China’s Bona Film Group, producer of such hits as The Battle At Lake Changjin, made its debut on the Shenzhen stock exchange on Thursday, with shares closing the day at Rmb 7.24 (1.07). This was a 44 increase from the initial public offering price of Rmb 5.03 (0.74) per share and put the market capitalization at just under Rmb 10B (1.47B), according to the South China Morning Post. The company raised Rmb 1.38B (203M) from the deal.
Bona returned to the China exchange after exiting the Nasdaq and going private in 2016. It had previously become the first Chinese film studio to trade on the Nasdaq beginning in 2010.
During the pandemic, Bona was behind China’s top-grossing movie ever, The Battle At Lake Changjin and its sequel, The Battle At Lake Changjin II (aka Water Gate Bridge). Collectively, the patriotic films grossed Rmb 9.83B (1.45B at current rates) in China.
In an interview posted to...
Bona returned to the China exchange after exiting the Nasdaq and going private in 2016. It had previously become the first Chinese film studio to trade on the Nasdaq beginning in 2010.
During the pandemic, Bona was behind China’s top-grossing movie ever, The Battle At Lake Changjin and its sequel, The Battle At Lake Changjin II (aka Water Gate Bridge). Collectively, the patriotic films grossed Rmb 9.83B (1.45B at current rates) in China.
In an interview posted to...
- 8/18/2022
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Author: Zehra Phelan
The cast list for James Gray’s latest, sci-fi adventure, Ad Astra is gathering quite a cast with the announcement of the one and only Donald Sutherland now set to appear alongside Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, and Ruth Negga.
Related: Tommy Lee Jones to join Ad Astra
Stepping into an undisclosed role, Sutherland will join the story which centers on space engineer Roy McBride – played by Brad Pitt – taking on a voyage of our solar system to find his father who, 20 years previously, embarked on a one-way mission to Neptune looking for any signs of extra-terrestrial life. His father, a man who is classed as a renegade scientist, seemingly poses a threat to all mankind.
Sutherland, who played the evil President Snow in the Jennifer Lawrence lead Hunger Games adaptations, will soon be appearing on the big screen opposite Helen Mirren in Sony Pictures Classics The Leisure Seeker,...
The cast list for James Gray’s latest, sci-fi adventure, Ad Astra is gathering quite a cast with the announcement of the one and only Donald Sutherland now set to appear alongside Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, and Ruth Negga.
Related: Tommy Lee Jones to join Ad Astra
Stepping into an undisclosed role, Sutherland will join the story which centers on space engineer Roy McBride – played by Brad Pitt – taking on a voyage of our solar system to find his father who, 20 years previously, embarked on a one-way mission to Neptune looking for any signs of extra-terrestrial life. His father, a man who is classed as a renegade scientist, seemingly poses a threat to all mankind.
Sutherland, who played the evil President Snow in the Jennifer Lawrence lead Hunger Games adaptations, will soon be appearing on the big screen opposite Helen Mirren in Sony Pictures Classics The Leisure Seeker,...
- 8/14/2017
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Roland Emmerich’s Midway, announced in Cannes, is first project to be financed through the fund.
Distributor and production company Bona Film Group and Creative Artists Agency (CAA) have announced the launch of a long-term film fund, with an initial $150m investment.
The fund will be co-managed by Bona and CAA, with a focus on financing English-language films for the global marketplace, Chinese co-productions, and Chinese-language films for the local market.
Bona Film Group will distribute all films financed through the fund in China, while CAA will represent the North American and select international distribution rights to all films.
The first film financed through the fund is Roland Emmerich’s Second World War drama Midway. Bona’s $80m lead investment in the film, announced earlier this week, is the biggest deal made at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. CAA brokered the deal and will represent Us rights, while Bona has worldwide rights.
Upon closing...
Distributor and production company Bona Film Group and Creative Artists Agency (CAA) have announced the launch of a long-term film fund, with an initial $150m investment.
The fund will be co-managed by Bona and CAA, with a focus on financing English-language films for the global marketplace, Chinese co-productions, and Chinese-language films for the local market.
Bona Film Group will distribute all films financed through the fund in China, while CAA will represent the North American and select international distribution rights to all films.
The first film financed through the fund is Roland Emmerich’s Second World War drama Midway. Bona’s $80m lead investment in the film, announced earlier this week, is the biggest deal made at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. CAA brokered the deal and will represent Us rights, while Bona has worldwide rights.
Upon closing...
- 5/25/2017
- ScreenDaily
Author: Zehra Phelan
Cannes Film Festival yesterday saw another unveiling. Independence Day director, Roland Emmerich, has officially been confirmed to take the helm of the World War II project, Midway, which he will also co-produce.
The Battle of Midway in the South Pacific was a decisive naval battle in June 1942, six months after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. The U.S. Navy defeated an attacking fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy near Midway Atoll after U.S. codebreakers were able to pinpoint the time and place of the attack. The damage to the Japanese fleet was so extensive that it never recovered and military historians regard the battle as a turning point in the war.
This won’t be the first time The Battle of Midway has been covered on film, back in 1976, Universal’s epic “Midway,” starring Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, James Coburn, Glenn Ford, Hal Holbrook, Toshiro Mifune,...
Cannes Film Festival yesterday saw another unveiling. Independence Day director, Roland Emmerich, has officially been confirmed to take the helm of the World War II project, Midway, which he will also co-produce.
The Battle of Midway in the South Pacific was a decisive naval battle in June 1942, six months after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. The U.S. Navy defeated an attacking fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy near Midway Atoll after U.S. codebreakers were able to pinpoint the time and place of the attack. The damage to the Japanese fleet was so extensive that it never recovered and military historians regard the battle as a turning point in the war.
This won’t be the first time The Battle of Midway has been covered on film, back in 1976, Universal’s epic “Midway,” starring Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, James Coburn, Glenn Ford, Hal Holbrook, Toshiro Mifune,...
- 5/24/2017
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Exclusive: In the biggest deal made at this Cannes Film Festival, Bona Film Group has closed a deal near $80 million to lead the investment on director Roland Emmerich's next feature Midway, based on the seminal WWII battle, for The Mark Gordon Company. The Chinese company has acquired worldwide distribution rights excluding the U.S., and Bona will release the film in China. Wes Tooke wrote the script, and Bona's Yu Dong will produce with Emmerich, Mgc's Mark Gordon and…...
- 5/23/2017
- Deadline
Agreement makes Bona one of IMAX’s top five exhibitor partners in China.
China’s Bona Film Group has signed a deal with IMAX Corp and its subsidiary IMAX China Holding for 30 new screens to be located in multiplexes across China.
The two companies plans to open five IMAX theatres each year until 2022, which will make Bona one of the large-screen operator’s top five exhibition partners in China with 35 locations.
Bona opened its first IMAX theatre in Tianjin in 2012, which it followed with installations in Beijing, Taiyuan, Wuhan and a fifth slated to open in Dalian.
Bona and IMAX also collaborated on the release of Tsui Hark’s 2011 martial arts hit Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate – marking the first IMAX 3D presentation of a Chinese-language movie – as well as Jacob Cheung’s White-Haired Witch in 2014.
“As one of the most influential film studios in China and a growing force in the nation’s exhibition market, today...
