Celebs in News

Frater Asia

Five Series Pitched at Series Mania as Taiwan Strengthens its Claim in Chinese-Language TV Production

Annual Profits at Tencent Fall to $27 Billion Following China Slowdown

‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey’ Mysteriously Pulled From Hong Kong Theaters Two Days Before Premiere

Tencent Music Grows Profits and Subscriptions, as Revenues Fall

Gina Noer’s Teen Sex Movie ‘Like & Share’ Wins Top Prize at Osaka Asian Film Festival

More ...

variety.com Frater Asia China Hollywood film stars action Patrick Frater Asia China

‘The Woman King’ Approved for Release in Mainland China Cinemas

07.03.2023 - 07:43

Reading now: 370

variety.com

variety.com:

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief TriStar Pictures film “The Woman King” has been given official permission to release in cinemas in mainland China.

It is expected to debut on April 14. The Viola Davis-starring fantasy action film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September last year and went into U.S.

and international commercial release shortly after. The film has grossed $97.2 million worldwide, with $29.9 million coming from international markets and $67.3 million in North America.

While the China release is significantly later than the rest of the world, potentially opening the film to online piracy, the launch date was communicated by Chinese authorities with some five weeks of advanced notice.

Report this news

Reason

Indicate the reason

Related News

deadline.com

24.03.2023 / 20:13

‘Descendants: The Rise of Red’ At Disney+ Casts Alex Boniello As Jack Of Diamonds

EXCLUSIVE: Alex Boniello (Jessica Jones) has been cast as Jack of Diamonds in the Disney+ original movie Descendants: The Rise of Red (formerly known as The Pocketwatch), the latest installment in Disney Branded Television’s Descendants franchise.

Rita Ora Ruby Rose Anne Macclain Leonardo Nam Dara Renee Paolo Montalban Dan Frey Melanie Paxson Kylie Cantrall Joshua Colley Gabby Duran Disney Branded Morgan Dudley Jennifer Phang Russell Sommer China county Queens city Hadestown county Mcclain exclusive travelers google Music Enterprise

deadline.com

24.03.2023 / 20:13

‘Dear Edward’ Creator Jason Katims Talks Finale Episode & Plans For Potential Season 2

SPOILER ALERT! This post contains details from the season finale of Apple TV+’s Dear Edward.

Jason Katims Beyond beautiful show actor Love Discover Enterprise

deadline.com

24.03.2023 / 20:13

Hot Package: Adam McKay Lines Up Robert Pattinson, Amy Adams, Robert Downey Jr, Forest Whitaker & Danielle Deadwyler For Serial Killer Comedy ‘Average Height, Average Build’

Oscar winner Adam McKay has lined up Rob Pattinson, Amy Adams, Robert Downey Jr, Forest Whitaker and Till‘s Danielle Deadwyler to head the ensemble cast of his next directing vehicle. Titled Average Height, Average Build, the script and package is out to studios and streamers, and the intention is to get it into production by late summer or early fall.

Robert Downey-Junior Robert Pattinson Amy Adams Forest Whitaker Danielle Deadwyler Smith Goes Kevin Messick Rob Pattinson Washington county Adams Entertainment film prevention google Celebrity Enterprise Oscar

deadline.com

24.03.2023 / 20:13

Philippa Langley On Digging Up ‘The Lost King’ Richard III After 500 Years – Specialty Preview

Much maligned Richard III finally gets the royal treatment in Stephen Frears’ The Lost King as amateur historian Philippa Langley unearths the monarch’s five century-old remains in a parking lot in Leicester, England in 2012. Two books and a documentary later, IFC Films presents the feature film version in 750+ theaters.

queen Elizabeth Steve Coogan Sally Hawkins Richard Stephen Frears Richard Iii III (Iii) Philippa Langley Britain film stars Gap google Parke Enterprise Fox

deadline.com

24.03.2023 / 20:13

Millie Bobby Brown Novel ‘Nineteen Steps’ Coming From William Morrow This Fall

Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown will have her first novel published by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins, this fall, the publishing house announced today.

