Italian period drama “My Place Is Here” is being released in Italy by Adler Ent. on May 9, and is being sold at Cannes by Beta Cinema. Variety speaks to the film’s directors, Daniela Porto and Cristiano Bortone, and debuts its trailer (below).
“My Place Is Here” is set in the years following the end of World War II. Women have just been given the vote in Italy, but in Calabria, a conservative rural region in Southern Italy, men still rule the roost.
An unmarried single mother, Marta, who is deemed to have brought shame on her family, has been promised to an older farmer as his wife. While making preparations for the wedding, Marta meets Lorenzo, the village’s openly gay wedding planner. He encourages her to broaden her horizons and take typing lessons at the local Communist Party office as a means of finding work. Here she meets Communist activist Bianca,...
“My Place Is Here” is set in the years following the end of World War II. Women have just been given the vote in Italy, but in Calabria, a conservative rural region in Southern Italy, men still rule the roost.
An unmarried single mother, Marta, who is deemed to have brought shame on her family, has been promised to an older farmer as his wife. While making preparations for the wedding, Marta meets Lorenzo, the village’s openly gay wedding planner. He encourages her to broaden her horizons and take typing lessons at the local Communist Party office as a means of finding work. Here she meets Communist activist Bianca,...
- 4/30/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
The fact that both Asia and Europe are finding it more difficult to finance movies following the pandemic may drive the two regions to start working together more closely, despite the huge differences in their funding systems, said a group of leading producers on a two-session Filmart panel.
In the first session, the heads of major European funds including France’s Cnc, the Austrian Film Institute and Berlin Brandenburg Film Commission explained Europe’s complex web of subsidy funding, while Gary Mak, Secretary General of the Hong Kong Film Development Council (Hkfdc) introduced Hong Kong’s new co-production funding scheme.
Called the ‘Hong Kong-Europe-Asian Film Collaboration Funding Scheme’ the new programme offers grants of up to $1.15M (Hk$9M) to feature film projects that combine Hong Kong and other Asian and/or European talent. The projects don’t have to shoot in Hong Kong or be filmed in one of the city’s official languages,...
In the first session, the heads of major European funds including France’s Cnc, the Austrian Film Institute and Berlin Brandenburg Film Commission explained Europe’s complex web of subsidy funding, while Gary Mak, Secretary General of the Hong Kong Film Development Council (Hkfdc) introduced Hong Kong’s new co-production funding scheme.
Called the ‘Hong Kong-Europe-Asian Film Collaboration Funding Scheme’ the new programme offers grants of up to $1.15M (Hk$9M) to feature film projects that combine Hong Kong and other Asian and/or European talent. The projects don’t have to shoot in Hong Kong or be filmed in one of the city’s official languages,...
- 3/13/2024
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
Beta Cinema has acquired international sales rights outside Italy to “My Place Is Here,” directed by Daniela Porto and Cristiano Bortone. They kicked off sales on the film at the European Film Market.
Set in rural Italy’s southern region of Calabria during the late 1940s, “My Place” is about the friendship between a single mother and a local wedding planner, who is the only gay person in their village. This friendship leads her to challenge the prejudices of the community and fight to find her place in the world.
“My Place Is Here” marks Porto’s feature film debut. Co-director Bortone is a helmer and producer known for “Red Like the Sky” (2005) and “Coffee” (2016), which was an Italy-China co-production, among other titles. The film is based on Porto’s eponymous novel that will be published in Italy in March.
The film stars Ludovica Martino, who has a fanbase in...
Set in rural Italy’s southern region of Calabria during the late 1940s, “My Place” is about the friendship between a single mother and a local wedding planner, who is the only gay person in their village. This friendship leads her to challenge the prejudices of the community and fight to find her place in the world.
“My Place Is Here” marks Porto’s feature film debut. Co-director Bortone is a helmer and producer known for “Red Like the Sky” (2005) and “Coffee” (2016), which was an Italy-China co-production, among other titles. The film is based on Porto’s eponymous novel that will be published in Italy in March.
The film stars Ludovica Martino, who has a fanbase in...
- 2/18/2024
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Beta Cinema has acquired international sales rights to My Place Is Here, directed by Daniela Porto and Cristiano Bortone.
Starring Cinema Paradiso’s Marco Leonardi and Ludovica Martino (Skam Italia), My Place Is Here is a drama with a strong friendship story at its core.