China’s Bona Film Group has signed a deal with IMAX Corp and its subsidiary IMAX China Holding for 30 new screens to be located in multiplexes across China.
The two companies plans to open five IMAX theatres each year until 2022, which will make Bona one of the large-screen operator’s top five exhibition partners in China with 35 locations.
Bona opened its first IMAX theatre in Tianjin in 2012, which it followed with installations in Beijing, Taiyuan, Wuhan and a fifth slated to open in Dalian.
Bona and IMAX also collaborated on the release of Tsui Hark’s 2011 martial arts hit Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate – marking the first IMAX 3D presentation of a Chinese-language movie – as well as Jacob Cheung’s White-Haired Witch in 2014.
“As one of the most influential film studios in China and a growing force in the nation’s exhibition market, today...
- 2/27/2017
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Alibaba Pictures Group and Tencent are the lead investors in a new $360 million (2.5 billion Rmb) funding round in Bona Film Group, giving the private film studio a big boost to its planned expansion.
In April, Bona Film was pulled off Nasdaq and taken private by an investor group including company chairman Yu Dong, Alibaba Pictures Group, Tencent, Fosun International, Sequoia Capital and Saif Investments. The latest round values Bona Film at $2.2 billion (15 billion Rmb), more than double the $1 billion cost of privatization eight months ago.
"The Chinese film industry has entered a consolidation phase after years...
In April, Bona Film was pulled off Nasdaq and taken private by an investor group including company chairman Yu Dong, Alibaba Pictures Group, Tencent, Fosun International, Sequoia Capital and Saif Investments. The latest round values Bona Film at $2.2 billion (15 billion Rmb), more than double the $1 billion cost of privatization eight months ago.
"The Chinese film industry has entered a consolidation phase after years...
- 12/21/2016
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Keep up with the always-hopping film festival world with our weekly Film Festival Roundup column. Check out last week’s Roundup right here.
Lineup Announcements
– The 28th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff) has announced that the festival’s opening night will be the World Premiere screening of “The Sense of an Ending,” directed by Ritesh Batra on Thursday, January 5. The festival will close with “The Comedian,” directed by Taylor Hackford on Sunday, January 15. The Festival will screen 190 films from 72 countries, including 58 premieres (9 World, 5 International, 20 North American and 24 U.S.) from January 2 – 16, 2017.
The complete line-up including a focus on cinema from Poland, Premieres, New Voices/New Visions competition, Modern Masters, True Stories, After Dark and more were also announced, in addition to the Awards Buzz program released last week.
Highlights include “The Beautiful Fantastic,” “Julie and the Shoe Factory,” “Bad Influence,” “The Day Will Come,” “Tommy’s Honour,” “When We Rise,...
Lineup Announcements
– The 28th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff) has announced that the festival’s opening night will be the World Premiere screening of “The Sense of an Ending,” directed by Ritesh Batra on Thursday, January 5. The festival will close with “The Comedian,” directed by Taylor Hackford on Sunday, January 15. The Festival will screen 190 films from 72 countries, including 58 premieres (9 World, 5 International, 20 North American and 24 U.S.) from January 2 – 16, 2017.
The complete line-up including a focus on cinema from Poland, Premieres, New Voices/New Visions competition, Modern Masters, True Stories, After Dark and more were also announced, in addition to the Awards Buzz program released last week.
Highlights include “The Beautiful Fantastic,” “Julie and the Shoe Factory,” “Bad Influence,” “The Day Will Come,” “Tommy’s Honour,” “When We Rise,...
- 12/15/2016
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Emiliano Torres’ The Winter [pictured] was named best film at the first edition of the International Film Festival and Awards Macao (Iffam).
Emiliano Torres’ The Winter [pictured] was named best film at the first edition of the International Film Festival and Awards Macao (Iffam), while Saint George (Sao Jorge) won best director for Marco Martins and best actor for Nuno Lopes.
British film Trespass Against Us also received two awards, best actress for Lyndsey Marshal and a jury prize.
Jennifer Yu won best newcomer for Macanese director Tracy Choi’s debut feature Sisterhood, which also received the Macao Audience Choice Award.
Best screenplay went to UK director Ben Wheatley and Amy Jump for Free Fire, while Brazilian drama Elon Doesn’t Believe In Death received the best technical contribution award for its original music and sound design.
The new festival was co-organised by the Macao Government Tourism Office (Mgto) and Macau Films & Television Productions and Culture Association (Mftpa).
“First...
Emiliano Torres’ The Winter [pictured] was named best film at the first edition of the International Film Festival and Awards Macao (Iffam), while Saint George (Sao Jorge) won best director for Marco Martins and best actor for Nuno Lopes.
British film Trespass Against Us also received two awards, best actress for Lyndsey Marshal and a jury prize.
Jennifer Yu won best newcomer for Macanese director Tracy Choi’s debut feature Sisterhood, which also received the Macao Audience Choice Award.
Best screenplay went to UK director Ben Wheatley and Amy Jump for Free Fire, while Brazilian drama Elon Doesn’t Believe In Death received the best technical contribution award for its original music and sound design.
The new festival was co-organised by the Macao Government Tourism Office (Mgto) and Macau Films & Television Productions and Culture Association (Mftpa).
“First...
- 12/14/2016
- by screenasia@yahoo.com (Silvia Wong)
- ScreenDaily
The Life Of Pi director was speaking during the Shanghai International Film Festival.
Speaking at the Shanghai International Film Festival (Siff), director Ang Lee has warned Chinese filmmakers to slow down and learn their craft rather than rush out under-developed films to satisfy the booming China market.
“I don’t want to hold [directors] back from development, but they shouldn’t grow too fast. This is an emerging industry and the start of a golden age - it’s not the peak, it’s just the beginning,” said Lee, speaking at a SIFForum session hosted by digital giant Tencent on Monday...
Speaking at the Shanghai International Film Festival (Siff), director Ang Lee has warned Chinese filmmakers to slow down and learn their craft rather than rush out under-developed films to satisfy the booming China market.
“I don’t want to hold [directors] back from development, but they shouldn’t grow too fast. This is an emerging industry and the start of a golden age - it’s not the peak, it’s just the beginning,” said Lee, speaking at a SIFForum session hosted by digital giant Tencent on Monday...
- 6/13/2016
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Chinese studio bosses said they plan to continue their acquisition spree, in order to strengthen the fast-growing local film industry, as the seminar programme at the Shanghai International Film Festival got underway on Sunday.
“We will acquire more content producers in future so we have IP to make into films and games,” said Zeng Maojun, vice president of Wanda Culture Industry Group, which recently acquired Warcraft producer Legendary Pictures.
He later added: “The reason we bought Legendary was to marry their experience with the China market for better effect.”
Zhang Qiang, executive director and CEO of Alibaba Pictures, said his...
“We will acquire more content producers in future so we have IP to make into films and games,” said Zeng Maojun, vice president of Wanda Culture Industry Group, which recently acquired Warcraft producer Legendary Pictures.
He later added: “The reason we bought Legendary was to marry their experience with the China market for better effect.”
Zhang Qiang, executive director and CEO of Alibaba Pictures, said his...
- 6/12/2016
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Bona Film Group has finalised its delisting from the Nasdaq and subsequent privatisation process, following which Alibaba Pictures has an 8.94% stake in the Beijing-based studio.
