Chinese director Guan Hu’s visually stunning new feature, Black Dog, starts off with a familiar premise: After spending a decade behind bars, an ex-con named Lang (Eddie Peng) returns to his tiny native city in Northwest China on the outskirts of the Gobi Desert. He tries to integrate into regular life, but certain demons from his past come back to haunt him.
If this sounds like any number of throwaway B-movies, or like the plot of the recent Sylvester Stallone series Tulsa King, be advised that Black Dog is not that kind of thing at all. First off, it’s unclear who, exactly, the title is referring to. Is it the film’s total outcast of a protagonist, who barely utters a full sentence to anyone — including his own father — as he attempts to settle into a place that doesn’t want him? Or is it the stray black greyhound he meets in town,...
If this sounds like any number of throwaway B-movies, or like the plot of the recent Sylvester Stallone series Tulsa King, be advised that Black Dog is not that kind of thing at all. First off, it’s unclear who, exactly, the title is referring to. Is it the film’s total outcast of a protagonist, who barely utters a full sentence to anyone — including his own father — as he attempts to settle into a place that doesn’t want him? Or is it the stray black greyhound he meets in town,...
- 5/28/2024
- by Jordan Mintzer
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exactly ten years after the genre-mixing, canine-driven Hungarian thriller “White God” landed the Prix Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival, this year’s ceremony culminated in the same prize going to a somewhat corresponding title: Chinese director Guan Hu’s “Black Dog,” a fusion of western, film noir and offbeat comedy with a highly lovable mutt at its center. The film, about a damaged loner returning to his desert hometown after a spell in prison and finding a kindred spirit in an equally world-weary greyhound, beat 17 other titles to take the top prize in the festival’s second-most prestigious competitive section. (The festival’s Official Competition awards will be handed out tomorrow night.)
Jury president Xavier Dolan, the actor-auteur behind such films as “Mommy” and “Laurence Anyways,” commended Guan’s film for “its breathtaking poetry, its imagination, its precision [and] its masterful direction.” He echoed the enthusiasm of Variety critic Jessica Kiang,...
Jury president Xavier Dolan, the actor-auteur behind such films as “Mommy” and “Laurence Anyways,” commended Guan’s film for “its breathtaking poetry, its imagination, its precision [and] its masterful direction.” He echoed the enthusiasm of Variety critic Jessica Kiang,...
- 5/24/2024
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
You might not get the dog you want, but you always get the dog you need. That old dog-lover’s adage applies peculiarly well to Chinese director Guan Hu’s “Black Dog.” A far smaller-scale project than his recent blockbusters “The Eight Hundred” and “The Sacrifice,” Guan’s latest — an Un Certain Regard standout at Cannes this year — nonetheless has the grandly cinematic vision to lend an intimate tale a gloriously epic, allegorical edge.
Set in a dying town on the fringes of the Gobi desert, “Black Dog” has elements of the genre western, like taciturn loner antihero Lang (a fantastic Eddie Peng), who returns to his eroded hometown himself hollowed out by repressed guilt for the incident that caused his recent imprisonment. But, dipped in the caustic soda of social commentary and steeped in the fatalistic mood of a place barely chugging by on borrowed time, the film also...
Set in a dying town on the fringes of the Gobi desert, “Black Dog” has elements of the genre western, like taciturn loner antihero Lang (a fantastic Eddie Peng), who returns to his eroded hometown himself hollowed out by repressed guilt for the incident that caused his recent imprisonment. But, dipped in the caustic soda of social commentary and steeped in the fatalistic mood of a place barely chugging by on borrowed time, the film also...
- 5/21/2024
- by Jessica Kiang
- Variety Film + TV
Chinese streamer iQiyi is set to launch sales of action-comedy Clash from producer Guan Hu at the Cannes Market next week.
The film, directed by Jiang Jiachen, is based on the true story of a food delivery rider, dubbed the Usain Bolt of Shapingba in Chongqing, Sichuan province, who assembles 30 young men to form a rugby team.
Through clashes and crashes, the men channel their frustrations in their mundane lives to positive energy on the field. The cast includes Li Jiuxiao, Wang Qianyuan, Liang Chao and Pan Binlong. The iQiyi production was shot by Qian Tiantian, one of a few female DoPs in China.
The film, directed by Jiang Jiachen, is based on the true story of a food delivery rider, dubbed the Usain Bolt of Shapingba in Chongqing, Sichuan province, who assembles 30 young men to form a rugby team.
Through clashes and crashes, the men channel their frustrations in their mundane lives to positive energy on the field. The cast includes Li Jiuxiao, Wang Qianyuan, Liang Chao and Pan Binlong. The iQiyi production was shot by Qian Tiantian, one of a few female DoPs in China.
- 5/9/2024
- ScreenDaily
A new funding initiative is being launched at this year’s Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (Filmart) that leans on the commercial nous of Creative Artists Agency (CAA) to help guide the fortunes of emerging Chinese-language filmmakers.
Labeled the Hkiff Industry-caa China Genre Initiative, or Hcc, this collaboration between the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (Hkiffs) and CAA China supplies funds to “support and facilitate the growth and progress of Chinese-language genre projects.”
“Project markets were a European invention that were transplanted to this part of the world, Asia, where there wasn’t a tradition of subsidies,” explains Jacob Wong, the Hkiff’s industry director. “They were traditionally focused on arthouse films but here in Hong Kong we are more open to adapting to the business environment and that’s why we are keen to work with corporate or private entities.”
Hcc comes with two $20,000 prizes, and...
Labeled the Hkiff Industry-caa China Genre Initiative, or Hcc, this collaboration between the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (Hkiffs) and CAA China supplies funds to “support and facilitate the growth and progress of Chinese-language genre projects.”
“Project markets were a European invention that were transplanted to this part of the world, Asia, where there wasn’t a tradition of subsidies,” explains Jacob Wong, the Hkiff’s industry director. “They were traditionally focused on arthouse films but here in Hong Kong we are more open to adapting to the business environment and that’s why we are keen to work with corporate or private entities.”
Hcc comes with two $20,000 prizes, and...
- 3/10/2024
- by Mathew Scott
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Six Chinese-language genre projects have been unveiled by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society, which has partnered with talent agency CAA China on an initiative to develop fresh titles.
Titled Hkiff Industry - CAA China Genre Initiative (shortened as Hcg), the scheme will showcase the projects to an industry audience at Filmart and the Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (Haf), which runs March 11-13.
The selection includes Call Of Lobster, directed by Yin Chen-Hao and produced by Cheng Wei-Hao and Jin Pai-Lunn, who previously worked together on Taiwanese smash hit Man In Love. This comedy drama is...
Titled Hkiff Industry - CAA China Genre Initiative (shortened as Hcg), the scheme will showcase the projects to an industry audience at Filmart and the Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (Haf), which runs March 11-13.
The selection includes Call Of Lobster, directed by Yin Chen-Hao and produced by Cheng Wei-Hao and Jin Pai-Lunn, who previously worked together on Taiwanese smash hit Man In Love. This comedy drama is...
- 1/25/2024
- ScreenDaily
Six projects have been announced as participating in the inaugural edition of the Hkiff Industry – CAA China Genre Initiative, a project incubator in Hong Kong for Chinese-language genre films.
The Hcg platform will run March 11-13, 2024, alongside the 22nd Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (Haf) and the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FilMart), Asia’s largest film and TV rights market.
From the six, two winning projects will each receive a cash prize of $20,000 for development funding. The winning projects will benefit from bespoke guidance from script mentors and CAA China may engage in script development agreements with the selected projects.
CAA China is a venture involving Hollywood talent agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA), and China’s Cmc Capital Partners.
“Call of Lobster,” directed by Yin Chen-Hao and produced by Cheng Wei-Hao and Jin Pai-Lunn (Taiwan box office hit “Man in Love”), is a comedy-drama about a...
The Hcg platform will run March 11-13, 2024, alongside the 22nd Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (Haf) and the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FilMart), Asia’s largest film and TV rights market.
