As Filmart gets underway, Hong Kong’s major production companies, including Edko Films, Emperor Motion Pictures (Emp), Media Asia, One Cool Group and Universe Entertainment, will be unveiling their new titles in enormous booths at the front of the trade show floor, some of which will be as elaborate as film sets.
Many of the films they are launching are big-budget Hong Kong-China co-productions, featuring top Hong Kong stars and directors, and aimed at audiences in both China and Hong Kong. Emp has Derek Kwok’s Raging Havoc, starring Andy Lau and Nicholas Tse; Mandarin Motion Pictures has The Prosecutor, starring and directed by Donnie Yen; and Media Asia is launching four new titles headed by Behind The Scene, produced by Infernal Affairs director Andrew Lau. One Cool’s slate includes a trio of action films starring Louis Koo and produced by Soi Cheang.
But behind all the glamour, stars and action,...
Many of the films they are launching are big-budget Hong Kong-China co-productions, featuring top Hong Kong stars and directors, and aimed at audiences in both China and Hong Kong. Emp has Derek Kwok’s Raging Havoc, starring Andy Lau and Nicholas Tse; Mandarin Motion Pictures has The Prosecutor, starring and directed by Donnie Yen; and Media Asia is launching four new titles headed by Behind The Scene, produced by Infernal Affairs director Andrew Lau. One Cool’s slate includes a trio of action films starring Louis Koo and produced by Soi Cheang.
But behind all the glamour, stars and action,...
- 3/11/2024
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
On Saturday, audiences in Berlin will see the world premiere of “Above the Dust,” a Chinese-made drama that plays somewhat incongruously in the Generation Kplus section, which screens films for or about children. Whether the film plays again, and where, is moot.
The film’s director Wang Xiaoshuai, a three-time winner of Silver Bear awards at the Berlinale, is taking a considerable personal risk going ahead with the screening in the absence of approval from the mainland Chinese authorities.
With a young teen boy as the protagonist, the film depicts a hardscrabble family in a village in northwest China in 2009. While their neighbors slowly migrate to the city, the boy’s parents dig up the arid land in search of family heirlooms. Communicating with the ghost of his grandfather, the boy learns about the 1950s reforms that transferred peasant-owned land to the government and about the disastrous Great Leap Forward.
The film’s director Wang Xiaoshuai, a three-time winner of Silver Bear awards at the Berlinale, is taking a considerable personal risk going ahead with the screening in the absence of approval from the mainland Chinese authorities.
With a young teen boy as the protagonist, the film depicts a hardscrabble family in a village in northwest China in 2009. While their neighbors slowly migrate to the city, the boy’s parents dig up the arid land in search of family heirlooms. Communicating with the ghost of his grandfather, the boy learns about the 1950s reforms that transferred peasant-owned land to the government and about the disastrous Great Leap Forward.
- 2/17/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Although Filmart felt quiet on its first morning, with many attendees glued to their phones watching the Oscars, it soon turned into a reasonably vibrant market, with sales companies locked in back-to-back meetings, new project announcements and a few star appearances to liven up proceedings.
With some large country pavilions deciding to skip the event, the trade show floor in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre had a lot of wide corridors and some empty spaces. But there was enough foot traffic and meetings activity to make it feel like a busy market.
“With two record-breaking Hong Kong films before and the historical Oscar wins during the market, this Filmart had a lot of hopeful energy,” says WME Independent’s Nelson Mok. “We found there were many co-production and financing opportunities that are going to pave the way for meaningful collaborations.”
Sales agents were welcoming the return of in-person...
With some large country pavilions deciding to skip the event, the trade show floor in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre had a lot of wide corridors and some empty spaces. But there was enough foot traffic and meetings activity to make it feel like a busy market.
“With two record-breaking Hong Kong films before and the historical Oscar wins during the market, this Filmart had a lot of hopeful energy,” says WME Independent’s Nelson Mok. “We found there were many co-production and financing opportunities that are going to pave the way for meaningful collaborations.”
Sales agents were welcoming the return of in-person...
- 3/16/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
Some 16 titles were showcased at a packed launch in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong-based Emperor Motion Pictures (Emp) presented a massive line-up of 16 titles at Filmart, including actor Nicholas Tse’s directorial debut New Police Story 2 and a further two action films also led by Tse.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the first New Police Story, which was directed by the late filmmaker Benny Chan. The new feature reunites the original cast, including Tse, Jackie Chan and Charlene Choi, from the original film. Chan will produce for Tse who will direct for the first time.
The film is set to enter production this year,...
Hong Kong-based Emperor Motion Pictures (Emp) presented a massive line-up of 16 titles at Filmart, including actor Nicholas Tse’s directorial debut New Police Story 2 and a further two action films also led by Tse.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the first New Police Story, which was directed by the late filmmaker Benny Chan. The new feature reunites the original cast, including Tse, Jackie Chan and Charlene Choi, from the original film. Chan will produce for Tse who will direct for the first time.
The film is set to enter production this year,...
