-21) which includes Oscar winner The Barbarian Invasions and the winner of last year's Palme d'Or, Gus Van Sant's Elephant.

  • HONG KONG

    1-Mar-2004

    Thai martial arts movie Ong-Bak, starring rising action hero Tony Jaa, tops the Hong Kong box office this week with US$732,775 from 30 screens which distributor Edko says is 'within expectations'. The film is already the second highest-grossing Thai movie ever in Hong Kong although it has a long way to go before overtaking Thai comedy The Iron Ladies which grossed HK$15.3m in 2000

  • Hong Kong looks forward to Monkey business

    1-Mar-2004

    For full Hong Kong production listings click HERE

  • Infernal Affairs star backs gangster thriller

    19-Feb-2004

    Andy Lau's Focus Films is co-financing a $5m (HK$40m) gangster thriller, Jiang Hu, which combines a stellar cast with one of Hong Kong's most promising new directors.

  • Karma leads Hong Kong Film Award nominations

    12-Feb-2004

    Johnnie To and Wai Ka-fai's action comedy Running On Karma leads the race for this year's Hong Kong Film Awards with 13 nominations, although the second instalment in Andrew Lau and Alan Mak's Infernal Affairs trilogy is close behind with 12 nods.

  • HONG KONG

    6-Feb-2004

    As the peak Chinese New Year holiday period continues in Hong Kong, Media Asia's Magic Kitchen and China Star's Fantasia switched places at the top of the chart but continue to dominate the box office leaving most other holiday releases in the dust.

  • ...as Barbarian Invasions takes top prize

    2-Feb-2004

    Denys Arcand's The Barbarian Invasions was awarded the Golden Kinnaree for best film in the International Competition at this year's Bangkok International Film Festival (Jan 22-Feb 2) while the best director prize went to Jim Sheridan for In America.

  • Bangkok has teething troubles but shows potential...

    2-Feb-2004

    The Bangkok International Film Festival (BIFF), which ended today (Feb 2), still has a long way to go to fulfil its ambitious remit, but this year's event was a spirited affair that promised greater things for future editions.

  • Blockbuster quits Hong Kong market

    30-Jan-2004

    High rents and rampant piracy have forced video rental giant Blockbuster to quit the Hong Kong market and scrap plans to expand into mainland China.

  • Jackie Chan's son joins Twins Effect II cast

    30-Jan-2004

    Jackie Chan's son, Jaycee Chan, is making his feature acting debut alongside his father in Emperor Multimedia Group's The Twins Effect II (working title) - the sequel to last year's blockbuster action comedy - which is scheduled to start shooting next week.

  • Thai studio readies Ong Bak sequel for March shoot

    30-Jan-2004

    Thai studio Sahamongkol Film International has unveiled details of the second film from Ong-Bak star Tony Jaa and director Prachya Pinkaew, in which the Australian underworld gets a taste of Thai-style kickboxing.

  • Sellers find Shangri-La at Bangkok Film Market

    28-Jan-2004

    The first Bangkok Film Market (BFM) - organised as part of the 2004 Bangkok International Film Festival - kicked off in the Thai capital on Tuesday (Jan 27) with more than 60 companies taking rooms at the Shangri-La Hotel.

  • HONG KONG

    19-Jan-2004

    Overall box office takings were noticeably down after the highs of Christmas and New Year, although they're likely to pick up again next week with the release of The Last Samurai and two Chinese New Year films.

  • Warner expands China cinema reach

    18-Jan-2004

    Warner Bros InternationalTheatres (WBIT) is expanding its reach into China's nascent cinema marketstill further via a deal to manage a chain of around 30 multiplexes which arebeing built by Chinese property developer, Dalian Wanda Group.

  • HONG KONG

    12-Jan-2004

  • HONG KONG

    24-Dec-2003

    Media Asia's Infernal Affairs III kicked off the Christmas box office season with a stellar US$2.14m in its first six days. The film grossed HK$3.22m on its opening day (Dec 12), smashing several records including the biggest non-weekend opening of the year.

  • Celestial Movies secures Hong Kong pay-TV slot

    23-Dec-2003

    Hong Kong-based Celestial Pictures has secured carriage for its 24-hour Chinese movie channel, Celestial Movies, on Hong Kong's newest pay-TV service, exTV, which launches on Feb 18 next year.

  • Golden Harvest readies China multiplex

    19-Dec-2003

    Hong Kong's Golden Harvest Entertainment has signed a deal with developer China Resources Holdings to open a 12-screen cinema in the MIXc shopping mall in Shenzhen, southern China.

  • Asian film industry mourns Duangkamol Limcharoen

    9-Dec-2003

    Thai producer Duangkamol Limcharoen, a leading figure in the pan-Asian filmmaking movement, has died following a brief fight against cancer. She was 39 years old.

  • HONG KONG

    5-Dec-2003

    Derek Yee's Lost In Time held onto the top spot at the box office in its second week, grossing US$608,816 from 42 screens. The romantic drama is already being tipped as a contender for next year's Hong Kong Film Awards, although it's more mainstream and commercial than Yee's previous films.

  • China decentralises film censorship process

    3-Dec-2003

    In a further sign that China is speeding up reform of its film industry, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) has announced that its film censorship process has been decentralised.

  • Ong-Bak scores on Singapore debut

    2-Dec-2003

    Thai action title Ong-Bak - Muay Thai Warrior has become the highest-grossing Thai movie ever in Singapore, the first territory in which it's been released outside its home market.

  • HONG KONG

    28-Nov-2003

    China Star's Lost In Time, starring Cecilia Cheung and Louis Koo, opened at the top of the Hong Kong box office chart grossing $941,553 and a strong screen average of $22,965. The romantic drama, about a woman coming to terms with her husband's death, is directed by Derek Yee whose credits include award-winning dramas such as Viva Erotica and C'est La Vie Mon Cheri.

  • HONG KONG

    24-Nov-2003

  • Lee's Red Eagle to soar for Film Hanza

    21-Nov-2003

    Hong Kong director Daniel Lee is attached to direct action movie Red Eagle for Thailand's Film Hanza - a new production company set up by Cinemasia co-founders Duangkamol Limcharoen and Nonzee Nimibutr.