From the six, two winning projects will each receive a cash prize of $20,000 for development funding. The winning projects will benefit from bespoke guidance from script mentors and CAA China may engage in script development agreements with the selected projects.
CAA China is a venture involving Hollywood talent agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA), and China’s Cmc Capital Partners.
“Call of Lobster,” directed by Yin Chen-Hao and produced by Cheng Wei-Hao and Jin Pai-Lunn (Taiwan box office hit “Man in Love”), is a comedy-drama about a...
- 1/25/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Trinity CineAsia has picked up U.K. and Ireland rights to Chinese hit film “The Ex-Files 4: Marriage Plan.” The film ranked third worldwide at the box office over the latest weekend.
Trinity CineAsia will give it an official release from Oct. 6, but began a campaign of limited previews timed to coincide with the mid-Autumn festival that is celebrated by Chinese communities worldwide.
Presented in China by Huayi Brothers, The Ex-Files showcases contemporary urban love in China with in-depth and subtle observation. Its predecessor film, The Ex-Files 3: The Return of The Exes released in 2017 and grossed more than $300 million worldwide, making it one of the top-grossing romances in the history of Chinese cinema. The new film has earned $53.4 million after four days, according to Comscore.
“The Ex-Files 4” shifts the focus from love affairs to marriage. Best buddies Meng Yun (Han Geng) and Yu Fei (Zheng Kai) discover and stumble their way through marriage.
Trinity CineAsia will give it an official release from Oct. 6, but began a campaign of limited previews timed to coincide with the mid-Autumn festival that is celebrated by Chinese communities worldwide.
Presented in China by Huayi Brothers, The Ex-Files showcases contemporary urban love in China with in-depth and subtle observation. Its predecessor film, The Ex-Files 3: The Return of The Exes released in 2017 and grossed more than $300 million worldwide, making it one of the top-grossing romances in the history of Chinese cinema. The new film has earned $53.4 million after four days, according to Comscore.
“The Ex-Files 4” shifts the focus from love affairs to marriage. Best buddies Meng Yun (Han Geng) and Yu Fei (Zheng Kai) discover and stumble their way through marriage.
- 10/2/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The latest film from the director of ‘Farewell My Concubine’ will be released in China in late September.
Fortissimo Films has secured international rights to Chinese war epic The Volunteers: To The War by Chen Kaige, the acclaimed director of Farewell My Concubine and The Battle At Lake Changjin.
The Amsterdam and Beijing-based sales company will launch sales on the feature at the Asian Contents and Film Market in Busan next month, following its release in China on September 28. The international sales agreement excludes North America, Australia and New Zealand.
The film, previously known as The Great War, is the...
Fortissimo Films has secured international rights to Chinese war epic The Volunteers: To The War by Chen Kaige, the acclaimed director of Farewell My Concubine and The Battle At Lake Changjin.
The Amsterdam and Beijing-based sales company will launch sales on the feature at the Asian Contents and Film Market in Busan next month, following its release in China on September 28. The international sales agreement excludes North America, Australia and New Zealand.
The film, previously known as The Great War, is the...
- 9/25/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: The pandemic thriller Yesteryear has wrapped production and confirm they rounded out the cast with Jesse Garcia (Flamin Hot), Joanna Cassidy (Blade Runner), Timothy V. Murphy (The Lone Ranger), Tiffany Chu (Ms. Purple), Yusuke Ogasawara (In Full Bloom), Crystal Echohawk (Founder of IllumiNative) and Chester Gregory (Hairspray).
Garcia and Gregory will portray truth seekers running a podcast called Revolutionary Radio next door to Alma as they dive into a world of conspiracy. Cassidy will portray Alma’s insightful colorful therapist. Murphy will play a strange man with whom Alma has a violent yet playful encounter. Chu will portray the sultry Olivia, who influences Alma to partake in Only Fans. Echo Hawk will portray Alma’s angelic mother through flashbacks in memory.
From writers and producers, Adam VillaSeñor and star Q’orianka Kilcher, Yesteryear follows Alma Deswood (Kilcher), a struggling, young Native American actress who psychologically unravels in quarantine amidst the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic,...
Garcia and Gregory will portray truth seekers running a podcast called Revolutionary Radio next door to Alma as they dive into a world of conspiracy. Cassidy will portray Alma’s insightful colorful therapist. Murphy will play a strange man with whom Alma has a violent yet playful encounter. Chu will portray the sultry Olivia, who influences Alma to partake in Only Fans. Echo Hawk will portray Alma’s angelic mother through flashbacks in memory.
From writers and producers, Adam VillaSeñor and star Q’orianka Kilcher, Yesteryear follows Alma Deswood (Kilcher), a struggling, young Native American actress who psychologically unravels in quarantine amidst the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic,...
- 7/11/2023
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Richard Gelfond’s compensation as the CEO of Imax came to $8.03 million in 2022, according to a regulatory filing received on Friday. That’s down just 11.5% from his payout of $9.08 million from 2021.
However, Gelfond’s core annual salary of $1.2 million was unchanged at least through 2020, with no bonus received last year. The change in compensation comes from stock awards. He received $5.5 million in options in 2022 versus $5.9 million in 2021 as part of a three-year performance period. His contract currently extends through 2025. He was given $1.25 million in non-equity incentive plan compensation as opposed to $1.9 million in 2021.
The April 14 SEC filing noted that Megan Colligan, who will soon step down as president of Imax Entertainment, earned $3.47 million in 2022 versus $4 million in 2022. Natasha Fernandes, who became Imax CFO last May, earned $1.22 million in her first year with the company.
Also Read:
‘Star Trek: Picard’ Series Finale to Screen in Imax Theaters a Day Early
While...
However, Gelfond’s core annual salary of $1.2 million was unchanged at least through 2020, with no bonus received last year. The change in compensation comes from stock awards. He received $5.5 million in options in 2022 versus $5.9 million in 2021 as part of a three-year performance period. His contract currently extends through 2025. He was given $1.25 million in non-equity incentive plan compensation as opposed to $1.9 million in 2021.
The April 14 SEC filing noted that Megan Colligan, who will soon step down as president of Imax Entertainment, earned $3.47 million in 2022 versus $4 million in 2022. Natasha Fernandes, who became Imax CFO last May, earned $1.22 million in her first year with the company.
Also Read:
‘Star Trek: Picard’ Series Finale to Screen in Imax Theaters a Day Early
While...
- 4/14/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
Killer machines are a narrative trope about as old as machinery itself, but there’s something especially creepy about metallic killers when they’re roughly human-shaped. And as we’ve seen with the success of Blumhouse’s insanely popular M3GAN, the uncanny valley can still go a long way when it comes to attracting modern audiences.
With that in mind, we’ve decided to celebrate the home release of M3GAN with a list of six other memorable killer androids in horror movies. After all, these man-made movie monsters evolved alongside Hollywood’s understanding of technology, so we’ve seen some pretty interesting homicidal automatons over the years.
Obviously, this list is based on personal opinion, but we’ll still be following a couple of rules. First of all, we’ll be excluding cyborgs from the list, as their human bits make them a completely different kind of character. Second, we...
With that in mind, we’ve decided to celebrate the home release of M3GAN with a list of six other memorable killer androids in horror movies. After all, these man-made movie monsters evolved alongside Hollywood’s understanding of technology, so we’ve seen some pretty interesting homicidal automatons over the years.
Obviously, this list is based on personal opinion, but we’ll still be following a couple of rules. First of all, we’ll be excluding cyborgs from the list, as their human bits make them a completely different kind of character. Second, we...
- 1/26/2023
- by Luiz H. C.
- bloody-disgusting.com
The question arising at every Cannes Film Festival lineup announcement about why the festival has not selected films from a particular country tends to irk chief selector Thierry Frémaux. But this year, with films from China notable by their absence, Frémaux may be asking himself if he messed up, or whether bigger forces are at play?
