Kicking off this news round-up is a small but notable update that Quentin Tarantino plans to launch production on his final feature The Movie Critic this fall in Los Angeles, according to Production Weekly. With Brad Pitt currently the only confirmed cast member, it’ll follow a movie critic in 1977 wherein Tararantino will reimagine the production of a number of films.
Lynne Ramsay has been developing a handful of projects following 2017’s You Were Never Really Here, and we now finally have an update on which one is likely to shoot first. As reported by Variety out of Reykjavik’s Stockfish Film & Industry Festival, Ramsay confirmed she’s prepping to shoot the Jennifer Lawrence-led Die, My Love, based on Ariana Harwicz’s novel “about a woman living in isolation in rural France who loses her mind amid marriage and motherhood.”
Walter Hill isn’t hanging up his directing hat,...
Lynne Ramsay has been developing a handful of projects following 2017’s You Were Never Really Here, and we now finally have an update on which one is likely to shoot first. As reported by Variety out of Reykjavik’s Stockfish Film & Industry Festival, Ramsay confirmed she’s prepping to shoot the Jennifer Lawrence-led Die, My Love, based on Ariana Harwicz’s novel “about a woman living in isolation in rural France who loses her mind amid marriage and motherhood.”
Walter Hill isn’t hanging up his directing hat,...
- 4/15/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Among the high-profile filmmakers selected for this year’s Cannes Film Festival is a wave of upcoming talent from Asia and the Middle East, including the first Indian feature chosen for Competition in 30 years and the first film from Saudi Arabia to ever make the Official Selection.
While Cannes has a reputation for bringing back familiar names year after year, the line-up for the 77th edition does feature several rising filmmakers and not just in the “discovery” strands of the selection.
Making her first appearance in Competition is Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia with All We Imagine As Light. It marks...
While Cannes has a reputation for bringing back familiar names year after year, the line-up for the 77th edition does feature several rising filmmakers and not just in the “discovery” strands of the selection.
Making her first appearance in Competition is Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia with All We Imagine As Light. It marks...
- 4/12/2024
- ScreenDaily
Zhang Yimou is undoubtedly one of the foremost names in Mainland Chinese cinema, one of the first names that would come up in a discussion on cinema from the country and one that is synonymous with quality mainstream works that range from period pieces painted on the largest canvas, to small, personal human dramas and everything in between. Despite working on large scale productions, he manages to frequently put out quality features that boast of big-name star-casts and top-drawer production values that never lose out in showcasing his superior storytelling abilities, making him a darling of the audiences and critics alike, both of who look forward for his newest works, including the latest, “Full River Red” with great anticipation.
Full River Red is screening at Five Flavours
Set in the Southern Song Dynasty and five years after heroic general Yue Fei was executed by prime minister Qin Hui, “Full River Red...
Full River Red is screening at Five Flavours
Set in the Southern Song Dynasty and five years after heroic general Yue Fei was executed by prime minister Qin Hui, “Full River Red...
- 11/15/2023
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
With his astounding debut Kaili Blues (2015) and the equally impressive 3D odyssey Long Day’s Journey Into Night (2018), Chinese director Bi Gan emerged as one of the most promising new voices in cinema this last decade. Now he’s finally returning behind the camera with a new feature.
Later this year, Bi Gan will embark on the production of his third film Resurrection, Variety reports. Set to star Jackson Yee and Shu Qi, the project is described as an “ambitious sci-fi detective movie” tha follows a woman whose consciousness falls into the “eternal time zone” during a surgical procedure. “Trapped in many dreams, she finds an android corpse and tries to wake it up by telling endless stories. The android then wanders within her stories and its senses gradually awaken,” the synopsis reads.
Backed by Charles Gillibert’s CG Cinema, the crew includes cinematographer Dong Jingsong, production designers Tu Nan (Wong Kar-Wai...
Later this year, Bi Gan will embark on the production of his third film Resurrection, Variety reports. Set to star Jackson Yee and Shu Qi, the project is described as an “ambitious sci-fi detective movie” tha follows a woman whose consciousness falls into the “eternal time zone” during a surgical procedure. “Trapped in many dreams, she finds an android corpse and tries to wake it up by telling endless stories. The android then wanders within her stories and its senses gradually awaken,” the synopsis reads.
Backed by Charles Gillibert’s CG Cinema, the crew includes cinematographer Dong Jingsong, production designers Tu Nan (Wong Kar-Wai...
- 9/6/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Chinese director Bi Gan, whose 2018 film “Long Day’s Journey into Night” played at Cannes, will next direct “Resurrection.” The ambitious sci-fi detective movie is to be headlined by Chinese superstar Jackson Yee (“Better Days”) and actor Shu Qi (“The Assassin”) who sits on this year’s Venice jury.
Boasting Bi’s edgy aesthetic and narrative style, the film tells the story of a woman whose consciousness falls into the “eternal time zone” during a surgical procedure. Trapped in many dreams, she finds an android corpse and tries to wake it up by telling endless stories. The android then wanders within her stories and its senses gradually awaken.
Charles Gillibert’s CG Cinema will again co-produce the project. Bi is finishing the script and plans to shoot later this year.
“Resurrection” will be lensed by Dong Jingsong, whose credits include “Long Day’s Journey into Night” and “The Wild Goose Lake.”
The...
Boasting Bi’s edgy aesthetic and narrative style, the film tells the story of a woman whose consciousness falls into the “eternal time zone” during a surgical procedure. Trapped in many dreams, she finds an android corpse and tries to wake it up by telling endless stories. The android then wanders within her stories and its senses gradually awaken.
Charles Gillibert’s CG Cinema will again co-produce the project. Bi is finishing the script and plans to shoot later this year.
“Resurrection” will be lensed by Dong Jingsong, whose credits include “Long Day’s Journey into Night” and “The Wild Goose Lake.”
The...
- 9/6/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Awards
The European Film Academy has revealed the nominations for Lux – The European Audience Film Award. The award is presented by the European Parliament and the European Film Academy in partnership with the European Commission and Europa Cinemas.
The nominated films are: “20,000 Species of Bees” by Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren (Spain); “The Teacher’s Lounge” by İlker Çatak (Germany); “Fallen Leaves” by Aki Kaurismäki; “On the Adamant” by Nicolas Philibert; and “Smoke Sauna Sisterhood” by Anna Hints.
The five nominated films will now be subtitled in all 24 EU languages. The winner will be determined by the general public and the members of the European Parliament (each holding 50% of the vote) and announced during an awards ceremony in March 2024.
European Film Academy chair and president of the Lux jury Mike Downey said: “We know that cinema not only enhances the imagination but also shows our entire world in multiple perspectives and...
The European Film Academy has revealed the nominations for Lux – The European Audience Film Award. The award is presented by the European Parliament and the European Film Academy in partnership with the European Commission and Europa Cinemas.
The nominated films are: “20,000 Species of Bees” by Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren (Spain); “The Teacher’s Lounge” by İlker Çatak (Germany); “Fallen Leaves” by Aki Kaurismäki; “On the Adamant” by Nicolas Philibert; and “Smoke Sauna Sisterhood” by Anna Hints.
The five nominated films will now be subtitled in all 24 EU languages. The winner will be determined by the general public and the members of the European Parliament (each holding 50% of the vote) and announced during an awards ceremony in March 2024.
European Film Academy chair and president of the Lux jury Mike Downey said: “We know that cinema not only enhances the imagination but also shows our entire world in multiple perspectives and...
- 9/4/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
In the end, it was always going to come down to those youngsters.
China’s First International Film Festival, which has now 17 editions, prided itself on providing a platform on which the county’s next generation of filmmakers can reveal their talent. Fittingly, then, the event is attended by a predominantly young audience. They travel in large numbers to the city of Xining, set in China’s mountainous central region, fringing the Tibetan Plateau, and they really do feast on the program of independent films.
