News

Miramax has won remake rights to Thailand’s comedy-drama How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies after outbidding rival studios. Directed by Pat Boonnitipat and produced by Gdh 559, the original earned over $55 million worldwide—including $17 million in China—and became the first Thai film shortlisted for Best International Feature at the Oscars.

The story follows a college dropout who moves in with his ailing grandmother to secure her inheritance. What begins as a cynical money grab becomes an examination of family loyalty. Since its April 2024 debut, the film picked up the audience award at the New York Asian Film Festival and holds a 98 percent Tomatometer score and 95 percent Popcornmeter rating. Well Go USA released it theatrically in North America.

Nelson Mok of Singapore’s Mokster Films negotiated the deal for Gdh 559. Yvette Zhuang, Miramax’s senior vice president of international production and distribution, championed the acquisition and will serve...

Miramax has landed remake rights to Thailand’s breakout hit “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies,” the studio confirmed Wednesday, setting wheels in motion for an English-language version.

The original film, directed by Pat Boonnitipat and produced by Bangkok-based powerhouse Gdh 559, became a sensation across Asia, generating over $55 million internationally and earning the distinction of being the first Thai film shortlisted for Academy Awards consideration. Stateside, the film bowed at the New York Asian Film Festival to critical acclaim and won the audience award.

The comedy-drama follows M, a university dropout who moves in with his terminally ill grandmother, Mengju, with hopes of securing an inheritance. What begins as a cynical scheme evolves into a heartfelt exploration of familial bonds, duty, and intergenerational dynamics.

The acquisition sparked a competitive bidding situation with multiple studios expressing interest. The deal was ultimately brokered by Nelson Mok of Mokster Films representing Gdh.

Miramax has secured remake rights to Gdh 559’s Thai smash How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, which will be produced by the company’s outgoing head of international production and distribution Yvette Zhuang.

Pat Boonnitipat’s comedy drama has been a box office and cultural phenomenon since it opened in April 2024, breaking records across Asia and earning more than $55m at the international box office. Late last year it become Thailand’s first film to be shortlisted for the international feature film award.

The story follows stars Putthipong “Billkin” Assaratanakul as M, a college dropout who moves in with...

Miramax has struck a deal for remake rights to Thai film How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, a huge hit across Asia last year, which also became the first Thai movie to be shortlisted for Best International Feature at the Oscars.

The deal for English-language remake rights, struck with the film’s director Pat Boonnitipat and Thai powerhouse studio Gdh 559, followed an intense bidding war with several other studios. Since its release in April 2024, the comedy drama has become one of the hottest properties out of Asia, grossing more than $55m, including $17m in China.

In the U.S., the film premiered last summer at the New York Asian Film Festival, where it picked up the audience award, and has since earned a 98% Tomatometer score and 95% Popcornmeter rating. Well Go USA gave the original film a theatrical release in North America.

Starring Thai singer and actor Putthipong Assaratanakul (a.

Miramax has acquired remake rights to the Thai hit How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, the studio announced Wednesday, setting the stage for an English-language adaptation of Southeast Asia’s most talked-about film of the past year.

Directed by Pat Boonnitipat and produced by Bangkok-based powerhouse Gdh 559, the original film became a sensation across Asia following its release in April 2024, earning over $55 million at the international box office. It was also the first Thai film to be shortlisted for the Academy Awards. In the U.S., the film premiered at the New York Asian Film Festival and was widely praised by critics, earning a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

A family-centric comedy-drama, How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies follows a college dropout who moves in with his terminally ill grandmother in a bid to secure her inheritance — only to discover a deeper emotional journey that reshapes his understanding of family and love.

Signature Entertainment has acquired the U.K. and Ireland rights to the Pete Davidson (“The King of Staten Island”) horror film ”The Home” from Miramax.

The feature was produced by Bill Block (“Halloween Kills”) and Sébastian K. Lemercier (“The First Purge”) and is directed by James DeMonaco (“The Purge” franchise) from a script co-written by DeMonaco and Adam Cantor. Last year Lionsgate bought the film for the U.S. after it screened for buyers outside of competition at the Toronto Film Festival.

“The Home” follows former foster child Max, who begins working at a retirement home, where he quickly discovers that its residents and caretakers are harboring sinister secrets.

The deal was negotiated between Signature chief commercial officer Elizabeth Williams and Miramax’s senior vice president of international production and distribution Yvette Zhuang.

“We’re big fans of horror at Signature Entertainment and after seeing ‘The Home,’ we knew this...