Last year, Cannes was at pains to conceal its selection of Hong Kong pro-democracy film “Revolution of Our Times” until as late as possible, in order not to alert mainland Chinese authorities or disrupt the other Chinese indies showing in the festival.
China experts differ as to how much Cannes’ defiance last year was a factor in this year’s de facto boycott.
“The Chinese Communist Party is well aware of the last-minute showing of ‘Revolution of Our Times’ at Cannes just one day before the Palme d’Or was to be awarded,” says Stanley Rosen,...
Last year, Cannes was at pains to conceal its selection of Hong Kong pro-democracy film “Revolution of Our Times” until as late as possible, in order not to alert mainland Chinese authorities or disrupt the other Chinese indies showing in the festival.
China experts differ as to how much Cannes’ defiance last year was a factor in this year’s de facto boycott.
“The Chinese Communist Party is well aware of the last-minute showing of ‘Revolution of Our Times’ at Cannes just one day before the Palme d’Or was to be awarded,” says Stanley Rosen,...
- 5/20/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
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
A new film project by Xinjiang-based Wong Lina and others produced by Stanley Kwan and Soi Cheang are among fifteen works-in-progress that have been added to the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (Haf).
Haf previously announced the selection of 28 projects that are at an earlier stage of development. The event is organized by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society and runs March 14-16, 2022, alongside the Hong Kong FilMart entertainment rights market March 14-17.
Wong, who made a stunning directorial debut “A First Farewell,” appeared in Berlin and won the Firebird Award in the Hkiff’s first Chinese-language Young Cinema competition in 2019, returns with “Village . Senet.” The film is a poetic musical about a boy from a remote village in Xinjiang’s Taklamakan Desert.
The film is produced by Beijing-based Bad Rabbit Pictures, a company founded by cinematographer Cao Yu and actress-producer Yao Chen. The company also has Qiao Sixue’s debut feature,...
Haf previously announced the selection of 28 projects that are at an earlier stage of development. The event is organized by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society and runs March 14-16, 2022, alongside the Hong Kong FilMart entertainment rights market March 14-17.
Wong, who made a stunning directorial debut “A First Farewell,” appeared in Berlin and won the Firebird Award in the Hkiff’s first Chinese-language Young Cinema competition in 2019, returns with “Village . Senet.” The film is a poetic musical about a boy from a remote village in Xinjiang’s Taklamakan Desert.
The film is produced by Beijing-based Bad Rabbit Pictures, a company founded by cinematographer Cao Yu and actress-producer Yao Chen. The company also has Qiao Sixue’s debut feature,...
- 2/8/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- 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
Imax has pulverized its company record for gross box office achieved by local, non-English-language films. In the year to date, its screens have enjoyed $165 million of gross revenue, compared to a previous high of $134 million achieved in the full 12 months of pre-pandemic year 2019.
The U.S.-listed company, which will unveil its third quarter earnings on Thursday, is expected to also announce that the current month is the highest grossing October in the company’s more than 50-year history.
Both elements point to an accelerating recovery for the global theater industry that is currently being driven by China, which has been the world’s biggest theatrical market through 2020 and 2021, and by other vernacular film industries, as much as by Hollywood.
“We are not only back, we’re roaring back,” Imax CEO Richard Gelfond told Variety, as he teased a further expansion of local-language films.
That tallies with an upwardly revised...
The U.S.-listed company, which will unveil its third quarter earnings on Thursday, is expected to also announce that the current month is the highest grossing October in the company’s more than 50-year history.
Both elements point to an accelerating recovery for the global theater industry that is currently being driven by China, which has been the world’s biggest theatrical market through 2020 and 2021, and by other vernacular film industries, as much as by Hollywood.
“We are not only back, we’re roaring back,” Imax CEO Richard Gelfond told Variety, as he teased a further expansion of local-language films.
That tallies with an upwardly revised...
- 10/27/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s wartime romance was named best film at the 15th edition.
Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Wife Of A Spy picked up best film at the 15th Asian Film Awards (Afa), held at the Busan International Film Festival (Biff) tonight (October 8).
The Japanese wartime romance, which won a Silver Lion in Venice last year, also picked up awards for best actress (Aoi Yu) and costume design (Koketsu Haruki).
Zhang Yimou was named best director for his Cultural Revolution drama One Second, which recently opened the San Sebastian film festival. Zhang’s other nominated feature, spy thriller Cliff Walkers, won in...
Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Wife Of A Spy picked up best film at the 15th Asian Film Awards (Afa), held at the Busan International Film Festival (Biff) tonight (October 8).
The Japanese wartime romance, which won a Silver Lion in Venice last year, also picked up awards for best actress (Aoi Yu) and costume design (Koketsu Haruki).
Zhang Yimou was named best director for his Cultural Revolution drama One Second, which recently opened the San Sebastian film festival. Zhang’s other nominated feature, spy thriller Cliff Walkers, won in...
- 10/8/2021
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
Kurosawa Kiyoshi’s period action drama “Wife of a Spy” was the biggest winner at the 15th edition of the Asian Film Awards. It collected three major prizes including the best film award.
The 18 prizes were handed out Friday evening at a hybrid ceremony with the in-person component held at Busan’s Paradise Hotel. Organizers said that 80 nominees attended either in person or online. Among those in Busan to tread the Afa red carpet were Korean stars and prize-winners Lee Byung-hun and Yoo Ah-in.
Directors Lee Chang-dong and Hamaguchi Ryusuke were also in attendance, along with Korean stars Jun Jong-seo, Park Jeong-min, Jang Yoon-ju, Kim Hyun-bin and Gong Seung-yeon.
“Wife of a Spy” was conceived as a TV film. A theatrical version debuted last year at the Venice Film festival and there won the Silver Lion. It enjoyed a high-profile festival career with subsequent stops at San Sebastian, El Gouna and Hainan,...
The 18 prizes were handed out Friday evening at a hybrid ceremony with the in-person component held at Busan’s Paradise Hotel. Organizers said that 80 nominees attended either in person or online. Among those in Busan to tread the Afa red carpet were Korean stars and prize-winners Lee Byung-hun and Yoo Ah-in.
Directors Lee Chang-dong and Hamaguchi Ryusuke were also in attendance, along with Korean stars Jun Jong-seo, Park Jeong-min, Jang Yoon-ju, Kim Hyun-bin and Gong Seung-yeon.
“Wife of a Spy” was conceived as a TV film. A theatrical version debuted last year at the Venice Film festival and there won the Silver Lion. It enjoyed a high-profile festival career with subsequent stops at San Sebastian, El Gouna and Hainan,...
- 10/8/2021
- by Patrick Frater and Rebecca Souw
- Variety Film + TV
China’s “One Second,” South Korea’s “The Book of Fish,” India’s “The Disciple,” and two Japanese films, “Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy” and “Wife of a Spy” will compete for this year’s best film prize at the Asian Film Awards
The awards again will be held again in conjunction with the Busan International Film Festival. The ceremony, on Oct. 8, 2021, will operate in a hybrid form combining on-site attendance in Busan and online participation.
In 2020, the 14th Asian Film Awards moved to Busan for the first time and was held online due to Covid-19 restrictions. In previous years, the ceremony was held in Hong Kong and Macau.
Those nominated for best director included Zhang Yimou (for “One Second”), Lee Joon-ik (for “The Book of Fish”), Hamaguchi Ryusuke (for “Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy”), Kurosawa Kiyoshi (for “Wife of a Spy”) and Kazakhstan’s Adilkhan Yerzhanov (for “Yellow Cat”).
Mainland Chinese thriller “Cliff Walkers,...
The awards again will be held again in conjunction with the Busan International Film Festival. The ceremony, on Oct. 8, 2021, will operate in a hybrid form combining on-site attendance in Busan and online participation.
In 2020, the 14th Asian Film Awards moved to Busan for the first time and was held online due to Covid-19 restrictions. In previous years, the ceremony was held in Hong Kong and Macau.