Alibaba said in a statement that it has invested $86m into Bona and plans to develop a strong working relationship with the studio “on content production and distribution in a bid to enhance each other’s edge along the value chain of the entertainment industry”.
Alibaba Pictures CEO Zhang Qiang added: “Participation in the privatisation of Bona helps boost the development of the Chinese film and television industry. Sharing the same mission and vision with Bona, Alibaba Pictures wishes to create an ecosystem and platform covering the whole value chain of the film and TV industry.”
Bona founder and chairman Yu Dong, along with investors Sequoia Capital and Fosun International, submitted a privatisation offer to delist from the Nasdaq last June, based on an offer price of $13.70 in cash per American depositary...
Alibaba said in a statement that it has invested $86m into Bona and plans to develop a strong working relationship with the studio “on content production and distribution in a bid to enhance each other’s edge along the value chain of the entertainment industry”.
Alibaba Pictures CEO Zhang Qiang added: “Participation in the privatisation of Bona helps boost the development of the Chinese film and television industry. Sharing the same mission and vision with Bona, Alibaba Pictures wishes to create an ecosystem and platform covering the whole value chain of the film and TV industry.”
Bona founder and chairman Yu Dong, along with investors Sequoia Capital and Fosun International, submitted a privatisation offer to delist from the Nasdaq last June, based on an offer price of $13.70 in cash per American depositary...
- 4/11/2016
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Subsidiaries of Chinese internet titans Alibaba and Tencent are among the entities investing in Bona Film Group as the Chinese studio delists from the Nasdaq stock exchange.
Bona announced on December 15 that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement that allows the company to go private after spending five years listed on the Nasdaq. A vehicle called Mountain Tiger International is acquiring Bona for $27.40 per ordinary share (or $13.70 per American depositary share) in a deal that values the company at $1bn.
This is 6.5% over the company’s closing price on June 11, 2015, the last day prior to its announcement that its had received a proposal to go private.
Investors in the deal include Alibaba affiliate Alibaba Pictures Group, Tencent affiliate Willow Investment, All Gain Ventures, Uranus Connection, Fosun International, private equity funds Sequoia Capital and Saif Partners, along with Bona founder and CEO Yu Dong.
The deal is expected to close during the second quarter of 2016.
Several...
Bona announced on December 15 that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement that allows the company to go private after spending five years listed on the Nasdaq. A vehicle called Mountain Tiger International is acquiring Bona for $27.40 per ordinary share (or $13.70 per American depositary share) in a deal that values the company at $1bn.
This is 6.5% over the company’s closing price on June 11, 2015, the last day prior to its announcement that its had received a proposal to go private.
Investors in the deal include Alibaba affiliate Alibaba Pictures Group, Tencent affiliate Willow Investment, All Gain Ventures, Uranus Connection, Fosun International, private equity funds Sequoia Capital and Saif Partners, along with Bona founder and CEO Yu Dong.
The deal is expected to close during the second quarter of 2016.
Several...
- 12/16/2015
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Financier Tsg works with Fox on live action films such as The Martian.
China’s Bona Film Group has made a $235 million investment in Tsg Entertainment Finance, a financier that works with Fox.
Tsg has worked on Fox live action films such as Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, X-Men Days of Future Past, and The Martian.
The Investment is structured primarily with the Bona Film Fund and a credit facility arranged by East West Bank, and entitles Bona to participate in the on-going slate financing arrangement that Tsg has with Twentieth Century Fox, which will continue to distribute the films worldwide.
“Our international strategy has played an important role in our overall business plan and this partnership with Tsg Entertainment underscores Bona’s growing impact and brand awareness in the international film industry,” said Bona founder, chairman and CEO Yu Dong [pictured]. “We look forward to participating in more mainstream Hollywood productions and bringing high-quality foreign...
China’s Bona Film Group has made a $235 million investment in Tsg Entertainment Finance, a financier that works with Fox.
Tsg has worked on Fox live action films such as Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, X-Men Days of Future Past, and The Martian.
The Investment is structured primarily with the Bona Film Fund and a credit facility arranged by East West Bank, and entitles Bona to participate in the on-going slate financing arrangement that Tsg has with Twentieth Century Fox, which will continue to distribute the films worldwide.
“Our international strategy has played an important role in our overall business plan and this partnership with Tsg Entertainment underscores Bona’s growing impact and brand awareness in the international film industry,” said Bona founder, chairman and CEO Yu Dong [pictured]. “We look forward to participating in more mainstream Hollywood productions and bringing high-quality foreign...
- 11/6/2015
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Top brass at the Toronto International Film Festival industry office on Thursday revealed further details of next month’s line-up of sessions scheduled to run from September 11-17.
This year’s Master Class participants are The Program director Stephen Frears co-presented by Pinewood Studios and Turkish master Nuri Bilge Ceylan, co-presented with the Directors Guild Of Canada.
Jia Zhang-ke of Mountains May Depart fame kicks off the Asian Film Summit with his Master Class.
The Moguls roster offer a chance to hear from Voltage Pictures chief Nicolas Chartier and Yu Dong of Bona Film Group, who will present at the Asian Film Summit.
The Industry Dialogues sessions supported by the Ontario Media Development Corporation include panels on casting, global budget variations, financing, digital marketing and revenue streams.
The Asian Film Summit supported by Telefilm Canada and co-presented by the China-West Filmmakers Alliance features Felice Bee of Huayi Brothers International and Jerry Ye of Wanda talking on the...
This year’s Master Class participants are The Program director Stephen Frears co-presented by Pinewood Studios and Turkish master Nuri Bilge Ceylan, co-presented with the Directors Guild Of Canada.
Jia Zhang-ke of Mountains May Depart fame kicks off the Asian Film Summit with his Master Class.
The Moguls roster offer a chance to hear from Voltage Pictures chief Nicolas Chartier and Yu Dong of Bona Film Group, who will present at the Asian Film Summit.
The Industry Dialogues sessions supported by the Ontario Media Development Corporation include panels on casting, global budget variations, financing, digital marketing and revenue streams.
The Asian Film Summit supported by Telefilm Canada and co-presented by the China-West Filmmakers Alliance features Felice Bee of Huayi Brothers International and Jerry Ye of Wanda talking on the...
- 8/20/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Every year the Toronto International Film Festival runs an industry conference packed with panels and speakers. The Tiff Industry Conference covers the creative process, financing and co-Ppoduction, marketing, sales and distribution and the future of content. There will be day-long focused sessions for both the Asian Film Summit and Doc Conference. All events are hosted from September 11 to 17 at the Glenn Gould Studio and CBC Conference Centre. Indiewire Tiff Talks: our editorial team is currently booking a series of daily Q&A sessions with the key talent attending the festivals, which will be streamed live. Morning State of the Industry Q & As: Moderators include: Bianca Goodloe (Goodloe Law)Lorenzo Soria (Hollywood Foreign Press Association)Mike Goodridge (Protagonist Pictures)Danny Gabai (Vice Media) The Mogul Conversations: Nicolas Chartier (Voltage Pictures) Yu Dong (Bona Film Group) The Master Class sessions: Stephen Frears...