Exclusive: In a multi-million dollar deal, Lionsgate UK has boarded Guy Ritchie’s untitled Jason Statham action-thriller which was launched by Miramax and CAA Media Finance at the American Film Market.

The project, which re-teams Ritchie and Statham for the first time since Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, was one of the hot properties at the Afm. As we revealed, MGM stumped up for domestic and select international rights, and a bunch of major territories are in final negotiations.

Pic follows ‘H’, a “cold and mysterious” character working at a cash truck company responsible for moving hundreds of millions of dollars around Los Angeles each week. The film shifts across timelines and between various character’s perspectives. Also starring are Scott Eastwood, Josh Hartnett and Holt McCallany.

The movie, currently in early production, was known as Cash Truck during the Afm but it doesn’t have an official title yet.

Veteran distribution executive Yvette Zhuang has been hired by Miramax as its Svp International Production and Distribution. Zhuang was most recently Svp of International Sales at Stx Entertainment, the studio behind Bad Moms, The Upside, Molly’s Game and Den of Thieves. She started her career in Australia ,working at the Melbourne International Film Festival, and then went on to practice entertainment law, advising clients such as Princess Pictures (Summer Heights High) and Every Cloud Productions (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries). Upon moving to Los Angeles, Zhuang worked in international sales and financing at Sierra/Affinity, where she focused on sales to China and other Asian territories for titles such as Manchester-by-the-Sea and Atomic Blonde. In her role at Stx Entertainment, she evaluated projects for worldwide acquisition, negotiated multi-year international output partnerships and single-picture license agreements for Stx’s slate, and shepherded deals from contracting through to the international marketing,...

Executive started entertainment career in Australia at Melbourne International Film Festival.

Former Stx International senior executive Yvette Zhuang is meeting buyers here at the market in her new role as Miramax svp of international production and distribution.

Zhuang most recently served as svp of international sales at Stx, whose recent output includes Bad Moms, The Upside, Molly’s Game, and Den Of Thieves.

The executive started her career in Australia working at Melbourne International Film Festival, and went on to practice entertainment law, advising clients such as Princess Pictures and Every Cloud Productions.

She relocated to Los Angeles and joined Sierra/Affinity,...

The Los Angeles Chinese Film Festival announced that its 3rd edition will be held from October 25t​h​ to October 27t​h​ at the Downtown Independent Theater in Los Angeles. From its inception as the premier film festival in the Los Angeles area for Chinese independent film, the Lacff celebrates the growing number of Chinese heritage and language films from established filmmakers and emerging artists. The three-day festival will have a juried competition in four different categories – Documentary Short, Documentary Feature, Narrative Short, and finally, Narrative Feature. In addition, the festival has invited a number of esteemed film industry professionals and Hollywood elites to participate in the festival’s industry panel and other VIP events. Ticket sales for Lacff 2019 have already begun. For more information about Lacff’s services and our new series of packaged tickets, please visit their official website ​here​ or the Los Angeles Chinese Film Festival Wechat page.

The lineup is set for this year’s Inside Pictures, the business training and development programme for international and U.S. film execs. This year’s lineup comprises:

Alison Meese – Head of UK Acquisitions, StudioCanal, United Kingdom

Carla Quarto di Palo – Director of International Sales, Cornerstone Films, United Kingdom

Charlotte Mardon-Heath – Senior Marketing Manager – New Media, Entertainment One, United Kingdom

Eun-Zi Kim – Business and Legal Affairs Manager, Dcm, Germany

Gijs Kerbosch – Managing Partner / Producer, Halal, The Netherlands

Janey van Ierland – CEO / Talent Manager, nummer19 management, The Netherlands

Jo Allan – Storyworlds Producer, The Ink Factory, United Kingdom

John Keville – Managing Director / Producer, Savage Productions, Ireland

Jonathan Halperyn – Producer / Evp Business Development, Korda Studios, Hungary

Jørgen Storm Rosenberg – Producer, 74 Entertainment, Norway

Justin Kelly – Head of Business and Legal Affairs, Hanway Films & Recorded Picture Company, United Kingdom

Kęstutis Drazdauskas – Producer, Artbox, Lithuania

Kristine M. I. Knudsen – Producer, Den siste skilling As, Norway

Marina Brackenbury – Development Producer,...

Total of 20 execs sign up for skills initiative.

The UK’s National Film and Television School (Nfts) has named the 20 participants who will take part in this year’s industry talent scheme Inside Pictures.

The programme, which is open to applicants from around the world who demonstrate a commitment to the European film industry, is a business training and leadership skills development initiative that selects execs from across the film industry.

This year’s group includes experienced personnel from the sales, distribution and productions sectors. They hail from Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Us and UK.