Those nominated for best director included Zhang Yimou (for “One Second”), Lee Joon-ik (for “The Book of Fish”), Hamaguchi Ryusuke (for “Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy”), Kurosawa Kiyoshi (for “Wife of a Spy”) and Kazakhstan’s Adilkhan Yerzhanov (for “Yellow Cat”).
Mainland Chinese thriller “Cliff Walkers,...
- 9/9/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Na Jiazuo, one of the few Chinese directors to make it to the Cannes Film Festival this year, says he learned from the best in the business. His “Streetwise” (aka “Gaey Wa’r”) unspools in Un Certain Regard and is eligible for the Camera d’Or, reflecting Na’s status as a rookie feature director.
The picture is a gritty, largely nocturnal, portrait of a group of young adults in an unfashionable town as they come to terms with life’s uneasy lot. In particular, it focuses on a 21-year-old man who becomes inured in violence as he becomes a debt collector’s henchman in order to pay off his father’s hospital bills.
Na calls “Streetwise” “a film about struggle,” but puts the characters’ challenges into context. “At the beginning of the 2000s a lot of people swarmed to the big cities from the remote parts of China. But...
The picture is a gritty, largely nocturnal, portrait of a group of young adults in an unfashionable town as they come to terms with life’s uneasy lot. In particular, it focuses on a 21-year-old man who becomes inured in violence as he becomes a debt collector’s henchman in order to pay off his father’s hospital bills.
Na calls “Streetwise” “a film about struggle,” but puts the characters’ challenges into context. “At the beginning of the 2000s a lot of people swarmed to the big cities from the remote parts of China. But...
- 7/9/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Chinese propaganda film “1921” grossed $13 million on its opening day Thursday, outperforming debuts from Hollywood releases like “Cruella,” “A Quiet Place Part II” and “Peter Rabbit 2.”
Patriotic titles “1921” and “The Pioneer” kicked off China’s summer season with a nationalist splash with Thursday premieres. Both films were created as tributes to China’s ruling Communist Party on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.
Top earning “1921” is expected to be one of China’s biggest films of the year. It notched a $13 million (RMB84 million) opening day, according to Maoyan. Its cumulative box office has already reached twice that — $24.6 million (RMB159 million) — thanks to extensive preview screenings.
Its standalone opening day sales are nearly eight times that of the China debut for Disney’s “Cruella” ($1.7 million), more than 13 times that of “Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway” and more than three times that of “A Quiet Place Part II...
Patriotic titles “1921” and “The Pioneer” kicked off China’s summer season with a nationalist splash with Thursday premieres. Both films were created as tributes to China’s ruling Communist Party on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.
Top earning “1921” is expected to be one of China’s biggest films of the year. It notched a $13 million (RMB84 million) opening day, according to Maoyan. Its cumulative box office has already reached twice that — $24.6 million (RMB159 million) — thanks to extensive preview screenings.
Its standalone opening day sales are nearly eight times that of the China debut for Disney’s “Cruella” ($1.7 million), more than 13 times that of “Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway” and more than three times that of “A Quiet Place Part II...
- 7/1/2021
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
France- and Dubai-based sales agency Cercamon has picked up international rights to Chinese crime drama “Streetwise,” which will have its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, in the Un Certain Regard section. Before that, Cercamon has released a trailer.
The film (aka “Gaey Wa’r”) is the debut feature effort of Na Jiazuo, who is a graduate of the Beijing Film Academy and had previously directed shorts. That makes “Streetwise” a candidate for the Camera d’Or awarded to the best first film in any of Cannes’ official and sidebar sections.
“Streetwise” was executive produced by Guan Hu, who directed record breaker “The Eight Hundred” and “Mister Six,” and has a track record as a discoverer and supporter of new directing talent.
The film is a detailed look at the lives and predicaments of young people in China in the early 2000s who did not migrate to the big cities.
The film (aka “Gaey Wa’r”) is the debut feature effort of Na Jiazuo, who is a graduate of the Beijing Film Academy and had previously directed shorts. That makes “Streetwise” a candidate for the Camera d’Or awarded to the best first film in any of Cannes’ official and sidebar sections.
“Streetwise” was executive produced by Guan Hu, who directed record breaker “The Eight Hundred” and “Mister Six,” and has a track record as a discoverer and supporter of new directing talent.
The film is a detailed look at the lives and predicaments of young people in China in the early 2000s who did not migrate to the big cities.
- 6/28/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Despite an unprecedentedly difficult year, the Chinese film industry has come roaring back. In August 2020, China became the first country in the world to achieve “full box office recovery,” according to the U.K.-based industry analytics firm Gower Street.
Remarkably, Chinese box office data as of mid-June 2021 is tracking 1% ahead of the same point in time in 2020, and is running just 1% below the average box office of the three pre-pandemic years (2017-2019), Gower Street notes. China achieved this despite cinemas operating at 75% capacity and a dearth of Hollywood content. No other market has even come close to reaching its pre-covid scale. The U.S. is still 85% behind its pre-pandemic numbers.
In 2020, the Chinese market was bolstered by militantly patriotic films like “My People, My Homeland,” “The Sacrifice” and “The Eight Hundred” — which became the highest-grossing film in the world last year thanks to its $460 million local box office.
So...
Remarkably, Chinese box office data as of mid-June 2021 is tracking 1% ahead of the same point in time in 2020, and is running just 1% below the average box office of the three pre-pandemic years (2017-2019), Gower Street notes. China achieved this despite cinemas operating at 75% capacity and a dearth of Hollywood content. No other market has even come close to reaching its pre-covid scale. The U.S. is still 85% behind its pre-pandemic numbers.
In 2020, the Chinese market was bolstered by militantly patriotic films like “My People, My Homeland,” “The Sacrifice” and “The Eight Hundred” — which became the highest-grossing film in the world last year thanks to its $460 million local box office.
So...
- 6/24/2021
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
One of the most prominent Chinese propaganda films of the year is set for a flashy, state-sanctioned premiere as the opening night selection of the Shanghai Intl. Film Festival on Friday. The sweeping period drama “1921” will be celebrated despite recent nationalist blowback of the kind that over the past year has felled China releases for films like Chloe Zhao’s “Nomadland” and video game adaptation “Monster Hunter.”
Backed by Tencent Pictures and Shanghai Film Group, the film was developed as a tribute to China’s ruling Communist party for the 100th anniversary of its founding, which falls on July 1 — the day “1921” will hit theaters. The movie re-enacts the story of the Party’s early years.
As such, it was necessarily vetted by censors and producers with extraordinary care to ensure that it could in no way be deemed to send the wrong political message.
Even so, hot-blooded online...
Backed by Tencent Pictures and Shanghai Film Group, the film was developed as a tribute to China’s ruling Communist party for the 100th anniversary of its founding, which falls on July 1 — the day “1921” will hit theaters. The movie re-enacts the story of the Party’s early years.
As such, it was necessarily vetted by censors and producers with extraordinary care to ensure that it could in no way be deemed to send the wrong political message.
Even so, hot-blooded online...
- 6/11/2021
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
After the 2020’s online Edition, this yer Udine Far East Film Festival will run a “hybrid” edition from 24th of June to the 2nd of July. Withe a public online press conference the Programme has been unveiled.
Festival’s directress Sabrina Baracetti has opened the press conference with a heartfelt mention to young producer and filmmaker Ma Aeint recently arrested and detained by the military regime in Myanmar. Far East Film Festival wants to add its voice to those of the others protesting and shouting out loudly for Ma Aeint’s freedom.
After a sincere tribute to the sponsors and the local authorities that have helped Feff since its start, Baracetti has revealed the line-up that includes 63 titles from 11 countries, 10 female directors, 6 world premiere, 11 international premiere, 22 European premiere and 21 Italian premieres. Zhang Yimou’s Chinese Spy Thriller “Cliff Walkers” will open the Festival on the 24th of June, while Herman Yau...