  • CineAsia wraps on positive note for local language pics

    20-Nov-2003

    The resurgence of local-language product across the Asia Pacific region was a recurring theme at this year's CineAsia convention for distributors and exhibitors which wrapped on Thursday (Nov 20) in Bangkok.

  • Fox takes Thai rights to local drama Beautiful Boxer

    20-Nov-2003

    Twentieth Century Fox has picked up Thai distribution rights to local action drama Beautiful Boxer produced by GMM Pictures - the film arm of Thai entertainment giant GMM Grammy.

  • Singapore strides ahead with digital cinema roll-out

    19-Nov-2003

    Singapore exhibitor Eng Wah Organization is collaborating with Barco and two government agencies to install 20 2K digital projectors - a move that pushes the tiny city-state of Singapore to the forefront of digital cinema technology.

  • Pirates still beating the system

    19-Nov-2003

    Piracy is increasing in Asia despite the efforts of the Motion Picture Association and strategies such as day-and-date releasing according to delegates at this year's CineAsia conference in Bangkok.

  • HONG KONG

    14-Nov-2003

  • HONG KONG

    10-Nov-2003

    Two Category III films (for persons aged 18 or above only) top the Hong Kong box office this week. Chan Hing-kai and Dante Lam's comedy Naked Ambition took the top slot with $553,710 from 29 screens. Produced by Panorama Entertainment and China Star, the film is about two university graduates who become porn publishers.

  • Hong Kong production cycles getting longer

    10-Nov-2003

    Production cycles are starting to get longer in Hong Kong which was once renowned for its "one-month" movies. As a result, three films scheduled for release during Chinese New Year next January are already in the can and undergoing an unusually lengthy post-production process.

  • Golden Harvest, China Film launch joint venture

    6-Nov-2003

    Hong Kong's Golden Harvest is setting up a joint venture with mainland entertainment conglomerate, China Film Group Corporation, to co-finance and distribute Chinese-language films.

  • Hero rules the Rooster at China's top film awards

    6-Nov-2003

    Zhang Yimou's Hero scooped four prizes at this year's Golden Rooster Awards - mainland China's top film honours - including best director, best co-production, best sound recording and best production design.

  • HONG KONG

    31-Oct-2003

    The second lacklustre week in a row at the Hong Kong box office suggests that audiences spent their hard-earned cash on local event films Running On Karma and Infernal Affairs II earlier in the month and need strong persuasion to visit the cinema again.

  • New York's Emerging Pictures teams up for China shoot

    27-Oct-2003

    New York-based Emerging Pictures is teaming with China Film and two Hong Kong companies - Media Asia and the Chinachem property group - to co-produce Fei, the second feature from mainland-born director-producer Ann Hu.

  • Twins Effect stars double up again for Roses

    27-Oct-2003

    After developing a taste for action in The Twins Effect, Hong Kong singer-actresses Gillian Chung and Charlene Choi have signed up to star in action comedy Black Roses (working title), to be co-directed by Donnie Yen and upcoming director Barbara Wong Chun-chun.

  • Arclight takes international on Jackie Chan backed films

    22-Oct-2003

    Australia's Arclight Films has picked up international rights to another two Asian productions Kenneth Bi's Hainan Chicken Rice and Stephen Fung's Enter The Phoenix (working title) both of which are backed by Jackie Chan's new company JCE Movies.

  • Hong Kong star to Focus on distribution

    9-Oct-2003

    Hong Kong star Andy Lau has established a new company, Focus Films, which will be involved in the co-financing, distribution and acquisition of both local and international films.

  • Oz post house Soundfirm opens China outpost

    9-Oct-2003

    Australian post-production outfit Soundfirm, which has credits including Zhang Yimou's Hero and Moulin Rouge, has established an outpost in Beijing to provide services for both local and international projects.

  • Thai exhibitor first Asian player to install 2K digital projector

    9-Oct-2003

    Thailand's SF Cinema City has teamed up with Christie Digital Systems to become the first Asian exhibitor to install a 2K digital projector, the next generation in digital screening technology.

  • Blind Shaft falls victim to Chinese pressure

    5-Oct-2003

    The International Film Festival of India (Oct 9-19) has pulled Li Yang's Blind Shaft from its line-up after the Chinese government expressed its objection to the film.

  • Taiwan readies first teenage gay comedy

    5-Oct-2003

    Reflecting the new commercial sensibility amongst Taiwan's young filmmakers, production starts October 7 on a film that it described as Taiwan's first ever teenage gay comedy.

  • Searchlight pacts with Wong Kar-Wai's Block 2

    5-Oct-2003

    Fox Searchlight Pictures has signed a three-picture deal withaward-winning Hong Kong director-writer-producer Wong Kar Wai and his productionoutfit Block 2 Films.Under the terms of the deal, Block 2 and Searchlight willco-finance and co-distribute a minimum of three English-language films ...

  • Miramax tempted by Infernal Affairs

    3-Oct-2003

    Miramax Films is poised to acquire rights for North and South America, Italy and Spain to Hong Kong blockbuster Infernal Affairs, the first film in what is shaping up to be a hugely successful franchise.

  • ...as Affairs prequel storms Hong Kong box office

    2-Oct-2003

  • Golden Harvest looks to acquire Taiwan's Warner Village

    29-Sep-2003

    Hong Kong entertainment giant Golden Harvest is understood to be in talks to acquire Taiwan's Warner Village - the joint exhibition venture between Warner Bros International Theatres (WBIT) and Australia's Village Roadshow.

  • FilMart wraps up with date change plan

    26-Sep-2003

    The Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FilMart) ended in high spirits on Friday night (Sept 26) with a screening of Media Asia's eagerly-awaited Infernal Affairs 2 and the welcome news that the market will take place in March from 2005.

