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Malaysian drama film, “Rise Ini Kalilah” has been picked up by Netflix and will go to air from Feb. 26. The film released in Malaysian theaters and in Singapore in September.

Involving six intertwined fictional tales, “Rise” documents personal stories and struggles in the build up to last year’s historic general election in Malaysia. To the surprise of many, the election was a people’s revolt, deposing corrupt prime minister Najib Razak, and the ruling party after 61-years of rule.

It was produced by Fred Chong through his Prodigee Film company, and backed by his digital media outfit WebTVAsia. WebTVAsia produces original content and acts as a multichannel network for some 2,500 Asian creators.

“The world wants to know how a small democracy like Malaysia managed to make a monumental political shift without violence and bloodshed. So I told this story from the lens of six normal citizens, to demonstrate that...

South East Asian media company WebTVAsia has struck long-form and short form deals with Chinese partners. Both agreements were unveiled at Mipcom in Cannes.

With Ciwen Media it plans to co-develop and co-produce produce “Gangsters of Shanghai,” an original story based on a novel by Gerry O’Sullivan, with an undisclosed budget in over $10 million. Plans are for both film and TV series adaptation, with Hollywood script writers Trey Callaway and Kerry Williamson (“What Happened To Monday?”, “Sacred Games” on board.

“We want to bring to life the intriguing sociopolitical landscape of 1920s Shanghai – vibrant, dangerous and seductive. Featuring struggles between the icons of colonial law enforcement and the seedy underworld of local gangs, everyone is a gangster, even the cops,” said WebTVAsia’s CEO, Fred Chong.

The two companies will also jointly develop “Chronicles of Tomb Raiders,” and “Galileo.” They are to target at TV and digital Ott broadcast exploitation in multiple international markets.

Viu, a leading pan-Asian Ott video service backed by Hong Kong’s Pccw Media Group, is expanding its original content initiative with the commissioning of some 70 titles and over 900 episodes of locally produced content by the end of 2018. Shows include those sourced in Indian, Chinese, Indonesian and Arabic languages. The platform now boasts over 16 million monthly active users across Asia. Shows include “Spotlight 2” produced by Bollywood director Vikram Bhatt, and “Kenapa Harus Bule?” by Indonesian director Andri Cune. “The Bridge,” a popular international TV series, will be remade with Asia context and filmed in Singapore and Malaysia. Viu previously launched feature movie “High Jack,” which is co-produced with Phantom Films in India, and is scheduled to be screened in 450 Indian theaters, ahead of its online release on Viu. Digital media group, WebTVAsia has launched its Luve multi channel network in its newest market Taiwan. The platform is already operational in Australia,...

The 11th annual New York Asian Film Festival (June 29 through July 15) has announced its full schedule, which will showcase over 50 feature films and three programs of short films from Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the USA, and Vietnam.

Presented in partnership between Subway Cinema and the Film Society of Lincoln Center with programming support from Japan Society, America’s biggest festival of popular Asian film is opening with Vulgaria: Described as “astonishingly filthy,” “outrageous,” and “displaying a reckless abandon in mentioning genitals” Pang Ho-cheung’s show business satire pushes good taste as far as it can go, and then it keeps on going. What’s most astonishing about this lewd, crude, and hilariously dirty film is that it achieves all its shocking effects with nothing more than dialogue.

In addition, Doomsday Book and Guns And Roses make their North American premieres as the Centerpiece Selections.