- 8/20/2015
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Alibaba revealed further details of its streaming service and crowdfunding platform at Siff Forum, where talk revolved around the convergence of China’s movie and internet industries and new financing models.
Shanghai International Film Festival’s Siff Forum spent the first two days debating how the entry of Bat (Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent) and other tech giants will impact a film industry that has only existed as a commercial enterprise for the past 15 years.
Speaking at the first session, Alibaba’s digital chief Patrick Liu said the company would launch an Svod and Tvod streaming service, Tmall Box Office (Tbo), in the next two months. Content will be sourced from China and overseas studios such as Lionsgate, which struck a streaming deal with Alibaba last year.
On the sidelines of the forum, Alibaba also revealed further details of its Yulebao crowdfunding platform, which has already raised $110m for around 20 Chinese movies and, if regulations...
Shanghai International Film Festival’s Siff Forum spent the first two days debating how the entry of Bat (Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent) and other tech giants will impact a film industry that has only existed as a commercial enterprise for the past 15 years.
Speaking at the first session, Alibaba’s digital chief Patrick Liu said the company would launch an Svod and Tvod streaming service, Tmall Box Office (Tbo), in the next two months. Content will be sourced from China and overseas studios such as Lionsgate, which struck a streaming deal with Alibaba last year.
On the sidelines of the forum, Alibaba also revealed further details of its Yulebao crowdfunding platform, which has already raised $110m for around 20 Chinese movies and, if regulations...
- 6/15/2015
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
China’s Bona Film Group has unveiled an ambitious 26-picture slate to celebrate the company’s 15th anniversary, along with a strategic cooperation with Huaxia Film Distribution.
Bona Film Group founder and CEO Yu Dong said he expected the slate would gross a combined $1.6bn (RMB10bn) at the China box office. The slate announcement came just days after it emerged that Bona is trying to delist from the Nasdaq.
Speaking at the Siff Forum on Monday, Yu Dong said it wasn’t surprising that he wanted to take his company private again because “my audience and customers are in China – coming home is the wish of all our investors and partners.”
Bona, which floated on New York’s Nasdaq exchange in 2010, currently has investors including Studio 8 backer Fosun International and private equity company Sequoia.
The company’s new slate includes Ang Lee’s previously announced Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, which Bona is...
Bona Film Group founder and CEO Yu Dong said he expected the slate would gross a combined $1.6bn (RMB10bn) at the China box office. The slate announcement came just days after it emerged that Bona is trying to delist from the Nasdaq.
Speaking at the Siff Forum on Monday, Yu Dong said it wasn’t surprising that he wanted to take his company private again because “my audience and customers are in China – coming home is the wish of all our investors and partners.”
Bona, which floated on New York’s Nasdaq exchange in 2010, currently has investors including Studio 8 backer Fosun International and private equity company Sequoia.
The company’s new slate includes Ang Lee’s previously announced Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, which Bona is...
- 6/15/2015
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Bona Film Group, one of China’s leading film production and distribution companies, has revealed it has received a non-binding offer to go private from Bona founder, chairman and chief exec Yu Dong, Sequoia Capital China I LP and Fosun International Limited. Bona floated on the Nasdaq exchange in December 2010 at $8.50 per American Depository Share. The current offer values the stock at $13.70 per American Depositary share, equivalent to $27.40 per ordinary share. Bona is…...
- 6/12/2015
- Deadline
Studio 8 and Bona to Partner With Tristar on Ang Lee’s Adaptation of Billy Lynn’S Long Halftime Walk
Jeff Robinov’s Fosun-backed Studio 8, together with Chinese distribution company Bona Film Group, will partner with Tom Rothman’s TriStar and Film4 on the adaptation of Ben Fountain’s acclaimed novel Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, to be directed by three-time Oscar-winner Ang Lee.
The deal brings together several members of the family of companies at Sony Pictures, which will distribute the film worldwide, except for Greater China, which Bona Film Group Ltd will handle. Film 4 will have UK free television.
The film is now set for start of principal photography in mid-April and casting is underway.
In the film, Bravo Company, and 19-year-old private Billy Lynn, survive a harrowing Iraq battle that is captured by news cameras. They are brought home by the Us administration for a promotional tour, culminating at the spectacular halftime show of aThanksgiving Day football game, all while facing an imminent return to the war.
The deal brings together several members of the family of companies at Sony Pictures, which will distribute the film worldwide, except for Greater China, which Bona Film Group Ltd will handle. Film 4 will have UK free television.
The film is now set for start of principal photography in mid-April and casting is underway.
In the film, Bravo Company, and 19-year-old private Billy Lynn, survive a harrowing Iraq battle that is captured by news cameras. They are brought home by the Us administration for a promotional tour, culminating at the spectacular halftime show of aThanksgiving Day football game, all while facing an imminent return to the war.
- 1/28/2015
- by Melissa Thompson
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The market, which opens today, is expecting nearly 5000 people from 60 countries.
As part of the Singapore Media Festival, Asia TV Forum & Market (Atf) and ScreenSingapore 2014 opened officially this morning (Dec 10) with organizers expecting a record of nearly 5,000 attendees from 60 countries.
This year’s event is hosting exhibitors including seven Hollywood studios – Walt Disney, Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, CBS Studios, MGM Worldwide and NBC Universal. Asian companies include Mediacorp, CCTV, Cj Entertainment, Nhk and Astro.
The event is also hosting delegations from Australia, China, France, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Taiwan, with attendees also from India, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Countries participating for the first time include Bangladesh, Croatia, Finland, Nepal and Poland.
Held at the Marina Bay Sands complex, the market runs Dec 10-12. This is the first year it is being held under the Singapore Media Festival umbrella along with Singapore International Film Festival (Dec 4-14) and the Asian...
As part of the Singapore Media Festival, Asia TV Forum & Market (Atf) and ScreenSingapore 2014 opened officially this morning (Dec 10) with organizers expecting a record of nearly 5,000 attendees from 60 countries.
This year’s event is hosting exhibitors including seven Hollywood studios – Walt Disney, Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, CBS Studios, MGM Worldwide and NBC Universal. Asian companies include Mediacorp, CCTV, Cj Entertainment, Nhk and Astro.
The event is also hosting delegations from Australia, China, France, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Taiwan, with attendees also from India, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Countries participating for the first time include Bangladesh, Croatia, Finland, Nepal and Poland.
Held at the Marina Bay Sands complex, the market runs Dec 10-12. This is the first year it is being held under the Singapore Media Festival umbrella along with Singapore International Film Festival (Dec 4-14) and the Asian...
- 12/10/2014
- by hjnoh2007@gmail.com (Jean Noh)
- ScreenDaily
The Singapore Media Festival today was the scene for the announcement of the latest China-focused media fund — and this one comes with a twist. Bona Film Group chairman Yu Dong, private equity firm Tembusu Partners and Singapore media entrepreneur Calvin Cheng have joined forces to launch a $100M fund aimed at China’s media and entertainment industry. The Media Entertainment Fund will be based in Singapore and is intended as the first such non-Reminbi dominated fund to invest in China’s media and entertainment sector. Bona, China’s largest private film distributor and vertically integrated film company, is expected to be one of the anchor investors along with Thailand’s Chia Tai Group. The five-year fund is closed-ended and will be formalized on March 31, with capital raising to begin shortly thereafter.