- 3/15/2023
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
Not only the Communist Party and its prominent team of antiques experts Plum Blossom Five is after the jade head of the Bodhisattva statue damaged in the big temple fire in 1910 when the head was severed from the body and vanished, but also some of China’s most dangerous art-dealing gangs. According to the (film) history books, the priceless treasure of Wu Zetian Mingtang in the Tang Dynasty was lost overseas only to re-appear in 1992 in form of a perfectly done copy which one person only was able to uncover as a fake. But, where is a perfectly executed copy, there also must be the original, and the chase it begins.
Schemes in Antiques is screening at Asian Pop Up Cinema
1992 is the year the narrative is taking place, which makes it freed of modern gadgets and easy solutions. We are transported immediately to a kind of auction of...
Schemes in Antiques is screening at Asian Pop Up Cinema
1992 is the year the narrative is taking place, which makes it freed of modern gadgets and easy solutions. We are transported immediately to a kind of auction of...
- 9/13/2022
- by Marina D. Richter
- AsianMoviePulse
Tickets go on sale July 1 for the fully in-theater 20th anniversary edition of the New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff), presented by the New York Asian Film Foundation and Film at Lincoln Center (Flc), running from July 15–28, 2022 at Flc, as well as on July 23 and July 28–31 at Asia Society, which will be co-presenting a selection of key films and a Hong Kong marathon day. International stars and acclaimed filmmakers will return in-person to grace the Nyaff red carpet at Flc, receive awards, speak at Q&a sessions, and impart wisdom during masterclasses and special talks.
Hong Kong cultural icon Josie Ho will headline Nyaff 2022 with her latest project as producer of the inspiring musical documentary Finding Bliss: Fire and Ice—The Director’s Cut, in which she travels with musicians and students from Hong Kong to Iceland for a transcendent collaboration. As a tribute to the acting superstar, the festival...
Hong Kong cultural icon Josie Ho will headline Nyaff 2022 with her latest project as producer of the inspiring musical documentary Finding Bliss: Fire and Ice—The Director’s Cut, in which she travels with musicians and students from Hong Kong to Iceland for a transcendent collaboration. As a tribute to the acting superstar, the festival...
- 7/1/2022
- by Grace Han
- AsianMoviePulse
In our continued search to help fans of Asian cinema find affordable titles to stream in the comfort and safety of their homes, we take a look at some titles available through “Tubi”. The site boasts a great selection of Asian Cinema, and below we highlight a few of the titles available, with links to films (Click on title to be redirected). If not specified in the description, the title is available to users in both Canada and the United States.
All these titles and more are currently available to stream on Tubi
Tubi is an American streaming service based in San Francisco, California, United States, that launched in 2014. It is a free, ad-supported service, with advertisements shown during commercial breaks during programming. It is the largest independently owned video service in the United States, with over 15,000 movies and television series currently available. Tubi is available for free on Android,...
All these titles and more are currently available to stream on Tubi
Tubi is an American streaming service based in San Francisco, California, United States, that launched in 2014. It is a free, ad-supported service, with advertisements shown during commercial breaks during programming. It is the largest independently owned video service in the United States, with over 15,000 movies and television series currently available. Tubi is available for free on Android,...
- 3/21/2020
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
Contemporary Chinese Cinema is a column devoted to exploring contemporary Chinese-language cinema primarily as it is revealed to us at North American multiplexes.Over the last few years it has become increasingly easy to see mainstream Asian films in North America at the same time they are released in their home countries. Thanks to partnerships with small, international distributors, the major multiplex chains (AMC, Cinemark, Regal) have devoted a handful of screens in major markets to showing new releases from India, Korea, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Most of these titles fall under the radar of both critics and audiences outside the diasporic communities to which they are targeted. They play for a week or two and then disappear, outside of a handful of breakout titles. Last year Stephen Chow’s The Mermaid made headlines for its high per-screen averages in North America as it shattered domestic box office records in China.
- 12/4/2017
- MUBI
Not content to simply run hot and cold, Hong Kong director Derek Kwok plays fast and loose with the Chinese legend Journey to the West in his latest, Wu Kong, which runs more like scalding and icy. Careening wildly from visually boggling to tired and stilted, Kwok's (Gallants) adaptation of Jin Hezai’s popular web novel Wukong Zhuan — an origin story at its core — is clearly an allegory about state oppression, identity and self-determination. Sadly though, he and his army of writers forget to keep the fantasy action moving and write characters deeper than sketches. Following the relative fluffiness...
- 8/15/2017
- by Elizabeth Kerr
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In just four days since its release, Wu Kong which was directed by Hong Kong’s acclaimed director Derek Kwok is now the first local film to dominate the box office since the season of Lunar New Year in February. More than half of the total movie tickets sold between Thursday and Sunday was said to come from the film. This totals to $53 million in revenue in less than a week.
However, the film actually had a slight mishap beforehand as its shortened, unfinished version was leaked on file sharing websites a day before its set premiere date. Due to the incident, critics are still expecting that the film will only make around $100 million.
Wu Kong is a film adaptation of the Internet novel of the same name featuring a fantasy-action-adventure genre. It tells the story of Sun Wukong, commonly known as the Monkey King to Western audiences. Critically acclaimed...
However, the film actually had a slight mishap beforehand as its shortened, unfinished version was leaked on file sharing websites a day before its set premiere date. Due to the incident, critics are still expecting that the film will only make around $100 million.