  • Besson's Europa takes on Thai boxing drama

    24-Sep-2003

    Luc Besson's Europa Corp has acquired a slew of territories, including North and South America and most of Europe, to Thai action title Ong-Bak - Muay Thai Warrior, starring hot new action hero Tony Jaa (aka Panom Yeerum).

  • Cape Town studio project gets greenlight

    24-Sep-2003

    Dreamworld Film City, a consortium headed by leading South African film producer Anant Singh, has won the bidding to establish a world-class studio facility in Cape Town.

  • HONG KONG

    22-Sep-2003

    Warner Bros' first foray into Chinese-language film production, Johnnie To's Turn Left, Turn Right, had a strong opening in Hong Kong, grossing US$988,574 and a screen average of US$26,718 in its first week.

  • Columbia's Warriors makes cut as Chinese Oscar choice

    12-Sep-2003

    Chinahas selected He Ping's epic adventure tale, Warriors Of Heaven And Earth, as its official entry for the foreign-language categoryof the Academy Awards.

  • Zhang cranks up Hero follow up

    12-Sep-2003

    Zhang Yimou has started production on his second big-budget martial arts film following Hero - Shi Mian Maifu (literally Ambush From Ten Directions) - in the Ukraine.

  • HONG KONG

    8-Sep-2003

    Thanks to strong word-of-mouth, local comedy Dragon Loaded 2003 held on to the top spot for the second week in a row, beating off four openers - including US films Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over, Bad Boys II and Down With Love.

  • HONG KONG

    1-Sep-2003

    Hong Kong comedy Dragon Loaded 2003 has had one of the strongest openings of the year for a locally-produced film, grossing $1.09m in seven days from 38 screens.

  • Hong Kong's JCE Movies unveils first project

    1-Sep-2003

    Jackie Chan is set to star in an untitled police action film which will be the first fruit of a joint venture production company established by the Hong Kong star and local tycoon Albert Yeung.

  • Postponed Filmart attracts increased interest

    1-Sep-2003

    The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC) has unveiled details of this year's Filmart (September 24-26), which looks set to be the biggest yet, despite being postponed for three months due to the SARS outbreak.

  • SARS-effect still disrupting production

    1-Sep-2003

    Two big-budget Hong Kong projects - Time Breaker, which is set to star Jackie Chan, and Hua Mulan, starring Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh - have been delayed, partly due to the impact that SARS has had on production in mainland China.

  • Hong Kong pair benefit from bank loan guarantees

    26-Aug-2003

    The Hong Kong government has approved the first two projects under its Film Guarantee Fund (FGF) initiative, designed to help local production companies secure bank loans for film production.

  • Chen back on track with Jin Chuan slate

    4-Aug-2003

    Former Applause co-founder Teddy Chen has unveiled the debut slate of his start-up production outfit, Jin Chuan Pictures, including Aubrey Lam's romantic drama Hidden Track.

  • Hong Kong indies Go for local films

    28-Jul-2003

    Three Hong Kong distributors - Golden Scene, Edko Films and Panorama Entertainment - and local exhibitor Newport have set up a joint venture distribution company, Go Film Distribution, which aims to specialise in locally produced films.

  • Columbia Asia takes world rights to Sylvia Chang's 20:30:40

    21-Jul-2003

    Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia (CPFPA) has acquired worldwide rights to Taiwanese feature 20:30:40 directed by and starring Sylvia Chang.

  • Kurt Rieder joins UIP Asia

    18-Jul-2003

    UIP has appointed Kurt Rieder as vice president, sales and marketing of its Asian operations, replacing Roger Pollock who relocated from Singapore to London earlier this year.

  • Singapore government backs Raintree's international slate

    11-Jul-2003

    As part of an attempt to drive growth in the Singaporean film industry, the country's Media Development Authority (MDA) is planning to invest an estimated US$5.7m (S$10m) in a slate of 10 international features from local production house Raintree Pictures.

  • Hong Kong/China trade agreement heralds production boom

    9-Jul-2003

    The Hong Kong film industry is looking forward to a surge in production activity following the signing of a trade agreement that exempts Hong Kong movies from the mainland's import quota of 20 foreign films a year (Screen Daily, June 26).

  • Hong Kong box office succumbs to Twins Effect

    7-Jul-2003

    Two diminutive vampire-slayers are kicking Charlie's Angels' butts at the Hong Kong box office.

  • Raintree, Spaceworks team for English-language co-productions

    4-Jul-2003

    Singapore's Raintree Pictures is teaming up with Toronto-based production company Spaceworks Entertainment to co-produce two English-language films.

  • AOL Time Warner reduces Chinese TV stake

    3-Jul-2003

    AOL Time Warner has sold a controlling stake in Chinese Entertainment Television (CETV) to Hong Kong's Tom.com, less than two years after the channel was granted broadcast rights in mainland China.

  • China to lift quota restrictions for Hong Kong films

    26-Jun-2003

    The Hong Kong and Chinese governments are close to signing a trade agreement that could give Hong Kong movies greater access to the mainland market, according to Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-Hwa in a statement made on Wednesday night.

  • Pineapple Bun Prince to follow animated McDull

    26-Jun-2003

    Bliss Concepts, the Hong Kong animation house behind popular animated feature My Life As McDull, is producing a second film - Pineapple Bun Prince - which it plans to release in Hong Kong this Christmas.

  • Hong Kong banks on post-SARS box office recovery

    23-Jun-2003

    Now that the SARS outbreak appears to be under control, Hong Kong exhibitors are hoping that a strong summer line-up of foreign and local releases will restore the box office to pre-SARS levels.

  • Filmko up and running with Star Runner

    11-Jun-2003

    Hong Kong's Filmko Entertainment is starting production next Monday (June 16) on $3m action romance Star Runner, a co-production with Hong Kong-based Sil-Metropole Organisation and South Korea's Polestar.

  • China prepares to break film distribution monopoly

    11-Jun-2003

    Chinese film officials have unveiled details of the territory's long-awaited second distributor, Huaxia Film Distribution Company, which is designed to break China Film Group Corp's monopoly on the distribution of imported films.