There were 98 films screened across the festival’s nine-day run, 27 features and 71 shorts among them. There were Q&a sessions with the audience that often ran well into overtime, such was the enthusiasm shown for everything from a gritty but life-affirming three-hour drama about a migrant woman trying to forge a life in a big city (Qin Tian’s Fate of the Moonlight) to a...
China’s First International Film Festival, which has now 17 editions, prided itself on providing a platform on which the county’s next generation of filmmakers can reveal their talent. Fittingly, then, the event is attended by a predominantly young audience. They travel in large numbers to the city of Xining, set in China’s mountainous central region, fringing the Tibetan Plateau, and they really do feast on the program of independent films.
There were 98 films screened across the festival’s nine-day run, 27 features and 71 shorts among them. There were Q&a sessions with the audience that often ran well into overtime, such was the enthusiasm shown for everything from a gritty but life-affirming three-hour drama about a migrant woman trying to forge a life in a big city (Qin Tian’s Fate of the Moonlight) to a...
- 7/31/2023
- by Mathew Scott
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Zhang Yimou is undoubtedly one of the foremost names in Mainland Chinese cinema, one of the first names that would come up in a discussion on cinema from the country and one that is synonymous with quality mainstream works that range from period pieces painted on the largest canvas, to small, personal human dramas and everything in between. Despite working on large scale productions, he manages to frequently put out quality features that boast of big-name star-casts and top-drawer production values that never lose out in showcasing his superior storytelling abilities, making him a darling of the audiences and critics alike, both of who look forward for his newest works, including the latest, “Full River Red” with great anticipation.
“Full River Red” is screening at Udine Far East Film Festival
Set in the Southern Song Dynasty and five years after heroic general Yue Fei was executed by prime minister Qin Hui,...
“Full River Red” is screening at Udine Far East Film Festival
Set in the Southern Song Dynasty and five years after heroic general Yue Fei was executed by prime minister Qin Hui,...
- 4/30/2023
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Zhang Yimou is undoubtedly one of the foremost names in Mainland Chinese cinema, one of the first names that would come up in a discussion on cinema from the country and one that is synonymous with quality mainstream works that range from period pieces painted on the largest canvas, to small, personal human dramas and everything in between. Despite working on large scale productions, he manages to frequently put out quality features that boast of big-name star-casts and top-drawer production values that never lose out in showcasing his superior storytelling abilities, making him a darling of the audiences and critics alike, both of who look forward for his newest works, including the latest “Full River Red” with great anticipation.
Full River Red is released in North American theatres by Niu Vision Media
Set in the Southern Song Dynasty and five years after heroic general Yue Fei was executed by prime minister Qin Hui,...
Full River Red is released in North American theatres by Niu Vision Media
Set in the Southern Song Dynasty and five years after heroic general Yue Fei was executed by prime minister Qin Hui,...
- 3/26/2023
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Murder, treachery and political intrigue are the juicy ingredients of Zhang Yimou’s “Full River Red,” an entertaining if overlong mystery-comedy set in the narrow passageways and dark chambers of a Song dynasty military compound in 1146. With a twist-packed plot to match its labyrinthine location, Zhang’s fast-paced film motors along nicely as an engaging “Knives Out”-style whodunnit before stumbling a little in the protracted final act. A Lunar New Year smash hit in China, “Full River Red” will be released on 150 North American screens by specialty distributor Niu Vision Media on March 17.
The biggest commercial success of Zhang’s distinguished 35-year career, “Full River Red” has already grossed a whopping $671 million at home since Jan. 22. The 157-minute blockbuster continues the string of hits he’s delivered since big-budget international co-production misfire “The Great Wall” in 2016. Much less ornately decorated and colorfully photographed than Zhang’s famous wuxia epics...
The biggest commercial success of Zhang’s distinguished 35-year career, “Full River Red” has already grossed a whopping $671 million at home since Jan. 22. The 157-minute blockbuster continues the string of hits he’s delivered since big-budget international co-production misfire “The Great Wall” in 2016. Much less ornately decorated and colorfully photographed than Zhang’s famous wuxia epics...
- 3/14/2023
- by Richard Kuipers
- Variety Film + TV
Legendary Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou’s period thriller Full River Red — the world’s biggest blockbuster of 2023, so far, with $644 million and counting at China’s theatrical box office — is headed to the U.S.
Specialty distributor Niu Vision Media has acquired North American rights to the film and lined up a limited release March 17 in 150 theaters across the U.S. and Canada. Niu Vision picked up Full River Red from Bill Kong’s Edko Films, which is handling worldwide sales on the film and will continue offering it to buyers in select territories at next week’s Filmart industry confab in Hong Kong.
Produced by rising studio Huanxi Media, Full River Red was the big winner at China’s Lunar New Year box office race in late January. Frank Guo’s sci-fi sequel The Wander Earth 2 was the market favorite in the lead-up to the lucrative holiday release period,...
Specialty distributor Niu Vision Media has acquired North American rights to the film and lined up a limited release March 17 in 150 theaters across the U.S. and Canada. Niu Vision picked up Full River Red from Bill Kong’s Edko Films, which is handling worldwide sales on the film and will continue offering it to buyers in select territories at next week’s Filmart industry confab in Hong Kong.
Produced by rising studio Huanxi Media, Full River Red was the big winner at China’s Lunar New Year box office race in late January. Frank Guo’s sci-fi sequel The Wander Earth 2 was the market favorite in the lead-up to the lucrative holiday release period,...
- 3/9/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Opening in theaters son. Beyond Events has revealed an official US trailer for Full River Red, one of the latest films from acclaimed Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou, who has been on a roll with all kinds of new films. It's opening in the US and Canada in just a few weeks (March 17th) in a few limited theaters around both countries. The title of this film comes from a poem about Yue Fei, "a military general during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), well-known for his patriotism and loyalty to his country, who was framed & executed by Prime Minister Qin Hui, one of the most treacherous officials in China's history." The suspenseful, comedic mystery takes place in 12th century China, during the Song Dynasty, set against a brewing rebellion organized by the Jin people against the Imperial Court. After a Jin Ambassador is murdered just hours before an important vote and...
- 3/8/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Working at a Soderberghian clip, Chinese director Zhang Yimou’s latest epic, Full River Red, arrived in Chinese theaters at the start of the year where it quickly became the number one grosser of the year. Recently supplanting Avengers: Endgame as the seventh highest-grossing film in China of all time, it’s now thankfully getting a North American release much sooner than expected.
Niu Vision Media and Beyond Events announced the film will arrive in over 150 theaters across U.S. and Canada beginning next week, on March 17. One can see the full list of theaters here. Starring Teng Shen, Jackson Yee, Yi Zhang, Jiayin Lei, Yunpeng Yue, Jiayi Wang, Binlong Pan, and Ailei Yu, the film clocks in at 159 minutes.
“12th century China, during the Song Dynasty, set against a brewing rebellion by the Jin people against the Imperial Court,” reads the official synopsis. “Two hours before a crucial diplomatic...
Niu Vision Media and Beyond Events announced the film will arrive in over 150 theaters across U.S. and Canada beginning next week, on March 17. One can see the full list of theaters here. Starring Teng Shen, Jackson Yee, Yi Zhang, Jiayin Lei, Yunpeng Yue, Jiayi Wang, Binlong Pan, and Ailei Yu, the film clocks in at 159 minutes.
“12th century China, during the Song Dynasty, set against a brewing rebellion by the Jin people against the Imperial Court,” reads the official synopsis. “Two hours before a crucial diplomatic...
- 3/7/2023
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
Bill Kong, Asia’s leading film producer, has turned quietly optimistic about the prospects for Chinese cinema. The sales and distribution arm of his Hong Kong-based Edko Films has picked up international sales rights to “Full River Red,” the Chinese film that’s the world’s highest grossing movie with a 2023 release.
The Chinese film industry had a torrid time in 2022, seeing box office plunge to 11-year lows, censorship and bureaucracy take an additional toll, and only a handful of mainland films make it to overseas festivals.
Now, selected distributors in Berlin could be in for a treat.
Directed by venerable Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou, period drama “Full River Red” was the number one film in mainland China over the recent Lunar New Year holiday and continues to ride high at the Middle Kingdom box office. To date, it has grossed 541 million in the space of 11 days.
Set in the 12th Century,...
The Chinese film industry had a torrid time in 2022, seeing box office plunge to 11-year lows, censorship and bureaucracy take an additional toll, and only a handful of mainland films make it to overseas festivals.
Now, selected distributors in Berlin could be in for a treat.
Directed by venerable Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou, period drama “Full River Red” was the number one film in mainland China over the recent Lunar New Year holiday and continues to ride high at the Middle Kingdom box office. To date, it has grossed 541 million in the space of 11 days.
Set in the 12th Century,...
- 2/3/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
After three long years of pandemic drift and deterioration, China’s movie box office was back in booming form over the weeklong Lunar New Year holiday. Total ticket sales over the six-day festive period, China’s most lucrative moviegoing window of the year, climbed to 993.8 million this year, up 14 percent from the equivalent stretch in 2019, the last holiday prior to the pandemic. This year’s bonanza also easily topped the 2022 Lunar New Year, which brought in 888.2 million.
The strong comeback at the Chinese multiplex was one of several encouraging indicators of economic recovery during the holiday, as Chinese consumers returned en masse to restaurants, tourist sites and entertainment venues, breathing a collective sigh of relief after the abrupt exit from Beijing’s restrictive “Covid zero” policy late last year. The box office rebound is being read as welcome news by international investors as well as film executives, with many economists...
The strong comeback at the Chinese multiplex was one of several encouraging indicators of economic recovery during the holiday, as Chinese consumers returned en masse to restaurants, tourist sites and entertainment venues, breathing a collective sigh of relief after the abrupt exit from Beijing’s restrictive “Covid zero” policy late last year. The box office rebound is being read as welcome news by international investors as well as film executives, with many economists...
- 1/30/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Released in China during the Chinese New Year, this family drama and director Wen’s second feature film about a young entrepreneur was a local film industry favorite and went on to become China’s sixth box office hit grossing around 1.38 billion yuan, over 206 million. Consequently it was also China’s submission as the Best International Feature Film to the Academy Awards.
In Shenzhen, the third most populated and one of the richest cities in southern China, a young man Jing Hao (Jackson Yee Yang Qianxi) lives with and takes care of his six-year-old sister Jing Tong (Chen Halin) after their mother passed away due to her heart condition, while earlier on, their father also left them. Jing runs a small mobile phone repair shop named “Nice View” and earns just enough to maintain a decent living for both of them. Unfortunately, Jing Tong has inherited her mother’s illness...
In Shenzhen, the third most populated and one of the richest cities in southern China, a young man Jing Hao (Jackson Yee Yang Qianxi) lives with and takes care of his six-year-old sister Jing Tong (Chen Halin) after their mother passed away due to her heart condition, while earlier on, their father also left them. Jing runs a small mobile phone repair shop named “Nice View” and earns just enough to maintain a decent living for both of them. Unfortunately, Jing Tong has inherited her mother’s illness...
- 1/26/2023
- by David Chew
- AsianMoviePulse
Welcoming In 2023: The Year Of The Rabbit
New Chinese Family Movies Stream For Free In The U.S. & Canada
January 22- February 5, 2023
Chicago, Il – In honor of the Lunar Calendar’s Chinese New Year Celebration of 2023, Asian Pop-Up Cinema continues to present an excellent free streaming movie series for U.S. and Canadian viewers to enjoy.
Focused on family films, this series begins on the first day of the new year and end on the 15th day, the first full moon between January 22 and February 5, 2023. Sponsored by the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Chicago, and in partnership with China Lion Films Distributions, and Smart Cinema USA the online program brings some popular Chinese films to audiences in North America.
Films include two North American premieres So Long Summer Vacation, an only child’s perspective about being left alone at home while both parents work, and...
New Chinese Family Movies Stream For Free In The U.S. & Canada
January 22- February 5, 2023
Chicago, Il – In honor of the Lunar Calendar’s Chinese New Year Celebration of 2023, Asian Pop-Up Cinema continues to present an excellent free streaming movie series for U.S. and Canadian viewers to enjoy.
Focused on family films, this series begins on the first day of the new year and end on the 15th day, the first full moon between January 22 and February 5, 2023. Sponsored by the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Chicago, and in partnership with China Lion Films Distributions, and Smart Cinema USA the online program brings some popular Chinese films to audiences in North America.
Films include two North American premieres So Long Summer Vacation, an only child’s perspective about being left alone at home while both parents work, and...
- 1/23/2023
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
Titles include ‘Full River Red’, ‘Hidden Blade’ and ‘Wandering Earth 2’.
Wandering Earth 2, Full River Red and Hidden Blade are leading the box office race for Chinese New Year since tickets went on sale last weekend, with stars Shen Teng, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Wu Jing set to slug it out in cinemas across China.
Seven local films have been cleared for release during the highly coveted and crowded festive season, with all but one opening on January 22, the first day of the lunar new year. Since ticket sales began on Saturday (January 14), the total presale is approaching 51.6m (RMB350m) at time of press,...
Wandering Earth 2, Full River Red and Hidden Blade are leading the box office race for Chinese New Year since tickets went on sale last weekend, with stars Shen Teng, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Wu Jing set to slug it out in cinemas across China.
Seven local films have been cleared for release during the highly coveted and crowded festive season, with all but one opening on January 22, the first day of the lunar new year. Since ticket sales began on Saturday (January 14), the total presale is approaching 51.6m (RMB350m) at time of press,...
- 1/19/2023
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
Disney’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” has been given permission to extend its current run in mainland Chinese cinemas beyond the 30-day theatrical period normally granted to Hollywood films imported into the country.
Such decisions are in the gift of the government regulators that oversee the sector and which have blocked Disney’s Marvel movies from playing in China for more than three years.
A spokesman for Disney in Asia confirmed to Variety that it has been informed of an additional 30 days of play for “Avatar 2.” Non-governmental sources have told Variety that the DreamWorks animation-produced “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” has also been granted an extension, though specifics were unavailable.
Such extensions are far from unprecedented and appear to be granted when a longer run could be viewed as beneficial to Chinese cinema operators or to a Chinese investor or co-producer.
What makes the “Avatar 2” and...
Such decisions are in the gift of the government regulators that oversee the sector and which have blocked Disney’s Marvel movies from playing in China for more than three years.
A spokesman for Disney in Asia confirmed to Variety that it has been informed of an additional 30 days of play for “Avatar 2.” Non-governmental sources have told Variety that the DreamWorks animation-produced “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” has also been granted an extension, though specifics were unavailable.
Such extensions are far from unprecedented and appear to be granted when a longer run could be viewed as beneficial to Chinese cinema operators or to a Chinese investor or co-producer.
What makes the “Avatar 2” and...
- 1/10/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Full River Red (Man jiang hong)
Currently in a creative overdrive with what appears to be one project overlapping the next, word last summer was that Zhang Yimou was moving into a period mystery thriller with some comedic elements in what we imagine would be a sizeable budget considering that his last pair in box office champions Cliff Walkers (read review) and his co-directed Sniper (2022) had solid coin in place. The septuagenarian’s Full River Red is toplined by Jackson Yee with supporting players to include Shen Teng, Lei Jiayin, Yue Yunpeng and Zhang Yi. Written by Chen Yu and Zhang Yimou, the title shares its name with a famous poem and is set in the Southern Song Dynasty.…...
Currently in a creative overdrive with what appears to be one project overlapping the next, word last summer was that Zhang Yimou was moving into a period mystery thriller with some comedic elements in what we imagine would be a sizeable budget considering that his last pair in box office champions Cliff Walkers (read review) and his co-directed Sniper (2022) had solid coin in place. The septuagenarian’s Full River Red is toplined by Jackson Yee with supporting players to include Shen Teng, Lei Jiayin, Yue Yunpeng and Zhang Yi. Written by Chen Yu and Zhang Yimou, the title shares its name with a famous poem and is set in the Southern Song Dynasty.…...
- 1/5/2023
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
During the Shaoxing period of the Southern Song Dynasty, four years after Yue Fei’s death, Prime Minister Qin Hui has led his troops to negotiate with the Jurchen Jin dynasty. On the eve of the meeting, the Jurchen envoy is found dead at the Prime Minister’s residence and the secret letter he carried disappears without a trace.
By chance, a soldier and the deputy commander of the security battalion are caught up in this great conspiracy. They are ordered by Prime Minister Qin Hui to locate the murderer within an hour, but things are not as they seem. In-depth investigations are fraught with danger, and ostensibly hidden behind the case there lurks an even bigger conspiracy.
A game within a game, there are forces at play, people’s minds are unfathomable, life and death are unpredictable, a constant change of events overnight, the undercurrents of...
By chance, a soldier and the deputy commander of the security battalion are caught up in this great conspiracy. They are ordered by Prime Minister Qin Hui to locate the murderer within an hour, but things are not as they seem. In-depth investigations are fraught with danger, and ostensibly hidden behind the case there lurks an even bigger conspiracy.
A game within a game, there are forces at play, people’s minds are unfathomable, life and death are unpredictable, a constant change of events overnight, the undercurrents of...
- 12/29/2022
- by Suzie Cho
- AsianMoviePulse
Full River Red Trailer — Zhang Yimou‘s Full River Red / Man Jiang Hong (2023) teaser trailer has been released by Huanxi Media Group. The Full River Red trailer stars Jackson Yee (YiYangqianxi). Crew Zhang Yimou and Chen Yu wrote the screenplay for Full River Red. Name created the music for the film. Name crafted the [...]
Continue reading: Full River Red (2023) Teaser Trailer: Zhang Yimou’s Historical Suspense Film stars Jackson Yee...
Continue reading: Full River Red (2023) Teaser Trailer: Zhang Yimou’s Historical Suspense Film stars Jackson Yee...
- 12/28/2022
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
Keep track of all the submissions for best international feature at the 2023 Academy Awards.
Entries for the 2023 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.
Scroll down for profiles of each Oscar entry
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.
Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between January 1, 2022 and November 30, 2022. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 3, 2022.
A shortlist of 15 finalists is...
Entries for the 2023 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.
Scroll down for profiles of each Oscar entry
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.
Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between January 1, 2022 and November 30, 2022. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 3, 2022.
A shortlist of 15 finalists is...
- 11/1/2022
- by Screen staff
- ScreenDaily
Keep track of all the submissions for best international feature at the 2023 Academy Awards.
Entries for the 2023 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.
Scroll down for profiles of each Oscar entry
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.
Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between January 1, 2022 and November 30, 2022. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 3, 2022.
A shortlist of 15 finalists is...
Entries for the 2023 Oscar for best international feature are underway, and Screen is profiling each one on this page.
Scroll down for profiles of each Oscar entry
An international feature film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the US with a predominantly (more than 50) non-English dialogue track and can include animated and documentary features.
Submitted films must have been released theatrically in their respective countries between January 1, 2022 and November 30, 2022. The deadline for submissions to the Academy is October 3, 2022.
A shortlist of 15 finalists is...
- 10/31/2022
- by Screen staff
- ScreenDaily
China Selects Feelgood Hit ‘Nice View’ for Oscars Race
China has selected feelgood comedy drama film “Nice View” as its contender for the best international feature film category of the Academy Awards.
The Chinese film industry has pursued an increasingly separate course from the rest of the world this year – few foreign titles have been granted import permits and quota release slots, and, similarly, few Chinese films have been allowed to play at overseas film festivals. So, it was unclear whether Chinese authorities would participate in the Oscars process and submit a national contender.
Inviting comparisons with “The Pursuit of Happyness,” the plot of “Nice View” involves a 20-year orphaned man who moves to the Shenzhen megacity and works as a repair man to raise money for his six-year-old sister’s heart surgery. When it goes wrong, his plan to borrow money to buy crates full of second-hand telephones leaves...
China has selected feelgood comedy drama film “Nice View” as its contender for the best international feature film category of the Academy Awards.
The Chinese film industry has pursued an increasingly separate course from the rest of the world this year – few foreign titles have been granted import permits and quota release slots, and, similarly, few Chinese films have been allowed to play at overseas film festivals. So, it was unclear whether Chinese authorities would participate in the Oscars process and submit a national contender.
Inviting comparisons with “The Pursuit of Happyness,” the plot of “Nice View” involves a 20-year orphaned man who moves to the Shenzhen megacity and works as a repair man to raise money for his six-year-old sister’s heart surgery. When it goes wrong, his plan to borrow money to buy crates full of second-hand telephones leaves...
- 10/31/2022
- by Patrick Frater, Anna Marie de la Fuente, Elsa Keslassy, Leo Barraclough, Nick Vivarelli, Mark Schilling, John Hopewell, Jennie Punter, Naman Ramachandran and Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
The Korean War has been a fertile ground for epic war features over the past few decades. Predominantly these have emerged from South Korea where the war is part of the national subconscious. Chinese cinema had tended to focus more on the impact of World War 2 and its aftermath until the release of “The Battle at Lake Changjin” in 2021. A huge success at the box office and another in the current trend of “Melody” blockbusters that incorporate patriotic themes in amongst the entertainment. With the endeavor requiring three directors, it comes as no surprise that the sequel was shot back-to-back to make the most of the production costs.
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
The 7th Company headed by Qianli (Wu) accompanied by his brother Wanli (Jackson Yee) attack the airfield protected by the American 1st division, supported by the artillery battalion headed by Yang...
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
The 7th Company headed by Qianli (Wu) accompanied by his brother Wanli (Jackson Yee) attack the airfield protected by the American 1st division, supported by the artillery battalion headed by Yang...
- 10/19/2022
- by Ben Stykuc
- AsianMoviePulse
Author: Tom Jolliffe
“The Longest Day In Chang’an is an immersive and unforgettable show that, despite its frenetic storytelling, is in no hurry to reach its epic conclusion.”
Historical dramas made for television rarely reach the ambitious heights that The Longest Day In Chang’an scales throughout its epic 48-episode running time. Indeed, few dare to. Director Cao Dun has crafted a sumptuous adaptation of Ma Boyong’s sprawling novel of the same name for the small screen that has captivated audiences in China since its initial release in 2019.
Chang’an, the glittering beacon of the Tang Dynasty, is the location for a pulsating drama that feels distinctly modern in tone, despite its 8th-century setting. Chang’an has been brought to life with unwavering attention to detail – from each silk-woven fiber worn by its actors to the lavish sets constructed by a production team who spent more than seven...
“The Longest Day In Chang’an is an immersive and unforgettable show that, despite its frenetic storytelling, is in no hurry to reach its epic conclusion.”
Historical dramas made for television rarely reach the ambitious heights that The Longest Day In Chang’an scales throughout its epic 48-episode running time. Indeed, few dare to. Director Cao Dun has crafted a sumptuous adaptation of Ma Boyong’s sprawling novel of the same name for the small screen that has captivated audiences in China since its initial release in 2019.
Chang’an, the glittering beacon of the Tang Dynasty, is the location for a pulsating drama that feels distinctly modern in tone, despite its 8th-century setting. Chang’an has been brought to life with unwavering attention to detail – from each silk-woven fiber worn by its actors to the lavish sets constructed by a production team who spent more than seven...
- 9/27/2022
- by Guest Writer
- AsianMoviePulse
Exclusive: Derek Tsang, who directed the Oscar-nominated Chinese drama Better Days, has signed with Anonymous Content for representation.
The Hong Kong filmmaker’s 2019 feature centered on a bullied teenage girl who formed an unlikely friendship with a mysterious young man. Zhou Dongyu and Jackson Yee starred. The film grossed over 14M on its opening day in China and nearly 240M during its theatrical run. It subsequently received an Oscar nomination for Best International Feature Film, making Tsang the youngest Chinese director ever to receive the recognition—also garnering wins for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Female Lead and more at the 39th Hong Kong Film Awards.
Tsang is currently co-executive producing and directing the pilot for The Three-Body Problem, a Netflix series adaptation of Liu Cixin’s alien invasion novel of the same name. The series hails from David Benioff and Dan Weiss (of Game of Thrones fame...
The Hong Kong filmmaker’s 2019 feature centered on a bullied teenage girl who formed an unlikely friendship with a mysterious young man. Zhou Dongyu and Jackson Yee starred. The film grossed over 14M on its opening day in China and nearly 240M during its theatrical run. It subsequently received an Oscar nomination for Best International Feature Film, making Tsang the youngest Chinese director ever to receive the recognition—also garnering wins for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Female Lead and more at the 39th Hong Kong Film Awards.
Tsang is currently co-executive producing and directing the pilot for The Three-Body Problem, a Netflix series adaptation of Liu Cixin’s alien invasion novel of the same name. The series hails from David Benioff and Dan Weiss (of Game of Thrones fame...
- 6/16/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
About 40 minutes into “The Battle at Lake Changjin,” a Chinese comrade aboard a train headed to the China-North Korea border expresses his skepticism regarding the Chinese effort in the Korean War of 1950. “I quit,” he yells, opening the railwagon door. Two other comrades detain him, and soon, everyone on board is mesmerized by the beautiful homeland of China and its Great Wall. Company commander Wu Qianli addresses his brother: “You will stay here as your punishment until the morning.”
This is only one of the countless patriotic scenes that “The Battle of Lake Changjin” has to offer, and given that it was funded by the propaganda department of the Chinese Communist Party to celebrate the Party’s 100th anniversary, the patriotism is no surprise. With a budget worth more than 200 million Usd and directorial credits given to Tsui Hark, Chen Kaige and Dante Lam–arguably three of the greatest filmmakers...
This is only one of the countless patriotic scenes that “The Battle of Lake Changjin” has to offer, and given that it was funded by the propaganda department of the Chinese Communist Party to celebrate the Party’s 100th anniversary, the patriotism is no surprise. With a budget worth more than 200 million Usd and directorial credits given to Tsui Hark, Chen Kaige and Dante Lam–arguably three of the greatest filmmakers...
- 5/2/2022
- by Spencer Nafekh-Blanchette
- AsianMoviePulse
Trinity Cine Asia has acquired rights to mainland Chinese blockbuster “The Battle at Lake Changjin II” for release in the U.K. and Ireland. The deal was struck with sales agency Distribution Workshop.
Trinity plans an almost immediate release from Feb, 18, 2022, barely two weeks after the film launched in Chinese theaters on Feb. 1, in time for the Lunar New Year holidays. The company plans to have copies of the film in over 25 cities.
In China the film dominated the holiday season and has accumulated $480 million (RMB3.05 billion) to date, making it the world’s top grossing film in 2022.
The new film deploys the same three directors, Tsui Hark, Chen Kaige and Dante Lam, as its October 2021 predecessor “The Battle at Lake Changjin.”
Also known as “Watergate Bridge,” the new film is a further tribute to Chinese heroism during the early part of the Korean War. It sees the 7th Infantry...
Trinity plans an almost immediate release from Feb, 18, 2022, barely two weeks after the film launched in Chinese theaters on Feb. 1, in time for the Lunar New Year holidays. The company plans to have copies of the film in over 25 cities.
In China the film dominated the holiday season and has accumulated $480 million (RMB3.05 billion) to date, making it the world’s top grossing film in 2022.
The new film deploys the same three directors, Tsui Hark, Chen Kaige and Dante Lam, as its October 2021 predecessor “The Battle at Lake Changjin.”
Also known as “Watergate Bridge,” the new film is a further tribute to Chinese heroism during the early part of the Korean War. It sees the 7th Infantry...
- 2/10/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
“The Battle at Lake Changjin II” lived up to its blockbuster billing with a more than $75 million box office haul by lunchtime on Tuesday, its opening day in mainland Chinese theaters.
The film, aka “Watergate Bridge” had grossed RMB487 million ($76.5 million) by 1.30 pm, according to online ticketing agency Maoyan and Alibaba’s Beacon data service. At this pace a $100 million opening day is possible.
State media has forecast that the film may propel the Chinese New Year week to over $1 billion and that the 149-minute film could eventually become the highest-grossing film of all time in China.
To do that, it would have to surpass “The Battle at Lake Changjin” which was released on Oct. 1, 2021 and, over a prolonged run in cinemas, earned $913 million to become the second biggest film worldwide in 2021, behind “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”
Despite the short interval between the two outings, there is a reasonable chance...
The film, aka “Watergate Bridge” had grossed RMB487 million ($76.5 million) by 1.30 pm, according to online ticketing agency Maoyan and Alibaba’s Beacon data service. At this pace a $100 million opening day is possible.
State media has forecast that the film may propel the Chinese New Year week to over $1 billion and that the 149-minute film could eventually become the highest-grossing film of all time in China.
To do that, it would have to surpass “The Battle at Lake Changjin” which was released on Oct. 1, 2021 and, over a prolonged run in cinemas, earned $913 million to become the second biggest film worldwide in 2021, behind “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”
Despite the short interval between the two outings, there is a reasonable chance...
- 2/1/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
After being forced to sit out the annually lucrative Chinese New Year period as the Covid crisis was just beginning in 2020, Chinese box office blasted to an all-time high during the comparable 2021 session. This week, the Year of the Tiger will be ushered in with eight movies beginning February 1, and with potential new records on the horizon. Last year in the world’s biggest box office market, the week-long holiday reached Rmb 7.8B ($1.2B at historical rates).
The first full weekend of this Lunar New Year’s festivities dovetails with the beginning of the Winter Olympics in Beijing. It’s likely that Friday’s opening ceremony will be widely watched at home, but tickets to the Games are not being sold to the general public in an attempt to avoid further Covid flare-ups. Box office could still see some impact.
The first full weekend of this Lunar New Year’s festivities dovetails with the beginning of the Winter Olympics in Beijing. It’s likely that Friday’s opening ceremony will be widely watched at home, but tickets to the Games are not being sold to the general public in an attempt to avoid further Covid flare-ups. Box office could still see some impact.
- 1/31/2022
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
China’s cinema box office trod water in the weekend ahead of the Chinese New Year holidays and an imminent surge of new release titles. These mean that the next few days could add up to the biggest week in Chinese movie history.
Over the latest weekend, though, the nationwide aggregate was a paltry $21.4 million, the lowest weekend this year, according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway.
“Fireflies in the Sun,” a Wanda Pictures-backed thriller, said to be a remake of “John Q,” climbed back to first place with a $4.1 million take. It was first released in mid-December and has now built a cumulative of $174 million.
Patriotic pandemic film “Embrace Again” slipped to second place with $3.9 million, giving a running total of $148 million. Comedy, “Another Me” took $2.9 million for a $73 million cumulative since release on Jan. 1, 2022. Chinese crime thriller “G Storm” earned $2.8 million over the weekend for a total...
Over the latest weekend, though, the nationwide aggregate was a paltry $21.4 million, the lowest weekend this year, according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway.
“Fireflies in the Sun,” a Wanda Pictures-backed thriller, said to be a remake of “John Q,” climbed back to first place with a $4.1 million take. It was first released in mid-December and has now built a cumulative of $174 million.
Patriotic pandemic film “Embrace Again” slipped to second place with $3.9 million, giving a running total of $148 million. Comedy, “Another Me” took $2.9 million for a $73 million cumulative since release on Jan. 1, 2022. Chinese crime thriller “G Storm” earned $2.8 million over the weekend for a total...
- 1/31/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Eight local titles come out in China on February 1
The Battle At Lake Changjin II looks set to conquer the China box office when it hits cinemas on February 1, which marks the first day of the highly lucrative Chinese New Year holiday.
At time of writing, the action sequel has clocked up more than $40m (RMB258m) in advance ticket sales for its opening day alone, according to real-time box-office data from the country’s leading online ticketing platform Maoyan.
The release of the 1950s-set patriotic war epic was only officially announced less than three weeks ago as a late...
The Battle At Lake Changjin II looks set to conquer the China box office when it hits cinemas on February 1, which marks the first day of the highly lucrative Chinese New Year holiday.
At time of writing, the action sequel has clocked up more than $40m (RMB258m) in advance ticket sales for its opening day alone, according to real-time box-office data from the country’s leading online ticketing platform Maoyan.
The release of the 1950s-set patriotic war epic was only officially announced less than three weeks ago as a late...
- 1/30/2022
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
Errors and omissions are standard features of historical dramas everywhere. It is therefore no surprise to find Korean War history being filtered to suit domestic requirements in the three-hour Chinese blockbuster “The Battle at Lake Changjin.” Nor is it unexpected for U.S. military characters to be cardboard cutouts with excruciatingly bad dialogue. And, like many other jingoistic war epics, this prestige production co-directed by industry heavyweights Chen Kaige, Tsui Hark and Dante Lam
The latest in a long line of strongly nationalistic films released during the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party, “The Battle at Lake Changjin” has collected almost all its $905 million revenue (as of Dec. 27) from domestic ticket sales. It is currently the highest grossing film of 2021, with only “Spider-Man: No Way Out” and “No Time to Die” as serious rivals for the top spot.
This very old-fashioned production depicts a string of military engagements during...
The latest in a long line of strongly nationalistic films released during the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party, “The Battle at Lake Changjin” has collected almost all its $905 million revenue (as of Dec. 27) from domestic ticket sales. It is currently the highest grossing film of 2021, with only “Spider-Man: No Way Out” and “No Time to Die” as serious rivals for the top spot.
This very old-fashioned production depicts a string of military engagements during...
- 12/27/2021
- by Richard Kuipers
- Variety Film + TV
China has released the list of nominees for its upcoming Golden Rooster Awards, a set of government-approved film industry prizes that it wants to be seen as rivaling the Taipei-based Golden Horse Awards, historically considered as the “Chinese-language Oscars.”
The winning Roosters will be announced amidst a film festival running Dec. 28-30 in the port city of Xiamen in coastal Fujian province, just a short boat ride away from Taiwanese soil. Established in 1981, the event was previously held biannually until China’s rift with the Golden Horse prizes occurred in 2018 following a pro-Taiwanese independence acceptance speech and prompted the Roosters to become an annual occurrence.
This year’s twenty different Rooster Awards will honor films screened theatrically between July 1, 2020 and July 15, 2021. As the event is backed by China’s propaganda department, only local and foreign titles that have received official censorship approvals will be considered.
“As we all know, the...
The winning Roosters will be announced amidst a film festival running Dec. 28-30 in the port city of Xiamen in coastal Fujian province, just a short boat ride away from Taiwanese soil. Established in 1981, the event was previously held biannually until China’s rift with the Golden Horse prizes occurred in 2018 following a pro-Taiwanese independence acceptance speech and prompted the Roosters to become an annual occurrence.
This year’s twenty different Rooster Awards will honor films screened theatrically between July 1, 2020 and July 15, 2021. As the event is backed by China’s propaganda department, only local and foreign titles that have received official censorship approvals will be considered.
“As we all know, the...
- 11/30/2021
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Chinese real estate giant Evergrande has sold its entire remaining stake in the film and TV streaming company HengTen Networks Group for $273 million, part of efforts to avoid defaulting on its massive debts.
The world’s most indebted developer, some $300 billion in the red, is struggling to meet interest payments on its loans, and has been selling off shares to raise funds.
At the beginning of the year, Evergrande owned a majority stake in Netflix-like HengTen. In July, it sold a 7% stake to Chinese tech giant Tencent for around $266 million. Last week, it sold a further 5.7% stake for about $145 million, the BBC said. HengTen’s name is a portmanteau made up of the first characters for Chinese names of Evergrande and Tencent.
Evergrande sold its remaining stake of HengTen to Allied Resources Investment Holdings at about a 24% discount to its Wednesday closing price. The company said that it estimates...
The world’s most indebted developer, some $300 billion in the red, is struggling to meet interest payments on its loans, and has been selling off shares to raise funds.
At the beginning of the year, Evergrande owned a majority stake in Netflix-like HengTen. In July, it sold a 7% stake to Chinese tech giant Tencent for around $266 million. Last week, it sold a further 5.7% stake for about $145 million, the BBC said. HengTen’s name is a portmanteau made up of the first characters for Chinese names of Evergrande and Tencent.
Evergrande sold its remaining stake of HengTen to Allied Resources Investment Holdings at about a 24% discount to its Wednesday closing price. The company said that it estimates...
- 11/19/2021
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Trinity Cine Asia is releasing on Friday 19th of November, The Battle At Lake Changjin, the biggest worldwide box office hit of 2021, with more than $878 million in ticket sales to date, far ahead of No Time To Die, making it the second-biggest Chinese grossing film, only behind Wolf Warrior II (also released by Trinity Cine Asia). The UK will mark the first international territory release of the film outside of Asia in over 25 cities.
Billed as the most expensive Chinese film ever made, with a reported $200m budget, The Battle at Lake Changjin stars Wolf Warrior I & II and Better Days leading men Wu Jing and Jackson Yee, respectively; and is co-directed by three leading, acclaimed directors Chen Kaige (Farewell My Concubine), Tsui Hark (Once Upon a Time in China) and Dante Lam (Operation Red Sea).
Trinity Cine Asia co-founder and director Cedric Behrel says: “The Battle at Lake Changjin...
Billed as the most expensive Chinese film ever made, with a reported $200m budget, The Battle at Lake Changjin stars Wolf Warrior I & II and Better Days leading men Wu Jing and Jackson Yee, respectively; and is co-directed by three leading, acclaimed directors Chen Kaige (Farewell My Concubine), Tsui Hark (Once Upon a Time in China) and Dante Lam (Operation Red Sea).
Trinity Cine Asia co-founder and director Cedric Behrel says: “The Battle at Lake Changjin...
- 11/18/2021
- by Suzie Cho
- AsianMoviePulse
Disney release “Eternals” continued to rule the U.K. and Ireland box office for the second weekend in succession with £2.9 million ($3.9 million), according to numbers released by Comscore.
The latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, directed by Oscar winner Chloé Zhao, now has a total of £10.5 million after two weekends.
James Bond film “No Time to Die,” from Universal, continued its blockbuster business with £1.5 million in second position after seven weekends and now has a mighty total of £92.7 million.
In its fourth weekend, Warner Bros.’ epic adaptation of Frank Herbert’s “Dune,” placed third with £1.17 and has now grossed £18.9 million.
Eros STX’s Princess Diana film “Spencer,” starring Kristen Stewart, collected £698,065 in its second weekend in fourth place and now has a total of £1.5 million.
Rounding off the top five was Universal’s “The Boss Baby: Family Business,” which collected £574,219 in its fourth weekend and has a total of £6.4 million.
The latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, directed by Oscar winner Chloé Zhao, now has a total of £10.5 million after two weekends.
James Bond film “No Time to Die,” from Universal, continued its blockbuster business with £1.5 million in second position after seven weekends and now has a mighty total of £92.7 million.
In its fourth weekend, Warner Bros.’ epic adaptation of Frank Herbert’s “Dune,” placed third with £1.17 and has now grossed £18.9 million.
Eros STX’s Princess Diana film “Spencer,” starring Kristen Stewart, collected £698,065 in its second weekend in fourth place and now has a total of £1.5 million.
Rounding off the top five was Universal’s “The Boss Baby: Family Business,” which collected £574,219 in its fourth weekend and has a total of £6.4 million.
- 11/16/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Trinity Cine Asia has acquired “The Battle at Lake Changjin” from Taipei-based sales firm Distribution Workshop and is set to release the war epic in the U.K. and Ireland on Nov. 19.
The film is currently the highest-grossing title in the world and in China so far in 2021, having earned $881 million in its home market alone — good news for the movie billed as China’s most expensive production of all time.
The U.K. and Ireland outings will occur in 25 cities. They will hit after the film’s Thursday’s release in Singapore, but day-and-date with North America and ahead of Australia (Dec. 2), where the movie is being distributed by China’s Cmc Pictures.
“It’s a privilege for us to be able to release the biggest box office story of 2021, when cinemas are just seeing the first real shoots of recovery,” said Trinity Cine Asia co-founder and director Cedric Behrel,...
The film is currently the highest-grossing title in the world and in China so far in 2021, having earned $881 million in its home market alone — good news for the movie billed as China’s most expensive production of all time.
The U.K. and Ireland outings will occur in 25 cities. They will hit after the film’s Thursday’s release in Singapore, but day-and-date with North America and ahead of Australia (Dec. 2), where the movie is being distributed by China’s Cmc Pictures.
“It’s a privilege for us to be able to release the biggest box office story of 2021, when cinemas are just seeing the first real shoots of recovery,” said Trinity Cine Asia co-founder and director Cedric Behrel,...
- 11/12/2021
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
On Friday, China’s Korean War epic “The Battle at Lake Changjin” became the highest-grossing film in the world for 2021, surpassing the Chinese New Year breakout comedy hit “Hi, Mom.”
The gritty war film co-directed by Chen Kaige, Tsui Hark and Dante Lam has grossed $845 million (RMB5.41 billion) in 29 days, marching past “Hi, Mom,” which earned $821 million at the beginning of the year over a 90-day period. Films are typically given a month-long release window in China, but they can be extended to a two-month run for successful titles. Decisions to allow an even longer run are rarer, and often due to political concerns or a dearth of other strong content.
“Lake Changjin” is currently China’s second highest-grossing film in history behind local title “Wolf Warrior 2″ ($854 million), which also features star Wu Jing and a jingoistic military theme.
The former has more or less dominated the China market since its Sept.
The gritty war film co-directed by Chen Kaige, Tsui Hark and Dante Lam has grossed $845 million (RMB5.41 billion) in 29 days, marching past “Hi, Mom,” which earned $821 million at the beginning of the year over a 90-day period. Films are typically given a month-long release window in China, but they can be extended to a two-month run for successful titles. Decisions to allow an even longer run are rarer, and often due to political concerns or a dearth of other strong content.
“Lake Changjin” is currently China’s second highest-grossing film in history behind local title “Wolf Warrior 2″ ($854 million), which also features star Wu Jing and a jingoistic military theme.
The former has more or less dominated the China market since its Sept.
- 10/29/2021
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
007 is back on the big screen this weekend after a six-year gap, returning just as the box office is heating up again. Can No Time To Die top Skyfall as the series’ top opener with $88.4 million? A week ago we would have said “No way,” but after Venom: Let There Be Carnage’s expectations-smashing $90 million debut last weekend, the game has changed. The general thinking through the summer was that the current slate of blockbuster sequels didn’t stand a chance of living up to their predecessors at the box office. Black Widow and F9: The Fast Saga were both smashes when you factor in the lowered expectations of the pandemic, but take away that variable and they look like box office disappointments compared to other films in their franchises. With Venom 2 beating out the original and becoming the year’s top opener, as well as leading what...
- 10/7/2021
- by Sam Mendelsohn <mail@boxofficemojo.com>
- Box Office Mojo
China Film Co’s patriotic omnibus My Country, My Parents came in second with $90.6m over four days.
Bona Film Group’s The Battle At Lake Changjin topped the China box office over the National Day holiday weekend, according to figures from theatrical consultancy Artisan Gateway, grossing $234.8m in four days.
The patriotic blockbuster, co-directed by Chen Kaige, Tsui Hark and Dante Lam, opened on September 30 and grossed $31.6m on its first day, followed by an additional $203.2m over the three-day weekend (October 1-3). China’s National Day holidays, celebrating the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in...
Bona Film Group’s The Battle At Lake Changjin topped the China box office over the National Day holiday weekend, according to figures from theatrical consultancy Artisan Gateway, grossing $234.8m in four days.
The patriotic blockbuster, co-directed by Chen Kaige, Tsui Hark and Dante Lam, opened on September 30 and grossed $31.6m on its first day, followed by an additional $203.2m over the three-day weekend (October 1-3). China’s National Day holidays, celebrating the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in...
- 10/4/2021
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
China’s ‘The Battle at Lake Changjin’ was the highest grossing film anywhere in the world over the past weekend, with a $203 million haul.
That score was fractionally lower than the combined total earned by “No Time to Die” ($119 million in international markets) and by “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” ($90.2 million in North America).
The film was the far away winner in mainland China, where it was released on Thursday, a day ahead of the October 1, National Day holiday. Over four days on release, it earned $234 million, according to consultancy Artisan Gateway.
Additional data from local provider Ent Group showed that “Battle” enjoyed a massive 157,000 screenings per day and was watched by 25.5 million ticket buyers between Friday and Sunday.
That put it ahead of “My Country, My Parents,” which earned $70.6 million over the weekend proper and a “Venom”-like $90.4 million total over four days.
Both titles are examples of the...
That score was fractionally lower than the combined total earned by “No Time to Die” ($119 million in international markets) and by “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” ($90.2 million in North America).
The film was the far away winner in mainland China, where it was released on Thursday, a day ahead of the October 1, National Day holiday. Over four days on release, it earned $234 million, according to consultancy Artisan Gateway.
Additional data from local provider Ent Group showed that “Battle” enjoyed a massive 157,000 screenings per day and was watched by 25.5 million ticket buyers between Friday and Sunday.
That put it ahead of “My Country, My Parents,” which earned $70.6 million over the weekend proper and a “Venom”-like $90.4 million total over four days.
Both titles are examples of the...
- 10/4/2021
- by Patrick Frater and Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
A battalion of producers and stars worked the opening night red carpet of the Beijiing Intl. Film Festival Tuesday for the world premiere of their mammoth Chinese war film “The Battle of Changjin Lake,” which is expected to rank amongst China’s highest grossing films of the year.
The nearly three-hour-long historical epic is a grind through the blood, sweat and tears of the real-life People’s Volunteer Army as they fight against all odds to defeat the U.S. army at the titular lake during the Korean War. The conflict (1950-1953) is formally known in China as the “War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea.”
Producer and Bona Film Group president Yu Dong said before the screening that the movie has been “meticulously crafted into a masterpiece that can be included in the annals of Chinese film history,” thanks to five years of script development, 200 days of shoots...
The nearly three-hour-long historical epic is a grind through the blood, sweat and tears of the real-life People’s Volunteer Army as they fight against all odds to defeat the U.S. army at the titular lake during the Korean War. The conflict (1950-1953) is formally known in China as the “War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea.”
Producer and Bona Film Group president Yu Dong said before the screening that the movie has been “meticulously crafted into a masterpiece that can be included in the annals of Chinese film history,” thanks to five years of script development, 200 days of shoots...
- 9/22/2021
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Lou Ye’s embattled 2019 film “Saturday Fiction” will have a theatrical outing in the Chinese auteur’s home country nearly two years after its planned high-profile premiere there was abruptly cancelled.
After its long time in the dark, the black-and-white drama will return triumphantly to the official limelight as the closing film of the Beijing Intl. Film Festival on Sept. 10, then go on to light up Chinese theaters Oct. 15. Its star, the iconic Gong Li, is this year’s chairman of the international jury for the festival’s top Tiantan Awards.
“Saturday Film” originally debuted in competition at Venice in 2019 and was set to premiere in China soon after as the opening film of the country’s highly politicized government-run Golden Rooster Film Festival. It was yanked without warning from the line-up the night before due to unspecified “internal production problems” and replaced by a low-budget documentary about traditional bamboo flutes.
After its long time in the dark, the black-and-white drama will return triumphantly to the official limelight as the closing film of the Beijing Intl. Film Festival on Sept. 10, then go on to light up Chinese theaters Oct. 15. Its star, the iconic Gong Li, is this year’s chairman of the international jury for the festival’s top Tiantan Awards.
“Saturday Film” originally debuted in competition at Venice in 2019 and was set to premiere in China soon after as the opening film of the country’s highly politicized government-run Golden Rooster Film Festival. It was yanked without warning from the line-up the night before due to unspecified “internal production problems” and replaced by a low-budget documentary about traditional bamboo flutes.
- 9/10/2021
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
“Better Days” director Derek Tsang has been tapped to direct and co-executive produce Netflix’s adaptation of “Three-Body-Problem” for David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. The forthcoming series, based on the trilogy from Chinese author Liu Cixin, tells the story of what happens when humanity discovers that we are not alone in the universe.
“Game of Thrones” creators Benioff and Weiss will serve as showrunners for the series under their their overall deal with Netflix. Tsang’s romance crime feature, “Better Days,” was nominated for best international feature film at the 93rd Academy Awards, after it won eight awards at the 39th Hong Kong Film Awards. The film stars Zhou Dongyu, Jackson Yee, Yin Fang, Huang Jue, Wu Yue, Zhou Ye and Zhang Xinyi among others. Tsang’s solo directorial debut in 2016, “Soul Mate,” earned him the Best Director Award at the 2017 Hong Kong Film Director’s Guild.
Alexander Woo co-created...
“Game of Thrones” creators Benioff and Weiss will serve as showrunners for the series under their their overall deal with Netflix. Tsang’s romance crime feature, “Better Days,” was nominated for best international feature film at the 93rd Academy Awards, after it won eight awards at the 39th Hong Kong Film Awards. The film stars Zhou Dongyu, Jackson Yee, Yin Fang, Huang Jue, Wu Yue, Zhou Ye and Zhang Xinyi among others. Tsang’s solo directorial debut in 2016, “Soul Mate,” earned him the Best Director Award at the 2017 Hong Kong Film Director’s Guild.
Alexander Woo co-created...
- 8/19/2021
- by Mónica Marie Zorrilla
- Variety Film + TV
Chinese pop singer and actor Jackson Yee, who starred in the Oscar-nominated drama “Better Days,” will anchor a new blockbuster from Chinese director Wen Muye, whose “Dying to Survive” is China’s 12th highest grossing film of all time.
The film, scheduled for a 2022 release, does not yet have an official English title, but its Chinese name translates to “Miracle.” It will be produced by Ning Hao and his Dirty Monkey Films.
The plot is described in current reports: “Twenty-year-old Jing Hao brings his sister with him to go live in Shenzhen, where the siblings lead comfortable but difficult lives. By chance, he gets an opportunity and thinks that a better life is on its way, but then unexpectedly suffered huge losses. Through enormous perseverance, he stubbornly struggles on until he finally succeeds.”
The film will be the second collaboration between Wen and Ning, following their first picture together “Dying to Survive,...
The film, scheduled for a 2022 release, does not yet have an official English title, but its Chinese name translates to “Miracle.” It will be produced by Ning Hao and his Dirty Monkey Films.
The plot is described in current reports: “Twenty-year-old Jing Hao brings his sister with him to go live in Shenzhen, where the siblings lead comfortable but difficult lives. By chance, he gets an opportunity and thinks that a better life is on its way, but then unexpectedly suffered huge losses. Through enormous perseverance, he stubbornly struggles on until he finally succeeds.”
The film will be the second collaboration between Wen and Ning, following their first picture together “Dying to Survive,...
- 8/6/2021
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Patriotic titles continue to lead the China box office, with historical drama 1921 coming in second.
Patriotic titles continued to dominate the China box office this weekend, with Bona Film Group’s Chinese Doctors opening in pole position with $53.3m in its first three days (July 9-11), according to figures from theatrical consultancy Artisan Gateway.
Produced by Bona Film Group, the film reunites Hong Kong director Andrew Lau with the stars of his 2019 blockbuster The Captain — Zhang Hanyu and Yuan Quan — and also features Jackson Yee, who makes a special appearance in the film. The story follows a group of medical...
Patriotic titles continued to dominate the China box office this weekend, with Bona Film Group’s Chinese Doctors opening in pole position with $53.3m in its first three days (July 9-11), according to figures from theatrical consultancy Artisan Gateway.
Produced by Bona Film Group, the film reunites Hong Kong director Andrew Lau with the stars of his 2019 blockbuster The Captain — Zhang Hanyu and Yuan Quan — and also features Jackson Yee, who makes a special appearance in the film. The story follows a group of medical...
- 7/12/2021
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
After months of build-up involving heightened censorship, a propaganda blitz, and a flurry of patriotic film, TV and music content, the Chinese Communist Party at last celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founding on Thursday.
It marked the occasion with political speeches, a highly choreographed mass commemoration in Tiananmen Square, the broadcast of a jingoistic performance extravaganza featuring top celebs and the release of new propaganda blockbusters, among other measures.
A reported 70,000-strong crowd gathered at Tiananmen Square on Thursday morning for the occasion, waving flags, singing patriotic songs and chanting slogans in unison like, “Listen to the party,” “be grateful to the party” and “follow the party!”
More than four dozen cannons were fired 100 times in a salute, while scores of military helicopters and fighter jets performed flybys in formation overhead, coordinating to form the number “100,” trailed colored smoke or unfurled red banners.
Attendees sat facing the Gate of Heavenly Peace,...
It marked the occasion with political speeches, a highly choreographed mass commemoration in Tiananmen Square, the broadcast of a jingoistic performance extravaganza featuring top celebs and the release of new propaganda blockbusters, among other measures.
A reported 70,000-strong crowd gathered at Tiananmen Square on Thursday morning for the occasion, waving flags, singing patriotic songs and chanting slogans in unison like, “Listen to the party,” “be grateful to the party” and “follow the party!”
More than four dozen cannons were fired 100 times in a salute, while scores of military helicopters and fighter jets performed flybys in formation overhead, coordinating to form the number “100,” trailed colored smoke or unfurled red banners.
Attendees sat facing the Gate of Heavenly Peace,...
- 7/1/2021
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
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