Wu Kong is a film adaptation of the Internet novel of the same name featuring a fantasy-action-adventure genre. It tells the story of Sun Wukong, commonly known as the Monkey King to Western audiences. Critically acclaimed...
- 7/19/2017
- by Katrina Dumangas
- AsianMoviePulse
July 17 Update: War For The Planet Of The Apes in $44.2m international launch; Despicable Me 3 crosses $400m.Sony Pictures Releasing International
Updated: Spider-Man: Homecoming grossed $71.2m at the weekend from 20,800 screens in 63 markets to boost the running total to $260.1m.
In South Korea, the film held the number one spot for the second consecutive weekend on $11.7m for $42m, which makes this instalment the highest grossing Spider-Man film and the biggest Us release of 2017.
Latin America dropped 44% as a region and seven markets, including Brazil and Mexico, retained the number one spot. Leading the way, Brazil delivered $5.5m after a 38% drop for $19.1m, making it the biggest Spider-Man film ever. Mexico produced $4.3m from 2,897 screens for $20.2m.
In Europe, the film debuted at number one on $6.3m in France amid fierce summer competition, and Germany delivered a number two $3.7m launch that includes previews. The webslinger dropped 43% in its second weekend in the UK on $4.9m...
Updated: Spider-Man: Homecoming grossed $71.2m at the weekend from 20,800 screens in 63 markets to boost the running total to $260.1m.
In South Korea, the film held the number one spot for the second consecutive weekend on $11.7m for $42m, which makes this instalment the highest grossing Spider-Man film and the biggest Us release of 2017.
Latin America dropped 44% as a region and seven markets, including Brazil and Mexico, retained the number one spot. Leading the way, Brazil delivered $5.5m after a 38% drop for $19.1m, making it the biggest Spider-Man film ever. Mexico produced $4.3m from 2,897 screens for $20.2m.
In Europe, the film debuted at number one on $6.3m in France amid fierce summer competition, and Germany delivered a number two $3.7m launch that includes previews. The webslinger dropped 43% in its second weekend in the UK on $4.9m...
- 7/16/2017
- ScreenDaily
War For The Planet Of The Apes in $46m international launch; Despicable Me 3 crosses $400m.Sony Pictures Releasing International
Spider-Man: Homecoming grossed $72.3m this weekend from 20,800 screens in 63 total markets for $261.1m.
In South Korea, the film held the number one spot for the second consecutive weekend on $11.9m for $42.2m which makes this newest instalment the highest grossing Spider-Man film of all time and the biggest Us release of 2017.
Latin America dropped 44% as a region and had seven markets, including Brazil and Mexico, retain the number one spot. Leading the way, Brazil delivered $5.7m, a mere 38% drop, for a total of $19.4m making it the biggest Spider-Man film ever. Mexico earned $4.5m from 2,897 screens for $20.4m.
In Europe, France debuted at number one amid fierce summer competition on $6m, and Germany debuted at number two on $3.7m, including previews. The UK dropped 43% in its second weekend to earn $5m from 1,223 screens for a market total of...
Spider-Man: Homecoming grossed $72.3m this weekend from 20,800 screens in 63 total markets for $261.1m.
In South Korea, the film held the number one spot for the second consecutive weekend on $11.9m for $42.2m which makes this newest instalment the highest grossing Spider-Man film of all time and the biggest Us release of 2017.
Latin America dropped 44% as a region and had seven markets, including Brazil and Mexico, retain the number one spot. Leading the way, Brazil delivered $5.7m, a mere 38% drop, for a total of $19.4m making it the biggest Spider-Man film ever. Mexico earned $4.5m from 2,897 screens for $20.4m.
In Europe, France debuted at number one amid fierce summer competition on $6m, and Germany debuted at number two on $3.7m, including previews. The UK dropped 43% in its second weekend to earn $5m from 1,223 screens for a market total of...
- 7/16/2017
- ScreenDaily
War For The Planet Of The Apes in $46m international launch; Despicable Me 3 crosses $400m.Sony Pictures Releasing International
Spider-Man: Homecoming grossed $72.3m this weekend from 20,800 screens in 63 total markets for $261.1m.
In South Korea, the film held the number one spot for the second consecutive weekend on $11.9m for $42.2m which makes this newest instalment the highest grossing Spider-Man film of all time and the biggest Us release of 2017.
Latin America dropped 44% as a region and had seven markets, including Brazil and Mexico, retain the number one spot. Leading the way, Brazil delivered $5.7m, a mere 38% drop, for a total of $19.4m making it the biggest Spider-Man film ever. Mexico earned $4.5m from 2,897 screens for $20.4m.
In Europe, France debuted at number one amid fierce summer competition on $6m, and Germany debuted at number two on $3.7m, including previews. The UK dropped 43% in its second weekend to earn $5m from 1,223 screens for a market total of...
Spider-Man: Homecoming grossed $72.3m this weekend from 20,800 screens in 63 total markets for $261.1m.
In South Korea, the film held the number one spot for the second consecutive weekend on $11.9m for $42.2m which makes this newest instalment the highest grossing Spider-Man film of all time and the biggest Us release of 2017.
