News

Lee Je-hoon is buckling up for another ride as the vigilante taxi driver Kim Do-gi in “Taxi Driver 3,” with Viu and Sbs announcing the third season of the global hit series will premiere in Q4 2025. The announcement was made at the ongoing Apos conference in Indonesia.

The streaming platform revealed that the latest installment will debut as a Viu original worldwide, excluding South Korea and mainland China, following the record-breaking performance of Season 2. Je-hoon returns alongside fan favorites Kim Eui-sung, Pyo Ye-jin, Jang Hyuk-jin and Bae Yoo-ram for what promises to be the Rainbow Taxi team’s most dangerous missions yet.

Adding international flavor to the Korean production, Hong Kong boy band Mirror member Edan Lui will make his Korean drama debut as a character who forms an unpredictable alliance with Kim Do-gi.

Writer Oh Sang-ho and director Kang Bo-seung return to helm the series, which centers on Je-hoon’s brilliant yet tormented vigilante.

by Andreas Ungerboeck

“Football on the Roof” is the debut feature film of Chinese director Feiyu, who hails from Sichuan Province and whose only film credit so far has been for writing the screenplay of the animated film “Shadow King” in 2019. His football project was launched with great anticipation and won several awards while still in development. Production began in 2020, but ran into difficulties several times due to the Covid-19 pandemic and because of financial problems. With the help of outstanding Fifth Generation director Huang Jianxin, who served as executive producer, the film finally got finished and hit theaters in 2024. It was a well received – so much so that in November it won the prestigious Golden Rooster Award (the Chinese equivalent of the Oscars) for Best Children’s film. A little later, at its first foreign festival appearance at the Children’s Film Festival in Vienna, Feiyu (he prefers to...

Yang Suiyi’s Karst won best film in the Fei Mu Awards for up-and-coming Chinese filmmakers at this year’s Pingyao International Film Festival, while Swiss director Ramon Zurcher’s The Sparrow In The Chimney won best film in the Roberto Rossellini Awards for emerging international directors.

The Fei Mu jury praised Karst, about a woman reconnecting with her childhood in Guizhou Province, for “the great fullness, simplicity, subtlety and portrait of a region and a woman.” The award came with a $143,000 (RMB1m) cash prize, half of which is given to the film’s director to develop their next film, and half to the film’s Chinese distributor. Chinese actor Duan Yihong partly sponsored the award.

Also in the Fei Mu awards, Tang Yongkang won best director for Stars And The Moon, while Xu Lei’s Green Wave won the Jury Award and best actor for Xu Chaoying. Best...

Leveling Up

Sony-owned anime company Crunchyroll has acquired North American and select international theatrical rights for “Solo Leveling – ReAwakening.” The presentation represents a recap of the “Solo Leveling” anime series’ hit first season and a sneak peek of the first two episodes of the second season.

Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment will bring “Solo Leveling -ReAwakening” to theaters in the U.S. and Canada on Dec. 6, 2024.

The anime series “Solo Leveling” is adapted from the best-selling Korean web novel written by Chugong, which was later adapted into a film, a webtoon and manhwa in 2018, with illustrations by Dubu. The first season of “Solo Leveling” debuted globally on Crunchyroll on Jan. 6, 2024, with a second season announced for January 2025.

“Solo Leveling” is animated by A-1 Pictures (“Sword Art Online”), with motion graphics by Production I.G. The series is directed by Nakashige Shunsuke (“Sword Art Online”).

An official synopsis reads: “Over a...

The themes of Nobu Takahashi's “The Flower of Midsummer Night” are ones that have become more and more prominent over recent years, and five years on perhaps seem even more relevant, and not just to Japan.

The Flower of Midsummer Night is screening at Japan FilmFest Hamburg

Yang Yang (Hayashi Kouki) lives with his Taiwanese single mother Wang Li (Umefune Ariei) who works nightshifts at an eatery. As such, Yang Yang spends his evenings at a night nursery as his mother struggles to get by. His father Yang Hao (Jack Li) is an artist whose lack of financial stability drove the pair apart. Forbidding Yang Yang from spending time with his father, a chance encounter sees a father-son bond still strong.