The film is set in the aftermath of WWII against the conservative backdrop of Southern Italy, just as Italian women have gained the right to vote. When single mother Marta accepts the proposal of an older farmer, she meets Lorenzo, the village’s openly gay wedding planner and forges an unlikely friendship with him. Lorenzo...
Starring Cinema Paradiso’s Marco Leonardi and Ludovica Martino (Skam Italia), My Place Is Here is a drama with a strong friendship story at its core.
The film is set in the aftermath of WWII against the conservative backdrop of Southern Italy, just as Italian women have gained the right to vote. When single mother Marta accepts the proposal of an older farmer, she meets Lorenzo, the village’s openly gay wedding planner and forges an unlikely friendship with him. Lorenzo...
- 2/17/2024
- ScreenDaily
Production company of director Wen Muye, whose ‘Nice View’ is China’s Oscar submission, to produce.
Chinese remake rights to Uberto Pasolini’s family drama Nowhere Special have been acquired by Shanghai-based General Dream Studio through Sino-European organisation Bridging The Dragon (Btd).
General Dream Studio is the production company of Chinese filmmaker Wen Muye, whose comedy-drama Nice View is China’s submission for the best international feature Oscar and took more than 210m (RMB1.5bn) following its release in February. His drama Dying To Survive was also a box office hit, grossing 438m (RMB3.1bn) in 2018.
It has not yet...
Chinese remake rights to Uberto Pasolini’s family drama Nowhere Special have been acquired by Shanghai-based General Dream Studio through Sino-European organisation Bridging The Dragon (Btd).
General Dream Studio is the production company of Chinese filmmaker Wen Muye, whose comedy-drama Nice View is China’s submission for the best international feature Oscar and took more than 210m (RMB1.5bn) following its release in February. His drama Dying To Survive was also a box office hit, grossing 438m (RMB3.1bn) in 2018.
It has not yet...
- 11/16/2022
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
An ambitious project, originated from producer Cristiano Bortone’s Bridging the Dragon association, has adapted Alberto Simone’s novel “Un Amore a Roma” into “The Italian Recipe”, a film co-produced by Italy and China, and developed for the Chinese market. Very aptly, the movie will open with its World Premiere Screening, the 24th edition of the Udine Far East Film Festival, following by its release in thousands of Chinese cinemas.
“The Italian Recipe” is screening at Udine Far East Film Festival
Two very different young Chinese citizens are struggling to understand their life path in two very far apart corners of the world. Peng (Liu Xun), in Beijing, is an emerging popstar, completely englobed in the stardom system machine, guided by his agent Pete (Wu Yingzhe) and dependent on social media analytics. He is good but not good enough to surpass some of his peers that seem to have a...
“The Italian Recipe” is screening at Udine Far East Film Festival
Two very different young Chinese citizens are struggling to understand their life path in two very far apart corners of the world. Peng (Liu Xun), in Beijing, is an emerging popstar, completely englobed in the stardom system machine, guided by his agent Pete (Wu Yingzhe) and dependent on social media analytics. He is good but not good enough to surpass some of his peers that seem to have a...
- 4/22/2022
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
On Friday 22 April the awaited world premiere of “The Italian Recipe”, directed by director Hou Zuxin and shot in Rome, will officially open the Far East Film Festival 24th edition. An irresistible Chinese romantic comedy that, after the Feff, will be released at home in thousands of cinemas, bringing with it a lot of Italy: the locations, the crew and, the co-production. In fact, alongside China we find Cristiano Bortone’s Orisa Produzioni and Roberta Manfredi and Alberto Simone’s Dauphine Film Company, with Rai Cinema and with the support of the Lazio Region, Fondo Lazio Cinema International and the support of Roma Lazio Film Commission (and Lightburst Pictures in Berlin). Liu Xun and Huang Yao (applauded at Feff 19 for “The Crossing”) give life to a brilliant pair game and give us a very contemporary variation on the theme of Roman Holidays!
The chosen title for the Closing Night on...
The chosen title for the Closing Night on...
- 4/21/2022
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Deals were facilitated through the platform of Sino-us producers association Bridging The Dragon.
Sino-eu producers association Bridging The Dragon (Btd) has announced a raft of co-production and remake deals facilitated through its platform, including Lian Ray Pictures’ acquisition of remake rights to Italian features Italian Race and 18 Presents.
Matteo Rovere’s Italian Race, a rally racing drama produced and sold by Fandango, was a big winner at the David di Donatello Awards in 2017. Francesco Amato’s 18 Presents, produced by Lucky Red and sold by True Colors, is based on the true story of a woman who left her daughter...