Latin America dropped 44% as a region and had seven markets, including Brazil and Mexico, retain the number one spot. Leading the way, Brazil delivered $5.7m, a mere 38% drop, for a total of $19.4m making it the biggest Spider-Man film ever. Mexico earned $4.5m from 2,897 screens for $20.4m.
In Europe, France debuted at number one amid fierce summer competition on $6m, and Germany debuted at number two on $3.7m, including previews. The UK dropped 43% in its second weekend to earn $5m from 1,223 screens for a market total of...
- 7/16/2017
- ScreenDaily
Cine Asia & Cmc Pictures Presents: Wukong
Directed By: Derek Kwok
Main Cast: Eddie Peng
Other Cast: Ni Ni, Shawn Yue, Ou Hao
Production: New Classics Media
Language: Mandarin with Chinese & English Subtitles
From Director Derek Kwok (Co director of ‘Journey To The West’), Wukong delivers an exciting new vision on the classic Monkey King tale. Starring Eddie Peng (Call of Heroes, Operation Mekong) as the Legendary Sun WuKong, alongside rising stars Ni Ni (Flowers of War) and Shawn Yue (Reign of Assassins).
Synopsis:
Three powers collide. Long ago, Sun Wukong, was born in Huaguo Mountain with a heart of stone. Ji Hua, a powerful general from the heaven planned to terminate him. However Wukong was rescued by Bodhi and became his pupil. Jian Yang, is a being who was given an opportunity to become a strong god, but for this he needs to kill Zixia, the daughter of the Heaven Emperor’s rival,...
Directed By: Derek Kwok
Main Cast: Eddie Peng
Other Cast: Ni Ni, Shawn Yue, Ou Hao
Production: New Classics Media
Language: Mandarin with Chinese & English Subtitles
From Director Derek Kwok (Co director of ‘Journey To The West’), Wukong delivers an exciting new vision on the classic Monkey King tale. Starring Eddie Peng (Call of Heroes, Operation Mekong) as the Legendary Sun WuKong, alongside rising stars Ni Ni (Flowers of War) and Shawn Yue (Reign of Assassins).
Synopsis:
Three powers collide. Long ago, Sun Wukong, was born in Huaguo Mountain with a heart of stone. Ji Hua, a powerful general from the heaven planned to terminate him. However Wukong was rescued by Bodhi and became his pupil. Jian Yang, is a being who was given an opportunity to become a strong god, but for this he needs to kill Zixia, the daughter of the Heaven Emperor’s rival,...
- 7/12/2017
- by kingofkungfu
- AsianMoviePulse
It may not boast the glitz of Cannes or provide the buzz of Sundance, but the New York Asian Film Festival — now in its 16th year — has swiftly become one of the most consistently exciting fests on the planet. Arguably the world’s best-curated program of new and classic Asian cinema, the annual showcase has made itself an increasingly essential institution by introducing American audiences to little-seen masterpieces like Park Hoon-jung’s “New World,” Derek Kwok and Clement Cheng’s “Gallants,” and Li Yu’s “Buddha Mountain” (to name three random classics from a list of dozens).
Read More: Ambitious South Korean Actioner ‘The Villainess’ Just Might Be This Year’s ‘Train to Busan’ — Film Festival Roundup
But it’s not the quality control or the comprehensiveness that makes Nyaff such an indispensable event, it’s that they deliver both of those things with style; no one who attended the...
Read More: Ambitious South Korean Actioner ‘The Villainess’ Just Might Be This Year’s ‘Train to Busan’ — Film Festival Roundup
But it’s not the quality control or the comprehensiveness that makes Nyaff such an indispensable event, it’s that they deliver both of those things with style; no one who attended the...
- 6/30/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Company boards Wai Ka-fai and Derek Kwok projects.
Emperor Motion Pictures (Emp) has unveiled a trio of high-profile action pictures, headed by Cold Detective, which reteams frequent Johnnie To collaborator Wai Ka-fai with star Sean Lau Ching-wan.
The suspense action drama is a loose follow-up to award-winning 2007 crime thriller Mad Detective [pictured], which starred Lau and was co-directed by Wai and To. The story revolves around the race between two rival sleuths to uncover the identity of an assassin before he strikes again.
Emp is also reteaming with As The Light Goes Out director Derek Kwok on mystery thriller Schemes In Antiques. The Beijing-set film revolves around the search for a Ming Dynasty Buddha relic.
Also new on Emp’s slate is the company’s first collaboration with Jeff Cheung Ka-kit – scriptwriter on Johnnie To’s Life Without Principle. Cheung will direct Dirty On Duty, starring idols Alex Fong and Carlos Chan. The Macau-set...
Emperor Motion Pictures (Emp) has unveiled a trio of high-profile action pictures, headed by Cold Detective, which reteams frequent Johnnie To collaborator Wai Ka-fai with star Sean Lau Ching-wan.
The suspense action drama is a loose follow-up to award-winning 2007 crime thriller Mad Detective [pictured], which starred Lau and was co-directed by Wai and To. The story revolves around the race between two rival sleuths to uncover the identity of an assassin before he strikes again.
Emp is also reteaming with As The Light Goes Out director Derek Kwok on mystery thriller Schemes In Antiques. The Beijing-set film revolves around the search for a Ming Dynasty Buddha relic.
