Edko Films has acquired all Hong Kong and Macau rights to Ray Yeung’s gay comedy drama Front Cover, with a Hong Kong theatrical release scheduled for the first quarter of 2016.

Front Cover

The English-language feature follows the unlikely friendship between an American gay fashion stylist who detests his Asian heritage (played by Jake Choi) and a famous actor from China (James Chen). It recently opened the Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (Sept 19-Oct 10).

“Ray is our local hero in LGBT cinema. He is one of the founders of the HKLGFF and also very much a pioneer in Hong Kong LGBT cinema,” said Edko Films general manager of sales and acquisitions Esther Yeung, who negotiated the deal with Fortissimo Films’ chairman Michael Werner.

As previously announced, Fortissimo has sold North American rights to Strand Releasing, which aims for a multi-market theatrical release starting in New York City from early 2016.

The film will next screen at the Chicago International Film Festival’s Outfest competition and the Hawaii International Film Festival.

It marks the second feature from Yeung whose debut Cut Sleeve Boys premiered at Rotterdam in 2006 and won best feature at Outfest Fusion Festival in Los Angeles.