Festival’s directress Sabrina Baracetti has opened the press conference with a heartfelt mention to young producer and filmmaker Ma Aeint recently arrested and detained by the military regime in Myanmar. Far East Film Festival wants to add its voice to those of the others protesting and shouting out loudly for Ma Aeint’s freedom.
After a sincere tribute to the sponsors and the local authorities that have helped Feff since its start, Baracetti has revealed the line-up that includes 63 titles from 11 countries, 10 female directors, 6 world premiere, 11 international premiere, 22 European premiere and 21 Italian premieres. Zhang Yimou’s Chinese Spy Thriller “Cliff Walkers” will open the Festival on the 24th of June, while Herman Yau...
- 6/9/2021
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
The Shanghai International Film Festival (Shiff) will kick off this year with the Chinese propaganda film “1921” as its opening night gala. The announcement was made late Tuesday evening local time with just three days to go before the premiere.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of China’s ruling Communist Party on July 1, a key political date that for the past year already has sent censors into high alert and film companies scrambling to develop content lauding the Party’s history and achievements.
Shiff’s 24th annual iteration takes place just before the anniversary itself, running from June 11-20.
Its opening night will be used to showcase the star-studded, Tencent Pictures-backed retelling of the Party’s early history, which is set in Shanghai in the year 1921.
Although Shiff has historically been China’s most internationally minded festival by far, its choice to honor a propaganda...
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of China’s ruling Communist Party on July 1, a key political date that for the past year already has sent censors into high alert and film companies scrambling to develop content lauding the Party’s history and achievements.
Shiff’s 24th annual iteration takes place just before the anniversary itself, running from June 11-20.
Its opening night will be used to showcase the star-studded, Tencent Pictures-backed retelling of the Party’s early history, which is set in Shanghai in the year 1921.
Although Shiff has historically been China’s most internationally minded festival by far, its choice to honor a propaganda...
- 6/8/2021
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
At The Big Screen Is Back, Hollywood studios showed every trailer they could — but virtually all of them were new only in the sense that we’d never seen them on the eponymous big screen. While producers and publicists did their best to whet media appetites with the prospect of moviegoing restored, the big guns belong to CinemaCon 2021. Held August 22-25 in Las Vegas, the National Association of Theater Owners will go into overdrive convincing theater owners and the rest of the world that theaters survived the pandemic to emerge in better shape than ever.
At the last CinemaCon, in 2019, studios and exhibitors approached the event with the common understanding that studios release their slates in theaters. Two years later, studios presume nothing and exhibitors try to keep pace. Theaters are no longer a given as studios determine the best way to release their films, whether it’s theaters, PVOD,...
At the last CinemaCon, in 2019, studios and exhibitors approached the event with the common understanding that studios release their slates in theaters. Two years later, studios presume nothing and exhibitors try to keep pace. Theaters are no longer a given as studios determine the best way to release their films, whether it’s theaters, PVOD,...
- 6/2/2021
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
At The Big Screen Is Back, Hollywood studios showed every trailer they could — but virtually all of them were new only in the sense that we’d never seen them on the eponymous big screen. While producers and publicists did their best to whet media appetites with the prospect of moviegoing restored, the big guns belong to CinemaCon 2021. Held August 22-25 in Las Vegas, the National Association of Theater Owners will go into overdrive convincing theater owners and the rest of the world that theaters survived the pandemic to emerge in better shape than ever.
At the last CinemaCon, in 2019, studios and exhibitors approached the event with the common understanding that studios release their slates in theaters. Two years later, studios presume nothing and exhibitors try to keep pace. Theaters are no longer a given as studios determine the best way to release their films, whether it’s theaters, PVOD,...
At the last CinemaCon, in 2019, studios and exhibitors approached the event with the common understanding that studios release their slates in theaters. Two years later, studios presume nothing and exhibitors try to keep pace. Theaters are no longer a given as studios determine the best way to release their films, whether it’s theaters, PVOD,...
- 6/2/2021
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
A mega-production as spectacular as it is patriotic, and perhaps the most important title released in China in 2020, Guan Hu‘s blockbuster “The Eight Hundred” will explode into the line-up of the Far East Film Festival 23 in Udine and from 25 June will be distributed in Italia by Notorious Pictures simultaneously with its International Festival Premiere at the Feff. A precious and tangible sign of how, after the incredible success of “Parasite”, great Asian films are continuing to break through into our country’s cinema system.
Adapting a historical episode which is little-known in the West, “The Eight Hundred“ addresses universal themes such as brotherhood and sacrifice in a powerful blockbuster war movie where individual bravery becomes collective courage and where the darkness of war plays counterpoint to the realities of everyday existence: while the battle rages on, we see that “across” the river, life flows quietly on, as if death were only a movie.
Adapting a historical episode which is little-known in the West, “The Eight Hundred“ addresses universal themes such as brotherhood and sacrifice in a powerful blockbuster war movie where individual bravery becomes collective courage and where the darkness of war plays counterpoint to the realities of everyday existence: while the battle rages on, we see that “across” the river, life flows quietly on, as if death were only a movie.
- 5/28/2021
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
In today’s Global Bulletin, Cannes creche returns; Andrei Konchalovsky to deliver Russian Key Buyers Event keynote; European Film Promotion elects board; drama series “The Holiday” sets lead cast; Canada opens women talent development initiatives; and Chinese blockbuster “The Eight Hundred” to premiere at Udine.
The Cannes Marché du Film and Parenting at Film Festivals are back with their daycare creche initiative Le Ballon Rouge, which was a success when introduced in 2019.
The daycare center, housed in a Covid-safe public school in the area, is available for children aged six months to 12 years from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and for a maximum of six hours at a time for each child during the Cannes Film Festival from July 7-14. In addition, a baby lounge will be available at the Palais.
Badges for the children and their caregivers will be provided by the Marché du Film for free.
Adef, British Film Institute,...
The Cannes Marché du Film and Parenting at Film Festivals are back with their daycare creche initiative Le Ballon Rouge, which was a success when introduced in 2019.
The daycare center, housed in a Covid-safe public school in the area, is available for children aged six months to 12 years from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and for a maximum of six hours at a time for each child during the Cannes Film Festival from July 7-14. In addition, a baby lounge will be available at the Palais.
Badges for the children and their caregivers will be provided by the Marché du Film for free.
Adef, British Film Institute,...
- 5/27/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
The 2021 ASCAP Screen Music Awards kicked off today on @ASCAP and @ASCAPScreen Instagram with the reveal of this year’s ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards. The rollout began a social media celebration through Thursday, May 20 of ASCAP Screen Music Award winners featuring acceptance speeches, exclusive photos, videos and other surprises from the music creators who scored the on-screen entertainment that comforted and inspired the world throughout 2020.
With an expanded number of categories and a diverse set of nominees, the ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards recognize winners chosen by the ASCAP composer and songwriter community. The 2021 recipients share a common thread in that each of their projects tells a story of humanity’s triumph over adversity. They include this year’s Oscar-winning animated film, a landmark documentary on climate change, a horror drama examining racism in America, an Emmy-nominated sci-fi series and an action-adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic United States:
● Film Score...
With an expanded number of categories and a diverse set of nominees, the ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards recognize winners chosen by the ASCAP composer and songwriter community. The 2021 recipients share a common thread in that each of their projects tells a story of humanity’s triumph over adversity. They include this year’s Oscar-winning animated film, a landmark documentary on climate change, a horror drama examining racism in America, an Emmy-nominated sci-fi series and an action-adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic United States:
● Film Score...
- 5/17/2021
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The ASCAP Screen Music Awards kicked off a four-day virtual celebration Monday morning with the naming of winners in the peer-voted ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards, with the score for Pixar’s “Soul” managing to notch yet another triumph as its sweep continues virtually unabated.
The number of categories for the performing rights organization’s still fairly new division of awards voted by fellow songwriters and composers was expanded in this round, with documentary score and television theme of the year being added for 2021.
In the film score of the year category, the “Soul” music proved that it has some life — or afterlife — left in it yet after recently triumphing at the Oscars. The award went to Trent Reznor and Jon Batiste, two of the composing trio behind the music.
A television score of the year award replaces the former TV composer of the year category, with the award more clearly...
The number of categories for the performing rights organization’s still fairly new division of awards voted by fellow songwriters and composers was expanded in this round, with documentary score and television theme of the year being added for 2021.
In the film score of the year category, the “Soul” music proved that it has some life — or afterlife — left in it yet after recently triumphing at the Oscars. The award went to Trent Reznor and Jon Batiste, two of the composing trio behind the music.
A television score of the year award replaces the former TV composer of the year category, with the award more clearly...
- 5/17/2021
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV
China’s Huayi Bros. Marks Third Year of Losses, Despite Delivering the Highest Grossing Film of 2020
Huayi Brothers, China’s longest-standing privately-owned film studio, has notched its third consecutive year of losses despite producing the world’s highest grossing film in 2020, its annual report showed.
The company’s revenues for 2020 fell by 33% year-on-year to $232 million (RMB1.5 billion) while net losses hit $162 million (RMB1.05 billion). The figures continue a losing streak: In 2018, Huayi Brothers as a parent company incurred net losses of $181 million (RMB1.17 billion), and in 2019, of $615 million (RMB3.98 billion).
The firm’s 2020 troubles come despite its success with the war epic “The Eight Hundred,” which became the biggest film of the pandemic-stricken year thanks to a $450 million box office haul. Overall, Huayi Bros. content brought in revenues of $150 million (RMB970 million) last year, about 64% of the company’s total revenue. This was a significant rise over 2019, when its projects brought in just $48.6 million (RMB314 million), or 14% of total revenue. The 2019 figure was much smaller in...
The company’s revenues for 2020 fell by 33% year-on-year to $232 million (RMB1.5 billion) while net losses hit $162 million (RMB1.05 billion). The figures continue a losing streak: In 2018, Huayi Brothers as a parent company incurred net losses of $181 million (RMB1.17 billion), and in 2019, of $615 million (RMB3.98 billion).
The firm’s 2020 troubles come despite its success with the war epic “The Eight Hundred,” which became the biggest film of the pandemic-stricken year thanks to a $450 million box office haul. Overall, Huayi Bros. content brought in revenues of $150 million (RMB970 million) last year, about 64% of the company’s total revenue. This was a significant rise over 2019, when its projects brought in just $48.6 million (RMB314 million), or 14% of total revenue. The 2019 figure was much smaller in...
- 5/7/2021
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Zhang Yimou’s “Cliff Walkers” is kicking off a multi-territory release this weekend, with day and date outings in North America, New Zealand, and Singapore coordinating with the espionage thriller’s official launch in mainland Chinese theaters on Friday.
That makes it one of the first major Chinese pictures to take advantage of the improving theatrical conditions in the U.S. since the coronavirus sent movie distribution and exhibition industries into near lockdown. That has been a contrast with Chinese cinemas which have been operating largely normally since October, and which enjoyed a record box office at Lunar New Year in February.
The film is a showcase for Zhang’s ability to deliver spectacle with vast numbers of moving parts in different settings. He’s put on live theater performances with several hundred horse-riding extras at an altitude of over 3,000 meters, staged the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games,...
That makes it one of the first major Chinese pictures to take advantage of the improving theatrical conditions in the U.S. since the coronavirus sent movie distribution and exhibition industries into near lockdown. That has been a contrast with Chinese cinemas which have been operating largely normally since October, and which enjoyed a record box office at Lunar New Year in February.
The film is a showcase for Zhang’s ability to deliver spectacle with vast numbers of moving parts in different settings. He’s put on live theater performances with several hundred horse-riding extras at an altitude of over 3,000 meters, staged the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games,...
- 4/30/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Tuesday Update, writethru after Sunday Am post: Warner Bros/Legendary’s Godzilla Vs Kong has reached a new global benchmark, crossing $400M with a confirmed cume through Sunday of $406.5M worldwide. Of that, $320M comes from the international box office in 41 markets. The monster mash, already the biggest Hollywood movie of the pandemic era, continues to track above its Monsterverse predecessors. It is the highest-grossing of the films in 19 markets including China, Russia, Spain, Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mexico.
In combined like-for-like markets and at today’s rates, Gvk is running 6% above Kong: Skull Island, 44% over Godzilla: King Of The Monsters and 90% ahead of Godzilla. And, there are still over 20 markets to come including Brazil, Japan and the UK.
Gvk‘s weekend was worth $5.6M offshore. China’s run is winding down with a fantastic $183M through Sunday — the best Hollywood performance since Covid began — and could still grow a bit during this week.
In combined like-for-like markets and at today’s rates, Gvk is running 6% above Kong: Skull Island, 44% over Godzilla: King Of The Monsters and 90% ahead of Godzilla. And, there are still over 20 markets to come including Brazil, Japan and the UK.
Gvk‘s weekend was worth $5.6M offshore. China’s run is winding down with a fantastic $183M through Sunday — the best Hollywood performance since Covid began — and could still grow a bit during this week.
- 4/27/2021
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Darius Marder’s experimental “Sound of Metal” — the Oscar favorite for Best Sound — was surprisingly snubbed at the 68th annual Mpse Golden Reel Awards for sound editing on Friday, but it rebounded on Saturday to take sound mixing honors at the 57th annual Cas Awards. The sound editors presented a three-way split between Aaron Sorkin’s multi-layered courtroom drama, “The Trial of the Chicago 7” (dialogue/Adr), “Greyhound,” the World War II battleship action/adventure (effects/foley), which is an Oscar sound nominee, and Christopher Nolan’s time-inverted “Tenet” (underscore). Pixar’s “Soul,” which took the Golden Reel for animation, is also in the Oscar hunt for sound. However, the other two Oscar nominees — “Mank” and “News of the World” — were completely shut out.
Ironically, the primary reason the Academy consolidated sound editing and mixing into one category this season was due to increased overlap in recent years. However, despite...
Ironically, the primary reason the Academy consolidated sound editing and mixing into one category this season was due to increased overlap in recent years. However, despite...
- 4/18/2021
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Two of the five Oscar nominees for Best Sound won at the Golden Reel Awards bestowed by the Motion Picture Sound Editors (Mpse) on April 16 .”Greyhound” ran off with sound effects and foley while “Soul” took the animation prize. Two of the other Oscar contenders — “News of the World” and “Sound of Metal” — were shut out here despite a leading three nominations while the fifth nominee, “Mank,” had but one bid.
The upcoming Oscars mark the introduction of the Best Sound category, which combines Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing. There can be up to six nominees from a film: one production sound mixer, two supervising sound editors and three re-recording mixers.
In 2020 the war film “1917” won Best Sound Mixing while the auto racing drama “Ford v Ferrari” claimed the Best Sound Editing honor. Over the past decade, the two categories matched a half dozen times: “Inception” (2010), “Hugo...
The upcoming Oscars mark the introduction of the Best Sound category, which combines Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing. There can be up to six nominees from a film: one production sound mixer, two supervising sound editors and three re-recording mixers.
In 2020 the war film “1917” won Best Sound Mixing while the auto racing drama “Ford v Ferrari” claimed the Best Sound Editing honor. Over the past decade, the two categories matched a half dozen times: “Inception” (2010), “Hugo...
- 4/17/2021
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The Trail of the Chicago 7, Soul and Tenet were among the film winners at the 68th annual Mpse Golden Reel Awards, which were handed out during a virtual ceremony tonight. The Motion Picture Sound Editors also honored TV shows including The Mandalorian and The Queen’s Gambit.
Read the full winners list below.
Other films scooping trophies at tonight’s event hosted by voice actors Kelly Stables and David Cowgill included Greyhound, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of the Fire Saga, The Eight Hundred and The Reason I Jump. No single pic took multiple awards.
That wasn’t the case on the TV side as Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit scored three wins and Disney+’s The Mandalorian made off with two. The night’s other double winner was video game The Last of Us Part II.
Recognizing outstanding achievement in sound editing during the past year, Golden Reels were doled...
Read the full winners list below.
Other films scooping trophies at tonight’s event hosted by voice actors Kelly Stables and David Cowgill included Greyhound, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of the Fire Saga, The Eight Hundred and The Reason I Jump. No single pic took multiple awards.
That wasn’t the case on the TV side as Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit scored three wins and Disney+’s The Mandalorian made off with two. The night’s other double winner was video game The Last of Us Part II.
Recognizing outstanding achievement in sound editing during the past year, Golden Reels were doled...
- 4/17/2021
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
The Motion Picture Sound Editors handed out their awards in a virtual ceremony with Pixar’s “Soul, “Tenet” and “Greyhound” among the winners.
The Mpse also awarded “The Trial of the Chicago 7” for outstanding achievement in sound editing – feature dialogue / Adr, and outstanding achievement in sound editing – feature musical went to “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of the Fire Saga.”
All the films have received Oscar nominations in numerous categories, with “Greyhound” and “Soul” nominated in the newly combined best sound category.
The Golden Reel Awards, recognizing outstanding achievement in sound editing, were presented in 22 categories encompassing feature films, long-form and short-form television, animation, documentaries, games, special venue and other media.
Academy Award-winning re-recording mixer Chris Jenkins presented the Mpse Filmmaker Award to “Mad Max” director George Miller.
The Mpse Career Achievement Award went to supervising sound editor Dennis Drummond, Drummond’s award was accepted by his brother, Patrick Drummond.
The Mpse also awarded “The Trial of the Chicago 7” for outstanding achievement in sound editing – feature dialogue / Adr, and outstanding achievement in sound editing – feature musical went to “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of the Fire Saga.”
All the films have received Oscar nominations in numerous categories, with “Greyhound” and “Soul” nominated in the newly combined best sound category.
The Golden Reel Awards, recognizing outstanding achievement in sound editing, were presented in 22 categories encompassing feature films, long-form and short-form television, animation, documentaries, games, special venue and other media.
Academy Award-winning re-recording mixer Chris Jenkins presented the Mpse Filmmaker Award to “Mad Max” director George Miller.
The Mpse Career Achievement Award went to supervising sound editor Dennis Drummond, Drummond’s award was accepted by his brother, Patrick Drummond.
- 4/17/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
“Tenet,” “Eurovision Song Contest,” “The Trial of the Chicago 7” and “Greyhound” have won feature-film awards at the Motion Picture Sound Editors Mpse Golden Reel Awards, which took place on Friday evening in a virtual event.
The Mpse divides the art of sound editing into several different categories, with “Tenet” winning for underscore, “Eurovision Song Contest” for music, “The Trial of the Chicago 7” for dialogue/Adr and “Greyhound” for effects/foley.
In the past, the last of those categories has most closely corresponded to the Academy Award for Best Sound Editing — but that Oscar category was merged with the Best Sound Mixing category into a single Best Sound category this year. “Greyhound” is nominated in that category, along with “Soul,” “Mank,” “News of the World” and “Sound of Metal.”
“Soul” won for sound editing in an animated feature, while “The Eight Hundred” won for a foreign-language feature and “The Reason I Jump...
The Mpse divides the art of sound editing into several different categories, with “Tenet” winning for underscore, “Eurovision Song Contest” for music, “The Trial of the Chicago 7” for dialogue/Adr and “Greyhound” for effects/foley.
In the past, the last of those categories has most closely corresponded to the Academy Award for Best Sound Editing — but that Oscar category was merged with the Best Sound Mixing category into a single Best Sound category this year. “Greyhound” is nominated in that category, along with “Soul,” “Mank,” “News of the World” and “Sound of Metal.”
“Soul” won for sound editing in an animated feature, while “The Eight Hundred” won for a foreign-language feature and “The Reason I Jump...
- 4/17/2021
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
The Visual Effects Society Awards were handed out during a virtual ceremony on Tuesday, April 6. “The Midnight Sky” won the Ves equivalent of the Best Picture race – Best Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature. It bested Oscar frontrunner “Tenet” in that category, as well as “Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey,” “Project Power” and “The Witches.” George Clooney‘s sci-fi drama won an additional prize for Best Model in a Photoreal of Animated Project. Scroll down for a complete list of winners and nominees at the 2021 Visual Effects Society Awards.
“Tenet” shouldn’t get too discouraged about its Oscar chances. Last year’s Academy Award winner for Best Visual Effects, “1917,” wasn’t even nominated in the top category at the Ves. That award went to “The Lion King,” which lost at the Oscars to Sam Mendes‘ WWI epic. “1917” did compete at the Visual Effects Society for Best Supporting Visual Effects,...
“Tenet” shouldn’t get too discouraged about its Oscar chances. Last year’s Academy Award winner for Best Visual Effects, “1917,” wasn’t even nominated in the top category at the Ves. That award went to “The Lion King,” which lost at the Oscars to Sam Mendes‘ WWI epic. “1917” did compete at the Visual Effects Society for Best Supporting Visual Effects,...
- 4/7/2021
- by Zach Laws
- Gold Derby
The Hong Kong International Film Festival has announced the cancelation of its world premiere screening of crime thriller “Where the Wind Blows.” The move appears to be part of the accelerating ‘mainlandization’ of Hong Kong’s entertainment industry.
The festival said Monday evening in a statement that screenings of “Where the Wind Blows” (previously known “Theory of Ambitions”) had been cancelled at the request of the film’s owner.
“Upon request from the film owner, the screenings of ‘Where the Winds Blows’ originally scheduled at 5.30 p.m. on 1 April and 2.30 p.m. on 4 April are cancelled due to technical reasons,” the festival said in a statement in English and Chinese.
The film was produced by Hong Kong’s Mei Ah Film Production in a co-venture with mainland Chinese firms Dadi Century and Global Group. Its production budget has been reported as $38 million.
The film is directed by Philip Yung, who...
The festival said Monday evening in a statement that screenings of “Where the Wind Blows” (previously known “Theory of Ambitions”) had been cancelled at the request of the film’s owner.
“Upon request from the film owner, the screenings of ‘Where the Winds Blows’ originally scheduled at 5.30 p.m. on 1 April and 2.30 p.m. on 4 April are cancelled due to technical reasons,” the festival said in a statement in English and Chinese.
The film was produced by Hong Kong’s Mei Ah Film Production in a co-venture with mainland Chinese firms Dadi Century and Global Group. Its production budget has been reported as $38 million.
The film is directed by Philip Yung, who...
- 3/29/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Huayi Brothers Co-Founder and Chairman Wang Zhongjun has resigned from his post as executive chairman of the board at Huayi Tencent Entertainment, the latter company announced Friday. He will step down next Tuesday because he “needs to focus on other matters,” it said.
Wang will be vacating his Huayi Tencent roles as executive director and chairman of the board, as well as his positions as both chairman and member of the company’s nomination and corporate governance committees. The company said there are “no disagreements” between Wang and the rest of its board of directors.
Yuen Hoi Po, Huayi Tencent’s CEO and executive director, will temporary assume Wang’s responsibilities. A new chairman will be elected “as soon as possible” to fill Wang’s role.
His resignation nonetheless augurs poorly for the declining Huayi Brothers, China’s oldest and leading private production company. Despite having produced “The Eight Hundred,...
Wang will be vacating his Huayi Tencent roles as executive director and chairman of the board, as well as his positions as both chairman and member of the company’s nomination and corporate governance committees. The company said there are “no disagreements” between Wang and the rest of its board of directors.
Yuen Hoi Po, Huayi Tencent’s CEO and executive director, will temporary assume Wang’s responsibilities. A new chairman will be elected “as soon as possible” to fill Wang’s role.
His resignation nonetheless augurs poorly for the declining Huayi Brothers, China’s oldest and leading private production company. Despite having produced “The Eight Hundred,...