Sino-eu producers association Bridging The Dragon (Btd) has announced a raft of co-production and remake deals facilitated through its platform, including Lian Ray Pictures’ acquisition of remake rights to Italian features Italian Race and 18 Presents.
Matteo Rovere’s Italian Race, a rally racing drama produced and sold by Fandango, was a big winner at the David di Donatello Awards in 2017. Francesco Amato’s 18 Presents, produced by Lucky Red and sold by True Colors, is based on the true story of a woman who left her daughter...
- 9/2/2021
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
China’s $1.2 billion Lunar New Year box office broke world records earlier this month, but Chinese film buyers and sales agents are not jumping to interpret that as a sign of lasting market recovery, particularly for arthouse productions and indie firms.
Despite astonishing ticket sales, some 80% of the six-day holiday box office went to just the top two out of seven titles — “Detective Chinatown 3″ and ‘Hi, Mom” (pictured) — causing the others to underperform.
This, coupled with the fact that the Chinese New Year release window is uniquely popular, means that the trumpeted success “is therefore no indication that after the holiday, the theatrical market will return to what it was before the pandemic,” says Cindy Lin, CEO of indie distributor Infotainment China, which imports foreign arthouse fare.
Numerous insiders observed that one of the big impacts of the pandemic on the Chinese film market has been a greater polarization. Like the wider global economy,...
Despite astonishing ticket sales, some 80% of the six-day holiday box office went to just the top two out of seven titles — “Detective Chinatown 3″ and ‘Hi, Mom” (pictured) — causing the others to underperform.
This, coupled with the fact that the Chinese New Year release window is uniquely popular, means that the trumpeted success “is therefore no indication that after the holiday, the theatrical market will return to what it was before the pandemic,” says Cindy Lin, CEO of indie distributor Infotainment China, which imports foreign arthouse fare.
Numerous insiders observed that one of the big impacts of the pandemic on the Chinese film market has been a greater polarization. Like the wider global economy,...
- 3/1/2021
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
With production in China suffering a coronavirus-imposed slowdown, “The Italian Recipe” is one co-production between Europe and China that is poised to potentially capitalize on the resulting dearth of Chinese content. It is positioned to advance European cinema’s efforts to make inroads in China.
“The Italian Recipe,” in which a famous Chinese pop singer travels to Rome for a trashy reality show and cavorts there with a Chinese Cinderella who dreams of becoming a chef, was spawned by the Bridging the Dragon (Btd) association. Btd will hold its annual panel next week on the sidelines of the Berlin Film Festival.
The romantic comedy is mostly set in Rome. The small portions located in Beijing were shot before the virus caused a China-wide production slowdown. Those portions being shot in the Italian capital are set to wrap soon.
Producer Cristiano Bortone, who is also the Btd lab’s founder, told...
“The Italian Recipe,” in which a famous Chinese pop singer travels to Rome for a trashy reality show and cavorts there with a Chinese Cinderella who dreams of becoming a chef, was spawned by the Bridging the Dragon (Btd) association. Btd will hold its annual panel next week on the sidelines of the Berlin Film Festival.
The romantic comedy is mostly set in Rome. The small portions located in Beijing were shot before the virus caused a China-wide production slowdown. Those portions being shot in the Italian capital are set to wrap soon.
Producer Cristiano Bortone, who is also the Btd lab’s founder, told...
- 2/23/2020
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
The film, produced by Cristiano Bortone for Orisa Produzioni, is a romantic comedy directed by Chinese filmmaker Zuxin Hou and is also being co-produced by Germany. The shoot has got under way in Rome for The Italian Recipe, the second official co-production between Italy and China, following Coffee (see the news), produced by Cristiano Bortone (of Orisa Produzioni) together with Dauphine Film Company, Rai Cinema, Beijing-based Wd Pictures, Lightburst Pictures (Berlin) and Fun Age Kaixin Mahua, one of the main distributors of comedy flicks in China. In the film, which will unfold over the course of a single night, the city of Rome serves as a backdrop for the love story between a famous Chinese pop singer who has sold out to the glitz and glamour of showbusiness and a Cinderella type who secretly dreams of becoming a successful chef. The director of The Italian Recipe...
More Hollywood actors are expected to appear in starring roles in Chinese films as China’s film industry continue to expand, with bigger productions looking to meet international standards and feed the growing appetite for domestic blockbusters.