William Morris William Morrow Williams Britain USA stars consequences google Love Enterprise

deadline.com

24.03.2023 / 20:13

Searchlight Sets December Release For Jonathan Majors Sundance Title ‘Magazine Dreams’

After snapping up the critically acclaimed Jonathan Majors movie Magazine Dreams out of Sundance, Searchlight has set a Dec. 8 theatrical release for the Elijah Bynum directed title; a date that’s right in line with the classics’ label previous awards season launches.

Jennifer Fox Jeffrey Soros Simon Horsman Haley Bennett Dan Gilroy Luke Rodgers Elijah Bynum Mike Ohearn Andrew Blau Killian Maddox county Harrison county Page county Major stars awards classical Sony google Dreams Enterprise

nypost.com

24.03.2023 / 20:11

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle can be ‘annoying’, Ron DeSantis says

Ron DeSantis doesn’t seem to be on Team Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.The 44-year-old Republican appeared on a recent episode of the TalkTV show “Piers Morgan Uncensored” and told the Brit how he thinks Americans find the royal couple “annoying.”Morgan, 57, first asked the politician what he thought of the late Queen Elizabeth, who died in September 2022 at the age of 96.DeSantis noted that he “respected” the long-reigning monarch and believed she was “really elegant.”“And I think her stoicism was really good,” he added.He then explained how there is a difference between the public’s view of the sovereign and the “younger generations” of the royal family.Reaction to the younger batch of royals is a “little more mixed,” DeSantis said. “I mean that’s just the reality.” As for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the governor was asked by the English TV broadcaster if he felt the duo were “annoying.”“I think for some they are,” DeSantis replied.

prince Harry Meghan Markle princess Diana Piers Morgan Prince Harry Paul Burrell Ron Desantis the late queen Elizabeth Britain USA Charles 3/24/23 and

variety.com

16.03.2023 / 16:25

FilMart Reveals Lower Participant Numbers, But Strong Buzz

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The Hong Kong Trade Development Council said Thursday that 7,300 executives from 41 countries had attended its FilMart and Entertainment Pulse events this week (March 13-16). “The revived physical marketplace was as vibrant and active as in the past,” organizers claimed. In 2019, the last year that FilMart was held as an in-person event, the TDC reported “close to 9,000 visitors from 52 countries and regions.” For 2023, it reported “over 700 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions,” including a record Mainland China exhibitor tally exceeding 330. Those numbers compared with 888 exhibitors from 35 countries and regions in 2019, including 264 exhibitors from China.

Frater Asia China Hong Kong city Hong Kong Entertainment film reports country gossips band Patrick

variety.com

15.03.2023 / 17:35

‘We 12’ Mirror Boy Band Movie Among Projects as Viu and Makerville Expand Production, Live Events Activities

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief “We 12,” a movie featuring the entire group of 12 Mirror Canto-pop stars is part of the expanding production slate of Makerville, the talent and production arm of Hong Kong telecoms and TV group PCCW. The development is paralleled by an expansion of the production operations of Viu, PCCW’s multi-territory video streamer which recently confirmed its profitability. Makerville is the talent agency behind Mirror, which was created in 2018 through the “Good Night Show – Kingmaker” talent show on ViuTV, a PCCW terrestrial channel. And it was able to put all the band members on stage Wednesday at a promotional event within the FilMart rights market in Hong Kong.

Frater Asia New York South Africa Berlin Hong Kong city Hong Kong film show stage stars band Platform Patrick and

variety.com

15.03.2023 / 14:41

‘Fly Me to the Moon’ Wins Unprecedented Five Awards at the HAF Project Market

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief “Fly Me to the Moon,” a work-in-progress from Hong Kong, dominated the prizes presented at the Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum project market. It collected five awards and was invited to continue its journey at Cannes in May. Directed by first-time feature maker Sasha Chuk and produced by the veteran Stanley Kwan, the film tells the tale of a pair of sisters moving from Hunan to Hong Kong in the 1990s. They are faced with an identity crisis, poverty and their father’s drug addiction. It entered the market with $640,000 of its intended $705,000 production budget in place, and more than filled the gap with the prizes announced on Wednesday.