Also new on Emp’s slate is the company’s first collaboration with Jeff Cheung Ka-kit – scriptwriter on Johnnie To’s Life Without Principle. Cheung will direct Dirty On Duty, starring idols Alex Fong and Carlos Chan. The Macau-set...
- 3/14/2017
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Full Strike
Written by Joe Chien, Chi-kin Kwok, Henri Wong, Pak-wing Yan & Ka Yee Yim
Directed by Chi-kin Kwok & Henri Wong
Hong Kong, 2015
Full Strike is a wacky sports comedy from directors Chi-kin Kwok and Henri Wong. In Full Strike, a group of society’s cast-offs come together to seek redemption through the sport of badminton. Bursting at the seams with obscenities and zany comedic performances, Full Strike is the perfect film for fans of filthy, over the top humor.
Disgraced badminton champion Ng Kau-sau (Josie Ho), was banned from the sport after her Hulk-like temper tantrums transformed her into a public menace; when the film begins, she has spent the past 10-years toiling away in obscurity. One stormy night, Kau-sau encounters a mysterious object falling out of the sky, which leads her to cross paths with three ex-cons (led by Ekin Cheng) looking to redeem themselves for their criminal pasts.
Written by Joe Chien, Chi-kin Kwok, Henri Wong, Pak-wing Yan & Ka Yee Yim
Directed by Chi-kin Kwok & Henri Wong
Hong Kong, 2015
Full Strike is a wacky sports comedy from directors Chi-kin Kwok and Henri Wong. In Full Strike, a group of society’s cast-offs come together to seek redemption through the sport of badminton. Bursting at the seams with obscenities and zany comedic performances, Full Strike is the perfect film for fans of filthy, over the top humor.
Disgraced badminton champion Ng Kau-sau (Josie Ho), was banned from the sport after her Hulk-like temper tantrums transformed her into a public menace; when the film begins, she has spent the past 10-years toiling away in obscurity. One stormy night, Kau-sau encounters a mysterious object falling out of the sky, which leads her to cross paths with three ex-cons (led by Ekin Cheng) looking to redeem themselves for their criminal pasts.
- 11/16/2015
- by Victor Stiff
- SoundOnSight
The 19th annual Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival (Reel Asian) is set to run from November 5 – 15, 2015 in Toronto and Richmond Hill. The festival highlights contemporary Asian cinema as well as work from the Asian Diaspora. Reel Asian also features a series of industry events in areas such as pitching and screenwriting to help guide and inspire creative minds.
After meticulously going over every synopsis, trailer, and bio that this year’s festival has to offer, I’ve put together a list of several can’t miss films at Reel Asian 2015.
Seoul Searching
During the 1980s, the Korean government instituted a policy which created summer camps aimed at enticing the country’s gyopo (foreign born) teenagers to visit their motherland. The plan seemed to be a win-win; parents could send their kids away on the Korean government’s dime, the kids would gain a first-hand cultural experience, and the country...
After meticulously going over every synopsis, trailer, and bio that this year’s festival has to offer, I’ve put together a list of several can’t miss films at Reel Asian 2015.
Seoul Searching
During the 1980s, the Korean government instituted a policy which created summer camps aimed at enticing the country’s gyopo (foreign born) teenagers to visit their motherland. The plan seemed to be a win-win; parents could send their kids away on the Korean government’s dime, the kids would gain a first-hand cultural experience, and the country...
- 11/4/2015
- by Victor Stiff
- SoundOnSight
World premieres include closing film The Chosen: Forbidden Cave from Kim Hui; competition line-up includes Coin Locker Girl, which played in Cannes Critics’ Week.
In South Korea, the 19th Bucheon International Film Festival (BiFan) unveiled its line-up today with a record 64 world premieres. The fest has selected 235 films from 45 countries, with 14 international premieres.
World premieres include closing film The Chosen: Forbidden Cave, a Korean shamanist horror film which is the sophomore feature from The Neighbors director Kim Hui; Bucheon Choice: Feature competition film The Tattooist, a Korean thriller directed by Lee Suh; and Sion Sono’s Tag, which is part of a special retrospective on the Japanese director and also in The Masters section.
International premieres include Chung Lee’s Taiwanese film The Laundryman, a previous participant at BiFan’s Network of Asian Fantastic Films (Naff) It Project market and competing in the Bucheon Choice: Feature section; and Hong Kong director Derek Kwok’s action film Full...
In South Korea, the 19th Bucheon International Film Festival (BiFan) unveiled its line-up today with a record 64 world premieres. The fest has selected 235 films from 45 countries, with 14 international premieres.
World premieres include closing film The Chosen: Forbidden Cave, a Korean shamanist horror film which is the sophomore feature from The Neighbors director Kim Hui; Bucheon Choice: Feature competition film The Tattooist, a Korean thriller directed by Lee Suh; and Sion Sono’s Tag, which is part of a special retrospective on the Japanese director and also in The Masters section.
International premieres include Chung Lee’s Taiwanese film The Laundryman, a previous participant at BiFan’s Network of Asian Fantastic Films (Naff) It Project market and competing in the Bucheon Choice: Feature section; and Hong Kong director Derek Kwok’s action film Full...