By domiciling in Singapore, the parties will leverage the country’s legal framework and status as a financial hub...
By domiciling in Singapore, the parties will leverage the country’s legal framework and status as a financial hub...
- 12/10/2014
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline
The fund was launched at the Singapore Media Festival.
China’s Bona Film Group chairman Yu Dong, Singaporean private equity fund Tembusu Partners and local media entrepreneur Calvin Cheng have signed a memorandum of understanding for a $100m (Sg$130m) China media fund, launched at the Singapore Media Festival today.
To be based in Singapore, the private equity fund is touted as “the first such non-Reminbi dominated fund to invest in China’s media and entertainment industry.”
“Singapore is the perfect place to launch this fund as it is not only a financial capital of the world, but also as the place where East meets West. This fund will allow foreign investors to participate in the fastest growing media and entertainment market in the world,” said Yu.
The $100m fund is a five-year closed-end private equity fund targeting for investment media companies, content and technologies. It will be formalized on March 31, 2015. Nasdaq-listed Bona Film Group and Thailand...
China’s Bona Film Group chairman Yu Dong, Singaporean private equity fund Tembusu Partners and local media entrepreneur Calvin Cheng have signed a memorandum of understanding for a $100m (Sg$130m) China media fund, launched at the Singapore Media Festival today.
To be based in Singapore, the private equity fund is touted as “the first such non-Reminbi dominated fund to invest in China’s media and entertainment industry.”
“Singapore is the perfect place to launch this fund as it is not only a financial capital of the world, but also as the place where East meets West. This fund will allow foreign investors to participate in the fastest growing media and entertainment market in the world,” said Yu.
The $100m fund is a five-year closed-end private equity fund targeting for investment media companies, content and technologies. It will be formalized on March 31, 2015. Nasdaq-listed Bona Film Group and Thailand...
- 12/10/2014
- by hjnoh2007@gmail.com (Jean Noh)
- ScreenDaily
The fund was launched at the Singapore Media Festival.
China’s Bona Film Group chairman Yu Dong, Singaporean private equity fund Tembusu Partners and local media entrepreneur Calvin Cheng have signed a memorandum of understanding for a $100m (Sg$130m) China media fund, launched at the Singapore Media Festival today.
To be based in Singapore, the private equity fund is touted as “the first such non-Reminbi dominated fund to invest in China’s media and entertainment industry.”
“Singapore is the perfect place to launch this fund as it is not only a financial capital of the world, but also as the place where East meets West. This fund will allow foreign investors to participate in the fastest growing media and entertainment market in the world,” said Yu.
The $100m fund is a five-year closed-end private equity fund targeting for investment media companies, content and technologies. It will be formalized on March 31, 2015. Nasdaq-listed Bona Film Group and Thailand...
China’s Bona Film Group chairman Yu Dong, Singaporean private equity fund Tembusu Partners and local media entrepreneur Calvin Cheng have signed a memorandum of understanding for a $100m (Sg$130m) China media fund, launched at the Singapore Media Festival today.
To be based in Singapore, the private equity fund is touted as “the first such non-Reminbi dominated fund to invest in China’s media and entertainment industry.”
“Singapore is the perfect place to launch this fund as it is not only a financial capital of the world, but also as the place where East meets West. This fund will allow foreign investors to participate in the fastest growing media and entertainment market in the world,” said Yu.
The $100m fund is a five-year closed-end private equity fund targeting for investment media companies, content and technologies. It will be formalized on March 31, 2015. Nasdaq-listed Bona Film Group and Thailand...
- 12/10/2014
- by hjnoh2007@gmail.com (Jean Noh)
- ScreenDaily
The first rule of China is you don’t talk about China. Unless, of course, you live in Hollywood, in which case all you do is talk about China as execs find themselves in the midst of a historic shift in the global balance of power.
After more than a century, the studios are no longer the senior partner at the table, able to dictate terms at will, at least with respect to what will soon be the world’s largest single theatrical market. China’s box office, which annually grows at a rate of about 30%, is expected to border on $5B this year as local and Hollywood films share (government regulated) space on 18,000+ screens across a country of 1.3 billion people. The Middle Kingdom box office growth is even more profound when compared to the relatively static movement in the North American market. It is unprecedented for studio execs to...
After more than a century, the studios are no longer the senior partner at the table, able to dictate terms at will, at least with respect to what will soon be the world’s largest single theatrical market. China’s box office, which annually grows at a rate of about 30%, is expected to border on $5B this year as local and Hollywood films share (government regulated) space on 18,000+ screens across a country of 1.3 billion people. The Middle Kingdom box office growth is even more profound when compared to the relatively static movement in the North American market. It is unprecedented for studio execs to...
- 11/28/2014
- by Ali Jaafar and Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline
Speakers at the Summit included Us Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Charles Rivkin [pictured].
The ups and downs of cross-border film finance and production was the central theme at the Fifth Annual Us-China Film Summit in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday (Nov 5).
Us Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Charles Rivkin said at the event that co-operation between the Us and Chinese film industries “can be an economic force for good, bringing prosperity and growth to both sides of the Pacific.”
“America and China each have the chance to maximise those benefits,” said Rivkin, a former CEO of the Jim Henson Company, “if we can both operate with the certainty and security that comes from strong enforcement of intellectual property rights and protection of investor interests.”
Referring to talks at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation trade forum that began this week in Beijing, Rivkin stressed the “importance of completing our negotiations...
The ups and downs of cross-border film finance and production was the central theme at the Fifth Annual Us-China Film Summit in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday (Nov 5).
Us Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Charles Rivkin said at the event that co-operation between the Us and Chinese film industries “can be an economic force for good, bringing prosperity and growth to both sides of the Pacific.”
“America and China each have the chance to maximise those benefits,” said Rivkin, a former CEO of the Jim Henson Company, “if we can both operate with the certainty and security that comes from strong enforcement of intellectual property rights and protection of investor interests.”
Referring to talks at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation trade forum that began this week in Beijing, Rivkin stressed the “importance of completing our negotiations...
- 11/6/2014
- ScreenDaily
U.S. shares of China’s Bona Film Group are up 7.7% this morning after the distributor announced two deals that help to consolidate ownership: Its founder and CEO, Yu Dong, agreed to pay $71.4M for the 19.3% stake owned by 21st Century Fox. Separately, Bona plans to sell a 13.3% interest to a Chinese investment group, Fosun Group, which already owns 7.5% of Bona. When the dust settles, the Bona chief will own about 32.3% and Fosun will have 20.8%. Fosun’s deal follows its agreement last month to invest in Jeff Robinov’s Studio 8. Fox (in its earlier incarnation as News Corp) bought its stake […]...
- 7/14/2014
- Deadline
Chinese conglomerate Fosun Group is acquiring an additional 13.3% stake in Bona Film Group, while 21st Century Fox is divesting its stake in the Beijing-based studio.
Following the transaction with Fosun, the Shanghai-based, Hong Kong-listed investment group will hold a 20.8% stake in Bona Film Group. Fosun is also expected to be a lead investor in Jeff Robinov’s new Sony-based venture Studio 8.