Frater Asia Stanley Kwan China Japan Hong Kong Taiwan county Lawrence film awards gossips Gap Patrick FIVE

variety.com

15.03.2023 / 02:35

John Chong on Making ‘Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In’ an Authentic Dive into Notorious Kowloon Walled City and Yet Emblematic of Hong Kong’s New Wave (EXCLUSIVE)

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Kowloon Walled City — one of Hong Kong’s most famous landmarks, or infamous trouble spots, depending on your point of view — fell prey to the developers’ bulldozer 30 years ago. But it remains an icon of the territory’s gritty spirit and is being painstakingly re-created for action thriller feature “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In.” The film is a beacon for how Hong Kong cinema is now evolving. Directed by hot-shot Soi Cheang, whose “Mad Fate” recently played in Berlin and is set for imminent local release, “Twilight” boasts leading stars Louis Koo, Sammo Hung and Richie Jen, plus emerging talents Philip Ng, Raymond Lau and Terrance Lau.

Louis Koo Frater Asia Richie Jen Britain China Berlin Hong Kong city Hong Kong city Walled film stars Waves action Citi Landmark Patrick and

variety.com

14.03.2023 / 19:17

Imax China CEO Says China’s Cinema Revival Has a Long Way to Go

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The recent reopening of the mainland Chinese box office, including a $1 billion Chinese New Year holiday season, has put a different complexion on the global theatrical industry. Few companies could be closer to that change in fortune than Imax China, a stock market-listed subsidiary of the Imax Corp. The company operates as both a supplier of screens, audio and projection equipment for premium cinemas and as a partner in making local Chinese films fit for exhibition in the giant format. During Chinese New Year, Imax was represented by “Avatar: The Way of Water” and four Chinese movies. Daniel Manwaring, CEO of Imax China, spoke to Variety in his first interview since taking on the top job in January.

Frater Asia China California Hollywood film audience pandemic country CEO Patrick

variety.com

14.03.2023 / 12:39

Phoenix Waters Ties Knot With Agog Films to Expand Asia Film Financing, ‘Chungking Mansions’ to Resume Shooting

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief U.K.- and Hong Kong-based company Phoenix Waters Prods. has formally partnered with Hong Kong’s Agog Films to create Phoenix Waters Asia, a new venture aimed at increasing content production in Asia. The venture was announced on the sidelines of a film investment conference held Tuesday in Hong Kong at the FilMart rights market, where Phoenix Waters Prods. CEO Bizhan Tong was a speaker. The two companies previously collaborated on “Chungking Mansions,” an ambitious pan-Asian action film on which Tong is director, and where production was previously scheduled for last year. Tong told Variety that lensing will start later this year, “after address any issues that could hinder filming in Hong Kong.”

Frater Asia Japan Hong Kong city Hong Kong film actor shootings action CEO Waters Patrick

variety.com

14.03.2023 / 05:25

Good Move Media Bends With Japan’s ‘Plastic’ for FilMart Launch (EXCLUSIVE)

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Hong Kong-based indie sales agent Good Move Media has added Japanese music drama “Plastic” to its FilMart slate. The film is directed by Miyazaki Daisuke, the Japanese helmer behind “Yamato (California),” which had festival play in 2016, and 2019 slacker youth title “Tourism” in 2019. The new picture is the story of teenagers Juna and Ibuki, who set out to find the psychedelic rock band Exne Kedy. Exne Kedy is a fictional creation from musician Ide Kensuke, who previously released punky album “Kensuke Ide With His Mothership — Contact From Exne Kedy and the Poltergeists,” but the band is actually credited as performing and providing part of the music track in the film. “Plastic” is recently completed and headed for a theatrical release in Japan in July.