Set in the Osaka nightlife district of Namba, this makes the most of its setting, with some brilliant use of the neon lights of the area. Shots are...

Movie stars Zhou Xun and Jelly Lin head the cast of “Imperfect Victim,” a new mainland Chinese drama series that focuses on workplace sexual harassment and leads to a rape trial.

Zhou plays a lawyer who steps in to represent the character played by Lin (“The Mermaid”), who alleges assault by her boss at work. He is portrayed by TV veteran Liu Yijun. The case becomes complicated and Zhou’s character is forced to question her own ethics.

The show is highly topical, given the slowly building #MeToo movement in China. This is being fuelled by numerous instances of sexual discrimination, sexual assault and outright violence towards women, many instances of which have gone viral on Chinese social media before being deleted by censors.

Zhou Xun in “Imperfect Victim.” Courtesy of iQiyi.

The first episode of “Imperfect Victim,” for instance, includes a section on the culture of heavy after-hours drinking...

Beijing, June 28 (Ians) E-sport athletes need to be placed under the protection of robust anti-doping programs, as they can be affected by doping problems as much as athletes in traditional disciplines, said World Anti-Doping Agency vice president Yang Yang.

The first Olympic E-sport Week concluded in Singapore on Sunday, and E-sports will be a medal sport for the first time at the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games, showing the sports’ increasing influence and indicating its possible inclusion in future Olympic Games.

With E-sports growing fast in numbers of participants and competitions, Wada expressed its concern over the potential threat of doping.

“The doping problem of E-sports has not only attracted Wada’s attention, actually we have already started the conversation and discussed clean sport issues with the international E-sport federation and it knows there is a potential issue with drug taking,” Yang told Xinhua in an interview.

Yang said she...

Beijing, Dec 27 (Ians) Renowned badminton coach Wang Wenjiao, who helped China win four Thomas Cup titles and produced 56 individual World Champions, has died at the age of 89.

Wang, who is considered a pioneer of Chinese badminton, passed away in Beijing on Sunday night. He won several national titles as a player in the 1950s. After retiring, he coached Fujian provincial team and the national team, mentoring a host of star shuttlers including Yang Yang, Zhao Jianhua and Tian Bingyi, reports Xinhua.

During his tenure as head coach, China won four Thomas Cup titles, five Uber Cups, and produced 56 individual world champions.

In 2015, Wang received the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Badminton World Federation (Bwf) and was granted the “People’s Role Model” in 2019, becoming the first sportsperson in China to receive the national honorary title.

“Tribute to beloved coach Wang Wenjiao. Without you, Chinese badminton couldn’t be where it is.

Exclusive: In yet another of a recent string of intriguing local-language projects, Sony Pictures International Productions is teaming with Taiwan’s Activator to co-produce paranormal comedy Dead Talents Society. Spip has also acquired worldwide distribution rights in addition to closing a deal for global remake rights.

Directed by John Hsu (Detention), the feature is based on his short film which he also wrote (check it out below). The premise centers around ghosts who strive to be the most successful and famous stars in the underworld through their scare tactics and performances amongst the living. The end goal is to become the spookiest of urban legends.

The film is set to start production in 2022 and slated for a theatrical release in Taiwan via Sony Pictures Releasing Taiwan in 2023.

Bolin Chen (In Time With You) and Sandrine Pinna (Yang Yang) are set to star. Award-winning Taiwanese filmmakers Lieh Lee, Aileen Li and...

Exclusive: Freestyle Digital Media has acquired North American VOD rights to Slater Brothers Entertainment’s horror-thriller, The Darker The Lake, with plans to release it across internet, cable, and satellite platforms on March 1, 2022.

The Australian AFM entry directed by Lok Kwan Woo tells the story of what happens when strange, supernatural murders suddenly become the talk of a peaceful, small town. As two local detectives struggle to solve a deadly game, the myth of this game begin to reveal secrets too close to home.