So far, however, the top Hollywood stars joining the ensemble casts of these blockbusters have almost all been men. Opportunities for Hollywood actresses in China still remain largely unavailable because of the lack of suitable roles and limited genres. Agencies have been pushing for female starring roles, however, and Milla Jovovich has a role in upcoming action-thriller “The Rookies.”
According to Jonah Greenberg, who left his role as head of CAA China in February to launch a Beijing-based development and production company called Salty Pictures, the agency helped Jovovich get the role, originally written as a male. Such a successful gender-switch of a role in a Chinese film to accommodate a Western actress is a first.
So far, however, the top Hollywood stars joining the ensemble casts of these blockbusters have almost all been men. Opportunities for Hollywood actresses in China still remain largely unavailable because of the lack of suitable roles and limited genres. Agencies have been pushing for female starring roles, however, and Milla Jovovich has a role in upcoming action-thriller “The Rookies.”
According to Jonah Greenberg, who left his role as head of CAA China in February to launch a Beijing-based development and production company called Salty Pictures, the agency helped Jovovich get the role, originally written as a male. Such a successful gender-switch of a role in a Chinese film to accommodate a Western actress is a first.
- 9/25/2018
- by Vivienne Chow
- Variety Film + TV
The deal will cover properties developed from now going forward.
REinvent Studios, the Copenhagen-based company launched by former TrustNordisk CEO Rikke Ennis, has signed a three-year strategic partnership to handle international sales for Sf Studios’ new Scandinavian TV series.
The deal will cover properties developed from now going forward.
Tim King, executive vice president production for Sf Studios, based in Stockholm, explained, “We have eight new shows in active development across the Nordics that we will start discussing at Mipcom. These shows represent a broad range of genres, which reflects the general need for Scandinavian producers to move away from pure Scandi Noir.
REinvent Studios, the Copenhagen-based company launched by former TrustNordisk CEO Rikke Ennis, has signed a three-year strategic partnership to handle international sales for Sf Studios’ new Scandinavian TV series.
The deal will cover properties developed from now going forward.
Tim King, executive vice president production for Sf Studios, based in Stockholm, explained, “We have eight new shows in active development across the Nordics that we will start discussing at Mipcom. These shows represent a broad range of genres, which reflects the general need for Scandinavian producers to move away from pure Scandi Noir.
- 9/18/2018
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
China’s foremost screenwriter, Yan Geling, has teamed with Italian director and producer Cristiano Bortone to adapt Yan’s novella “The Secret Talker.”
Set during the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the film is a romantic thriller centering on a Chinese woman, married to an American college professor, who thought she had found freedom and peace of mind until she suddenly starts receiving emails from a mysterious stalker. The obsessive relationship begins to reveal dark secrets of her past life in China.
“The Secret Talker” is expected to go into production in 2019 with a major Chinese actress as female lead and an American star as male lead.
Yan, who is both an author and screenwriter, was recently responsible for the novel “Youth,” a bittersweet, nostalgic tale of a military entertainment troupe. The book sold close to 1 million copies, and director Feng Xiaogang’s film adaptation was the biggest hit of the Christmas period,...
Set during the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the film is a romantic thriller centering on a Chinese woman, married to an American college professor, who thought she had found freedom and peace of mind until she suddenly starts receiving emails from a mysterious stalker. The obsessive relationship begins to reveal dark secrets of her past life in China.
“The Secret Talker” is expected to go into production in 2019 with a major Chinese actress as female lead and an American star as male lead.
Yan, who is both an author and screenwriter, was recently responsible for the novel “Youth,” a bittersweet, nostalgic tale of a military entertainment troupe. The book sold close to 1 million copies, and director Feng Xiaogang’s film adaptation was the biggest hit of the Christmas period,...
- 5/11/2018
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Iconic European animated character Miffy is set to become the star of a live-action feature film made for Chinese audiences.
The move follows an agreement between Netherlands-based publisher and rights holder Mercis, Chinese producer Beijing Wd Pictures and Italy’s Orisa Produzione.
The Miffy character, a rabbit who likes to draw and play with friends, was created by Dutch cartoonist Dick Bruna, who died last year. With more than 120 books published and 85 million copies sold since 1955, “Miffy“ has become particularly popular in parts of Asia, including China and Japan. TV series and an animated film, released in 2013, have followed.
“With an international team of visual artists, we will spend the next months working on the 3D design of our Miffy,” said Frank Padberg, business development manager of Mercis. The live-action film is expected to start production in early 2020.
“As recent box office successes show, family entertainment is becoming a new market trend” in China,...