Frater Asia California Japan city Tokyo Hong Kong Burma city Shanghai Rock film track band musician Music Patrick

variety.com

14.03.2023 / 02:15

Udine Far East Film Festival Celebrates 25 Years of Asian Films

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy, is back in full force in 2023, celebrating its 25th anniversary edition from April 21–29. A key component of the celebrations will be a focus on the Asian films of the 1980s. “We have never programmed these films, nor put together this kind of program before,” says Thomas Bertacche, the FEFF’s co-head. “But these were the films and directors that inspired us to shape Udine into the festival that it is today.” Pitching the historical lineup as “hidden treasures,” the selection is expected to include early works by Japan’s Kurosawa Kiyoshi, Thailand’s Nonzee Nimibutr and South Korea’s Jan Sung-woo.

Frater Asia Nestlé Italy South Korea Thailand Japan Hong Kong city Hong Kong Mongolia film Celebrity Citi Progressive Strategy Patrick

variety.com

14.03.2023 / 01:03

Old Hong Kong Values Championed by New Talent in ‘The Remnant,’ HAF Work-in-Progress

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Work-in-progress film project “The Remnant” is both a spotlight on those who feel powerless and also a very Hong Kong example of elements of the city pulling themselves up. “The Remnant” is one of the projects in the Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) unspooling March 13-15 alongside Hong Kong’s Filmart market. It tells the story of a former gangster who, upon his release from prison, sets up a laundry in an anonymous district and lives a quiet life. After property developers try to grab a rundown building, young gangsters try to throw people out of the building, drug addicts cause trouble and the old-timer heeds his neighbors’ calls and fights back.

Frater Asia Hong Kong city Hong Kong film social pandemic shootings Fighting Citi Patrick

variety.com

14.03.2023 / 01:03

HAF Drama: ‘Marriage Drive’ Examining Ten Years of Romance in Hong Kong

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief “We need more love stories, even if they have their ups and downs,” says Hong Kong-based producer Cora Yim, who is behind the Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) in-development project “The Marriage Drive.” HAF runs takes place alongside the FilMart rights market. The film is a simple-to-describe idea that writer-director Lawrence Kan has been kicking around and developing for some six years. The story involves a middle-class professional couple — he’s in the legal sector, she’s in finance — and tracks their childless, but not loveless, marriage over a period of 10 years from marriage to divorce.

Frater Asia China county Patrick Hong Kong county Lawrence city Hong Kong film show track career Love Fox ten

variety.com

14.03.2023 / 01:03

‘Dragonfly Eyes’ Director Zhang Hanyi Dangles Deadly Project ‘The Walking Bird’ at HAF

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Chinese director Zhang Hanyi takes an unexpected turn with his latest feature film effort, “The Walking Bird,” which makes its appearance as an in-development project at the Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), which takes place alongside the FilMart rights market. His previous film, 2017’s “Dragonfly Eyes,” was one of the most unusual and stylish films of the year from anywhere in the world. It told a disturbing (fictional) narrative through extraordinary found-footage obtained from hundreds of real-world CCTV cameras, and won the FIPRESCI and Ecumenical Jury prizes at the Locarno Festival that year.

Frater Asia Australia China Argentina Hong Kong city Beijing film stage shootings Provident Patrick

variety.com

13.03.2023 / 14:09

China Film Industry Suffering From Long COVID, Says Bona Film COO – FilMart

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Despite a barnstorming address celebrating the re-opening of Hong Kong and China by Bona Film Group COO Jiang De Fu, it is clear that the film industry in China is still suffering its own version of long-COVID, with box office tracking at around half of 2018 levels. “The Chinese box office was RMB60.7 billion ($8.89 billion at current rates of exchange) in 2018. And 83 films made over RMB100 million. 16 films that made over RMB1 billion. Post-pandemic, in 2022, China’s box office was RMB29.9 billion. [Just] 41 films made over RMB100 million. [And] 8 films made over RMB1 billion. We are now only at 50% of the level in 2018,” said Jiang aty a presentation on the first day of Hong Kong’s FilMart.