Lok, Z Zoccolante and Yang Yang penned the film, which stars stars Elyse Levesque, Veronica Ferres (The Unforgivable), Gina Stiebitz (Dark), Vladimir Burlakov (Kleo) and Wei-Ning Hsu (The Victim’s Game).

Lok also produced, with Udum Media’s Anni Hsu exec producing alongside Todd and Grant Slater of Slater Brothers Entertainment.

“I am thrilled to have partnered up with Entertainment Studios,...

Jackie Chan is back in action when Vanguard arrives on Digital March 2, and on DVD and Blu-ray (plus Digital) March 9 from Lionsgate. Check out this exciting trailer:

This film released in the U.S. on November 25 in 1,000+ theaters. Featuring international action superstar and martial arts legend Jackie Chan, Yang Yang, and Miya Muqi. Vanguard will be available on DVD and Blu-ray (plus Digital) for the suggested retail price of $19.98 and $24.99, respectivley.

International superstar and martial arts legend Jackie Chan leaps into action as Tang, CEO of the covert security company Vanguard in this gripping action-thriller. After wealthy businessman Qin rats out his corrupt partner in an arms deal gone fatally wrong, he and his family become targets of the world’s deadliest mercenary organization — and the fighting power of Tang’s team is their only hope to survive. Set in locations across the globe — including London, Zambia, India, an Arabian desert,...

February 12-18, 2021 – the USA only

(February 4, 2021) Chicago, Il – On the day of ‘little’ year that kicks off the official preparation of the new lunar year per Chinese customs, Asian Pop-Up Cinema announces a “Happy Lunar New Year-Watch 7 movies Free” program sponsored by the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Chicago, February 12-18, 2021. Seven movies are specifically handpicked for people to enjoy while celebrating the Year of the Ox.

Films chosen by the festival’s Founder and Executive Director, Sophia Wong Boccio include recent cinema sensations Ne Zha, China’s top-grossing 3D animated family film inspired by the Chinese legend and lore; award-winning documentary, Four Springs; martial art action The Unity of Heroes; romantic drama Last Letter; a fantasy/comedy, The Island; the box office smash hit, I Belonged to You; and a story of four generations spanning a hundred years of modern Chinese history, Forever Young.

Vanguard stars Jackie Chan & directed by Stanley Tong in their ninth collaboration. The film also stars Yang Yang, Ai Lun, Mu Qimiya, Xu Ruohan and Zhu Zhengting, and will release wide on November 20th. Gravitas Ventures, a Red Arrow Studios company, has acquired North American rights to …

The post Jackie Chan starrer ‘Vanguard’ lands US trailer & release date appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.

Marking the 9th collaboration between Jackie Chan and Stanley Tong, which includes films like “Police Story 3” and “Rumble in the Bronx”, “Vanguard” is now finding its place in selected cinemas in the UK starting 11th January, courtesy of Cine Asia, along with a Blu-ray &DVD release. This time, however, the duo seems to really know what they are doing.

The story is as simplistic as usual in martial arts/action films, and revolves around a series of kidnapping cases by a group of what appears to be a elite Middle-Eastern terrorists, starting with a businessman during London’s Chinatown Lunar Celebrations. Tang Huating is the head of international security agency Vanguard, whose employees find themselves involved in a case, that soon unfolds on an international level, and expectedly, soon joins the fight, being Jackie Chan and all.

To most obvious aspect one will notice in “Vanguard” is...

Few stars have worked harder to give audiences pleasure over a long haul than Jackie Chan. But lately, his screen appearances have been those of the elder statesman still trotted out to nominally preside over expensive but flavorless official diplomatic functions you doubt even he relishes. The newest case in point reunites him with director Stanley Tong, a sporadic collaborator since “Supercop” nearly three decades ago.