  • Hong Kong's eSun ups Media Asia stake, eyes Golden Harvest

    10-Jun-2003

    Hong Kong's eSun Holdings is increasing its stake in local film producer and distributor Media Asia Holdings and is also reportedly in informal talks to acquire an interest in rival film studio, Golden Harvest Entertainment.

  • Japan's King Records signs deal for Shaw titles

    6-Jun-2003

    Hong Kong's Celestial Pictures has signed a licensing agreement with Japan's King Records for distribution of more than 20 titles from its world-famous Shaw Brothers library.

  • Columbia Asia to back new film from Stephen Chow

    2-Jun-2003

    Columbia Pictures FilmProduction Asia (CPFPA) has announced that it is backing the next film fromHong Kong megastar Stephen Chow, an action comedy tentatively titled Kung FuHustle, which is scheduled to startshooting in China on June 27.

  • Fortissimo picks Zhang's Sunflower

    30-May-2003

    Fortissimo Film Sales has picked up international rights to Sunflower, the next picture from Chinese director Zhang Yang, which Peter Loehr is producing through his Los Angeles and Beijing-based production company Ming Productions.

  • Japanese Story sold to US

    22-May-2003

    Fortissimo Film Sales has sold North American rights to Un Certain Regard title Japanese Story to Samuel Goldwyn Films following a packed final market screening.

  • McTiernan to direct $45m Murder In Canton

    22-May-2003

    John McTiernan is attached to direct a $45m action adventure Murder In Canton, based on the Judge Dee mystery novel, which Samuel and Victor Hadida's Davis Films and Peter Loehr's Ming Productions will co-produce with backing from TF1.

  • McTiernan to direct $45m Murder In Canton

    22-May-2003

    John McTiernan is attached to direct a $45m action adventure Murder In Canton, based on the Judge Dee mystery novel, which Samuel and Victor Hadida's Davis Films and Peter Loehr's Ming Productions will co-produce with backing from TF1.

  • China may 'punish' Cannes duo

    21-May-2003

    China's film censors are reportedly threatening to punish the makers of two films which are screening in Un Certain Regard - Yu Lik-Wai's All Tomorrow Parties and Wang Xiaoshuai's Drifters.

  • China may 'punish' Cannes duo

    21-May-2003

    China's film censors are reportedly threatening to punish the makers of two films which are screening in Un Certain Regard - Yu Lik-Wai's All Tomorrow Parties and Wang Xiaoshuai's Drifters.

  • Fox creates US DVD label for Fortune Star

    21-May-2003

    Fortune Star, the production and distribution arm of Asian regional broadcaster Star TV, has signed a distribution deal with sister company Fox Home Entertainment for release of its classic martial arts library titles in the US.

  • Australia calls for cultural exception

    20-May-2003

    The Australian Film Commission (AFC) is calling for recognition of the special status of Australia's film and media industries in trade agreements between Australia and the US.

  • Hsu's latest joins 'Changing China' series

    20-May-2003

    Taiwan's Arc Light Films has set Hsu Hsiao-Ming's Love Of May as the next film in the 'Changing China' series that it is co-producing with France's Pyramide group.

  • Weg India on US shopping spree

    20-May-2003

    Indian sales and distribution company Weg India is becoming an aggressive buyer of US product snapping up Indian rights to five pictures during this market so far.

  • Celestial goes wild in France

    19-May-2003

    Hong Kong's Celestial Pictures has signed a multi-year video distribution deal with France's Wild Side Films for numerous titles from its classic Shaw Brothers library.

  • Taiwan overhauls film funding policy

    19-May-2003

    Taiwan's Government Information Office (GIO) has overhauled its film funding policy in an attempt to reinvigorate local production and encourage co-productions with international partners.

  • China hot for Infernal Affairs

    16-May-2003

    Media Asia's Infernal Affairs franchise is such a hot property on the Chinese mainland that a local distributor has snapped up the first two films before either has been cleared by the mainland authorities for theatrical release.

  • China hot for Infernal Affairs

    16-May-2003

    Media Asia's Infernal Affairs franchise is such a hot property on the Chinese mainland that a local distributor has snapped up the first two films before either has been cleared by the mainland authorities for theatrical release.

  • Film Library offers Dragon Blade, Green Tea

    16-May-2003

    Hong Kong and Los Angeles-based sales agent The Film Library has picked up international rights to US$10m Hong Kong animation Dragon Blade and Green Tea directed by mainland Chinese director Zhang Yuan.

  • Chow joins Yeoh in $30m costume epic

    15-May-2003

    Chow Yun-Fat has joined Michelle Yeoh in the cast of $30m costume drama Hua Mulan which is being produced by Yeoh's Mythical Films and Han Entertainment.

  • Chow joins Yeoh in $30m costume epic

    15-May-2003

    Chow Yun-Fat has joined Michelle Yeoh in the cast of $30m costume drama Hua Mulan which is being produced by Yeoh's Mythical Films and Han Entertainment.

  • Celestial gets drunk on Kung Fu masters

    15-May-2003

    Hong Kong's Celestial Pictures has picked up international rights to action title Drunken Monkey directed by and starring veteran kung-fu master Lau Kar-Leung.

  • Golden Scene scares up Lau's Park

    15-May-2003

    Hong Kong buyer Golden Scene is also attending Cannes as a seller for the first time this year with horror title The Park, directed by Andrew Lau, whose credits include hit crime thriller Infernal Affairs.

  • Universe handles Hui's Goddess

    15-May-2003

    Universe Films Distribution has picked up international rights to the next film from Hong Kong director Ann Hui, Jade Goddess (working title), which is currently shooting in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan.

  • Hong Kong sellers journey to Cannes

    14-May-2003

    Media Asia has chosen to stay at home but several other Hong Kong sellers and buyers have made the trip to Cannes as the SARS crisis in the territory appears to be diminishing.

  • Albert Lee named CEO of Emperor Multimedia Group

    6-May-2003

    Albert Lee has been appointed chief executive of Hong Kong's Emperor Multimedia Group (EMG), replacing Carl Chang who is leaving the company to set up his own production outfit.

