Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. To keep up with our latest features, sign up for the Weekly Edit newsletter and follow us @mubinotebook on Twitter and Instagram.Newsa Man of Integrity.Having banned producers of and actors in Mohammad Rasoulof’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig (2024) from leaving the country in an apparent attempt to pressure the director to pull the film from the Cannes Film Festival, Iranian authorities have now sentenced Rasoulof to eight years in prison, whipping, a fine, and confiscation of property, his lawyer announced today, adding that the courts consider the director’s films examples of collusion with the intention of committing a crime against the nation’s security.A group of about 200 French festival workers called Sous les écrans la dèche (“Under the screens the waste”) announced Monday that it will move ahead with plans for a strike during Cannes,...
- 5/8/2024
- MUBI
Coming on the heels of his experimental assassin flick “Aggro Dr1ft”, which made extensive use of infrared technology, and the forming of his new production company/design collective Edglrd, Harmony Korine is adding to its output with a new music video from bladee and Yung Lean called “One Second”.
Featuring a constant bass-pumping beat and visuals that range from hi-def gaming sequences to classic fish-eye lens close-ups on bare bellies and disarming masks, “One Second” plays as a level-up on the kind of chaotic splendor Korine introduced with films like “Spring Breakers” and “Trash Humpers”. Korine is clearly a fan of bladee and Yung Lean, as exhibited by the DJ sets he performs with them at Miami’s Boiler Room Club. The club setting seems to be the perfect environment for Korine’s experimentation, as he recently screened “Aggro Dr1ft” in Los Angeles at a strip club for its first ever immersive experience.
Featuring a constant bass-pumping beat and visuals that range from hi-def gaming sequences to classic fish-eye lens close-ups on bare bellies and disarming masks, “One Second” plays as a level-up on the kind of chaotic splendor Korine introduced with films like “Spring Breakers” and “Trash Humpers”. Korine is clearly a fan of bladee and Yung Lean, as exhibited by the DJ sets he performs with them at Miami’s Boiler Room Club. The club setting seems to be the perfect environment for Korine’s experimentation, as he recently screened “Aggro Dr1ft” in Los Angeles at a strip club for its first ever immersive experience.
- 5/2/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
Growing up in Hong Kong, the future members of the 12-member boy band Mirror had all kinds of jobs — from personal trainers to dancers and martial arts instructors. “The 12 of us did not debut from a training program,” says Edan (who, like the other members, typically goes by his first name). “We came from different places and backgrounds in Hong Kong, and so we have different strengths.”
One thing that they all had in common was a love of Cantopop, the locally popular genre that blends Cantonese lyrics with a melting pot of disco,...
One thing that they all had in common was a love of Cantopop, the locally popular genre that blends Cantonese lyrics with a melting pot of disco,...
- 3/21/2024
- by Tim Chan
- Rollingstone.com
Acclaimed Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou is to be feted with two honours at the Asian Film Awards on Sunday (March 10) in recognition of his career and recent box office success.
Zhang will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2023 Highest-Grossing Asian Film Award for Full River Red, which made $667m worldwide according to ticketing agency Maoyan following its release in January last year.
It marks a return to AFAs for the director, who won the Asian Film Contribution Award at in 2010 and best director in 2021 for One Second.
“Having been in the industry for over four decades, I am grateful...
Zhang will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2023 Highest-Grossing Asian Film Award for Full River Red, which made $667m worldwide according to ticketing agency Maoyan following its release in January last year.
It marks a return to AFAs for the director, who won the Asian Film Contribution Award at in 2010 and best director in 2021 for One Second.
“Having been in the industry for over four decades, I am grateful...
- 3/7/2024
- ScreenDaily
Veteran mainland Chinese director Zhang Yimou is to be honored twice over at the Asian Film Awards ceremony on Sunday. He will be presented with a lifetime achievement award and a separate prize for directing the highest-grossing Asian film of 2023.
“These two awards are not only a testament to Zhang’s extraordinary achievements, but also to his continued success, having won the Asian film contribution award at the 4th AFAs in 2010 and the best director award at the 15th Asian Film Awards in 2021 for ‘One Second’,” Afa organizers said.
“I consider myself very fortunate to have chosen filmmaking as my lifelong profession. Having been in the industry for over four decades, I am grateful to everyone who appreciates my films [..] I will keep learning and strive to surpass myself. Always having anticipations for the future, I hope that my best film will be my next one,” said Zhang in a prepared statement.
“These two awards are not only a testament to Zhang’s extraordinary achievements, but also to his continued success, having won the Asian film contribution award at the 4th AFAs in 2010 and the best director award at the 15th Asian Film Awards in 2021 for ‘One Second’,” Afa organizers said.
“I consider myself very fortunate to have chosen filmmaking as my lifelong profession. Having been in the industry for over four decades, I am grateful to everyone who appreciates my films [..] I will keep learning and strive to surpass myself. Always having anticipations for the future, I hope that my best film will be my next one,” said Zhang in a prepared statement.
- 3/7/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
On Saturday, audiences in Berlin will see the world premiere of “Above the Dust,” a Chinese-made drama that plays somewhat incongruously in the Generation Kplus section, which screens films for or about children. Whether the film plays again, and where, is moot.
The film’s director Wang Xiaoshuai, a three-time winner of Silver Bear awards at the Berlinale, is taking a considerable personal risk going ahead with the screening in the absence of approval from the mainland Chinese authorities.
With a young teen boy as the protagonist, the film depicts a hardscrabble family in a village in northwest China in 2009. While their neighbors slowly migrate to the city, the boy’s parents dig up the arid land in search of family heirlooms. Communicating with the ghost of his grandfather, the boy learns about the 1950s reforms that transferred peasant-owned land to the government and about the disastrous Great Leap Forward.
The film’s director Wang Xiaoshuai, a three-time winner of Silver Bear awards at the Berlinale, is taking a considerable personal risk going ahead with the screening in the absence of approval from the mainland Chinese authorities.
With a young teen boy as the protagonist, the film depicts a hardscrabble family in a village in northwest China in 2009. While their neighbors slowly migrate to the city, the boy’s parents dig up the arid land in search of family heirlooms. Communicating with the ghost of his grandfather, the boy learns about the 1950s reforms that transferred peasant-owned land to the government and about the disastrous Great Leap Forward.
- 2/17/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
China and Netherlands-based Fortissimo Films has picked up international sales rights to anticipated Chinese blockbuster movie “If You Are the One 3.”
To be released on Dec. 30 in China, the picture is directed by Feng Xiaogang as the second sequel in his anti-romance comedy franchise, about a rich businessman and an air stewardess, which kicked off in 2008 and earned a follow-up in 2010. The new picture reunites the key cast Ge You and Shu Qi, as well as Fan Wei (“One Second”), Yao Chen (“Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back”) and Guan Xiaotong (“Shadow”).
Set in 2031, the new film tells the story of Qin (Ge) retiring alone on a small island, as his wife Xiaoxiao (Shu) is away all year long. Fan (Fan), Qin’s friend, designs an android identical to Xiaoxiao to keep Qin company. Spending time with the android and old friends, Qin reflects on loneliness and companionship,...
To be released on Dec. 30 in China, the picture is directed by Feng Xiaogang as the second sequel in his anti-romance comedy franchise, about a rich businessman and an air stewardess, which kicked off in 2008 and earned a follow-up in 2010. The new picture reunites the key cast Ge You and Shu Qi, as well as Fan Wei (“One Second”), Yao Chen (“Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back”) and Guan Xiaotong (“Shadow”).
Set in 2031, the new film tells the story of Qin (Ge) retiring alone on a small island, as his wife Xiaoxiao (Shu) is away all year long. Fan (Fan), Qin’s friend, designs an android identical to Xiaoxiao to keep Qin company. Spending time with the android and old friends, Qin reflects on loneliness and companionship,...
- 12/5/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The follow-up comes 15 years after the original box office hit.
Fortissimo Films has secured international rights to upcoming Chinese comedy If You Are The One 3, the anticipated third instalment in Feng Xiaogang’s box office hit franchise.
The Amsterdam and Beijing-based sales company will begin talks on the feature ahead of its local release on December 30. Fortissimo will launch the title to the international market at Berlin’s European Film Market (EFM) in February. The firm will not handle sales in North America, Hong Kong, Macao, Australia or New Zealand.
The third instalment is released 15 years after You Are The One,...
Fortissimo Films has secured international rights to upcoming Chinese comedy If You Are The One 3, the anticipated third instalment in Feng Xiaogang’s box office hit franchise.
The Amsterdam and Beijing-based sales company will begin talks on the feature ahead of its local release on December 30. Fortissimo will launch the title to the international market at Berlin’s European Film Market (EFM) in February. The firm will not handle sales in North America, Hong Kong, Macao, Australia or New Zealand.
The third instalment is released 15 years after You Are The One,...
- 12/4/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
The director of ‘House Of Flying Daggers’ and ‘Full River Red’ will attend the festival in October.
Acclaimed Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou is to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) later this month.
The director of House Of Flying Daggers and more recently box office hit Full River Red, which will screen in the gala strand of TIFF, will be honoured in recognition of his career and long-standing contributions to the film industry.
The filmmaker will receive the award at the TIFF opening ceremony on October 23 and later participate in a talk as part...
Acclaimed Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou is to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) later this month.
The director of House Of Flying Daggers and more recently box office hit Full River Red, which will screen in the gala strand of TIFF, will be honoured in recognition of his career and long-standing contributions to the film industry.
The filmmaker will receive the award at the TIFF opening ceremony on October 23 and later participate in a talk as part...
- 10/10/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Oh, bother. What has Winnie-the-Pooh gotten himself into this time? Something quite a bit more troubling than the usual travails of Hundred Acre Wood, it turns out.
First, the lovable children’s character was transformed into the murderous protagonist of Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, a micro-budget U.K. slasher film that went viral and scored theatrical distribution across the globe. Then, when the film landed in Hong Kong, Pooh — or the new, cannibalistic horror flick version of him — became the surprise source of a censorship controversy involving none less than Chinese president Xi Jinping. And the impact of this surreal character arc, according to insiders, could have real-world implications for the fabled Hong Kong film industry’s rapidly dwindling creative freedoms.
From prolific Brit horror banner Jagged Edge Productions, known for its gleefully exploitative and childhood-ruining shlock (it’s currently working on a slasher version of Bambi), Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey...
First, the lovable children’s character was transformed into the murderous protagonist of Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, a micro-budget U.K. slasher film that went viral and scored theatrical distribution across the globe. Then, when the film landed in Hong Kong, Pooh — or the new, cannibalistic horror flick version of him — became the surprise source of a censorship controversy involving none less than Chinese president Xi Jinping. And the impact of this surreal character arc, according to insiders, could have real-world implications for the fabled Hong Kong film industry’s rapidly dwindling creative freedoms.
From prolific Brit horror banner Jagged Edge Productions, known for its gleefully exploitative and childhood-ruining shlock (it’s currently working on a slasher version of Bambi), Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey...
- 3/24/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski and Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Legendary Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou’s period thriller Full River Red — the world’s biggest blockbuster of 2023, so far, with $644 million and counting at China’s theatrical box office — is headed to the U.S.
Specialty distributor Niu Vision Media has acquired North American rights to the film and lined up a limited release March 17 in 150 theaters across the U.S. and Canada. Niu Vision picked up Full River Red from Bill Kong’s Edko Films, which is handling worldwide sales on the film and will continue offering it to buyers in select territories at next week’s Filmart industry confab in Hong Kong.
Produced by rising studio Huanxi Media, Full River Red was the big winner at China’s Lunar New Year box office race in late January. Frank Guo’s sci-fi sequel The Wander Earth 2 was the market favorite in the lead-up to the lucrative holiday release period,...
Specialty distributor Niu Vision Media has acquired North American rights to the film and lined up a limited release March 17 in 150 theaters across the U.S. and Canada. Niu Vision picked up Full River Red from Bill Kong’s Edko Films, which is handling worldwide sales on the film and will continue offering it to buyers in select territories at next week’s Filmart industry confab in Hong Kong.
Produced by rising studio Huanxi Media, Full River Red was the big winner at China’s Lunar New Year box office race in late January. Frank Guo’s sci-fi sequel The Wander Earth 2 was the market favorite in the lead-up to the lucrative holiday release period,...
- 3/9/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Opening in theaters son. Beyond Events has revealed an official US trailer for Full River Red, one of the latest films from acclaimed Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou, who has been on a roll with all kinds of new films. It's opening in the US and Canada in just a few weeks (March 17th) in a few limited theaters around both countries. The title of this film comes from a poem about Yue Fei, "a military general during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), well-known for his patriotism and loyalty to his country, who was framed & executed by Prime Minister Qin Hui, one of the most treacherous officials in China's history." The suspenseful, comedic mystery takes place in 12th century China, during the Song Dynasty, set against a brewing rebellion organized by the Jin people against the Imperial Court. After a Jin Ambassador is murdered just hours before an important vote and...
- 3/8/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Working at a Soderberghian clip, Chinese director Zhang Yimou’s latest epic, Full River Red, arrived in Chinese theaters at the start of the year where it quickly became the number one grosser of the year. Recently supplanting Avengers: Endgame as the seventh highest-grossing film in China of all time, it’s now thankfully getting a North American release much sooner than expected.
Niu Vision Media and Beyond Events announced the film will arrive in over 150 theaters across U.S. and Canada beginning next week, on March 17. One can see the full list of theaters here. Starring Teng Shen, Jackson Yee, Yi Zhang, Jiayin Lei, Yunpeng Yue, Jiayi Wang, Binlong Pan, and Ailei Yu, the film clocks in at 159 minutes.
“12th century China, during the Song Dynasty, set against a brewing rebellion by the Jin people against the Imperial Court,” reads the official synopsis. “Two hours before a crucial diplomatic...
Niu Vision Media and Beyond Events announced the film will arrive in over 150 theaters across U.S. and Canada beginning next week, on March 17. One can see the full list of theaters here. Starring Teng Shen, Jackson Yee, Yi Zhang, Jiayin Lei, Yunpeng Yue, Jiayi Wang, Binlong Pan, and Ailei Yu, the film clocks in at 159 minutes.
“12th century China, during the Song Dynasty, set against a brewing rebellion by the Jin people against the Imperial Court,” reads the official synopsis. “Two hours before a crucial diplomatic...
- 3/7/2023
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
Chinese director reveals the challenges of making the Winter Games documentary.
Amsterdam and Beijing-based Fortissimo Films has scored international rights to Lu Chuan’s Olympics documentary Beijing 2022 and is launching sales at the European Film Market.
Shot over more than two years, the official film of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing goes behind the scenes to share the stories of international and Chinese athletes, volunteers, medical personnel and officials – against the backdrop of a global pandemic.
An international team extended coverage to the US, France, Belgium, Austria and beyond to record the preparation of athletes. More than 1,200 hours...
Amsterdam and Beijing-based Fortissimo Films has scored international rights to Lu Chuan’s Olympics documentary Beijing 2022 and is launching sales at the European Film Market.
Shot over more than two years, the official film of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing goes behind the scenes to share the stories of international and Chinese athletes, volunteers, medical personnel and officials – against the backdrop of a global pandemic.
An international team extended coverage to the US, France, Belgium, Austria and beyond to record the preparation of athletes. More than 1,200 hours...
- 2/18/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
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
Covid lockdowns and censorship hurdles may have contributed to the withdrawal.
The “surprise film” due to screen in Directors’ Fortnight but was pulled at the last minute is Chinese director Liu Jian’s animation A Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man. It would have been the only Chinese feature playing at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
But organisers announced last week the late entry would not be ready in time due to ongoing pandemic restrictions in Beijing.
Produced by Yang Cheng and with a voice cast including Chinese director and Cannes regular Jia Zhangke, the film is...
The “surprise film” due to screen in Directors’ Fortnight but was pulled at the last minute is Chinese director Liu Jian’s animation A Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man. It would have been the only Chinese feature playing at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
But organisers announced last week the late entry would not be ready in time due to ongoing pandemic restrictions in Beijing.
Produced by Yang Cheng and with a voice cast including Chinese director and Cannes regular Jia Zhangke, the film is...
- 5/18/2022
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
The feature film “Freda” and short film “You Can Always Come Home,” both family dramas, earned top prizes at the 39th edition of Miami Dade College’s Miami Film Festival. Presented in a hybrid format this year, with both in-theater and virtual presentations, the 2022 Festival ran from March 4-13.
Making its U.S. premiere at this year’s Festival, “Freda,” directed by Géssica Généus, earned the top award for her first feature set in Haiti, the $25,000 Knight Marimbas Award. The winning film was selected by jury members Damon D’Oliveria, April Dobbins and Rubén Peralta Rigaud. Of the film, the jury noted, “this film resonated with all of us for its strong, female-centered narrative, and its exceptional performances from emerging actors. We couldn’t stop thinking about this world and these characters, and we appreciated being immersed in a place that we don’t often see onscreen – portrayed in such a realistic,...
Making its U.S. premiere at this year’s Festival, “Freda,” directed by Géssica Généus, earned the top award for her first feature set in Haiti, the $25,000 Knight Marimbas Award. The winning film was selected by jury members Damon D’Oliveria, April Dobbins and Rubén Peralta Rigaud. Of the film, the jury noted, “this film resonated with all of us for its strong, female-centered narrative, and its exceptional performances from emerging actors. We couldn’t stop thinking about this world and these characters, and we appreciated being immersed in a place that we don’t often see onscreen – portrayed in such a realistic,...
- 3/13/2022
- by Malina Saval
- Variety Film + TV
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (Aacta) announced on Wednesday that “Drive My Car” has won its 2022 Aacta Award for Best Asian Film.
This is the first Aacta Award for director Ryusuke Hamaguchi, adding to the movie’s impressive haul of international accolades to date, including three awards at last year’s Cannes Film Festival and four Oscar nominations — for Best Picture, Best Director (the first ever for a Japanese film), Best Adapted Screenplay and Best International Feature.
Adapted from a short story of the same name by author Haruki Murakami, “Drive My Car” centers on two characters struggling with grief and loss, who connect while working on a new stage production of “Uncle Vanya” in the city of Hiroshima.
See Nominees and winners for the Australian Academy International Awards
In presenting the award, Aacta CEO Damian Trewhella proclaimed that “while all nominees for our Best Asian film have great strengths,...
This is the first Aacta Award for director Ryusuke Hamaguchi, adding to the movie’s impressive haul of international accolades to date, including three awards at last year’s Cannes Film Festival and four Oscar nominations — for Best Picture, Best Director (the first ever for a Japanese film), Best Adapted Screenplay and Best International Feature.
Adapted from a short story of the same name by author Haruki Murakami, “Drive My Car” centers on two characters struggling with grief and loss, who connect while working on a new stage production of “Uncle Vanya” in the city of Hiroshima.
See Nominees and winners for the Australian Academy International Awards
In presenting the award, Aacta CEO Damian Trewhella proclaimed that “while all nominees for our Best Asian film have great strengths,...
- 3/3/2022
- by Rob Licuria
- Gold Derby
China’s government-backed Golden Rooster Awards honored Oscar-winning drama “The Father” with the event’s first-ever prize for best international film in the coastal city of Xiamen on Thursday.
Beijing hopes that its star-studded awards ceremony can rival and surpass the Taipei-based Golden Horse Awards, once known as the “Oscars of Asia” for Chinese-language content. This year, the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival, which kicked off Tuesday, added the international film competition category for the first time.
This year’s 34th iteration honors films screened theatrically in China between July 1, 2020 and July 15, 2021.
“The Father” beat out animation “Wolfwalkers,” World War II drama “Persian Lessons,” Italy’s live-action “Pinocchio” and the Thai drama “Happy Old Year.” The film grossed $4.14 million in China in June — nearly double the $2.12 million it earned in the U.S.
Veteran helmer Zhang Yimou was the most decorated of this year’s ceremony, with his...
Beijing hopes that its star-studded awards ceremony can rival and surpass the Taipei-based Golden Horse Awards, once known as the “Oscars of Asia” for Chinese-language content. This year, the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival, which kicked off Tuesday, added the international film competition category for the first time.
This year’s 34th iteration honors films screened theatrically in China between July 1, 2020 and July 15, 2021.
“The Father” beat out animation “Wolfwalkers,” World War II drama “Persian Lessons,” Italy’s live-action “Pinocchio” and the Thai drama “Happy Old Year.” The film grossed $4.14 million in China in June — nearly double the $2.12 million it earned in the U.S.
Veteran helmer Zhang Yimou was the most decorated of this year’s ceremony, with his...
- 12/30/2021
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
The Bangkok Asean Film Festival kicked off on Wednesday evening with the screening of “One Second” Zhang Yimou’s homage to cinema and veiled critique of China’s Cultural Revolution.
The festival runs Dec 8-13 and is one of the first major cultural showcases to take place in person after Thailand has opened its borders to welcome visitors. Fully-vaccinated international visitors to Thailand no longer needs to go through quarantine, though they are required to have a Pcr test upon arrival.
Coincidentally, it is taking place in the week that film trade show and convention CineAsia was to have taken place in the city. CineAsia was canceled due to the uncertainty of Thailand’s Covid response and anticipated travel difficulties.
The non-competitive feature film part of the program includes: the Locarno-winning “Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash” by Indonesian director Edwin; Cambodian Kavich Neang’s Venice entry “White Building...
The festival runs Dec 8-13 and is one of the first major cultural showcases to take place in person after Thailand has opened its borders to welcome visitors. Fully-vaccinated international visitors to Thailand no longer needs to go through quarantine, though they are required to have a Pcr test upon arrival.
Coincidentally, it is taking place in the week that film trade show and convention CineAsia was to have taken place in the city. CineAsia was canceled due to the uncertainty of Thailand’s Covid response and anticipated travel difficulties.
The non-competitive feature film part of the program includes: the Locarno-winning “Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash” by Indonesian director Edwin; Cambodian Kavich Neang’s Venice entry “White Building...
- 12/9/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The 25th edition of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival is about to kick off, and between 12-28 of November the audience will have the oportunity to watch a great number of films from Asia, strewn across festival’s various program sections, including all competition segments. We went through the complete program and counted no more or less than 69 films from the broader Asian region.
Quite surprising is the amount of competition titles in the main selection, with three world premieres, four international. Lu ZHang’s “Yanagawa” will have its European premiere at PÖFF.
Yerzhanov returns to Tallinn a year after he presented two films at the festival, the main competition title “Ulbolsyn” about a woman who comes to a Kazhak village to “steer trouble”, and the oddball comedy “Yellow Cat” screened in the Current Waves program. Kirill Sokolov is also back two years after the premiere of his critically acclaimed...
Quite surprising is the amount of competition titles in the main selection, with three world premieres, four international. Lu ZHang’s “Yanagawa” will have its European premiere at PÖFF.
Yerzhanov returns to Tallinn a year after he presented two films at the festival, the main competition title “Ulbolsyn” about a woman who comes to a Kazhak village to “steer trouble”, and the oddball comedy “Yellow Cat” screened in the Current Waves program. Kirill Sokolov is also back two years after the premiere of his critically acclaimed...
- 11/10/2021
- by Marina D. Richter
- AsianMoviePulse
After opening the Venice Film Festival and continuing on to the New York Film Festival, Oscar winner Pedro Almodóvar’s Parallel Mothers from Sony Pictures Classics will have a red-carpet premiere at this year’s AFI Fest at the Tcl Chinese Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 13.
In the movie, two women, Janis and Ana, played respectively by Penelope Cruz and Milena Smit, coincide in a hospital room where they are going to give birth. Both are single and became pregnant by accident. Janis, middle-aged, doesn’t regret it and she is exultant. The other, Ana, an adolescent, is scared, repentant and traumatized. Janis tries to encourage her while they move like sleepwalkers along the hospital corridors. The few words they exchange in these hours will create a very close link between the two, which by chance develops and complicates, and changes their lives in a decisive way. Cruz won the Volpi...
In the movie, two women, Janis and Ana, played respectively by Penelope Cruz and Milena Smit, coincide in a hospital room where they are going to give birth. Both are single and became pregnant by accident. Janis, middle-aged, doesn’t regret it and she is exultant. The other, Ana, an adolescent, is scared, repentant and traumatized. Janis tries to encourage her while they move like sleepwalkers along the hospital corridors. The few words they exchange in these hours will create a very close link between the two, which by chance develops and complicates, and changes their lives in a decisive way. Cruz won the Volpi...
- 10/13/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
A massive fire that broke out at Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival on Wednesday is now under control, organizers have confirmed.
Shortly after the fire broke out, dramatic videos of the incident were posted on social media.
Watch: A massive fire has broken out in the main hall of the El Gouna Film Festival site in Egypt, one day ahead of the opening ceremony, according to local media reports. #Gff https://t.co/13Z78ZM5ik pic.twitter.com/J1HYCjLSj8
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) October 13, 2021
“El Gouna Film Festival Management announced the control of a fire that broke out in El Gouna Conference and Culture Center. The fire damaged a small part of the hall prepared to receive the opening activities of the festival,” the festival management said in a statement. “Once the fire broke out, El Gouna Film Festival Management coordinated with the Civil Protection Forces...
Shortly after the fire broke out, dramatic videos of the incident were posted on social media.
Watch: A massive fire has broken out in the main hall of the El Gouna Film Festival site in Egypt, one day ahead of the opening ceremony, according to local media reports. #Gff https://t.co/13Z78ZM5ik pic.twitter.com/J1HYCjLSj8
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) October 13, 2021
“El Gouna Film Festival Management announced the control of a fire that broke out in El Gouna Conference and Culture Center. The fire damaged a small part of the hall prepared to receive the opening activities of the festival,” the festival management said in a statement. “Once the fire broke out, El Gouna Film Festival Management coordinated with the Civil Protection Forces...
- 10/13/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
The New Zealand International Film Festival had to cancel the Auckland leg of its multi-city exhibition series, but will continue in Wellington and Christchurch and other regional stops with a diverse lineup that includes an impressive Asian selection.
Wellington will screen a total of 164 feature films from 51 countries over 18 days (Nov. 4-21) across its eight venues. Christchurch will screen 95 features from 37 countries.
International highlights include Wes Anderson’s “The French Dispatch,” Maggie Gyllenhaal’s “The Lost Daughter,” Zhang Yimou’s “One Second,” and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Oscars contender Jasmila Zbanic’s “Quo Vadis, Aida?” Germany’s Oscar contender, Maria Schrader’s “I’m Your Man,” “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” and “My Salinger Year” also screen. So too does Jane Campion’s U.S.-set, New Zealand-made “The Power of the Dog.” The middle of the festival includes Cannes Palme D’or winner “Titane” and Paulo Sorrentino’s Venice grand...
Wellington will screen a total of 164 feature films from 51 countries over 18 days (Nov. 4-21) across its eight venues. Christchurch will screen 95 features from 37 countries.
International highlights include Wes Anderson’s “The French Dispatch,” Maggie Gyllenhaal’s “The Lost Daughter,” Zhang Yimou’s “One Second,” and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Oscars contender Jasmila Zbanic’s “Quo Vadis, Aida?” Germany’s Oscar contender, Maria Schrader’s “I’m Your Man,” “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” and “My Salinger Year” also screen. So too does Jane Campion’s U.S.-set, New Zealand-made “The Power of the Dog.” The middle of the festival includes Cannes Palme D’or winner “Titane” and Paulo Sorrentino’s Venice grand...
- 10/12/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
French sales companies are getting behind Mia’s film and TV market in Rome this week.
French sales companies will be out in force at Rome’s Mia film and TV market (October 13-17) as the global film and TV market circuit continues to shift due to the pandemic Covid-19.
French sellers have been busy networking at the Venice and San Sebastian film festivals this autumn, but Mia represents the first physical market since Cannes in July for most after only a handful of European professionals made the trip to Toronto in September.
Mia will also be the last opportunity...
French sales companies will be out in force at Rome’s Mia film and TV market (October 13-17) as the global film and TV market circuit continues to shift due to the pandemic Covid-19.
French sellers have been busy networking at the Venice and San Sebastian film festivals this autumn, but Mia represents the first physical market since Cannes in July for most after only a handful of European professionals made the trip to Toronto in September.
Mia will also be the last opportunity...
- 10/12/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
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
This year’s Rome Film Festival unveiled its line-up today, with honorary prizes set to be given to Quentin Tarantino and Tim Burton.
Chloe Zhao’s Marvel pic Eternals will close the festival on October 24 with a screening at the Auditorium Parco della Musica. The high-profile superhero pic starring the likes of Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden and Gemma Chan, begins its European theatrical roll out from November 3 and bows stateside on November 5 with a 45-day run in cinemas before it heads to Disney+.
Further selections in the Rome line-up this year include Joe Wright’s Cyrano, fresh from its Telluride premiere, Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast, the PBS doc series Muhammad Ali, Zhang Yimou’s One Second, Mike Mills’ C’mon C’mon, Michael Showalter’s The Eyes Of Tammy Faye, and Sean Baker’s Red Rocket.
The festival will also in-conversation events with figures including Jessica Chastain, Alfonso Cuaron, Luca Guadagnino, Marco Bellocchio,...
Chloe Zhao’s Marvel pic Eternals will close the festival on October 24 with a screening at the Auditorium Parco della Musica. The high-profile superhero pic starring the likes of Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden and Gemma Chan, begins its European theatrical roll out from November 3 and bows stateside on November 5 with a 45-day run in cinemas before it heads to Disney+.
Further selections in the Rome line-up this year include Joe Wright’s Cyrano, fresh from its Telluride premiere, Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast, the PBS doc series Muhammad Ali, Zhang Yimou’s One Second, Mike Mills’ C’mon C’mon, Michael Showalter’s The Eyes Of Tammy Faye, and Sean Baker’s Red Rocket.
The festival will also in-conversation events with figures including Jessica Chastain, Alfonso Cuaron, Luca Guadagnino, Marco Bellocchio,...
- 10/6/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Blessed by largely clement weather, San Sebastian fairly hummed, as hundreds of industry execs sat down to talk face to face – some, especially from Latin America, for the first time since February 2020. As at Venice, Latin American producers could talk on-site and with some degree of confidence about putting movies long in development into production. So the 69th San Sebastián Festival proved a joyous and energy-sluiced affair. Following, some of its highlights:
San Sebastian Rebounds
Through Thursday, total San Sebastian delegates numbers came in at 3,848, 46.5% up on 2020 and just 11% down on a pre-pandemic 2019. Industry reps drove much of that rebound, San Sebastian welcoming 1,686 this year, compared to 1,185 in 2020 and 1,749 in 2019. “Everyone’s very active, enthusiastic, appreciating seeing one another again. We really wanted to be here,” said Ventana Sur co-director Bernardo Bergeret. He added that late November’s Ventana Sur had received a record number of applications for accreditations. Expect...
San Sebastian Rebounds
Through Thursday, total San Sebastian delegates numbers came in at 3,848, 46.5% up on 2020 and just 11% down on a pre-pandemic 2019. Industry reps drove much of that rebound, San Sebastian welcoming 1,686 this year, compared to 1,185 in 2020 and 1,749 in 2019. “Everyone’s very active, enthusiastic, appreciating seeing one another again. We really wanted to be here,” said Ventana Sur co-director Bernardo Bergeret. He added that late November’s Ventana Sur had received a record number of applications for accreditations. Expect...
- 9/24/2021
- by John Hopewell and Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Somewhere in the land of worn-out metaphors, there’s a drawer overflowing with love letters from all the filmmakers who ever thought to make cinema of the making of cinema. But it feels inadequate to file Zhang Yimou’s “One Second” alongside those when it is the most direct and heartfelt valentine to the medium the revered Fifth Generation filmmaker has ever composed — even though, in the four decades between his 1981 debut “Red Sorghum” and this year’s “Cliff Walkers,” he has rarely made a film that could be considered anything but.
This time, in language as simple and lovely as a close-up on Liu Haocun’s grimy, radiant face and in sentences made from strips of sticky celluloid glinting in a projector’s glare as they dry, cinema has written back. “One Second” is not just about the magic of the movies, it’s about their resilience, and so...
This time, in language as simple and lovely as a close-up on Liu Haocun’s grimy, radiant face and in sentences made from strips of sticky celluloid glinting in a projector’s glare as they dry, cinema has written back. “One Second” is not just about the magic of the movies, it’s about their resilience, and so...
- 9/19/2021
- by Jessica Kiang
- Variety Film + TV
After being delayed for almost two full years, Zhang Yimou's film One Second is finally appearing outside of China, premiering at both the Toronto Film Festival and San Sebastian Film Festival this fall. It opened first in China in November of 2020, and it was originally announced as part of the 2019 Berlin Film Festival line-up a few years aback. But a day before that festival started, it was strangely pulled from the line-up for mysterious reasons (nothing specific was ever confirmed other than "technical difficulties"). Regardless, the film is now finally finished and allowed out by the Chinese censors. I'm delighted to say that One Second is easily one of the best films Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou has ever made. An instant favorite. A near perfect love letter to cinema set during China's Cultural Revolution, the whole film is so loving and tender towards 35mm and the magic & joy of cinema.
- 9/19/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
‘One Second’ Review: Zhang Yimou’s Censored Ode to the Power of Cinema Finally Sees the Light of Day
More than two years after the world premiere of Zhang Yimou’s “One Second” was canceled mere days before its scheduled gala screening at the Berlinale on account of a “technical problem” — the insultingly transparent wording of a censorship bureau grown smug about its power — the renowned Chinese filmmaker’s most intimate movie since the days of “Hero” and “House of Flying Daggers” is finally here. Or at least some version of it is, as specifics about whatever snips and reshoots have taken place since 2019 remain as vague as the Chinese government’s reason for interfering with the film in the first place.
Rumor had it certain officials were convinced the movie was a lock to win the festival’s Golden Bear, and panicked at the international attention such a prize might attract to a story that reflects the poverty caused by the Cultural Revolution (albeit with only a small...
Rumor had it certain officials were convinced the movie was a lock to win the festival’s Golden Bear, and panicked at the international attention such a prize might attract to a story that reflects the poverty caused by the Cultural Revolution (albeit with only a small...
- 9/18/2021
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Jackie Chan has begun shooting his next film, a martial arts-based comedy about a man and his horse, entitled “Ride On.”
The 67-year-old superstar remains as prolific as ever, churning out a movie a year since 2019, despite the pandemic. While the presence of his name on a marquee continues to sell tickets, a number of his latest works have been critical bombs. On the Chinese Douban review platform, viewers rated last year’s “Vanguard” with a 4.5 out of 10, 2019’s “Mystery of the Dragon Seal: Journey to China” 3.6 out of 10, and “The Knight of Shadows: Between Yin and Yang” a 3.8.
His latest could break the streak. In “Ride On,” Chan will play a down-and-out, washed-up martial artist named Lao Luo, who is very attached to his beloved horse. When he becomes mired in a dispute over debt, however, it seems that the horse may be taken away from him, leading him...
The 67-year-old superstar remains as prolific as ever, churning out a movie a year since 2019, despite the pandemic. While the presence of his name on a marquee continues to sell tickets, a number of his latest works have been critical bombs. On the Chinese Douban review platform, viewers rated last year’s “Vanguard” with a 4.5 out of 10, 2019’s “Mystery of the Dragon Seal: Journey to China” 3.6 out of 10, and “The Knight of Shadows: Between Yin and Yang” a 3.8.
His latest could break the streak. In “Ride On,” Chan will play a down-and-out, washed-up martial artist named Lao Luo, who is very attached to his beloved horse. When he becomes mired in a dispute over debt, however, it seems that the horse may be taken away from him, leading him...
- 9/15/2021
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
The Asian Film Awards Academy (Afaa) announced today the nominees of the 15th Asian Film Awards (AFA15).
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” are competing for this year’s “Best Film Award.”
World renowned directors, Zhang Yimou, Lee Joon-ik, Kurosawa Kiyoshi and internationally acclaimed Hamaguchi Ryusuke, and Adilkhan Yerzhanov are in a tight race for “Best Director.”
In 2020, the 14th Asian Film Awards moved to Busan, South Korea for the first time and was held online due to Covid-19 restrictions. This year the awards will be held again in conjunction with the Busan International Film Festival on 8 October 2021 (Friday). The ceremony will commence in a hybrid form, which combines on-site attendance in Busan and online participation.
The Afaa is honoured that legendary South Korean filmmaker, Lee Chang-dong...
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” are competing for this year’s “Best Film Award.”
World renowned directors, Zhang Yimou, Lee Joon-ik, Kurosawa Kiyoshi and internationally acclaimed Hamaguchi Ryusuke, and Adilkhan Yerzhanov are in a tight race for “Best Director.”
In 2020, the 14th Asian Film Awards moved to Busan, South Korea for the first time and was held online due to Covid-19 restrictions. This year the awards will be held again in conjunction with the Busan International Film Festival on 8 October 2021 (Friday). The ceremony will commence in a hybrid form, which combines on-site attendance in Busan and online participation.
The Afaa is honoured that legendary South Korean filmmaker, Lee Chang-dong...
- 9/11/2021
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Happy Friday International Insiders. Tom Grater in the hot-seat delivering a rundown of the week’s top international news. To get this sent to your inbox every Friday, sign up here.
Five-Star Power
Andreas reports: It has been a unique start to the fall festival season. Rarely, if ever, can I recall so many movies out of Venice’s first week and the early days of Telluride getting so many positive reviews. It’s not only the ‘Oscar movies’ either. Plenty of arthouse European movies have found favor too. Why might that be? There are multiple factors potentially at play. One is that we may be experiencing a happy coincidence and confluence of quality movies. Another explanation might be that we’re experiencing a bottleneck with more movies for festivals to choose from due to the pandemic holdups. Yet another theory is that critics who have been holed up in...
Five-Star Power
Andreas reports: It has been a unique start to the fall festival season. Rarely, if ever, can I recall so many movies out of Venice’s first week and the early days of Telluride getting so many positive reviews. It’s not only the ‘Oscar movies’ either. Plenty of arthouse European movies have found favor too. Why might that be? There are multiple factors potentially at play. One is that we may be experiencing a happy coincidence and confluence of quality movies. Another explanation might be that we’re experiencing a bottleneck with more movies for festivals to choose from due to the pandemic holdups. Yet another theory is that critics who have been holed up in...
- 9/10/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Spain’s primary film event, the San Sebastian Film Festival, was one of the few major international fests to host a physical edition last year as the pandemic raged around the world. Flash forward 12 months and Covid is far from behind us, but festivals are pushing on in this strange new world. After a summer where Cannes and Venice have already staged successful in-person events, San Sebastian is back in its typical slot, acting as a second platform for major titles from other fests and a showcase for new Spanish cinema.
The program is full of intrigue, from the international premiere of Chinese epic One Second – which famously was pulled from the 2019 Berlinale program at the last moment – to the first screening of new Javier Bardem pic The Good Boss and new pics from Spanish stalwarts Paco Plaza and Luis Tosar.
Like other major European events, San Sebastian is no...
The program is full of intrigue, from the international premiere of Chinese epic One Second – which famously was pulled from the 2019 Berlinale program at the last moment – to the first screening of new Javier Bardem pic The Good Boss and new pics from Spanish stalwarts Paco Plaza and Luis Tosar.
Like other major European events, San Sebastian is no...
- 9/10/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
The Academy (Afaa) revealed the nominees for the 15th Asian Film Awards today. Thirty-six films from eight Asian regions will compete for 16 awards. 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, compete for this year’s “Best Film Award.”
Three Hong Kong films were nominated for this year’s Afa, including Drifting, directed by Jun Li, nominated for Best Supporting Actor and Actress. Limbo, directed by Cheang Pou-soi, was nominated for Best Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design and Best sound; Adam Wong’s The Way We Keep Dancing was nominated for Best Original Music.
The Afaa is honoured that legendary South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong will be this year’s Jury President. Lee was the lifetime award recipient at the 13th Asian Film Awards.He won the “Best...
Three Hong Kong films were nominated for this year’s Afa, including Drifting, directed by Jun Li, nominated for Best Supporting Actor and Actress. Limbo, directed by Cheang Pou-soi, was nominated for Best Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design and Best sound; Adam Wong’s The Way We Keep Dancing was nominated for Best Original Music.
The Afaa is honoured that legendary South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong will be this year’s Jury President. Lee was the lifetime award recipient at the 13th Asian Film Awards.He won the “Best...
- 9/9/2021
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
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
Titles include ‘The Hating Game’, ‘One Second’, ‘Blacklight’
Australia-New Zealand distributor Rialto Distribution has acquired rights to nine new films, with plans to release them all theatrically across the coming year.
The nine features are led by Liam Neeson thriller Blacklight, which filmed in Melbourne during the pandemic lockdown in 2020 and is in post-production. Neeson plays a shadowy government agent who detects a deadly conspiracy within his own ranks linked to the highest echelons. Mark Williams is directing, having previously directed Neeson in 2020 thriller Honest Thief; US agency Solution Entertainment Group handles sales.
Based on Sally Thorne’s novel of the same name,...
Australia-New Zealand distributor Rialto Distribution has acquired rights to nine new films, with plans to release them all theatrically across the coming year.
The nine features are led by Liam Neeson thriller Blacklight, which filmed in Melbourne during the pandemic lockdown in 2020 and is in post-production. Neeson plays a shadowy government agent who detects a deadly conspiracy within his own ranks linked to the highest echelons. Mark Williams is directing, having previously directed Neeson in 2020 thriller Honest Thief; US agency Solution Entertainment Group handles sales.
Based on Sally Thorne’s novel of the same name,...
- 9/2/2021
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
The film will debut in the Culinary Zinema section this month.
Japan’s Gaga has picked up world sales rights to Toshimichi Saito’s debut feature The Pursuit of Perfection, ahead of the film’s world premiere at the San Sebastian Film Festival this month.
The feature documentary will launch in the food-themed Culinary Zinema strand.
The Pursuit of Perfection aims to explore the truth behind Japan’s unique and sophisticated food culture through focusing on four of the country’s leading chefs.
It is produced by Akihiko Yose, for Aoi Pro. Inc., which has credits including Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Palme d’Or winner Shoplifters.
Japan’s Gaga has picked up world sales rights to Toshimichi Saito’s debut feature The Pursuit of Perfection, ahead of the film’s world premiere at the San Sebastian Film Festival this month.
The feature documentary will launch in the food-themed Culinary Zinema strand.
The Pursuit of Perfection aims to explore the truth behind Japan’s unique and sophisticated food culture through focusing on four of the country’s leading chefs.
It is produced by Akihiko Yose, for Aoi Pro. Inc., which has credits including Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Palme d’Or winner Shoplifters.
- 9/2/2021
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
The Woodstock Film Festival has announced the slate for its 22nd edition, with 11 world premieres among the 43 features on the bill.
The festival will take place September 29 to October 3 in three Hudson Valley communities about two hours north of New York City. In-person screenings and events will be featured throughout the fest’s five days, but online options will also enable attendees to connect amid the ongoing challenges of Covid-19.
Panels, concerts and comedy sets along with film screenings are planned in Woodstock, Kingston and Saugerties. Neon chief Tom Quinn is slated to receive the festival’s Honorary Trailblazer Award, an honor announced in 2020 but postponed due to the pandemic.
The festival will kick off with Fanny: The Right to Rock, a documentary about a pathbreaking Filipina-American garage band, with a performance by some of the band’s members following the screening. Music is an annual touchstone for Woodstock’s lineup,...
The festival will take place September 29 to October 3 in three Hudson Valley communities about two hours north of New York City. In-person screenings and events will be featured throughout the fest’s five days, but online options will also enable attendees to connect amid the ongoing challenges of Covid-19.
Panels, concerts and comedy sets along with film screenings are planned in Woodstock, Kingston and Saugerties. Neon chief Tom Quinn is slated to receive the festival’s Honorary Trailblazer Award, an honor announced in 2020 but postponed due to the pandemic.
The festival will kick off with Fanny: The Right to Rock, a documentary about a pathbreaking Filipina-American garage band, with a performance by some of the band’s members following the screening. Music is an annual touchstone for Woodstock’s lineup,...
- 9/1/2021
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Marion Cotillard, the Oscar-winning French actor whose latest film “Annette” won a prize at Cannes, will receive a Donostia Award at the 69th edition of the San Sebastian Festival during the opening ceremony on Sept. 17.
Cotillard, who won an Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA award for her performance as Edith Piaf in “La Vie en Rose,” has been working with some of the most revered filmmakers in the U.S. and in Europe. These include Jacques Audiard (“Rust and Bone”), Michael Mann (“Public Enemies”), Christopher Nolan, Woody Allen (“Midnight in Paris”), Steven Soderbergh (“Contagion”), James Gray (“The Immigrant”), the Dardenne brothers, Arnaud Desplechin (“Ismael’s Ghosts”), Guillaume Canet (“Blood Ties”), and most recently Leos Carax, who directed Cotillard in “Annette” alongside Adam Driver.
Cotillard stars as a famous opera singer in the critically acclaimed musical drama “Annette” which world premiered on opening night at Cannes and won best director for Carax.
Cotillard, who won an Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA award for her performance as Edith Piaf in “La Vie en Rose,” has been working with some of the most revered filmmakers in the U.S. and in Europe. These include Jacques Audiard (“Rust and Bone”), Michael Mann (“Public Enemies”), Christopher Nolan, Woody Allen (“Midnight in Paris”), Steven Soderbergh (“Contagion”), James Gray (“The Immigrant”), the Dardenne brothers, Arnaud Desplechin (“Ismael’s Ghosts”), Guillaume Canet (“Blood Ties”), and most recently Leos Carax, who directed Cotillard in “Annette” alongside Adam Driver.
Cotillard stars as a famous opera singer in the critically acclaimed musical drama “Annette” which world premiered on opening night at Cannes and won best director for Carax.
- 8/24/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Festival also adds Michael Showalter’s ’The Eyes of Tammy Faye’ and Thierry de Peretti’s ’Undercover’.
San Sebastian International Film Festival has unveiled its final 2021 competition titles, with new addition One Second, directed by Zhang Yimou, set to open the event.
Starring Wei Fan and Yi Zhang, the Chinese period drama follows a prisoner who escapes from a labour camp at the height of the Cultural Revolution. The film was pulled from the Berlinale in 2019 due to “technical reasons”.
The festival has also added The Eyes of Tammy Faye from Michael Showalter (The Big Sick). It follows the rise...
San Sebastian International Film Festival has unveiled its final 2021 competition titles, with new addition One Second, directed by Zhang Yimou, set to open the event.
Starring Wei Fan and Yi Zhang, the Chinese period drama follows a prisoner who escapes from a labour camp at the height of the Cultural Revolution. The film was pulled from the Berlinale in 2019 due to “technical reasons”.
The festival has also added The Eyes of Tammy Faye from Michael Showalter (The Big Sick). It follows the rise...
- 8/20/2021
- by Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
Starring Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” will receive its European premiere at late September’s San Sebastian Festival.
The biggest film event in the Spanish-speaking world will open with the anticipated “One Second” from China’s Zhang Yimou, which was dramatically pulled from competition at the 69th Berlin Film Festival.
Both titles play in competition, vying for San Sebastian’s top film plaudit, its Golden Shell, where they are joined by French filmmaker Thierry de Peretti’s “Undercover.”
Recounting the rise, fall and redemption of Tammy Faye, the indomitable wife of televangelist Jim Bakker, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” weighs in as the only U.S. movie in San Sebastian main competition. It catches Chastain on a high as she will receive the TIFF Tribute Actor Award, coinciding with the premiere at Toronto of the film.
The three new films mark the final titles to...
The biggest film event in the Spanish-speaking world will open with the anticipated “One Second” from China’s Zhang Yimou, which was dramatically pulled from competition at the 69th Berlin Film Festival.
Both titles play in competition, vying for San Sebastian’s top film plaudit, its Golden Shell, where they are joined by French filmmaker Thierry de Peretti’s “Undercover.”
Recounting the rise, fall and redemption of Tammy Faye, the indomitable wife of televangelist Jim Bakker, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” weighs in as the only U.S. movie in San Sebastian main competition. It catches Chastain on a high as she will receive the TIFF Tribute Actor Award, coinciding with the premiere at Toronto of the film.
The three new films mark the final titles to...
- 8/20/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Spain’s San Sebastian Festival has set Zhang Yimou’s Chinese epic One Second as the opening film for its competition program this year. The screening will mark the film’s international premiere.
The film has had a rocky road to the international festival circuit. It was originally selected to debut at the Berlinale in 2019 but was abruptly withdrawn at the last minute due to “technical difficulties”. It was widely understood that the film had been removed due to pressure from the Chinese government.
After reshoots, the movie was cleared for release in China in November last year, though it only grossed $10M, an underwhelming figure for a high-profile title that was seen as having potential for international recognition. Since then, the pic was announced as the closing film of Toronto, and Neon boarded U.S. rights.
Today, San Sebastian also added Michael Showalter’s The Eyes Of Tammy Faye...
The film has had a rocky road to the international festival circuit. It was originally selected to debut at the Berlinale in 2019 but was abruptly withdrawn at the last minute due to “technical difficulties”. It was widely understood that the film had been removed due to pressure from the Chinese government.
After reshoots, the movie was cleared for release in China in November last year, though it only grossed $10M, an underwhelming figure for a high-profile title that was seen as having potential for international recognition. Since then, the pic was announced as the closing film of Toronto, and Neon boarded U.S. rights.
Today, San Sebastian also added Michael Showalter’s The Eyes Of Tammy Faye...
- 8/20/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Zhang Yimou’s One Second, a period drama set during the upheaval of China’s Cultural Revolution, will open this year’s San Sebastian International Film Festival and compete for the festival’s coveted Golden Shell.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye from The Big Sick director Michael Showalter, starring Jessica Chastain as Tammy Faye Bakker, and Undercover, a French crime drama from director Thierry de Peretti (Apaches) starring Vincent Lindon and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, have also been added to San Sebastian’s competition lineup.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye, which looks at the rise, fall and eventual redemption of the infamous televangelist, co-stars Andrew Garfield as Jim ...
The Eyes of Tammy Faye from The Big Sick director Michael Showalter, starring Jessica Chastain as Tammy Faye Bakker, and Undercover, a French crime drama from director Thierry de Peretti (Apaches) starring Vincent Lindon and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, have also been added to San Sebastian’s competition lineup.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye, which looks at the rise, fall and eventual redemption of the infamous televangelist, co-stars Andrew Garfield as Jim ...
- 8/20/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Zhang Yimou’s One Second, a period drama set during the upheaval of China’s Cultural Revolution, will open this year’s San Sebastian International Film Festival and compete for the festival’s coveted Golden Shell.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye from The Big Sick director Michael Showalter, starring Jessica Chastain as Tammy Faye Bakker, and Undercover, a French crime drama from director Thierry de Peretti (Apaches) starring Vincent Lindon and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, have also been added to San Sebastian’s competition lineup.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye, which looks at the rise, fall and eventual redemption of the infamous televangelist, co-stars Andrew Garfield as Jim ...
The Eyes of Tammy Faye from The Big Sick director Michael Showalter, starring Jessica Chastain as Tammy Faye Bakker, and Undercover, a French crime drama from director Thierry de Peretti (Apaches) starring Vincent Lindon and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, have also been added to San Sebastian’s competition lineup.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye, which looks at the rise, fall and eventual redemption of the infamous televangelist, co-stars Andrew Garfield as Jim ...
- 8/20/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
TIFF 2021 Lineup: ‘Dear Evan Hansen,’ ‘Tammy Faye,’ ‘Titane,’ ‘Last Night in Soho,’ ‘Flee,’ and More
Updated August 11 With New Additions Below.
This year’s Toronto International Film Festival has an opener: Stephen Chbosky’s feature-film adaptation of the Tony Award–winning musical “Dear Evan Hansen” will serve as the Opening Night Gala Presentation at the 46th Toronto International Film Festival and will screen Thursday September 9 at Roy Thomson Hall. Starring Tony winner Ben Platt as Evan, along with Amy Adams, Julianne Moore, Kaitlyn Dever, Amandla Stenberg, and Nik Dodani, “Dear Evan Hansen” features songs from the original Broadway sensation.
The festival has also announced its closer, Zhang Yimou’s “One Second,” billed as “a love letter to movies and a reminder of how they can unite people, regardless of our differences,” along with a robust series of additions to both the Galas and Special Presentations slates, joining a list of already-announced titles. Standout films include the world premiere of Michael Showalter’s Jessica Chastain-...
This year’s Toronto International Film Festival has an opener: Stephen Chbosky’s feature-film adaptation of the Tony Award–winning musical “Dear Evan Hansen” will serve as the Opening Night Gala Presentation at the 46th Toronto International Film Festival and will screen Thursday September 9 at Roy Thomson Hall. Starring Tony winner Ben Platt as Evan, along with Amy Adams, Julianne Moore, Kaitlyn Dever, Amandla Stenberg, and Nik Dodani, “Dear Evan Hansen” features songs from the original Broadway sensation.
The festival has also announced its closer, Zhang Yimou’s “One Second,” billed as “a love letter to movies and a reminder of how they can unite people, regardless of our differences,” along with a robust series of additions to both the Galas and Special Presentations slates, joining a list of already-announced titles. Standout films include the world premiere of Michael Showalter’s Jessica Chastain-...
- 8/11/2021
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
BenedictionThe lineup has been unveiled for the 2021 edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, which will take place over 10 days (September 9-18) both in-person and physically in Toronto, and digitally across Canada. Wavelengths - FEATURESFutura (Pietro Marcello, Francesco Munzi, Alice Rohrwacher)The Girl and the Spider (Ramon Zürcher, Silvan Zürcher)Neptune Frost (Saul Williams, Anisia Uzeyman)A Night of Knowing Nothing (Payal Kapadia)Ste. Anne (Rhayne Vermette)The Tsugua Diaries (Maureen Fazendeiro, Miguel Gomes)Wavelengths - SHORTSThe Capacity for Adequate Anger (Vika Kirchenbauer)Dear Chantal (Querida Chantal) (Nicolás Pereda)earthearthearth (Daïchi Saïto)Inner Outer Space (Laida Lertxundi)Polycephaly in D (Michael Robinson)“The red filter is withdrawn.” (Minjung Kim)Train Again (Peter Tscherkassky)Midnight Madness After Blue (Dirty Paradise) (Bertrand Mandico)Dashcam (Rob Savage)Saloum (Jean Luc Herbulot)Titane (Julia Ducournau)You Are Not My Mother (Kate Dolan)Zalava (Arsalan Amiri)TIFF DOCSAttica (Stanley Nelson)Beba (Rebeca Huntt)Becoming Cousteau...
- 8/4/2021
- MUBI
The Toronto Film Festival on Wednesday unveiled its lineups for the Contemporary World Cinema and Discovery programs as it ramps up toward the kickoff of its 46th edition September 9-18. The festival also solidified additional Gala and Special Presentation titles and took the wraps off TIFF Rewind, a new block that highlights memorable films from previous TIFF editions along with conversations and Q&As with directors and casts.
This comes after the festival last week announced that Dear Evan Hansen will be the opening-night film, while Zhang Yimou’s One Second will close it. It also revealed a portion of the Gala and Special presentation titles that featured films from directors Edgar Wright, Melanie Laurent, Barry Levinson, Antoine Fuqua, Jacques Audiard and Ted Melfi.
Today, TIFF added world premieres for Maya Forbes and Wallace Wolodarsky’s The Good House and Camille Griffin’s Silent Night to its Gala lineup, and...
This comes after the festival last week announced that Dear Evan Hansen will be the opening-night film, while Zhang Yimou’s One Second will close it. It also revealed a portion of the Gala and Special presentation titles that featured films from directors Edgar Wright, Melanie Laurent, Barry Levinson, Antoine Fuqua, Jacques Audiard and Ted Melfi.
Today, TIFF added world premieres for Maya Forbes and Wallace Wolodarsky’s The Good House and Camille Griffin’s Silent Night to its Gala lineup, and...
- 7/28/2021
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
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