That movie was inspired escapism. “Vanguard” is just the clock-punching variety, big, flashy and generic in all save its silliest excesses. Like several other recent mainland China megaproductions, this action spectacular seems hellbent on containing every possible marketable genre element, with no concern for whether they cohere or cancel one another out.

Delayed from a planned January home-turf launch as one of the first Covid release casualties, it proved a notable box-office disappointment upon finally opening Sept. 30. Gravitas Ventures’ release to 1,500-plus U.S.

Jackie Chan and longtime collaborator Stanley Tong strike out miserably in their seventh film together. Vanguard is a bumbling CGI spectacle with a ludicrous plot, terrible acting, and strained nationalistic themes. The fight scenes are decently choreographed, but lost in the barrage of cartoonish gun violence. The film elicits minor chuckles with fleeting moments of slapstick humor. The laughs are the sole bright spot. Vanguard is a big disappointment from two of China's storied filmmakers.

Vanguard starts on a festive note during the Chinese New Year celebration in London. A wealthy businessman, Qin Guoli (Jackson Lou), and his trophy wife are kidnapped in broad daylight by vicious mercenaries. Little do they know that Qin is being tracked by Vanguard, an international security firm for elite clients. Vanguard's CEO, Tang Huanting (Jackie Chan), activates nearby agents Lei Zhenyu (Yang Yang), Zhang Kaixuan (Ai Lun), and Mi Ya (Miya Muqi). They rescue Qin,...

A new trailer and poster for Jackie Chan's next venture, Vanguard, have now been released, giving us a glimpse at the action movie legend once again doing what he does best. As well as reuniting Chan with the kinds of high-kicking action that audiences love, the movie features a reunion between the star and director Stanley Tong. Vanguard marks their ninth collaboration, with the pair having brought audiences such Jackie Chan classic as Rumble in the Bronx and First Strike.

Vanguard follows the titular covert security company, which stands as the last hope of survival for an accountant after he is targeted by the world's deadliest mercenary organization. The movie sees Jackie Chan and his team globe-trotting from London to Dubai and everywhere in between, throwing the now 66-year-old star into all manner of car chases, shootouts and fist fights.

The trailer features a peek at the kind of...

At 66 years of age, Jackie Chan is still leading action blockbusters and his latest reteams him with longtime collaborator Stanley Tong. Vanguard, their ninth collaboration together, is now set for a release later this month and finds the duo jumping from London to Dubai to Zambia to India to China.

Also starring Yang Yang, Ai Lun, Mu Qimiya, Xu Ruohan, and Zhu Zhengting, the film follows a covert security company Vanguard who is the last hope of survival for an accountant after he is targeted by the world’s deadliest mercenary organization. Ahead of a November 20 release in theaters from Gravitas Ventures, the new trailer and poster have arrived.

“My latest action movie Vanguard is coming out on Nov. 20 in the cinema. We filmed in 9 cities across 5 countries, London, Dubai, Zambia, India, and China. We’ve experienced so much during this production. Each time I work with Jackie, we are...

"The enemy has moved in." Gravitas has released a new US trailer for the crazy cool action film Vanguard, starring Jackie Chan - who is still making action films despite announcing he would retire. This time he re-teams with the Hk director of his classic action films Supercop, Supercop 2, Rumble in the Bronx, and First Strike - Stanley Tong. An accountant is threatened by the world's deadliest mercenary organization and Covert security company Vanguard is the last hope of survival for him. Of course. This is basically a Michael Bay film made by a Hong Kong director instead. Also starring Yang Yang, Miya Muqi, Lun Ai, Ruohan Xu, and Zhengting Zhu. As brainless as this movie will be, I must admit it looks like a massive amount of explosive action fun - with drones and lions and gatling guns and more. Might be worth a watch. Here's the new...

Film to screen in theatres, drive-ins, and Imax.

Gravitas Ventures has picked up North American rights to Jackie Chan action thriller Vanguard and has set a November theatrical release.

Director Stanley Tong and Chan make their ninth collaboration on the globe-trotting action tale that filmed in London, Dubai, Zambia, China, and India.