The move follows an agreement between Netherlands-based publisher and rights holder Mercis, Chinese producer Beijing Wd Pictures and Italy’s Orisa Produzione.
The Miffy character, a rabbit who likes to draw and play with friends, was created by Dutch cartoonist Dick Bruna, who died last year. With more than 120 books published and 85 million copies sold since 1955, “Miffy“ has become particularly popular in parts of Asia, including China and Japan. TV series and an animated film, released in 2013, have followed.
“With an international team of visual artists, we will spend the next months working on the 3D design of our Miffy,” said Frank Padberg, business development manager of Mercis. The live-action film is expected to start production in early 2020.
“As recent box office successes show, family entertainment is becoming a new market trend” in China,...
- 5/9/2018
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
FilmCash’s Frederik Nelsson will be CFO of the Copenhagen-based company.
Rikke Ennis, the departing CEO of TrustNordisk, says her new company REinvent Studios will focus on development, packaging, finance and creative producing.
“We want to be competitive to delivering finance solutions – equity, gap and bridge financing that would be a new thing from Scandinavia,” she said.
One partner in the new company will be Frederik Nelsson, an experienced financier as CEO of FilmCash, who will become REinvent’s CFO.
The Copenhagen-based outfit, which is expected to have about seven or eight full-time staff in its first year of operation,...
Rikke Ennis, the departing CEO of TrustNordisk, says her new company REinvent Studios will focus on development, packaging, finance and creative producing.
“We want to be competitive to delivering finance solutions – equity, gap and bridge financing that would be a new thing from Scandinavia,” she said.
One partner in the new company will be Frederik Nelsson, an experienced financier as CEO of FilmCash, who will become REinvent’s CFO.
The Copenhagen-based outfit, which is expected to have about seven or eight full-time staff in its first year of operation,...
- 5/2/2018
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Zhu Zhu will star in the remake of the cult German thriller.
China’s Road Pictures has unveiled a slate of new productions, including a Chinese-language remake of 1998 German breakout hit Run Lola Run.
Announced at the recent Beijing International Film Festival (Bjiff), the remake will star Chinese actress Zhu Zhu (Marco Polo), who will also executive produce.
Based in Beijing with an office in Los Angeles headed by Julien Favre, Road Pictures is also co-financing Andrew Niccol’s upcoming sci-fi thriller Anon, starring Clive Owen and Amanda Seyfried, with Germany’s K5 Media Group. The film is currently in post-production for release later this year.
Road Pictures also announced several new projects at the Bjiff event including The Diamond Age, an adaptation of Neal Stephenson’s cult sci-fi novel, produced in association with Lauren Selig, Barry Levine and Mike Bundlie, which is being scripted by Karl Gajdusek.
Other projects unveiled by Road Pictures include English-language TV series...
China’s Road Pictures has unveiled a slate of new productions, including a Chinese-language remake of 1998 German breakout hit Run Lola Run.
Announced at the recent Beijing International Film Festival (Bjiff), the remake will star Chinese actress Zhu Zhu (Marco Polo), who will also executive produce.
Based in Beijing with an office in Los Angeles headed by Julien Favre, Road Pictures is also co-financing Andrew Niccol’s upcoming sci-fi thriller Anon, starring Clive Owen and Amanda Seyfried, with Germany’s K5 Media Group. The film is currently in post-production for release later this year.
Road Pictures also announced several new projects at the Bjiff event including The Diamond Age, an adaptation of Neal Stephenson’s cult sci-fi novel, produced in association with Lauren Selig, Barry Levine and Mike Bundlie, which is being scripted by Karl Gajdusek.
Other projects unveiled by Road Pictures include English-language TV series...
- 4/24/2017
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
A cross-cultural multi-plot drama linked by the loose theme of coffee, Cristiano Bortone’s sixth feature is noteworthy for being the first fruit of an Italy-China co-production treaty signed in 2014. The Italian-born director, a USC and Nyu graduate, collaborated with Chinese screenwriters and censors on Coffee, which is screening at Beijing International Film Festival this week. Bortone is also the founder of Bridging the Dragon, an initiative designed to foster closer links between the European and Chinese film industries.
Citing Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s 2006 Oscar-winner Babel as inspiration, Bortone conceived Coffee as a panoramic snapshot of a globalized world in...
Citing Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s 2006 Oscar-winner Babel as inspiration, Bortone conceived Coffee as a panoramic snapshot of a globalized world in...