  • Shanghai International Film Festival succumbs to SARS

    6-May-2003

    The organisers of the Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) have confirmed that this year's event will not take place as scheduled next month (June 7-15). Instead, the event has been postponed until 2004, when it will run June 5-13.

  • Two SARS-themed films ready to shoot

    6-May-2003

    Producers in Hong Kong and China are preparing two separate films about the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) which are both scheduled to start shooting next week.

  • May Yip moves from EMG to Fortune Star

    30-Apr-2003

    May Yip, distribution andacquisition manager at Hong Kong's Emperor Multimedia Group (EMG), is leavingthe company today to take up the position of head of distribution at FortuneStar.

  • Yip swaps EMG for Fortune Star

    30-Apr-2003

    May Yip, distribution and acquisition manager at Hong Kong's Emperor Multimedia Group (EMG), is leaving the company today to take up the position of head of distribution at Fortune Star.

  • Filmart falls victim to SARS

    29-Apr-2003

    The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC) is expected to announce tomorrow that its annual film and TV market, Filmart, will be postponed to September 24-26 as a result of the ongoing SARS crisis.

  • SARS shuts Beijing's cinemas

    29-Apr-2003

    Beijing authorities have closed the city's cinemas for an indefinite period in an attempt to stop the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), a move which executives fear may be followed in other cities and provinces.

  • Hong Kong warms to English, but gives Monk cool reception

    23-Apr-2003

  • Hukkle wins top prize at muted Hong Kong film fest

    23-Apr-2003

    The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) continued with its inaugural prize-giving ceremony last week, although SARS kept away overseas jurors and award winners.

  • Hong Kong gets film financing and production guide

    11-Apr-2003

    The Hong Kong film industry has taken another step towards building a professional film financing infrastructure with the release of a legal documentation guide, sponsored by the Hong Kong government's Film Development Fund.

  • Hong Kong box office suffers from SARS

    10-Apr-2003

    The Hong Kong box office has been so badly hit by the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) that exhibitors are starting to cut shows and distributors are pulling films from Easter release schedules.

  • Jackie Chan to join Mandarin's $10m Sword Searchers

    9-Apr-2003

    Hong Kong's Mandarin Entertainment has lined up Jackie Chan and hot local singer-actor Nicholas Tse to star in The Sword Searchers, a $10m action adventure film to be directed by Tony Ching Siu-Tung.

  • Hong Kong's Universe sets sights on mainland market

    8-Apr-2003

    So far the killer virus that has recently hit Hong Kong doesn't appear to be affecting production. Several studios, encouraged by the growing potential of the mainland market, are continuing to line up busy production slates for the coming months.

  • Infernal Affairs, Hero share honours at Hong Kong Film Awards

    7-Apr-2003

    The show went on at the Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday night (April 6) despite the outbreak of atypical pneumonia in the territory. Box office smash Infernal Affairs and Zhang Yimou's Hero were the big winners, taking home seven awards apiece, although the latter scored mostly in the technical categories.

  • Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum postponed

    1-Apr-2003

    The organisers of the Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) have confirmed that the event has been postponed until further notice due to the outbreak of a deadly virus in Hong Kong.

  • Leslie Cheung dies, aged 46

    1-Apr-2003

    Hong Kong actor and singer Leslie Cheung Kwok-Wing reportedly leapt to his death from a Hong Kong hotel on Tuesday. He was 46.

  • Media Asia boards Masked Crusader

    27-Mar-2003

    Hong Kong's Media Asia has boarded Han Entertainment's futuristic action movie, Masked Crusader, starring Michelle Yeoh and Richie Jen, which started shooting today (March 27) in Beijing.

  • Hong Kong distributor moves into production finance

    24-Mar-2003

    Hong Kong distributor Panorama Entertainment has unveiled plans to co-finance up to five Chinese-language movies this year, starting with comedy-drama Ho Qing (Erotica), a co-production with China Star Entertainment.

  • Hong Kong film fest introduces three new international competition sections

    5-Mar-2003

    The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HIFF) is introducing three international competition sections to its 27th edition (April 8-23), marking the first time the event has handed out awards.

  • Golden Harvest takes The Grudge

    28-Feb-2003

    Hong Kong studio Golden Harvest has become one of the first international distributors to sign on for Ghost House Pictures' remake of Japanese director Takashi Shimizu's The Grudge (Ju-On).

  • Taipei film festival unveils 5th edition line-up

    28-Feb-2003

    The Taipei Film Festival has unveiled the line-up for its fifth edition (March 9-22) which includes a special focus on cinema from Australia and Japan.

  • Hong Kong - the sequel means business

    27-Feb-2003

    With box office for local films down by nearly 25%, last year marked a low point for the Hong Kong film industry. So it's hardly surprising that filmmakers are now revisiting familiar material.

  • TVB sells majority stake in Galaxy to Intelsat

    25-Feb-2003

    Hong Kong broadcaster TVB has announced a deal to sell a 51% stake in its long-delayed pay-TV platform, Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting, to US satellite services provider, Intelsat.

  • Celestial to launch 24-hour Chinese movie channel in March

    24-Feb-2003

    Hong Kong's Celestial Pictures is set to roll out its 24-hour Chinese movie channel, Celestial Movies, in Malaysia and Brunei on March 3, with launches in other territories around the world to follow over the coming year.

  • Seafood director cooks up second feature with Century Hero

    21-Feb-2003

    The second feature from award winning Chinese director Zhu Wen - South Of The Clouds - is scheduled to start shooting in Tianjin in northern China next week, with backing from state-owned studio Century Hero Film Investment. The US$363,000 (RMB3m) film, also scripted by Zhu, tells the story of a retired factory cadre who, against the wishes of his children, takes off for one last adventure in Yunnan province - a place he nearly moved to when he was young. Li Xue Jian, ...

  • Infernal Affairs leads Hong Kong Film Award nominations

    18-Feb-2003

    Hit crime thriller Infernal Affairs leads the race for the 22nd Hong Kong Film Awards with 16 nominations including best film, best director, for Andrew Lau and Alan Mak, and an impressive five nods in the best actor and supporting actor categories.