Vanguard centres on a covert security company that is the last hope of survival for an accountant after he is targeted by the world’s deadliest mercenaries.

Yang Yang, Ai Lun, Mu Qimiya, Xu Ruohan and Zhu Zhengting also star.

Gravitas Ventures plans a wide theatrical release in...

Gravitas Ventures has closed the deal for the North American rights to Vanguard, an action feature starring Jackie Chan and directed by his frequent collaborator Stanley Tong. Marking the ninth collaboration between the two, the film is about a covert security company, Vanguard, that is the last hope of survival for an accountant after he is targeted by the world’s deadliest mercenary organization.

Yang Yang, Ai Lun, Mu Qimiya, Xu Ruohan and Zhu Zhengting also star in the film, which Gravitas is planning to give a wide theatrical release, including drive-ins and IMAX theaters, on November 20.

“My latest action movie Vanguard is coming out on Nov. 20 in the cinema. We filmed in 9 cities across 5 countries, London, Dubai, Zambia, India, and China. We’ve experienced so much during this production,” said Tong. “Each time I work with Jackie, we are always trying to impress our audience with the best picture and idea.

Jackie Chan will fill in for James Bond, as his new action film “Vanguard” will open on November 20 in North America, the same date vacated by “No Time To Die.”

Gravitas Ventures acquired the North American rights to the film from director Stanley Tong, and the film will receive a wide theatrical release in both the U.S. and Canada, as well as drive-ins and IMAX theaters.

“Vanguard” is the ninth film Chan has made with Tong, which they filmed in London, Dubai, Zambia, China and even an ancient city in India. The film is about an accountant who turns to a cover security company named Vanguard after he is targeted by the world’s deadliest mercenary organization.

“Vanguard” also stars Yang Yang, Ai Lun, Mu Qimiya, Xu Ruohan and Zhu Zhengting.

“Each time I work with Jackie, we are always trying to impress our audience with the best picture and idea.

Trinity Cine Asia has acquired, from Golden Dragon Pictures, Vanguard, the ninth collaboration between director Stanley Tong and actor Jackie Chan, produced by Shanghai Lix Entertainment, Stanley’s Tong production outfit.

At a time when studios are reluctant to release films due to the pandemic, Trinity Cine Asia will release Vanguard in UK, Ireland and Russia Cis, with theatrical exhibition starting in Ukraine, on 2nd October, on a strong 163 footprint, and in Russia Cis on 15th October, and UK and Ireland late in the year Tbc.

“We are delighted to be part of the golden duo that is Jackie Chan and Stanley Tong” enthused Trinity Cine Asia director Cedric Behrel. “Vanguard is their reunion, a glorious nod to their classic collaborations like Rumble in the Bronx and Supercop. We are grateful to Golden Dragon for entrusting us with this priceless mission!”

The mission? A wildly ambitious hostage rescue that takes place,...

Optimistically scheduled to open in cinemas on 30 September in Asia, Vanguard sees director Stanley Tong teaming again with Jackie Chan for an action-adventure that looks like it happily walks the line between ridiculous and outrageously entertaining. Per the official synopsis: "Vanguard is an internationally-renowned and privately-owned venture high-tech security agency founded by Tang Huanting (Jackie Chan). Their client, Qin Guoli, alerted the U.S. intelligence agencies of his boss, Massym, as the leader of an aggressive military group in the Middle East. "Maasym is then assassinated by the U.S. government and his son, Omar, ordered to have Qin captured. Vanguard members Lei Zhenyu (Yang Yang), Zhang Haixuan (Ai Lun) and Miya (Mu Qimiya) are sent on a mission to rescue Qin and to protect his...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

There is a light at the end of the Covid-19 tunnel, and it may shine on big screens. While the box offices in North America and Europe are shutting down in containment efforts, China’s theaters could reopen by the end of the month, according to Variety. The People’s Republic of China closed its theaters nationwide on Jan. 23.