- 6/16/2015
- by hjnoh2007@gmail.com (Jean Noh)
- ScreenDaily
Asia’s largest genre film fest, the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BiFan) in South Korea has announced this year’s It Project Spotlight on China and is tentatively launching a new programme titled Nordic Genre Invasion.
The project market, part of BiFan’s Network of Asian Fantastic Films (Naff), is set to run July 19-22.
Annually, Naff chooses an Asian country from which to spotlight a few genre film projects.
This year’s China focus will feature five projects including Timing director Chan Nga Lei’s supernatural drama The Double Life Of Myself and sci-fi comedy Let’s Shake It, Et!.
The latter is to be directed by Zhao Xiaoxi and produced by Margaret Pu, former Shanghai film fest programmer and assistant business director.
Naff managing director Jongsuk Thomas Nam told ScreenDaily: “We decided to focus on China because in recent times there have been record numbers of genre films coming out at the Chinese box office...
The project market, part of BiFan’s Network of Asian Fantastic Films (Naff), is set to run July 19-22.
Annually, Naff chooses an Asian country from which to spotlight a few genre film projects.
This year’s China focus will feature five projects including Timing director Chan Nga Lei’s supernatural drama The Double Life Of Myself and sci-fi comedy Let’s Shake It, Et!.
The latter is to be directed by Zhao Xiaoxi and produced by Margaret Pu, former Shanghai film fest programmer and assistant business director.
Naff managing director Jongsuk Thomas Nam told ScreenDaily: “We decided to focus on China because in recent times there have been record numbers of genre films coming out at the Chinese box office...
- 6/15/2015
- by hjnoh2007@gmail.com (Jean Noh)
- ScreenDaily
Halloween is coming to Montreal this summer, as the star-studded (both in front of and behind the camera) anthology horror film, Tales of Halloween, is scheduled to make its world premiere at the festival. JeruZalem, Turbo Kid, Deathgasm, and many more movies are also slated to screen:
Press Release -- "Montreal, May 6, 2015 – The 19th annual Fantasia International Film Festival is gearing up to rush Montreal with three weeks of cinematic inspiration and fantastical visions from across the world from July 14 until August 4, 2015.
Our complete lineup of programming and special events will be revealed in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, here’s an early First Wave Announcement of selected highlights and info to whet your appetite for the exciting things to come!
Unveiling Our 2015 Poster Art: Fantasia Continues Its Celebration Of Regional Folklore With The Wendigo
In recent editions, Fantasia has showcased poster art informed by various regional legends and myths,...
Press Release -- "Montreal, May 6, 2015 – The 19th annual Fantasia International Film Festival is gearing up to rush Montreal with three weeks of cinematic inspiration and fantastical visions from across the world from July 14 until August 4, 2015.
Our complete lineup of programming and special events will be revealed in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, here’s an early First Wave Announcement of selected highlights and info to whet your appetite for the exciting things to come!
Unveiling Our 2015 Poster Art: Fantasia Continues Its Celebration Of Regional Folklore With The Wendigo
In recent editions, Fantasia has showcased poster art informed by various regional legends and myths,...
- 5/6/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
First wave of titles unveiled for 19th edition of Montreal’s genre film festival .
Keiichi Hara’s Miss Hokusai will receive its North American premiere as the opening film of this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival (July 14-Aug 4).
Based on Hinako Suguira’s manga Sarusuberi, the film centres on the relationship between ukiyo-e (woodblock prints) artist Katsushika Hokusai and his talented daughter O-Ei.
Fantasia’s opening night will also see the Montreal premiere of Marvel Studios’ latest outing Ant-Man, directed by Peyton Reed.
The first wave of titles also includes the world premieres of horror omnibus Tales of Halloween, featuring segments directed by the likes of Darren Lynn Bousman, Neil Marshall and Lucky McKee, and Israeli duo Yoav & Doron Paz’s Jeruzalem which follows a group of American teenagers who find themselves inside their worst nightmare when they visit Jerusalem on Yom Kippur.
This year’s festival will also host the international premiere of Eiichiro Hasumi...
Keiichi Hara’s Miss Hokusai will receive its North American premiere as the opening film of this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival (July 14-Aug 4).
Based on Hinako Suguira’s manga Sarusuberi, the film centres on the relationship between ukiyo-e (woodblock prints) artist Katsushika Hokusai and his talented daughter O-Ei.
Fantasia’s opening night will also see the Montreal premiere of Marvel Studios’ latest outing Ant-Man, directed by Peyton Reed.
The first wave of titles also includes the world premieres of horror omnibus Tales of Halloween, featuring segments directed by the likes of Darren Lynn Bousman, Neil Marshall and Lucky McKee, and Israeli duo Yoav & Doron Paz’s Jeruzalem which follows a group of American teenagers who find themselves inside their worst nightmare when they visit Jerusalem on Yom Kippur.
This year’s festival will also host the international premiere of Eiichiro Hasumi...
- 5/6/2015
- by ian.sandwell@screendaily.com (Ian Sandwell)
- ScreenDaily
The Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, now in its 19th year, is one of our favorite festivals around and a fan favorite for Sound on Sight readers for several years now. This year’s festival runs July 14 to August 4, and the first wave of films on the lineup has just been revealed.