Frater Asia Andrew Lau China Hong Kong city Hong Kong Macau film track Department Celebrity Patrick

variety.com

13.03.2023 / 13:27

China Box Office: ‘Post-Truth’ Wins Weekend With $17 Million Launch

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief “Post-Truth,” a Chinese comedy film about a cemetery plot salesman trying to salvage his reputation in the face of online assaults, topped the cinema box office in mainland China over the weekend, ahead of another new release title “Revival.” Data from consultancy Artisan Gateway showed that “Post-Truth” earned $17.0 million between Friday and Sunday. Including preview, it has a cumulative of $20.3 million. Crime drama, “Revival” earned $10.3 million over the weekend and has a running total of $11.4 million including previews. The two newcomers dominated the box office and relegated Hong Kong-produced courtroom drama “A Guilty Conscience” to a distant third place. “Guilty” took $2.3 million (RMB15.8 million) for a cumulative of $23 million since releasing on Feb. 24.

Frater Asia China Hong Kong city Hong Kong film show Patrick

variety.com

13.03.2023 / 11:51

Emissary Pictures and Mocha Chai Laboratories Unveil Asian Content Partnership – FilMart (EXCLUSIVE)

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Singapore’s Mocha Chai Laboratories and Emissary Pictures, a company that straddles New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia, have announced a strategic partnership for the development and production of cross-cultural films, series and content in Asia. The venture will have offices in all four countries and will identify, develop and produce content across genres and formats, including films, television series, documentaries and digital content. The agreement was announced in Hong Kong on the first day of the FilMart rights market. The pair say that they have scripted and unscripted projects in development and production. Slate details, however, remain under wraps as do distribution plans.

Frater Asia Australia New Zealand Indonesia Hong Kong Singapore city Singapore film audience actor country Digital Patrick partnership and

variety.com

13.03.2023 / 01:43

FilMart Returns, Buoyed by Positive Current Trends But Against Backdrop of Industry and Regional Change

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief After three editions that were canceled due to a combination of COVID and bad timing, Hong Kong’s FilMart film rights market may have finally had some things go its way. It opens March 13 with many factors now moving in its favor. Not least of these are the moves by the Hong Kong government to end its previously harsh and persistent disease-control measures. The city wound down its disruptive quarantine and tracking measures at the end of 2022, opened its borders in January and finally dropped its mask mandate in the last 10 days. “We saw an immediate jump in interest from buyers and sellers after Chinese New Year’s border opening and there were no more restrictions on the food and beverage sector,” says Gloria Chan, section head for the entertainment industry at FilMart organizer, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

Frater Asia China USA Hong Kong city Hong Kong city Busan Entertainment Hollywood film track travelers Citi Patrick and

variety.com

13.03.2023 / 01:43

Chinese Animated Features, Jane Seymour Comedy Head Autumn Sun Slate at FilMart

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Hong Kong-based indie sales agent Autumn Sun comes to FilMart with a bulging slate of new film titles from around Asia — including two animated features from mainland China. Autumn Sun, headed by sales veteran Elliot Tong, is giving a market premiere to “Planet Cat,” an animated feature by Song Yuefeng (“Ping Pong Rabbit,” “Throne of Elves”) about a chance meeting between a stray cat and a girl in a city at night. The film is produced by Nuctopus Studio and Dreamers Studio and previously won a development prize at the Beijing International Film Festival. The feature is now in post-production and a promo reel is being screened at the market.

Jane Seymour Frater Asia Australia China Thailand Hong Kong city Beijing film stars song art Digital Citi Patrick

variety.com

12.03.2023 / 17:51

Hong Kong Makes the Most of Hosting Asian Film Awards as ‘Drive My Car’ Is Named Best Movie

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The much-decorated Japanese drama “Drive My Car” was named the best film Sunday at the Asian Film Awards, defeating hot favorite “Decision to Leave.” Other notable awards went to Japan’s Hirokazu Kore-eda whose “Broker” debuted at Cannes, but which was largely shunned in his home country. “Decision to Leave,” which started the evening with ten nominations, was nevertheless rewarded with three awards, best screenplay, best production design and best actress for China’s Tang Wei.