- 3/26/2021
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Beijing-based sales agency is also handling war epic Sacrifice and Vincent Zhao’s Counter Attack.
Beijing-based sales agency Blossoms Entertainment is launches sales on three new productions from leading Chinese studio Huayi Brothers at Filmart Online, headed by historical war epic Railway Heroes.
Starring Zhang Hanyu (Operation Red Sea) and Fan Wei (One Second), the film follows a group of Chinese railway workers during the Sino-Japanese War, who attempt to sabotage the enemy’s vital transport links whilst evading arrest. The film, directed by Yang Feng, is currently in production for release over China’s National Day Holidays in October.
Beijing-based sales agency Blossoms Entertainment is launches sales on three new productions from leading Chinese studio Huayi Brothers at Filmart Online, headed by historical war epic Railway Heroes.
Starring Zhang Hanyu (Operation Red Sea) and Fan Wei (One Second), the film follows a group of Chinese railway workers during the Sino-Japanese War, who attempt to sabotage the enemy’s vital transport links whilst evading arrest. The film, directed by Yang Feng, is currently in production for release over China’s National Day Holidays in October.
- 3/15/2021
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
Chinese indie sales agency Blossoms Entertainment returns to FilMart with a slate of large-scale commercial pictures sourced from a clutch of China’s biggest film studios.
The agency, operated by former Im Global staffers Vicky Ding and Leslie Chen, is pre-selling “Railway Heroes,” a tale of heroism and wartime sabotage which is targeting a National Day release in October. The film is directed by Yang Feng with a cast headed by Zhang Hanyu and Fan Wei.
“Never Stop,” a sports drama about the careers of two sprinters, is poised to release in China around the time of the Tokyo Olympics this summer. The cast is headed by “Shadow” star Zheng Kai (aka Ryan Zheng), with direction by Han Bowen.
Leste Chen’s “Upcoming” (aka “Sheng Xia Wei Lai”) marks the “Eternal Summer” director’s return to the romantic coming of age genre after more recent efforts in other directions including...
The agency, operated by former Im Global staffers Vicky Ding and Leslie Chen, is pre-selling “Railway Heroes,” a tale of heroism and wartime sabotage which is targeting a National Day release in October. The film is directed by Yang Feng with a cast headed by Zhang Hanyu and Fan Wei.
“Never Stop,” a sports drama about the careers of two sprinters, is poised to release in China around the time of the Tokyo Olympics this summer. The cast is headed by “Shadow” star Zheng Kai (aka Ryan Zheng), with direction by Han Bowen.
Leste Chen’s “Upcoming” (aka “Sheng Xia Wei Lai”) marks the “Eternal Summer” director’s return to the romantic coming of age genre after more recent efforts in other directions including...
- 3/14/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
“The Mandalorian” led all television and film projects with 13 nominations for the 19th annual Ves Awards, the Visual Effects Society announced on Tuesday. The Disney+ series scored multiple nominations in several categories, including three of the four noms for Outstanding Compositing in an Episode.
HBO’s “Lovecraft Country” finished a distant second in the television categories with four nominations, while Pixar’s “Soul” landed five to lead all films.
Among live-action features, “Mulan,” “Project Power” and “The Witches” led with three nominations each. In the Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature category, the Ves category that most closely corresponds to the Oscar for Best Visual Effects, the nominees were “Jingle-Jangle: A Christmas Journey,” “The Midnight Sky,” “Project Power,” “Tenet” and “The Witches.”
The film nominations reinforced what a strange year 2020 was, with the kind of large-scale, effects-driven films that often do well at the box office and in VFX...
HBO’s “Lovecraft Country” finished a distant second in the television categories with four nominations, while Pixar’s “Soul” landed five to lead all films.
Among live-action features, “Mulan,” “Project Power” and “The Witches” led with three nominations each. In the Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature category, the Ves category that most closely corresponds to the Oscar for Best Visual Effects, the nominees were “Jingle-Jangle: A Christmas Journey,” “The Midnight Sky,” “Project Power,” “Tenet” and “The Witches.”
The film nominations reinforced what a strange year 2020 was, with the kind of large-scale, effects-driven films that often do well at the box office and in VFX...
- 3/2/2021
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
All five of our predicted Oscar nominees for Best Sound number among the contenders for the Golden Reel Awards bestowed by the Motion Picture Sound Editors (Mpse). Oscar frontrunner “Sound of Metal” reaped three bids across the seven film categories as did one of its closest Oscar rivals, “News of the World.” Two of the other expected Oscar nominees — “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “Tenet” are double nominees while the fifth predicted contender, “Mank,” had to make do with one nomination from the Mpse.
The upcoming Oscars mark the introduction of the Best Sound category, which combines Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing. There can be up to six nominees from a film: one production sound mixer, two supervising sound editors and three re-recording mixers.
In 2020 the war film “1917” won Best Sound Mixing while the auto racing drama “Ford v Ferrari” claimed the Best Sound Editing honor. Over the past decade,...
The upcoming Oscars mark the introduction of the Best Sound category, which combines Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing. There can be up to six nominees from a film: one production sound mixer, two supervising sound editors and three re-recording mixers.
In 2020 the war film “1917” won Best Sound Mixing while the auto racing drama “Ford v Ferrari” claimed the Best Sound Editing honor. Over the past decade,...
- 3/1/2021
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
The Motion Picture Sound Editors are out with nominations for the 68th annual Golden Reel Awards, which recognize sound artists in 22 categories spanning film, TV, toons, computer entertainment and student productions.
Eight films will vie in the marquee Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Underscore category: The Invisible Man, The Midnight Sky, News of the World, Sound of Metal, Tenet, The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Wonder Woman 1984.
Winners will be announced during an international virtual trophy ceremony on Friday, April 16.
The Golden Reels also will honor Mad Max franchise director George Miller with the 2021 Mpse Filmmaker Award.
“We’re very excited about this year’s Mpse Golden Reel Awards,” Mpse president Mark Lanza said. “It will feature a dynamic, virtual format that will be great fun and allow people from around the world to participate. We will have presenters from every part of the globe along with many other surprises.
Eight films will vie in the marquee Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Underscore category: The Invisible Man, The Midnight Sky, News of the World, Sound of Metal, Tenet, The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Wonder Woman 1984.
Winners will be announced during an international virtual trophy ceremony on Friday, April 16.
The Golden Reels also will honor Mad Max franchise director George Miller with the 2021 Mpse Filmmaker Award.
“We’re very excited about this year’s Mpse Golden Reel Awards,” Mpse president Mark Lanza said. “It will feature a dynamic, virtual format that will be great fun and allow people from around the world to participate. We will have presenters from every part of the globe along with many other surprises.
- 3/1/2021
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Darius Marder’s innovative “Sound of Metal” and Paul Greengrass’ “News of the World” western each grabbed three sound editing nominations at the 68th annual Mpse Golden Reel Awards (which will be held virtually on April 16). “Sound of Metal,” the frontrunner, captures Riz Ahmed’s heavy-metal drummer slowly losing his hearing, while “News of the World” creates the shootouts, sandstorms, and rainstorms that assault Tom Hanks on his journey in post-Civil War Texas. The Academy has consolidated sound editing and mixing onto a single category for the first time this season.
Several features scored two nominations: “Tenet,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” and “Greyhound.” Also making the cut were “Mank,” “The Midnight Sky,” “The Invisible Woman,” “Nomadland,””Wonder Woman 1984,” “Emperor,” and “Cherry.”
Feature musical nominees included “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” The Prom,” “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of the Fire Saga,” “The High Note,...
Several features scored two nominations: “Tenet,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” and “Greyhound.” Also making the cut were “Mank,” “The Midnight Sky,” “The Invisible Woman,” “Nomadland,””Wonder Woman 1984,” “Emperor,” and “Cherry.”
Feature musical nominees included “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” The Prom,” “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of the Fire Saga,” “The High Note,...
- 3/1/2021
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
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