  • Wong Kar-Wai set for 2046 wrap

    10-Feb-2003

    WongKar-Wai's long-gestating 2046 is finally back in production in China and Hong Kong andis set to wrap at the end of March for delivery in time for this year's Cannes.The $15m film has been in and out of production since Wong shot In The MoodFor Love three yearsago, although the Hong Kong auteur is understood to have discarded much of the earlier footage.The stellar cast includes TonyLeung Chiu-wai and Maggie Cheung,who played In The Mood For Love's ill-fated ...

  • Taiwan's Golden Horse festival under threat

    14-Jan-2003

    The future of Taiwan's Golden Horse Film Festival and awards ceremony is again looking uncertain as a group of legislators are seeking to axe the event's entire budget.

  • Hong Kong box office slumps 17% in 2002

    2-Jan-2003

    Hong Kong's box office slumped by 17% in 2002, despite a year-end boost from hits such as Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets and locally-produced crime thriller Infernal Affairs.

  • Hero performs heroically in Asian openings

    24-Dec-2002

    Zhang Yimou's Hero broke box office records when it opened in China last Friday (December 20), grossing more than $1.45m (RMB12m) in a single day from 200 screens.

  • Post-Soviet Russia film wins at Taiwan documentary fest

    20-Dec-2002

    A film about a remote but beautiful area of post-Soviet Russia, On The Edge Of Time: Male Domains In The Caucasus, was awarded the grand prize at this year's Taiwan International Documentary Festival (TIDF), which was held in Taipei from December 5-15.

  • Infernal Affairs has record-breaking Hong Kong opening

    16-Dec-2002

    Hong Kong action thriller Infernal Affairs grossed an astounding $330,000 (HK$2.57m) when it opened in its home territory on Thursday night (December 12) - the biggest opening of the year in Hong Kong and the biggest opener of all time outside a public holiday.

  • Singapore's MediaCorp forms joint venture with Hong Kong's CosMedia

    16-Dec-2002

    Singapore's MediaCorp and Hong Kong-based ad sales company CosMedia Group have formed a joint venture - CosMediaCorp Ltd - to distribute television programming produced by Chinese state-owned enterprise, China Great Wall Art and & Culture Centre.

  • Major Cineplex to launch Thailand's biggest cinema

    16-Dec-2002

    Thailand's leading exhibitor, Major Cineplex, has been awarded a contract to operate the country's largest entertainment complex - housing 16 screens and more than 4,000 seats - which will form part of a mammoth shopping and leisure development to be built in the heart of downtown Bangkok.

  • Warner Bros makes first foray into Chinese-language film production

    15-Dec-2002

    Warner Bros is making its first foray into Chinese-language film production with an adaptation of best-selling illustrated love story, Turn Left, Turn Right, to be written and directed by one of Hong Kong's most successful filmmaking teams - Johnnie To and Wai Ka-fai.

  • Fox takes Hero for a host of Asian territories

    11-Dec-2002

    Zhang Yimou's $31m martial arts epic Hero is set for a wide release across Asia via Twentieth Century Fox which has acquired a slew of Asian rights to the film outside China and Hong Kong.

  • Hong Kong approves local film guarantee fund

    9-Dec-2002

    The Hong Kong government has approved a $6.4m (HK$50m) Film Guarantee Fund which is designed to help local companies obtain bank loans for film production.

  • Hero under the hammer

    4-Dec-2002

    In an unusual move, Chinese video rights to Zhang Yimou's widely-anticipated martial arts epic Hero were sold at an auction last week in Beijing, where they fetched a record-breaking $2.15m (RMB17.8m).

  • Hero gets the Chinese Oscar nod, opens today to qualify

    24-Oct-2002

    Zhang Yimou's highly-anticipated $31m martial arts epic, Hero, has been selected as China's candidate for the best foreign-language Oscar.

  • Last Life wraps as Bohemian's first film

    10-Oct-2002

  • Bangkok film festival postponed, second event launched

    8-Oct-2002

    The organisers of the Bangkok International Film Festival (BIFF) - English-language newspaper, The Nation, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) - have decided to postpone the event from November until January next year.

  • GMM Pictures boosts profile in burgeoning Thai film industry

    8-Oct-2002

    GMM Pictures, the new film arm of Thai multimedia giant GMM Grammy, is emerging as a major player in the rapidly-expanding Thai film industry with its first feature set to open on 100 screens this weekend and another four pictures in various stages of production.

  • Hong Kong heavies to lobby China for better access

    23-Sep-2002

    Golden Harvest chairman Raymond Chow, China Star's Charles Heung and Peter Lam of Media Asia are among the high-level delegates joining a networking mission to Beijing next month to discuss co-operation between Hong Kong film-makers and their counterparts on the mainland.

  • Hong Kong's Panorama steps up theatrical activity

    9-Aug-2002

    Flush with cash from a flotation on the Growth Enterprise Market (GEM), Hong Kong distributor Panorama Entertainment is hoping to increase its share of the local theatrical market by doubling its slate to around 16 pictures a year.

  • Media Asia Films takes four films from start-up Base Production

    24-Jul-2002

    Hong Kong's Media Asia Films has signed a four-picture deal with start-up production outfit Base Production, headed by Hong Kong director Andrew Lau.

  • Hong Kong pay-TV service iTV to close

    23-Jul-2002

    Hong Kong's Pacific Century CyberWorks (PCCW) plans to shut down its ailing pay-TV service, iTV, in September and hand its video-on-demand (VoD) licence back to the Broadcasting Authority.

  • Hong Kong films performing 30% below 2001 levels

    21-Jul-2002

    While Hong Kong has high hopes for the international success of big budget summer films like The Touch, Highbinders and Hero, many feel that mainland China will prove a bigger market for Hong Kong movies than the West.

  • Fortune Star joins with DreamWorks for Hong Kong Cafe

    14-Jul-2002

    Fortune Star, the new production division of News Corp's Star TV group, is teaming up with DreamWorks to distribute Hong Kong Cafe, a one-hour TV series celebrating Hong Kong action movies and martial arts.

  • Hong Kong's Filmko sells Inner Senses to Horizon for Europe

    10-Jul-2002

    Hong Kong production outfit Filmko Pictures has sold European rights to supernatural thriller Inner Senses to Vancouver-based sales company Horizon Entertainment.

  • Li Ka Shing makes play for HK TV group

    10-Jul-2002

    Tom.com, a Hong Kong multimedia company owned by the territory's richest tycoon, Li Ka-shing, is buying a 32.75% stake in local free-to-air broadcaster Asia Television (ATV).

  • Hong Kong's Celestial Pictures pulls out of Naked Weapon

    5-Jul-2002

    Hong Kong's Celestial Pictures has pulled out of co-producing action title Naked Weapon with East Asia Entertainment, a division of eSun Holdings which owns Media Asia Group.

  • Andy Lau being sued for $19.6m

    4-Jul-2002

    Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau is being sued by his partner in Team Work Corporation - CCT Telecom Holdings - which claims it lost $19.6m (HK$153m) when he backed out of an unanimous decision to float the company.

  • Applause to give an encore to horror hit The Eye

    30-Jun-2002

    Hong Kong production house Applause Pictures has added several new projects to its development slate including a sequel to its recent horror film The Eye which grossed a healthy $1.8m (HK$13.8m) at the local box office in May and June.

  • FilMart wins broad delegate approval

    30-Jun-2002

    This year's Hong Kong International Film and Television Market (FilMart) ended on an upbeat note on Friday (June 28) with many delegates agreeing that the event was busier and had attracted a broader mix of participants than in previous years.

  • Hong Kong's Panorama signs library deal with Japan's Shochiku

    28-Jun-2002

    Hong Kong distributor Panorama Entertainment has signed an output deal with Japan's Shochiku giving it exclusive video rights to the studio's back catalogue of around 4,000 films.

  • Jingle Ma to direct Jackie Chan in $40m Titanium Rain

    28-Jun-2002

    Media Asia has lined up hot Hong Kong director Jingle Ma to direct its $40m Jackie Chan vehicle Titanium Rain.

  • Hong Kong broadcaster lowers pay-TV asking price

    25-Jun-2002

    Hong Kong broadcaster TVB has reportedly lowered the asking price for a 50% stake in its pay-TV arm, Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting, as it struggles to find investors in the proposed platform.

  • Hong Kong's FilMart to be biggest event yet

    24-Jun-2002

    The sixth Hong Kong International Film and Television Market (FilMart) is set to be the biggest yet, with a 23% increase in the number of pre-registered buyers to 1,400, according to organisers, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC).

  • Chinese drama scoops three awards at Shanghai festival

    18-Jun-2002

  • Phoenix TV boss buys major stake in Hong Kong's ATV

    14-Jun-2002

    Mainland China-based entrepreneur and Phoenix Satellite TV chairman, Liu Changle, has grabbed a controlling stake in Hong Kong free-to-air broadcaster Asia Television (ATV).

  • Sun Cybernetworks in Chinese distribution move

    11-Jun-2002

    Rapidly expanding Hong Kong media group, Sun Television Cybernetworks Holdings, plans to acquire a 50% stake in mainland Chinese film producer and distributor Beida Huayi.

  • Hong Kong's Celestial lines up starry debut

    18-May-2002

    Start-up Hong Kong studio Celestial Pictures has lined up some of the territory's hottest talent for its debut production slate including local box office sensations Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng and acclaimed director Stanley Kwan.

  • Hong Kong's Celestial Pictures builds team for vertical integration

    6-May-2002

    Fledgling Hong Kong studio Celestial Pictures has appointed industry veteran Gordon Cheung as executive vice president of distribution.

  • Two Hong Kong film companies plan Growth Enterprise Market floatations

    3-May-2002

    Two Hong Kong film companies - production house Milkyway Image and distributor Panorama International Holdings - plan to float on Hong Kong's Growth Enterprise Market (GEM) in the next few months.

  • Hong Kong's Lark flies with new distribution arm

    23-Apr-2002

    Lark International Holdings (LIH), which owns Hong Kong exhibitors UA Cinemas and Cityplaza Cinemas, has launched a distribution arm, Lark Films Distribution (LFD).

  • Shaolin Soccer scores at Hong Kong Film Awards

    21-Apr-2002

    Stephen Chow's Shaolin Soccer was the big winner at the 21st Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday night (April 21), scoring seven of the 19 prizes, including best film and best director.

  • Hong Kong's TVB believed close to dropping Galaxy launch plans

    11-Apr-2002

    Hong Kong's leading broadcaster TVB has denied reports that it is pulling out of the local pay-TV market by dropping plans to launch its $640m (HK$5bn) Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting platform.

  • Media Asia loses Star TV's library to Fortune Star

    9-Apr-2002

    News Corp-owned broadcaster Star TV has ended its eight-year film distribution contract with Hong Kong's Media Asia Group, following the launch of its own international distribution unit, Fortune Star Pictures.

  • Golden Harvest losses increase by 34.5%

    19-Mar-2002

    Losses at Hong Kong studio: Golden Harvest increased by 34.5% to $3.1m (HK$23.96m) in the six months to December 31, 2001, compared to $2.3m (HK$17.81m) for the same period the previous year.

  • Film buyers heading to Hong Kong Asia screenings

    18-Mar-2002

    Film buyers from 15 countries, including the US, UK and Japan, have confirmed their attendance at Hong Kong's new film market, the Hong Kong Asia Screenings (HAS), which is set to take place April 2-4.

  • Shaolin Soccer scores with Hong Kong award nods

    26-Feb-2002

    Stephen Chow's kung fu and soccer comedy, Shaolin Soccer, led the pack in the nominations for the 21st Hong Kong Film Awards with 13 nods including best film and best director.

  • Poon joins Hong Kong's Fortune Star Pictures

    20-Feb-2002

    Peter Poon has joined Hong Kong-based broadcaster Star TV as general manager of Chinese-language programming division, Fortune Star Pictures.