- 4/20/2017
- by Stephen Dalton
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Syrian war documentary set as opening film; Naomi Kawase and Crystal Moselle shorts selected.Scroll down for line-up
Venice Film Festival’s independent strand Venice Days has unveiled the line-up for its 13th edition, which runs alongside the main festival from Aug 31-Sept 10.
There are 11 titles in competition (10 world premieres), six special event screenings and two shorts on show.
Opening the programme will be Denmark-Finland co-pro The War Show [pictured] from co-directors Andreas Dalsgaard and Obaidah Zytoon. A documentary road film chronicling the Syrian uprising and war, the film sees Zytoon sets off on a road trip around Syria, telling the Syrian story through a series of personal intimate stories.
Italian titles in the line-up include Indivisible, Edoardo de Angelis’s story of two Neapolitan Siamese twin sisters who are exploited as a novelty singing act by their father. Rome-based sales agent True Colours boarded the film earlier this year.
The shorts – dubbed the Women’s Tales project...
Venice Film Festival’s independent strand Venice Days has unveiled the line-up for its 13th edition, which runs alongside the main festival from Aug 31-Sept 10.
There are 11 titles in competition (10 world premieres), six special event screenings and two shorts on show.
Opening the programme will be Denmark-Finland co-pro The War Show [pictured] from co-directors Andreas Dalsgaard and Obaidah Zytoon. A documentary road film chronicling the Syrian uprising and war, the film sees Zytoon sets off on a road trip around Syria, telling the Syrian story through a series of personal intimate stories.
Italian titles in the line-up include Indivisible, Edoardo de Angelis’s story of two Neapolitan Siamese twin sisters who are exploited as a novelty singing act by their father. Rome-based sales agent True Colours boarded the film earlier this year.
The shorts – dubbed the Women’s Tales project...
- 7/26/2016
- ScreenDaily
Bridging The Dragon is an association connecting European and Chinese film professionals.
Euro-China initiative Bridging The Dragon is hosting its first public event at Efm tomorrow (Feb 10), a panel discussion and case study with speakers including producer Nansun Shi and X-Filme’s Stefan Arndt.
Shi and Arndt will join Bona Film Group’s Jeffrey Chan and Constantin Film’s Martin Moszkowicz in a discussion on the challenges and opportunities of co-producing between Europe and China.
Producer Lorna Tee will then speak to Unifrance’s Isabelle Glachant about what works in China and understanding the Chinese audience.
Launched at Locarno Film Festival last year, Bridging The Dragon is an association connecting European and Chinese film professionals through events, networking opportunities and consultancy services.
The initiative, which has a strategic partnership with Efm, will also host residential labs and pitching sessions around Shanghai Film Festival and Locarno later this year.
“China has been more focused on gaining expertise from the...
Euro-China initiative Bridging The Dragon is hosting its first public event at Efm tomorrow (Feb 10), a panel discussion and case study with speakers including producer Nansun Shi and X-Filme’s Stefan Arndt.
Shi and Arndt will join Bona Film Group’s Jeffrey Chan and Constantin Film’s Martin Moszkowicz in a discussion on the challenges and opportunities of co-producing between Europe and China.
Producer Lorna Tee will then speak to Unifrance’s Isabelle Glachant about what works in China and understanding the Chinese audience.
Launched at Locarno Film Festival last year, Bridging The Dragon is an association connecting European and Chinese film professionals through events, networking opportunities and consultancy services.
The initiative, which has a strategic partnership with Efm, will also host residential labs and pitching sessions around Shanghai Film Festival and Locarno later this year.
“China has been more focused on gaining expertise from the...
- 2/10/2015
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: John Wrathall script The Italian Chapel readied for 2015 shoot.
Andrew Bendel of the UK’s Blue Horizon Productions and Cristiano Bortone of Italy’s Orisa Produzioni are to co-produce Second World War love story The Italian Chapel.
Scheduled for a 2015 shoot, the film charts the love story between an Italian Pow in Scotland and a local woman.
The original screenplay by John Wrathall was previously selected for Working Title’s emerging writers scheme and has been developed by Blue Horizon with support from the BFI Film Fund.
Wrathall’s credits include the original screenplay for The Liability, starring Tim Roth and Peter Mullan, and Good starring Viggo Mortensen, which screened at Toronto and was released in the UK by Lionsgate.
Set during the Second World War, The Italian Chapel - based on true events - follows a reluctant private in Mussolini’s army who is captured by the British and sent to a windswept camp on...