The state-owned China Film Group, which oversees theaters, schedules film openings and produces movies, may reopen its Beijing offices as early as next week. The plan should see the country’s theaters begin opening doors by mid-to-late April.

“Our cinema is preparing to re-open, but we haven’t been formally told when exactly we can officially resume,” Broadway Cinematheque programmer Yang Yang told Variety. “It’s unlikely a nation-wide directive to re-open will come down from the film bureau, because every province and region is at a different stage of epidemic prevention,...

As cinemas shutter for the foreseeable future across the U.S. and Europe in a historically unprecedented wave of closures to lower risks of exposure to coronavirus, a handful of cinemas in China have already re-opened and all signs indicate that many more will soon follow in their wake.

“Our cinema is preparing to re-open, but we haven’t been formally told when exactly we can officially resume,” said Yang Yang, programmer at the Broadway Cinematheque in central Beijing.

“It’s unlikely a nation-wide directive to re-open will come down from the film bureau, because every province and region is at a different stage of epidemic prevention, so the requirements for re-opening will vary. It’s more likely that over a period of time, cinemas will slowly, progressively re-open.”

On Monday, the pandemic reached a possible turning point: both the total number of people who have died from coronavirus and...

The collaboration of director Stanley Tong and Jackie Chan has given us six films so far, including the Chan directed and Ton produced “Chinese Zodiac”. The last time they collaborated was on “Kung Fu Yoga” which was a very forgettable fare. Their seventh collaboration “Vanguard” is almost upon us and we have the full trailer for the film right here.

Synopsis

Covert security company Vanguard is the last hope of survival for an accountant and his daughter after he is targeted by the world’s deadliest mercenary organization.

The trailer for the globe-trotting film promises exciting action scenes. The film also stars Yang Yang, Ai Lin, Zhu Zhengting, Jackson Lou and Mia. It releases in Mainland China on January 25th, 2020, with an international release expected to follow soon after.

Washington — Steve Marchand’s friends were stunned when he told them about his new job in politics. “I love you, Steve, and trust your judgement,” the New Hampshire Democratic insider and in-demand campaign operative recalls them saying, “but Andrew Yang?”

It was the spring of 2019, and Andrew Yang was known — if he was known at all — as the quirky, tech-centric longshot presidential candidate who never wore a tie and wanted to give every American adult free money. Or something like that. He was a novelty, the next iteration of Herman Cain,...

Going on a date with your significant other is a fantastic way to keep the romance alive, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend a boat load of cash. The key to making the most of Asian dating and keeping the romance alive is spending quality time together! One of the easiest ways to do that is by planning a romantic evening right there at home.

If you need a little inspiration or want to create a romantic vibe, check out our top 5 Asian movies that’ll amp up the romance factor.

5. My Sassy Girl (2001)

For those who loves a good rom-com with a dramatic twist, you’re going to appreciate this flick. Gyeon-woo (played by Cha Tae-Hyun) is a college student who doesn’t have much with love, despite his efforts. The young man’s mother and aunt tries to help him out and they urge Gyeon-woo...

Streaming platform Rakuten Viki has acquired seven titles from Chinese firm Croton Media. They are set to premiere worldwide on the platform this month, some of them as Viki Originals.

The titles include 58-episode show “Eternal Love,” a period drama starring Yang Mi and Mark Chao; 30-episode “Love O2O,” a modern drama starring Yang Yang and Zheng Shuang; 54-episode “Princess Weiyoung,” a period drama starring Tiffany Tang and Luo Jin, an onscreen couple who got married in real life last year; and 62-episode “General and I,” a period drama starring Angelababy and Wallace Chung.

The 41-episode “Negotiator,” starring Yang Mi and Huang Zitao, who rose to fame as a rapper in the K-pop group Exo, will air as a Viki Original, as will 47-episode “Age of Legends,” starring William Chan and Sandra Ma, and “My Story for You, starring Zheng Shuang and Luo Jin.

“Our watch time for Chinese content...

Action adventure Vanguard is the first title on the new company’s slate.