Frater Asia Mabel Cheung Tony Leung Chiu China India Japan Indonesia Hong Kong Philippines city Hong Kong city Busan Macau film awards actor actress country exclusive Patrick

variety.com

11.03.2023 / 01:15

Korea’s CJ ENM Puts Emphasis on TV Content at Revived FilMart

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief CJ ENM is putting an emphasis on TV content over feature film at the upcoming FilMart rights market in Hong Kong. The South Korean behemoth, which operates multiple studios and the TVing streaming platform, is touting at least six shows and formats. Sebastian Kim, the group’s director of international content sales and acquisition, will also be taking part in a Monday morning seminar “Spotlight Conversation: The Asian Wave in 2023 and Beyond” at FilMart. His lineup is headed by “The Heavenly Idol,” a fantasy, romance series which sees a priest from a different era transported to the present day as a pop idol. His training makes him a hopeless celebrity, but he has to learn to adapt. Starring Kim Min-gue and Go Bo-gyeol, the 12-part series began airing mind-February on tvN.

Frater Asia Lee Jong South Korea Hong Kong city Hong Kong film show stage Waves Music Platform Patrick

variety.com

10.03.2023 / 14:33

Hong Kong Film Festival Sets Trio of Local Titles as Opening and Closing Titles

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The Asian premiere of Soi Cheang’s “Mad Fate” is just one of three locally-produced movies that have been set as the opening and closing titles of the upcoming Hong Kong International Film Festival. “Mad Fate” is joined in the festival opening slot on March 30 by “Elegies,” Ann Hui’s documentary portrayal of the topography of contemporary local poetry, which will have its world premiere. The closing film, another world premiere, is “Vital Sign,” an affecting drama directed by Cheuk Wan-chi and starring Louis Koo, Yau Hawk-sau, and Angela Yuen, which will wrap up proceedings on 10 April. In total, the festival has programmed some 200 films from 64 countries and territories. These include nine world premieres, six international premieres, and 67 Asian premieres.

Louis Koo Frater Asia Berlin Hong Kong city Hong Kong film stars pandemic country travelers Love Patrick and

variety.com

10.03.2023 / 11:15

The Philippines’ ABS-CBN Launching Remake of ‘Bagman’ Series as Coproduction at FilMart

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Philippines media powerhouse ABS-CBN is launching “The Bagman” action drama series as a remake of its own “Bagman” digital production and will launch it at Hong Kong’s FilMart next week. The original “Bagman,” which ran to two seasons and sold to Netflix in The Philippines, follows a neighborhood barber who lands a job as the governor’s henchman and gets caught up in a dangerous web of crime, corruption, and political turmoil. That is a familiar story for ABS-CBN itself. The company was until 2020 The Philippines leading broadcaster. But it dared to criticize the policies of then president Rodrigo Duterte and found its TV licenses were not renewed. Since the loss of its TV broadcast operations, ABS-CBN has repositioned itself as a mass content company working as a producer with other producers and broadcasters and outputting news to its website, streaming service iWantTFC and YouTube channels. It also operates related businesses in talent management and events.

Rodrigo Duterte Frater Asia Hong Kong Philippines Entertainment show 2020 president Digital action Patrick

variety.com

09.03.2023 / 13:43

‘Lyle, Lyle Crocodile’ Set for China Theatrical Release

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief American musical comedy film “Lyle Lyle Crocodile,” is set to release in mainland China cinemas, having received approvals for import and distribution from Chinese authorities. It will play in China from April 15, 2023. The film was released in North America in early October last year and many other territories at the end of 2022. Parts of Asia have been later to receive the title with Korea and Taiwan play it from January and Japan set to open it from March 24. The film has grossed $108 million worldwide, with $60.9 million of that coming from international markets and $46.8 million from the North American domestic market, studio backer Sony Pictures reported.