Marvel’s highly anticipated Ant-Man, with Paul Rudd, will be the opening night film, along with the Japanese animated film Miss Hokusai. Miss Hokusai comes from Production I.G., known for its other classics including A Letter to Momo and Giovanni’s Island.
Fantasia ’15 will also be home to several World Premieres, including Tales of Halloween, a collection of 10 short horror stories, and Jeruzalem, a horror film from Israeli directors and Tiff honorees Yoav and Doron Paz (Phobidilia).
The Canadian indie Turbo Kid, which we first caught up with at Sundance this year, will also be having its...
Marvel’s highly anticipated Ant-Man, with Paul Rudd, will be the opening night film, along with the Japanese animated film Miss Hokusai. Miss Hokusai comes from Production I.G., known for its other classics including A Letter to Momo and Giovanni’s Island.
Fantasia ’15 will also be home to several World Premieres, including Tales of Halloween, a collection of 10 short horror stories, and Jeruzalem, a horror film from Israeli directors and Tiff honorees Yoav and Doron Paz (Phobidilia).
The Canadian indie Turbo Kid, which we first caught up with at Sundance this year, will also be having its...
- 5/6/2015
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
Hong Kong’s Emperor Motion Pictures (Emp) launched a 15-film slate at Filmart to commemorate its 15th anniversary.
The line-up includes titles such as Chapman To-directed and Herman Yau-produced The Mobfathers, Stanley Kwan-produced romantic drama Love In Sicily, Fruit Chan’s suspense thriller Kill Time and the new Yuen Wo-ping Project.
For The Mobfathers, the makers of Sara are collaborating again on a dark comedy set in the Hong Kong underworld where the five leading gangs are holding an election for the ruling boss.
For Love In Sicily, Lin Yu-Hsien (Jump Ashin!) directs Korean star Lee Jun-ki in a coming-of-age love story set in Shanghai and Italy.
Angelababy and Ethan Ruan star in Kill Time, a film about an obscure shopping website that leads to a vital clue in a mysterious murder.
Albert Lee is producing the Yuen Wo-ping Project, an as-yet-untitled comedy in which eccentric martial artists gather for an epochal kung-fu showdown...
The line-up includes titles such as Chapman To-directed and Herman Yau-produced The Mobfathers, Stanley Kwan-produced romantic drama Love In Sicily, Fruit Chan’s suspense thriller Kill Time and the new Yuen Wo-ping Project.
For The Mobfathers, the makers of Sara are collaborating again on a dark comedy set in the Hong Kong underworld where the five leading gangs are holding an election for the ruling boss.
For Love In Sicily, Lin Yu-Hsien (Jump Ashin!) directs Korean star Lee Jun-ki in a coming-of-age love story set in Shanghai and Italy.
Angelababy and Ethan Ruan star in Kill Time, a film about an obscure shopping website that leads to a vital clue in a mysterious murder.
Albert Lee is producing the Yuen Wo-ping Project, an as-yet-untitled comedy in which eccentric martial artists gather for an epochal kung-fu showdown...
- 3/24/2015
- by hjnoh2007@gmail.com (Jean Noh)
- ScreenDaily
Hong Kong-based sales company acquires international rights to Derek Kwok’s sports drama.
Hong Kong-based Distribution Workshop has picked up international rights to Derek Kwok’s sports drama Full Strike, starring Josie Ho, Ekin Cheng and Ronald Cheng.
Currently in post-production, the film stars Ho as a hot-tempered, former badminton player who decides to return to the sport to coach four reformed gangsters who are keen to play competitively. Ho’s Hong Kong-based 852 Films produced with Why Entertainment and Star Chinese Movies.
Henri Wong co-directed the film with Kwok, whose credits include As The Lights Go Out and Journey To The West: Conquering The Demons, which he co-directed with Stephen Chow.
Distribution Workshop has also picked up the latest feature from China’s Xu Jinglei, romantic drama Somewhere Only We Know, in which the director-actress also stars along with Kris Wu and Wang Likun.
Also in post-production, the film marks the feature debut of Asian heartthrob Kris Wu...
Hong Kong-based Distribution Workshop has picked up international rights to Derek Kwok’s sports drama Full Strike, starring Josie Ho, Ekin Cheng and Ronald Cheng.
Currently in post-production, the film stars Ho as a hot-tempered, former badminton player who decides to return to the sport to coach four reformed gangsters who are keen to play competitively. Ho’s Hong Kong-based 852 Films produced with Why Entertainment and Star Chinese Movies.
Henri Wong co-directed the film with Kwok, whose credits include As The Lights Go Out and Journey To The West: Conquering The Demons, which he co-directed with Stephen Chow.
Distribution Workshop has also picked up the latest feature from China’s Xu Jinglei, romantic drama Somewhere Only We Know, in which the director-actress also stars along with Kris Wu and Wang Likun.
Also in post-production, the film marks the feature debut of Asian heartthrob Kris Wu...
- 2/6/2015
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Hong Kong-based sales company acquires international rights to Derek Kwok’s sports drama.