Hong Kong-based Golden Dragon is making its Filmart debut with the first title on its slate, Vanguard, which reunites Kung Fu Yoga director Stanley Tong with Jackie Chan.

Presented by Tong’s Shanghai Lix Entertainment and currently in production, the action adventure stars Chan as the head of an international security agency who is on a mission to stop a terrorist group that takes him from Africa to the United Arab Emirates. The cast also includes Yang Yang (Once Upon A Time), Ai Lun (Hello Mr Billionaire...

Yeo Siew Hua is a director and writer from Singapore who won the 71st Locarno Festival’s Golden Leopard prize for his film ‘A Land Imagined’ (2018). His debut feature, the experimental ‘In The House of Straw’ (2009), was lauded by critics as a significant film of the Singapore New Wave. Yeo is a member of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (Apsa) Academy and a founding member of the 13 Little Pictures film collective in Singapore.

Luna Kwok (Guo Yue) is a Chinese actress best known for her outstanding performance in the independent arthouse film, ‘Kaili Blues’ (2015), which bagged multiple awards at international film festivals, like the 68th Locarno Festival, 52nd Taiwan Golden Horse Film Festival, and Nantes Three Continents Film Festival in 2015. Since then, she has starred in a number of films, including ‘From Where We’ve Fallen’ (2017), which competed in the 65th San Sebastian International Film Festival 2017.In 2018, she won...

Based on the successful internet novel, Passing From Your World by Zhang Jiajia, “I Belonged to You” is a quirky romantic comedy directed by Zhang Yibai. The movie topped the Chinese box office the first week it was released and won Best Film at the 30th Tokyo International Film Festival Golden Crane Awards in 2017.

Watch This Film

Chen Mo is the host of the Number 1 late night radio program with his long time love, Xiao Rong, until a lonely caller unknowingly sparks Xiao to end her relationship with Chen. This sends the show and its host into a downward spiral culminating in a seemingly ridiculous bet between Chen and Xiao. If Chen and his new and inept intern, Yao Ji, can rise to number 1 in the ratings, Xiao must marry him. If the show fails to garner the top spot, Chen must parade around the town carrying a sign that...

Project based on the best-selling fantasy novel stars Liu Yifei and Yang Yang.

Im Global has picked up international rights to Alibaba Pictures’ fantasy romance Once Upon A Time, co-directed by Anthony Molinara and Zhao Xiaoding.

Starring Liu Yifei (White Vengeance) and Yang Yang (I Belonged To You), the film is based on best-selling fantasy novel To The Sky Kingdom and is the first Alibaba Pictures title handled by Im Global.

Zhao is an Oscar-nominated DoP with credits including Zhang Yimou’s House Of Flying Daggers, The Flowers Of War and The Great Wall. Molinara is a VFX supervisor who won an Oscar for his work on Spider-Man 2.

Im Global has also picked up South Korean action thriller Real, directed by Love Lee and starring Kim Soo Hyun (The Thieves), Sung Dong II (The Accidental Detective), Lee Sung Min (A Violent Prosecutor) and Choi Jin Ri (Fashion King).

Produced by Cove Pictures, Real follows...

Bleecker Street’s Denial and A24’s American Honey started October on a solid note in their debuts. Both opened Friday in a crowded market that featured mixed starts. Denial with Rachel Weisz edged over American Honey for the weekend’s top per theater average, while a couple of other openers bowed in more locations. Fip’s Indian cricket title M.S. Dhoni launched in 256 North American theaters grossing $1.2 million placing it 13th among all titles in release as of Sunday morning. China Lion’s I Belong to You had a noticeable launch with 50 runs grossing $325K. Music Box Films opened Sweden’s entry for Best Foreign Language Oscar consideration, A Man Called Ove, in 9 theaters, grossing $61K, while FilmRise debuted Harry & Snowman in 18 theaters, taking in $55K. Broad Green expanded The Dressmaker in its second frame grossing almost $358K and Disney’s The Queen of Katwe, which opened in just 52 theaters last week,...