Andrew Bendel of the UK’s Blue Horizon Productions and Cristiano Bortone of Italy’s Orisa Produzioni are to co-produce Second World War love story The Italian Chapel.
Scheduled for a 2015 shoot, the film charts the love story between an Italian Pow in Scotland and a local woman.
The original screenplay by John Wrathall was previously selected for Working Title’s emerging writers scheme and has been developed by Blue Horizon with support from the BFI Film Fund.
Wrathall’s credits include the original screenplay for The Liability, starring Tim Roth and Peter Mullan, and Good starring Viggo Mortensen, which screened at Toronto and was released in the UK by Lionsgate.
Set during the Second World War, The Italian Chapel - based on true events - follows a reluctant private in Mussolini’s army who is captured by the British and sent to a windswept camp on...
- 7/21/2014
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Beijing-based Huayi Brothers Media Corporation has boarded the Chinese remake of Italian comedies Men Vs Women and Women Vs Men and will produce with Cai Gongming’s Road Pictures and Italian filmmaker Cristiano Bortone.
Huayi Brothers will also distribute the project, which is currently being scripted and is expected to start shooting before the end of the year. The remake is in the process of attaching a director and is expecting to draw an ensemble cast of major Chinese stars.
Cai and Bortone are combining episodes from the two original films to make one movie to start with, but envisage the concept as a possible franchise under the title Gender Wars. “The story has characters of different ages and backgrounds, so it will appeal to all audience age groups,” said Cai. “It also gives us an opportunity to look at changing gender identity roles in Chinese society.”
Fausto Brizzi’s original films, released in Italy...
Huayi Brothers will also distribute the project, which is currently being scripted and is expected to start shooting before the end of the year. The remake is in the process of attaching a director and is expecting to draw an ensemble cast of major Chinese stars.
Cai and Bortone are combining episodes from the two original films to make one movie to start with, but envisage the concept as a possible franchise under the title Gender Wars. “The story has characters of different ages and backgrounds, so it will appeal to all audience age groups,” said Cai. “It also gives us an opportunity to look at changing gender identity roles in Chinese society.”
Fausto Brizzi’s original films, released in Italy...
- 4/21/2014
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Beijing-based Huayi Brothers Media Corporation has boarded the Chinese remake of Italian comedies Men Vs Women and Women Vs Men and will produce with Cai Gongming’s Road Pictures and Italian filmmaker Cristiano Bortone.
Huayi Brothers will also distribute the project, which is currently being scripted and is expected to start shooting before the end of the year. The remake is in the process of attaching a director and is expecting to draw an ensemble cast of major Chinese stars.
Cai and Bortone are combining episodes from the two original films to make one movie to start with, but envisage the concept as a possible franchise under the title Gender Wars. “The story has characters of different ages and backgrounds, so it will appeal to all audience age groups,” said Cai. “It also gives us an opportunity to look at changing gender identity roles in Chinese society.”
Fausto Brizzi’s original films, released in Italy...
Huayi Brothers will also distribute the project, which is currently being scripted and is expected to start shooting before the end of the year. The remake is in the process of attaching a director and is expecting to draw an ensemble cast of major Chinese stars.
Cai and Bortone are combining episodes from the two original films to make one movie to start with, but envisage the concept as a possible franchise under the title Gender Wars. “The story has characters of different ages and backgrounds, so it will appeal to all audience age groups,” said Cai. “It also gives us an opportunity to look at changing gender identity roles in Chinese society.”
Fausto Brizzi’s original films, released in Italy...
- 4/21/2014
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Mandarin-language remake targets Chinese love affair with romantic comedies.
Italian battle of the sexes comedies Men Vs Women and Women Vs Men are to be remade for the Chinese market in a joint project involving Cai Gongming’s Lushang Youhua (Road Pictures) and Italian producer Cristiano Bortone.
Italian filmmaker Fausto Brizzi’s original films (Maschi contro Femmine and Femmine contro Maschi), each consisting of four intertwining stories exploring the battle of the sexes, came out in Italy in 2010 and 2011.
Their light-hearted take on love and gender relations could prove a perfect fit for the Chinese film market where romantic comedies such as Finding Mr. Right, One Night Surprise and So Young have been drawing big audiences over the past year.
Bortone of Orisa Produzioni, which operates in Italy and Germany, negotiated the acquisition of the Mandarin-language remake rights for both films from Frederica Lucisano and Fulvio Lucisano of Italian International Film, who produced...
