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China and the Hollywood film industry have engaged with each other for much of the past decade, with both sides slowly discovering the opportunities, learning the limits of cooperation and [...]

The Cannes Film Festival has always provided the perfect stage to make propitious announcements given the insatiable appetite of the world press that gathers in the South of France each [...]

CHINA MIGHT BE OUTGROWING HOLLYWOOD. In the past few years, Westerners have exulted in the country's box office boom, which included hefty grosses for major-studio films such as 'Iron Man [...]

Bona film group celebrated its 15th anniversary in June with a lavish dinner for some 200 friends at a luxury hotel in Shanghai. Among the touches were Coca-Cola bottles personalized [...]

Asia has been integral to IM Global almost since day one. That is a reflection of both of IM Global founder Stuart Ford's determination to position the company for growth [...]

These days the answer to nearly every question about the Asian film industry is China. The awakening of the world's most populous nation and the ongoing steps toward it becoming [...]

Has the bling returned to the American Film Market? Biz at the upcoming confab looks to be more brisk than usual, with a record number of first-time exhibs--including Harvey and [...]

A-Listers Top-shelf thesps have been swimming in indie waters for years now, often citing the opportunity for meatier or pigeonhole-breaking roles. And the last year has seen a slew of [...]

To this day, Stuart Ford's mother would prefer that her son had used his Oxford University degrees to build a career as a top lawyer or as a member of the U.K. parliament, representing the left-leaning Labour Party. While Ford raves enthusiastically about his colleagues, there can be little doubt that AGC is Ford's creation and that he is the captain of the ship. STUART FORD'S GREATEST HITS From IM Global to AGC, Ford's been involved with many indie hits. [Extracted from the article]

Bangladesh 'Beyond the Circle' Overshadowed by its Indian neighbor, Bangladesh has never seen one of its films nominated for the foreign-language shortlist. But the Bangladesh Federation of Film Societies certainly [...]

THE ASIAN EXHIBITION scene is a strong growth story with a few caveats mixed in, and though digital conversion and 3D are now stirring the mix. the concoction remains a […]

YU DONG (LEFT), JEFFREY CHAN & NANSUN SHI After last year's failed attempt to launch a content und with Yu's Polybona, China's largest privately owned distributor, producers Shi and Chan [...]

With thousands of wannabes and couldbes swirling around the Riviera during the festival and market, how does a self-respecting Cannes-goer determine what business cards to hang on to, which meetings [...]

With his latest drama, "Decision to Leave", on the Oscar international film shortlist after a glittering run on the festival circuit and a successful worldwide release, it is now Park's turn in the spotlight. MUCH OF THE WORLD knows Korean entertainment through superstar pop music performers like BTS and Black Pink. Their highly evolved ability to think each other's thoughts and finish each other's sentences means Chung has also made uncredited contributions to other Park films, including his sole English-language effort, "Stoker.". [Extracted from the article]

HONG KONG When does a dominant share of the local box office and a fast-rising international rep equal crisis? Answer: When the South Korean movie industry gets a bit too […]

Riding high on a string of hit movies and the prize-winning lead of Hong Kong's Oscar submission, 'Port of Call,' the singer-actor may be willing to give up his Hollywood [...]

THE SECOND-WEEK DECLINE in the global box office of 'Batman v Superman: The Dawn of Justice' was an unpleasant surprise for Warner Bros. But its vertiginous drop in China, the [...]

Indonesia's stagnant media sector may get a shot in the arm after President Joko Widodo announced that the him industry would be taken off the so-called negative list of businesses [...]

'We are not making a fetish of the past,' says Roger Garcia, executive director of the Hong Kong Intl.Film Festival Society, and one of the co-founders of the fest 40 [...]

Netflix's announcement this month that it is planning a global launch suddenly puts the U.S. streaming video giant on the map across the Asia-Pacific region, but along with a host [...]

'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' conquered China over the Jan. 9-10 weekend, racking up $53 million, and setting a record as the territory's best weekend bow. In six days through [...]

The Korean film industry has been facing challenges in recent years, including a slowdown in box office revenue and increased competition from streaming platforms. Factors such as the impact of COVID-19 on production, high ticket prices, and a lack of development in ancillary markets have contributed to these difficulties. Korean producers and distributors initially sold some films to streaming platforms during the pandemic but hoped for a return to pre-COVID levels of theatrical attendance. However, the market has become more polarized, with Hollywood films dominating and Korean films being perceived as old or out of touch. The Korean government is considering interventions, such as implementing a streaming window for films that receive state funding, to protect the cinema industry. While some industry players support these measures, streamers argue that it restricts choice and investment in theatrical movies. Despite these challenges, there have been some successful Korean films, such as "12.12: The Day," which earned critical acclaim and box office success. The future of the Korean film industry remains uncertain, but there are hopes for recovery and continued success. [Extracted from the article]

Going in to a key industry seminar at last month's Tokyo Film Market, the premise seemed to be that everybody wants to co-produce movies with China. Even the Japanese were [...]

How does a company that came last to market--a market that has lost its sheen with global investors--manage to launch a successful IPO on Wall Street? That's a question perhaps [...]

China's box office continues to surge, despite two months of whipsaw stock market action and a currency devaluation that has put the global financial community on high alert. In recent [...]

All the Hollywood studios want to screen my movie now. They want to see what all the fuss is about,' chuckles animator and director Raman Hui, who is clearly enjoying [...]

With Hollywood courting Chinese capital, conglomerate Fosun Intl., the largest stakeholder in Jeff Robinov's Studio 8, is looking to oblige--but on its own terms. Fosun, which also owns more than [...]

Even if 2015 is tinged by the recent death of the country's founder and former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore will put on a happy face for its 50th [...]

When China's Dalian Wanda bought a 20% stake in Spanish soccer club Atletico Madrid in January, it was hailed as the first major mainland Chinese investment in European sports, and [...]

Golden harvest once presided over the most powerful film production and distribution operations in Asia. The Hong Kong-based company's stars included Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li. But as [...]

Hong Kong-- --Disney and the Hong Kong government have agreed a plan to expand the struggling Hong Kong Disneyland theme park.The new development will expand the number of 'lands' from [...]

HONG KONG--Los Angeles-based entertainment property developer Creative Kingdom Inc. is to build a film studio and residential complex near Chiang Mai in northern Thailand.The 175-acre CNX-Wood development will be built [...]

By Patrick Frater In what is thought to be the first deal of its kind, Disney will distribute a major Bollywood title across its home video network. Mouse House has [...]

ASHOK AMRITRAJ has already had two stellar careers: He was a tennis professional who played Grand Slam doubles with his brother Vijay and, after moving to L.A. from India in [...]

The article introduces to Miky Lee, vice chairperson of South Korean entertainment company CJ ENM. Topics include Lee belongs to one of the wealthiest families in Korea, and has spent decades in expanding the business; Lee's efforts for the expansion of company and global exposure led to the Oscar winning movie "Parasite", produced by CJ Entertainment; and she is nominated as Variety's International Media Woman of the Year to coincide with International Women's Day.

Foreign producers looking to make business connections in China are taking a more local approach, and learning, at the school of hard knocks, the ways that work best. 'I've seen [...]

Over the centuries relations between neighbors Korea and China have often been strained, but the entertainment industry is putting history and politics behind them. A sequel to Korean hit 'My [...]

Youku Tudou, China's leading online video platform, is expanding into financing and screening of original content. Last year, it backed Andy Lau actioner 'Firestorm,' while this month it is launching [...]

The U.S. majors enjoyed a big comeback at the Chinese box office in the first half of 2014, after stumbling in 2013--but with the local B.O. growing by 25% over [...]

CHINA FILM GROUP CORP. has been so closely involved with the development of the Chinese film industry throughout the past 15 years that it is difficult to separate the company [...]

Seeing Gong Li on the Croisette for Zhang Yimou's 'Coming Home' was a reminder of the last time she trod the carpet at Cannes for a Zhang film --in 1995 [...]

Over the years Huayi has entered into a range of partnerships, from single film co-ventures to cross-collateralized international co-productions such as 'Mr. Go,' and more elaborate structures such as the [...]

WHEN IT REACHED its 10th anni, Huayi Bros. Media was frequently likened to Miramax. It was an independent movie maker brimming with smart ideas and the marketing skills to make [...]

A second pipeline for movie imports is opening in China soon, causing a seismic shift in the country's distribution sector, and promising to offer better financial terms to studios on [...]

THESE DAYS, Media Asia is a pillar of the Hong Kong film industry establishment. It can boast a production pipeline connected to a large talent pool, enviable connections in mainland [...]

While the explosive growth of China's film industry--its box office hit $3.57 billion in 2013--is attracting the attention of its Asian neighbors, challenges including censorship, as well as cultural and [...]

Outsiders seeking to understand modern China need look no further than director Feng Xiaogang and his movies. Feng, perhaps best known in the West for helming 2001's Donald Sutherland starrer [...]

CHINA'S WANDA GROUP may have made headlines in 2012 with its $2.3 billion acquisition of U.S. exhib AMC Entertainment, but South Korea's CJ-CGV might be Asia's most ambitious cinema operator, [...]

Yorgos Lanthimos, director of "Poor Things," is set to remake the South Korean fantasy comedy "Save the Green Planet." The film, expected to be shot in the U.K. and New York, is a black comedy about a disillusioned man who captures a businessman he believes is part of an alien invasion. The original 2003 South Korean film was a cult hit and festival favorite, and the remake will be produced by Element Pictures, Square Peg, and CJ ENM. Emma Stone is rumored to be in talks to star. CJ ENM has a large library of Korean and Asian film and TV content and has previously remade several of its titles. Lanthimos has already completed another film, "Kinds of Kindness," which may be shown at the Cannes Film Festival. [Extracted from the article]

French production company MK2 will be handling international sales for Jia Zhangke's new film, "We Shall Be All." The film, which has been in the works for over 20 years, explores the evolving relationships of several couples and incorporates both fictional and documentary elements. Jia shot additional footage during the pandemic and is currently in the early stages of post-production. The film is expected to contain more special effects than any of Jia's previous works and is not expected to be completed before autumn. MK2 has previously worked with Jia on films such as "Ash," "Mountains May Depart," and "A Touch of Sin." [Extracted from the article]