Shawn Mendes Constance Wu Josh Gordon Javier Bardem Benj Pasek Justin Paul Frater Asia Andy Mitchell Dan Wilson Tarak Ben-Ammar Bernard Waber Will Davies China USA Hollywood New York county Mitchell Japan Taiwan film reports Sony action Music Citi Patrick

variety.com

08.03.2023 / 12:59

Adam Driver Sci-fi Film ’65’ Confirmed to Land in China Cinemas

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Adam Driver-starring sci-fi adventure film “65” has been approved for theatrical release in mainland China. It will hit cinemas on March 31, some three weeks after the film began to release in other international territories. The film is branded as a Columbia Pictures title and will be released by the Sony label in most territories. In China, however, all revenue-sharing import titles are officially handled by a state-owned enterprise. The Hollywood studio’s Chinese office theoretically operates in an advisory capacity, though in practice it is likely to be involved in marketing strategy and p&a decisions. The film has a survival-quest narrative. After a catastrophic crash on an unknown planet, pilot Mills (Driver) quickly discovers he’s actually stranded on Earth some 65 million years ago. Now, with only one chance at rescue, Mills and the only other survivor, Koa (Ariana Greenblatt), must make their way across an unknown terrain riddled with dangerous prehistoric creatures in an epic fight to survive.

Sam Raimi Frater Asia Aaron L.Gilbert Jason Cloth Deborah Liebling China county Woods city Columbia county Bryan Hollywood film Sony Strategy Enterprise Adventure Patrick

variety.com

06.03.2023 / 09:15

Netflix to Increase Asia Content Spending by 15% in 2023 as Revenue Growth Accelerates in the Region – Study

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Global streaming operation Netflix is forecast to spend $1.9 billion on local content in the Asia-Pacific region this year as group revenue from the region accelerates to 12%, according to a new report. The content investment spending figure represents a 15% hike. Netflix will grow revenues this year by 12% year-on-year to exceed $4 billion compared with 9% growth in 2022, says a new report published on Monday by Media Partners Asia.

Frater Asia Vivek Couto Australia China South Korea India Thailand Japan Indonesia Singapore Philippines region Asia-Pacific Netflix show performer reports country economy Patrick

variety.com

06.03.2023 / 07:09

China Box Office: Hong Kong’s ‘Cyber Heist’ Takes Top Spot in Mainland Chinese Cinemas

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief “Cyber Heist,” a crime thriller directed by Hong Kong’s Wong Hing-fan (“I’m Livin’ It”) and scripted by Soi Cheang (aka Cheang Pou Soi), took the top spot at the mainland Chinese box office over the weekend. It earned a very modest $6.2 million, according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway. But that was enough to win on the quietest weekend since January’s Lunar New Year holiday season. “Cyber Heist” stars Aaron Kwok as a cyber security engineer who develops a state-of-the-art firewall that is capable of fending off online attacks against the global financial system. But he does not realize that in doing so he has stepped into a minefield that is even more dangerous. The picture also stars Lam Ka-tun and Simon Yam.

Frater Asia Aaron Kwok Simon Yam China Berlin Hong Kong city Hong Kong Entertainment film performer stars Patrick

variety.com

03.03.2023 / 14:37

Hong Kong Box Office Sees Lofty Drama ‘A Guilty Conscience’ Reach Same Flight Level as ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ – Global Bulletin

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Already the highest grossing local film in its home market, courtroom drama, “A Guilty Conscience” has broken into Hong Kong’s all-time top ten box office ranking with a cumulative of HK$107 million ($13.7 million). Data from Hong Kong Box Office Ltd. shows the film achieving the feat after just 41 days in cinemas and coming within HK$1 million ($150,000) of overtaking “Top Gun: Maverick.” The data firm noted that the last time a Hong Kong film got this far was with fantasy-action-comedy “Kung Fu Hustle” in 2004. Since then, it has been overtaken by a fleet of Hollywood titles. Hong Hong’s current top ten is headed by “Avengers: Endgame” and includes six Marvel movies, the two “Avatar” titles and “Titanic.”

Frater Asia China Hong Kong city Hong Kong BBC Hollywood film show art recommendations Patrick

variety.com

01.03.2023 / 16:59

‘Absence’ Director Wu Lang on What Chinese Filmmakers Have Been Doing While the World Was Not Watching

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Sculptor turned director Wu Lang made a splash at the Berlin Film Festival with his debut feature “Absence” playing in the festival’s showcase Encounters section. With a high-profile cast headed by Lee Kang-sheng (“What Time Is It There?” “The Wayward Cloud”) and Li Meng (“The Bad Kids,” “The Guillotines”) “Absence” is an art-house romance that uses skyscapes and urban landscapes as metaphors for inner feelings. The seduction starts with a man’s return to Hainan Island after ten years in jail and ends with a flock of sheep in an abandoned construction site. Wu: Shooting the first short film for me had two purposes. First, making a film is not easy in terms of financing and finding coproducers. So, first I wanted to make a short in order to get myself started.

Lee Kang Frater Asia China Berlin Hong Kong film shootings travelers Citi Discover Citizens Patrick

variety.com

01.03.2023 / 11:17

Sammo Hung to Receive Lifetime Achievement Honor at Asian Film Awards – Global Bulletin

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Martial arts veteran Sammo Hung is to be presented with a lifetime achievement honor at the upcoming Asian Film Awards. The ceremony is back as an in-person event after a two-year absence and shifts back to Hong Kong after previously being held in Hong Kong, Macau and Busan. Hung is expected to accept the award on Sunday March 12 at the Hong Kong Palace Museum. “I’m so happy and surprised that I can still win awards these days, especially an award that affirms my entire performing career,” said Hung in a forwarded statement. He has a career as actor, action choreographer, director and producer that stretches some 60 years.

Frater Asia Rolf De-Heer Australia city Mumbai Hong Kong city Shanghai city Hong Kong city Busan Macau Entertainment film awards art actor action Patrick

variety.com

28.02.2023 / 15:03

China’s Maoyan Warns of Profit Slump, Touts Diversification Moves – Global Bulletin

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Maoyan, the Chinese film ticketing agency and film distribution company, has issued a warning that profits for 2022 are set to take a steep dive. Revenue for last year is expected to come in at RMB2.27 billion and RMB2.37 billion, representing a decrease of up to 31% compared with 2021. Profit attributable to the owners of the company will range between approximately RMB70 million and RMB120 million, representing a decrease of approximately 67% to 81% compared with attributable profit in 2021, which had been RMB369 million. The company’s fortunes are closely allied to the trend of the mainland Chinese box office. Nationwide theatrical grosses took a huge tumble in the second half of the year as the government stepped up its battle against the COVID outbreak, causing the full year box office to fall by 36%.

Frater Asia Australia China city Wale film audience reports outbreak Digital Strategy Patrick

variety.com

27.02.2023 / 14:57

Asian Streamer Viu Approaches Profitability, Divulges Subscriber and Revenue Data

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Multi-territory Asian streaming service Viu has publicly disclosed key performance metrics for the first time and said that it was cash flow positive on an annual basis in 2022. The company, which operates in 16 Asian and Middle East markets and is seen as a rare success story in regional streaming, counts Hong Kong conglomerate PCCW as its principal shareholder, which also unveiled its own profits and loss figures for the 2022 calendar year. Viu which operates both ad-supported and paying tiers, said that it had 66.4 monthly active users in 2022, an increase of 13% year-on-year. Paying subscribers increased by 45% to 12.2 million over the same period.

Frater Asia Lee Joon Japan Indonesia Hong Kong Singapore show performer stars song country Party Patrick and