  • Marry A Rich Man has box office benefits

    20-Feb-2002

    Hong Kong production Marry A Rich Man took pole position at the local box office over the competitive Chinese New Year holiday period, grossing $1.53m from 31 screens (Feb 8-14) and beating Monsters, Inc. to the top spot.

  • Hong Kong's Han revives classic Chinese vampire

    20-Feb-2002

    Han Entertainment, the Hong Kong-based multimedia company established by former Media Asia head Thomas Chung and Michelle Yeoh, has added a contemporary take on the classic Chinese vampire genre to its burgeoning development slate.

  • Taiwanese website offers studio movies for $1

    11-Feb-2002

    A Taiwanese web-site has incurred the wrath of Hollywood for offering web-casts of thousands of major film titles for just $1.

  • Harry Potter scores in China, despite piracy

    10-Feb-2002

    Despite early availability of the title on pirate DVD and VCD formats, Warner Bros. estimates that Harry Potter grossed a promising $2m from 300 theatres during its first week of release in China (Jan 30 - Feb 5).

  • Hong Kong film studio plans come under threat

    5-Feb-2002

    Ambitious plans for a new film studio complex in Hong Kong could be under threat as three investors in the project - Hong Kong's Media Asia and Mei Ah Entertainment and Taiwan's Era Group - have decided to pull out.

  • Hong Kong launches online copyright database

    3-Feb-2002

    Hong Kong's Motion Picture Industry Association (MPIA) has stepped up the fight against piracy by launching an online database which carries updated information on a film's copyright.

  • Hong Kong exhibitors get window extension

    30-Jan-2002

    Hong Kong's exhibition body, the Hong Kong Theatres Association, has reached an agreement with local distributors to extend the territory's theatrical window to at least one month.

  • Chinese govt to relax film production rules

    24-Jan-2002

    The Chinese government is set to further relax its control over the country's film industry by allowing private companies to produce independently for the first time.

  • Yes TV Asia loses financial backer

    23-Jan-2002

    Yes Television Asia (YTA), the Hong Kong arm of UK video-on-demand operator Yes Television, has lost the backing of local utilities giant CLP Holdings, only weeks before launching commercial trials in Hong Kong.

  • Fortissimo acquires world rights to KT

    23-Jan-2002

    Dutch-Hong Kong sales outfit, Fortissimo Film Sales, has picked up world rights to Japanese-Korean co-production KT, which is set to screen in competition at the forthcoming Berlin Film Festival.

  • Electronics manufacturer wins Chinese films deal

    10-Jan-2002

    Chinese state-owned film company, Century Hero Film Investment, has signed a worldwide distribution pact with Hong Kong's Mandarin Resources, an electronics manufacturer that has no track record in film.

  • Hong Kong's eSun strikes production pacts

    18-Dec-2001

    Hong Kong's eSun Holdings, part-owner of production and distribution outfit Media Asia Group, has signed a $25.6m (HK$200m) joint venture with leading Singapore broadcaster MediaCorp. At the same time, Media Asia has unveiled co-production pacts with Taiwan's Pandasia Entertainment and Hong Kong outfits Teamwork Motion Pictures and Filmko Pictures.

  • TV movies by Ross, Frears hoard major Emmy nods

    20-Jul-2000

    British directors Benjamin Ross and Stephen Frears, cross-dressing comedian Eddie Izzard and the BBC's acclaimed documentary series Walking With Dinosaurs are among the European talents and productions to pick up nominations for the 52nd primetime Emmy awards.

  • United Artists takes int'l rights to Songcatcher

    28-Mar-2000

    United Artists Films (UAF) has acquired international rights to Maggie Greenwald's Songcatcher, which won the Special Jury Prize for Outstanding Ensemble Performance at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

  • The Mill Group appoints Shenfield CEO

    22-Mar-2000

    UK visual effects company The Mill Group has appointed Robin Shenfield as chief executive officer.

  • Pearson reveals strong results; Internet alliances

    8-Mar-2000

    UK media entity Pearson has reported record group operating profits of $864m (£549m) for the year to December 31, 1999, up 41% from $612m (£389m) for the previous year. Turnover was £3.33bn, up 39% from £2.4bn in 1998.

  • News Corp, Yahoo! in talks about alliance

    28-Feb-2000

    Rupert Murdoch's News Corp has reportedly held talks with Internet portal Yahoo! about a wide-ranging alliance under which the two companies would take financial stakes in each other's assets.

  • Zellweger to play Bridget Jones for Working Title

    24-Feb-2000

    Renee Zellweger has been cast as thirtysomething singleton Bridget Jones in Working Title's adaptation of Helen Fielding's best-selling novel Bridget Jones' Diary.

  • USA, Canal Plus backing Finch start-up Eclipse

    23-Feb-2000

    Former William Morris Agency (WMA) UK heads Charles Finch and Luc Roeg have formed a management and production company - Eclipse - with the backing of USA Films and Canal Plus.

  • Channel 5 shareholders buy out Warburg stake

    16-Feb-2000

    Luxembourg-based CLT-Ufa and the UK's United News and Media and Pearson have increased their stakes in UK broadcaster Channel 5, as financial investor Warburg Pincus sold out of the channel.

  • BSkyB reports $99m loss; ups digital subscriptions

    9-Feb-2000

    Investment in joint ventures and heavy subscriber acquisition costs have had a negative impact on UK satellite broadcaster BSkyB's bottom line, resulting in a pre-tax loss of £61.5m ($99.2m) for the six months to the end of 1999 compared to a profit of £53.2m ($85.8m) for the same period the previous year.

  • Universal Video restructures following UPI closure

    3-Feb-2000

    The UK arm of Universal Pictures Video (UPV) has restructured its management team as a result of the closure of theatrical operation United Pictures International (UPI).

  • Disney appoints Iger to number two post

    25-Jan-2000

    Walt Disney Co chairman and chief executive Michael Eisner has named Robert A. Iger as his second-in-command, a post that has been vacant since Mike Ovitz left the company in 1996.
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