Meanwhile, Bona’s founder and chairman Yu Dong has reached an agreement with 21st Century Fox to acquire its entire 19.3% interest in Bona Film Group for $71.4m. An affiliate of Fox acquired the ownership interest in Bona in May 2012.
The sale has no effect on the five film co-production pact between Fox and Bona, which is kicking off with a Chinese-language remake of Bride Wars, which started shooting in June.
“We remain committed to our current co-productions with Bona as well as to exploring future collaboration with them and others in the exciting and rapidly...
Following the transaction with Fosun, the Shanghai-based, Hong Kong-listed investment group will hold a 20.8% stake in Bona Film Group. Fosun is also expected to be a lead investor in Jeff Robinov’s new Sony-based venture Studio 8.
Meanwhile, Bona’s founder and chairman Yu Dong has reached an agreement with 21st Century Fox to acquire its entire 19.3% interest in Bona Film Group for $71.4m. An affiliate of Fox acquired the ownership interest in Bona in May 2012.
The sale has no effect on the five film co-production pact between Fox and Bona, which is kicking off with a Chinese-language remake of Bride Wars, which started shooting in June.
“We remain committed to our current co-productions with Bona as well as to exploring future collaboration with them and others in the exciting and rapidly...
- 7/14/2014
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Chinese film studio and distributor Bona Film Group has announced a major shake-up of its ownership structure, with investment group Fosun saying it is upping its stake in Bona to 20.8 percent, while Bona’s founder and CEO, Yu Dong, is buying back 21st Century Fox's entire 19.3 percent holding in the company for $71.4 million. The Chinese conglomerate Fosun, which recently said it was investing in former Warner Bros. executive Jeff Robinov’s new company, Studio 8, is buying a further 13.8 percent. It owned 7.5 percent of Bona prior to the transaction, Bona said
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- 7/14/2014
- by Clifford Coonan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Fox International Productions (Fip) and China’s Bona Film Group are co-producing a Chinese-language remake of Fox hit Bride Wars, which is being directed by Tony Chan.
Currently shooting in Shanghai, the remake stars pop idols Angelababy and Ni Ni in the roles played by Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway in the 2009 original. The story follows two best friends who turn into bitter rivals when their respective weddings are booked on the same date.
Chan previously co-directed Fip’s Chinese box office hits Hot Summer Days and Love In Space with Wing Shya, who is acting as visual supervisor on the Bride Wars remake. Director-producer Fruit Chan, who was a producer on both Hot Summer Days and Love In Space, is also returning as a producer on the remake.
Fip president Sanford Panitch said: “Tony Chan is truly part of the Fox family. The Bride Wars remake is our third collaboration. As soon as...
Currently shooting in Shanghai, the remake stars pop idols Angelababy and Ni Ni in the roles played by Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway in the 2009 original. The story follows two best friends who turn into bitter rivals when their respective weddings are booked on the same date.
Chan previously co-directed Fip’s Chinese box office hits Hot Summer Days and Love In Space with Wing Shya, who is acting as visual supervisor on the Bride Wars remake. Director-producer Fruit Chan, who was a producer on both Hot Summer Days and Love In Space, is also returning as a producer on the remake.
Fip president Sanford Panitch said: “Tony Chan is truly part of the Fox family. The Bride Wars remake is our third collaboration. As soon as...
- 6/22/2014
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
At ScreenSingapore/Atf, producers from Japan, South Korea, China and Singapore talked about the rise of regional finance and markets while identifying primary audiences and developing local stories.
In his keynote address on the morning of December 4, China’s Bona Film Group CEO Yu Dong forecasted “the China market will be able to bypass the Us film business in the next ten years” noting the growth of the past ten years in which China has become the second largest market in the world.
“The audience base in China is huge while the number of films and screens has not yet reached the saturation point. By 2018, my prediction is that the China film industry will overtake the Us industry,” he said.
“We probably can never compete with Hollywood budgets but where we can compete is with our stories,” he said, encouraging Asian filmmakers to go for “real honest values and subject matter and stories that are true to...
In his keynote address on the morning of December 4, China’s Bona Film Group CEO Yu Dong forecasted “the China market will be able to bypass the Us film business in the next ten years” noting the growth of the past ten years in which China has become the second largest market in the world.
“The audience base in China is huge while the number of films and screens has not yet reached the saturation point. By 2018, my prediction is that the China film industry will overtake the Us industry,” he said.
“We probably can never compete with Hollywood budgets but where we can compete is with our stories,” he said, encouraging Asian filmmakers to go for “real honest values and subject matter and stories that are true to...
- 12/5/2013
- by hjnoh2007@gmail.com (Jean Noh)
- ScreenDaily
At ScreenSingapore/Atf, producers from Japan, South Korea, China and Singapore talked about the rise of regional finance and markets while identifying primary audiences and developing local stories.
In his keynote address Wednesday morning, China’s Bona Film Group CEO Yu Dong forecasted “the China market will be able to bypass the Us film business in the next ten years” noting the growth of the past ten years in which China has become the second largest market in the world.
“The audience base in China is huge while the number of films and screens has not yet reached the saturation point. By 2018, my prediction is that the China film industry will overtake the Us industry,” he said.
“We probably can never compete with Hollywood budgets but where we can compete is with our stories,” he said, encouraging Asian filmmakers to go for “real honest values and subject matter and stories that are true to themselves and our...
In his keynote address Wednesday morning, China’s Bona Film Group CEO Yu Dong forecasted “the China market will be able to bypass the Us film business in the next ten years” noting the growth of the past ten years in which China has become the second largest market in the world.
“The audience base in China is huge while the number of films and screens has not yet reached the saturation point. By 2018, my prediction is that the China film industry will overtake the Us industry,” he said.
“We probably can never compete with Hollywood budgets but where we can compete is with our stories,” he said, encouraging Asian filmmakers to go for “real honest values and subject matter and stories that are true to themselves and our...
- 12/5/2013
- by hjnoh2007@gmail.com (Jean Noh)
- ScreenDaily
China’s Bona Film Group has secured a $13m (RMB80m) credit facility from Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, which it will use to fund expansion of its multiplex business.
“We are pleased to add Shanghai Pudong Development Bank to the group of first-rate financial institutions who have partnered with Bona in our pursuit to become China’s largest non-state owned film producer, distributor and exhibitor,” said Bona Film Group founder and chairman Yu Dong.
“Our theatre business has been a strong contributor to Bona’s success in 2013, and it is a key component to the longer term growth strategy of the company.”
Bona Film Group will operate a total of 21 theatres with 173 screens by the end of 2013 and has seven new theatres under construction. The company expects to open four to five new theatres in the first half of 2014.
Upcoming Bona productions include Derek Yee’s crime thriller Overheard 3, Jacob Cheung’s 3D martial arts epic The...
“We are pleased to add Shanghai Pudong Development Bank to the group of first-rate financial institutions who have partnered with Bona in our pursuit to become China’s largest non-state owned film producer, distributor and exhibitor,” said Bona Film Group founder and chairman Yu Dong.
“Our theatre business has been a strong contributor to Bona’s success in 2013, and it is a key component to the longer term growth strategy of the company.”
Bona Film Group will operate a total of 21 theatres with 173 screens by the end of 2013 and has seven new theatres under construction. The company expects to open four to five new theatres in the first half of 2014.
Upcoming Bona productions include Derek Yee’s crime thriller Overheard 3, Jacob Cheung’s 3D martial arts epic The...
- 12/3/2013
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Yu Dong, CEO of film studio and distributor Bona, has forecast a golden era for the Chinese film industry in the next decade and urged Hollywood talents to come to the world’s second-largest market to take advantage of growing opportunities. Speaking at the 2013 U.S.-China Film Summit, Yu said the industry is flush with cash and that the challenges are actually on the creative side. Photos: Inside Hollywood's Surprise Trip to 'China's Oscars' “In the next 10 years it will be a big, big business. It’s an era for capital growth and box-office increases. The Chinese film
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- 11/6/2013
- by Clifford Coonan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Fosun Group will invest in Bona Film Group Limited, the Chinese film company said Monday. Under the deal, Fosun will acquire 2 million shares of Bona, which represents a 6.4 percent equity stake in the company. Fosun paid an average price of $10.40 per share. Bona is the country’s largest privately-owned film distributor. It has distributed more than 150 films since launching in 2003. As a result of the deal, founder Dong Yu’s ownership position will drop from 27 percent to 24.1 percent of the company’s shares. Bona Film Group’s stock shot up more than 4 percent to $5.35 on news of the...
- 9/30/2013
- by Brent Lang
- The Wrap
In what it’s touting as the first fund dedicated exclusively to film and television in China, Bona Film Group has launched a 1B Renminbi fund ($163.4M) to develop and produce projects over the next two years. The fund is managed by Wuhu Bona Film Investment Management Limited, a newly formed company whose shareholders include Bona, Sequoia Capital and Gopher Asset Management. Bona chairman and CEO Yu Dong said investor reaction had been enthusiastic and led to an oversubscription. Last year, News Corp took a 19.9 % stake in Bona. Fox International Productions later sealed a multi-picture co-producing pact for Chinese-language films. The companies’ first project together, Moscow Mission — about a series of robberies on a train line between Beijing and Moscow — will be financed by the fund. Bona also has co-production agreements with Universal and Working Title. Where applicable, the company says it will distribute all films in which the fund invests,...
- 8/30/2013
- by NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor
- Deadline TV
Tony Leung and Ziyi Zhang starrer The Grandmaster has a new featurette, prepping fans for the upcoming Weintein Co actioner's release on August 23rd, 2013. Also on board the film, scripted and helmed by Wong Kar Wai, are Chang Chen, Zhao Benshan, Xiao Shenyang and Song Hye Kyo. Pic which looks to deliver some excellent fight scenes, is produced by Gu Guoqing, Han Sanping, Ren Zhong-lun, Jacky Pang Yee Wah, Yu Dong, Yan Xiaomong and Wong Kar Wai.
- 8/20/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
New The Grandmaster clips take the fight to a train, rain and brothel Weinstein Co's actioner The Grandmaster hits theaters in a week from now on August 23rd, under the direction of Wong Kar Wai. There are 3 fight clips up in HD below for your viewing pleasure below the synopsis. The film is produced by Gu Guoqing, Han Sanping, Ren Zhong-lun, Jacky Pang Yee Wah, Yu Dong, Yan Xiaomong and Wai, and certainly looks to offer some stunning fight shots. The Grandmaster is an epic action feature inspired by the life and times of the legendary kung fu master, Ip Man. The story spans the tumultuous Republican era that followed the fall of China’s last dynasty, a time of chaos...
- 8/16/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Yu Dong, founder and CEO of Bona Film Group, has unveiled an updated slate for the remainder of this year and for the first half of next year and said he expects 2013 to be a record year for the company at the box office. "Given the diversity of our releases for the second half of the year and our strong distribution capability, we believe 2013 will become Bona's best-ever year at the box office," said Yu. Photos: China Box Office: 10 Highest-Grossing Movies of All Time Bona is the only Chinese studio on the Nasdaq Stock
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- 8/6/2013
- by Clifford Coonan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Watch the trailer for The Grandmaster, starring Zhang Ziyi, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Cung Le, Son Hye-kyo, Chen Chang and Leun Siu-Lung. Directed and written by Wong Kar Wai, this is the story of martial-arts master Ip Man, the trainer of legendary Bruce Lee. Gu Guoqing, Han Sanping, Ren Zhong-lun, Jacky Pang Yee Wah, Yu Dong, Yan Xiaomong and Wong Kar Wai produce the film which opens in theaters from August 23rd via The Weinstein Company.
- 4/23/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Singapore—Yu Dong, CEO and Founder of Bona Film Group, China’s largest private film company, called upon Chinese government regulators Wednesday to loosen censorship restrictions on the country’s domestic film industry. The remarks were part of an opening keynote speech Yu gave at ScreenSingapore’s new “Focus on China” panel discussion series. While Yu celebrated the rapid expansion of the Chinese box office—which he estimated will hit $5 billion in the next three to five years, and match the North American box office at about $10 billion within a decade—the executive also said the lack of a ratings system in China and
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- 12/5/2012
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Fox International Productions (Fip), a division of Twentieth Century Fox Film, and Bona Film Group Ltd., one of China's largest motion picture producers and distributors, today announced a multi-picture deal in which the two companies will together produce Chinese language films. Under the agreement, the two companies will develop, produce and distribute films throughout China. "This is a significant step in what we believe will be a long-term, multi-faceted collaboration with News Corp. and its subsidiary companies," said Mr. Dong Yu, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Bona Film Group Limited. "The films released under this partnership will combine Bona's deep understanding of production, distribution and audience preferences in China with Fip's international expertise...
- 10/26/2012
- Comingsoon.net
London -- Chinese film producer and distributor Bona Film Group is talking with four Hollywood studios about potentially co-producing movies for international distribution, The Wall Street Journal reported. "We hope to work with the larger studio houses ... and we're having discussions with several," the paper quoted Bona CEO Dong Yu as saying. "We hope to do two movies per year through co-productions." He specifically mentioned NBCUniversal's Universal Pictures, Sony Pictures, Viacom's Paramount Pictures and News Corp.'s 20th Century Fox, adding that he was "hopeful" the first co-production could start in 2013. Last month, Rupert Murdoch's
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- 6/5/2012
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. is the latest entertainment conglomerate to strike a deal with a Chinese film company, announcing Monday that it has agreed to buy a 19.9 percent stake in Bona Film Group. The agreement will help the Chinese film producer and distributor reach a more global audience with its films. Meanwhile, News Corp. gets a chance to play a bigger role in a fast-growing market. Bona said News Corp. is acquiring the stake directly from its founder, chairman and CEO Dong Yu. Financial details weren't disclosed. "One of Bona's unique advantages is its vertically-integrated business
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- 5/14/2012
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMAX, in partnership with Indomina Releasing, today announced the release of Bona Film Group’s blockbuster Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate, starring Jet Li, for an exclusive, limited engagement across North America in September in the immersive IMAX® 3D format.
Acquired for North American release by Indomina, the motion picture distribution arm of The Indomina Group, Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate is the first Chinese-language film to be released in the IMAX® 3D format and the fourth-highest grossing Chinese-language film of all time.
“We’re delighted to be working again with Bona and Tsui Hark and to release their newest film, Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate,” said Indomina Group Vice Chairman and CEO, Jasbinder Singh Mann. “It’s an ideal fit for Indomina . just as IMAX is the ideal movie-going experience for the film. Audiences are in for a real treat when they see this Chinese martial arts masterpiece on the IMAX screen.
Acquired for North American release by Indomina, the motion picture distribution arm of The Indomina Group, Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate is the first Chinese-language film to be released in the IMAX® 3D format and the fourth-highest grossing Chinese-language film of all time.
“We’re delighted to be working again with Bona and Tsui Hark and to release their newest film, Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate,” said Indomina Group Vice Chairman and CEO, Jasbinder Singh Mann. “It’s an ideal fit for Indomina . just as IMAX is the ideal movie-going experience for the film. Audiences are in for a real treat when they see this Chinese martial arts masterpiece on the IMAX screen.
- 5/7/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
...and the wait continues. Wong Kar-Wai's "The Grandmaster" continues to build with all the mystery and delays of a Terrence Malick-worthy production. Not much has been seen of the film save for a few stills and a recently released teaser trailer (that is almost identical to one we saw last year). And as we figured, any chances of the movie showing up at Cannes are a pipe dream.
In December, Yu Dong, CEO of Chinese film distributor Bona Film, told Film Business Asia that "The Grandmaster" -- at one time tentatively slated to hit theaters at the end of 2011 -- "will be released some time between next summer and Christmas 2012." But it looks like the tail end of that date has become the best case scenario. Bona Film recently released their 2011 data and results to investors, and as they laid out their projections for earnings in 2012, business site...
In December, Yu Dong, CEO of Chinese film distributor Bona Film, told Film Business Asia that "The Grandmaster" -- at one time tentatively slated to hit theaters at the end of 2011 -- "will be released some time between next summer and Christmas 2012." But it looks like the tail end of that date has become the best case scenario. Bona Film recently released their 2011 data and results to investors, and as they laid out their projections for earnings in 2012, business site...
- 3/6/2012
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Craig T. Mathew China Lion Chairman Greg Coote, AMC President of Programming Robert J. Lenihan, China Lion President Jiang Yanming and China Lion CEO Milt Barlow
Huayi Brothers Media Corp. and Bona Film Group Ltd., two of China’s largest film production companies, said Sunday they were each acquiring up to 20% of start-up distribution company China Lion Film Distribution, with the goal of introducing more of their films to the U.S. market. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Huayi Brothers Media Corp. and Bona Film Group Ltd., two of China’s largest film production companies, said Sunday they were each acquiring up to 20% of start-up distribution company China Lion Film Distribution, with the goal of introducing more of their films to the U.S. market. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
- 10/31/2011
- by Michelle Kung
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
Beijing -- Bona Film Group, China’s largest non-state film distributor, posted a loss in net revenues in the quarter ended December 31, the company said in its first earnings report since a lackluster Nasdaq listing and the delay or disappointing performance of a few key films.
Co-producer of the underperforming What Women Want remake starring Gong Li and Andy Lau, Beijing-based Bona posted fourth quarter net revenues of $17.8 million, down 22.2% from Q4 2009 net of $22.9 million.
Offsetting the Q4 loss, the company’s command of a 15% share of the box office gross generated by Chinese-language films in 2010, including the Hong Kong hit Triple Tap, helped Bona post full-year 2010 net revenues of $52.8 million, up 37.6% from 2009 net of the $38.4 million.
China’s total box office take, including from Hollywood imports, rose 64% in 2010 to $1.5 billion, boosted by a steady rise in ticket prices, the expansion of 3D and IMAX theaters that can charge a premium,...
Co-producer of the underperforming What Women Want remake starring Gong Li and Andy Lau, Beijing-based Bona posted fourth quarter net revenues of $17.8 million, down 22.2% from Q4 2009 net of $22.9 million.
Offsetting the Q4 loss, the company’s command of a 15% share of the box office gross generated by Chinese-language films in 2010, including the Hong Kong hit Triple Tap, helped Bona post full-year 2010 net revenues of $52.8 million, up 37.6% from 2009 net of the $38.4 million.
China’s total box office take, including from Hollywood imports, rose 64% in 2010 to $1.5 billion, boosted by a steady rise in ticket prices, the expansion of 3D and IMAX theaters that can charge a premium,...
Hong Kong -- Shares in Beijing-based Bona Film Group are set to start trading on Thursday on the Nasdaq stock exchange in New York.
The Chinese film investment, production and distribution company run by CEO Yu Dong priced its shares at $8.50 each, at the upper end of the expected range of $7- $9.
In an initial float, Bona sold 11.7 million primary American Depositary Shares to raise $99.5 million, short of the $121.5 million goal set in its Nov. 17 filing papers.
The company, which has lost $7.5 million this year, is in the process of promoting a U.S. release of What Women Want, starring Gong Li in a Chinese language remake of the 2000 film starring Helen Hunt and Marisa Tomei.
Bona's U.S. listing is the latest in a raft of high-profile Chinese media company's sales overseas, including that of China's largest online video sharing web site, Youku, which raised an initial $203 million on...
The Chinese film investment, production and distribution company run by CEO Yu Dong priced its shares at $8.50 each, at the upper end of the expected range of $7- $9.
In an initial float, Bona sold 11.7 million primary American Depositary Shares to raise $99.5 million, short of the $121.5 million goal set in its Nov. 17 filing papers.
The company, which has lost $7.5 million this year, is in the process of promoting a U.S. release of What Women Want, starring Gong Li in a Chinese language remake of the 2000 film starring Helen Hunt and Marisa Tomei.
Bona's U.S. listing is the latest in a raft of high-profile Chinese media company's sales overseas, including that of China's largest online video sharing web site, Youku, which raised an initial $203 million on...
- 12/9/2010
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Beijing – The Bona Film Group, China's biggest private movie distributor-turned-movie studio, has filed for a Nasdaq initial public offering seeking to raise $80 million through the sale of its shares to U.S. investors, papers filed on Tuesday in New York show.
Founded in 1999, Beijing-based Bona, run by CEO Yu Dong, has, after the state-run China Film Group, dominated the recent boom in China's box office through the co-production and distribution of films from China and Hong Kong, including such hit 2009 titles as director Teddy Chan's Bodyguards and Assassins.
The planned U.S. Ipo, the first in a foreign market for a major Chinese film studio, is expected early next year. B of A Merrill Lynch and J.P. Morgan in New York, the China Investment Capital Corp. in Beijing, and U.S. backers Piper Jaffray and Cowen and Co. will underwrite Bona's listing.
Though Bona, which was capitalized at $92.3 million as of Sept.
Founded in 1999, Beijing-based Bona, run by CEO Yu Dong, has, after the state-run China Film Group, dominated the recent boom in China's box office through the co-production and distribution of films from China and Hong Kong, including such hit 2009 titles as director Teddy Chan's Bodyguards and Assassins.
The planned U.S. Ipo, the first in a foreign market for a major Chinese film studio, is expected early next year. B of A Merrill Lynch and J.P. Morgan in New York, the China Investment Capital Corp. in Beijing, and U.S. backers Piper Jaffray and Cowen and Co. will underwrite Bona's listing.
Though Bona, which was capitalized at $92.3 million as of Sept.
- 11/17/2010
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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