Hong Kong-based Distribution Workshop has picked up international rights to Derek Kwok’s sports drama Full Strike, starring Josie Ho, Ekin Cheng and Ronald Cheng.
Currently in post-production, the film stars Ho as a hot-tempered, former badminton player who decides to return to the sport to coach four reformed gangsters who are keen to play competitively. Ho’s Hong Kong-based 852 Films produced with Why Entertainment and Star Chinese Movies.
Henri Wong co-directed the film with Kwok, whose credits include As The Lights Go Out and Journey To The West: Conquering The Demons, which he co-directed with Stephen Chow.
Distribution Workshop has also picked up the latest feature from China’s Xu Jinglei, romantic drama Somewhere Only We Know, in which the director-actress also stars along with Kris Wu and Wang Likun.
Also in post-production, the film marks the feature debut of Asian heartthrob Kris Wu...
Hong Kong-based Distribution Workshop has picked up international rights to Derek Kwok’s sports drama Full Strike, starring Josie Ho, Ekin Cheng and Ronald Cheng.
Currently in post-production, the film stars Ho as a hot-tempered, former badminton player who decides to return to the sport to coach four reformed gangsters who are keen to play competitively. Ho’s Hong Kong-based 852 Films produced with Why Entertainment and Star Chinese Movies.
Henri Wong co-directed the film with Kwok, whose credits include As The Lights Go Out and Journey To The West: Conquering The Demons, which he co-directed with Stephen Chow.
Distribution Workshop has also picked up the latest feature from China’s Xu Jinglei, romantic drama Somewhere Only We Know, in which the director-actress also stars along with Kris Wu and Wang Likun.
Also in post-production, the film marks the feature debut of Asian heartthrob Kris Wu...
- 2/6/2015
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Director : Derek Kwok Chi-Kin. Review: Chris Sawin. Three firefighters from Pillar Point Station in Hong Kong, Sam (Nicholas Tse), Yip (Andy On), and Chill (Shawn Yue), go against protocol in an attempt to rescue stranded individuals trapped in a burning building. Chill takes the blame even though the three agreed to take credit for the incident together. A year later, it's Christmas Eve and Yip has become the Assistant Divisional Officer of the station while Sam is enjoying his last day with Pillar Point before being transferred. An unstable septic tank behind a warehouse close to a conquered fire at the power station is noted as having a high temperature. While being near gas lines, the call is made to leave it be since the fire nearby was already put out. The fire that evolves from those conditions is one of the most uncontrollable occurrences Sam or anyone else...
- 11/22/2014
- 24framespersecond.net
A team of dedicated Hong Kong fire-fighters battle an out-of-control blaze that threatens to plunge the city into catastrophic darkness! Yes, As Light Goes Out is blazing (ehem) onto Us Blu-ray and DVD. Written and directed by Derek Kwok (Journey to the West), the action-packed suspense disaster flick stars Nicholas Tse (Shaolin, The Stool Pigeon), Shawn Yue (The Guillotines, Infernal Affairs trilogy), Simon Yam (Ip Man, Election), Hu Jun (Firestorm, Let the Bullets Fly), William Chan (Triad), Bai Bing (The Viral Factor, Shaolin), Andy On (Special ID, White Vengeance) and a cameo by the legendary Jackie Chan (Rush Hour franchise). As The Light Goes Out goes; digital, DVD and Blu...Nov. 18, from Well Go USA Entertainment. Synopsis: It's Christmas Eve in Hong Kong, and while the residents prepare to celebrate, a dedicated band of brothers - the fire-fighters of Pillar Point Division (Nicholas Tse, Shawn Yue, Andy On) – are dispatched to a warehouse fire.
- 9/22/2014
- 24framespersecond.net
The first teaser for Full Strike has just hit online, showing off the impressive line-up of talent in director Derek Kwok's upcoming badminton tournament flick. Produced by Josie Ho's 852 Films, the film sees the actress star alongside Ekin Cheng, Susan Shaw, Ronald Cheng, Gardner Tse, Edmond Leung, Wilfred Lau, Andrew Lam, Wang Lin and Bao Chunlai.Josie plays a former badminton champ who, 10 years after being expelled from the sport, reluctantly agrees to coach Ekin and his rag-tag gang of reformed criminals in an amateur competition.The tone of this brief trailer seems to suggest a comedy, which will put the Gallants director back in more comfortable territory following last year's As The Lights Go Out - a star-studded and financially successful firefighter drama that...
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[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 8/21/2014
- Screen Anarchy
Moviefone's Top DVD of the Week
"Cheap Thrills"
What's It About? Just how far would you go for a dare? David Koechner ("Anchorman") plays a super rich dude who's looking for some cheap thrills at the expense of a couple of guys who need cash. Pat Healy ("Compliance") and Sara Paxton ("The Innkeepers") co-star.
Why We're In: This disturbing indie got great reviews, but it's definitely not for everyone. If you like your gore with a side of sly political commentary, this could be your jam.
Moviefone's Top Blu-ray of the Week
"The Life Aquatic"
What's It About? Bill Murray stars as Steve Zissou, an oceanographer who's making a documentary about his hunt for the Jaguar Shark, which made a snack out of his old partner. He's joined by a ragtag gang played by Owen Wilson, