Fundamental Films’ Mark Gao Talks New Strategy For Buying, Producing & Co-Productions: “China Market Is Just Looking For Something New”
deadline.comFundamental Films chairman Mark Gao and his CEO Ivy Hua are in Cannes to reconnect with the international industry as part of the Shanghai-based company’s return to international acquisitions and production.
One of the biggest and longest-established Chinese buyers before the pandemic, Fundamental is also an investor in Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp and has a long-standing output deal to release the French studio’s films in China – it will soon release Weekend In Taipei, directed by George Huang and starring Luke Evans and Gwei Lun-mei.
It also was also recently signed by UTA for representation across production, distribution and investment opportunities. Chinese buyers have been a rare sight on the Croisette in recent years, a consequence of travel restrictions during the pandemic and a slowdown in censorship approvals, but now the borders are wide open, and Gao thinks the time is right to step back into the international market. “We’re really thinking about where we can find something new and different – our market was starting to change even before the pandemic,” Gao tells Deadline. “The Chinese audience is really young and very much influenced by social media.
They just want to see something completely new and that they consider cool.” China’s box office is on track to be bigger than North America this year and local films have been pulling in blockbuster business.
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