Italian battle of the sexes comedies Men Vs Women and Women Vs Men are to be remade for the Chinese market in a joint project involving Cai Gongming’s Lushang Youhua (Road Pictures) and Italian producer Cristiano Bortone.
Italian filmmaker Fausto Brizzi’s original films (Maschi contro Femmine and Femmine contro Maschi), each consisting of four intertwining stories exploring the battle of the sexes, came out in Italy in 2010 and 2011.
Their light-hearted take on love and gender relations could prove a perfect fit for the Chinese film market where romantic comedies such as Finding Mr. Right, One Night Surprise and So Young have been drawing big audiences over the past year.
Bortone of Orisa Produzioni, which operates in Italy and Germany, negotiated the acquisition of the Mandarin-language remake rights for both films from Frederica Lucisano and Fulvio Lucisano of Italian International Film, who produced...
- 3/26/2014
- ScreenDaily
Programme is aimed at developing Chinese and European projects spanning the two cultures.
A group of European producers is launching a new scriptwriting programme called “Bridging the Dragon”, aimed at developing Chinese and European projects spanning the two cultures.
“There’s a lot of curiosity on both sides but also a lot of ignorance… Chinese filmmakers don’t necessarily get European audiences and vice-versa…we want to foster projects which can potentially work in both markets,” explained Italian Cristiano Bortone, whose company Orisa Produzioni operates between Italy and Germany.
Bortone, whose credits include Maria, He Doesn’t Like It! and Stijn Coninx’s Marina, is also a tutor the Beijing Film Academy.
Other producers joining the initiative include Asia veteran Isabelle Glachant, who operates under the Chinese Shadows banner and is also the greater China representative for French film export agency Unifrance, and Dutch Leontine Petit of Amsterdam-based Lemming Film which is currently developing David Verbeek’s Shanghai-set...
A group of European producers is launching a new scriptwriting programme called “Bridging the Dragon”, aimed at developing Chinese and European projects spanning the two cultures.
“There’s a lot of curiosity on both sides but also a lot of ignorance… Chinese filmmakers don’t necessarily get European audiences and vice-versa…we want to foster projects which can potentially work in both markets,” explained Italian Cristiano Bortone, whose company Orisa Produzioni operates between Italy and Germany.
Bortone, whose credits include Maria, He Doesn’t Like It! and Stijn Coninx’s Marina, is also a tutor the Beijing Film Academy.
Other producers joining the initiative include Asia veteran Isabelle Glachant, who operates under the Chinese Shadows banner and is also the greater China representative for French film export agency Unifrance, and Dutch Leontine Petit of Amsterdam-based Lemming Film which is currently developing David Verbeek’s Shanghai-set...
- 3/25/2014
- ScreenDaily
Cristiano Bortone's "Red Like the Sky", inspired by the true story of a blind sound editor, was named best feature film Thursday at the 13th Palm Beach International Film Festival in Florida. Bortone also was hailed as best feature film director.
The features jury awarded a special jury prize to dancer-choreograpaher Lachen Zinoun for his directorial debut, "The Lost Beauty".
The best performance award went to the ensemble cast of the Irish film "Kings", led by Colm Meaney, Donal O'Kelly, Brendan Conroy, Donncha Crowley, Barry Barnes, Sean O'Tarpaigh and Peadar O'Treasaigh.
De Lauzanne Xavier's "With One Voice" was named best documentary. A special jury prize was awarded to Suzanne Chisholm and Michael Parfit's "Saving Luna", about a lost baby orca.
Lynn Roth's "The Little Traitor" earned the audience choice award for best feature film, while Jody Lambert's "Of All the Things" was chosen best docu by the audience.
The documentary "Young@Heart" served as the closing-night feature.
The features jury awarded a special jury prize to dancer-choreograpaher Lachen Zinoun for his directorial debut, "The Lost Beauty".
The best performance award went to the ensemble cast of the Irish film "Kings", led by Colm Meaney, Donal O'Kelly, Brendan Conroy, Donncha Crowley, Barry Barnes, Sean O'Tarpaigh and Peadar O'Treasaigh.
De Lauzanne Xavier's "With One Voice" was named best documentary. A special jury prize was awarded to Suzanne Chisholm and Michael Parfit's "Saving Luna", about a lost baby orca.
Lynn Roth's "The Little Traitor" earned the audience choice award for best feature film, while Jody Lambert's "Of All the Things" was chosen best docu by the audience.
The documentary "Young@Heart" served as the closing-night feature.
- 4/17/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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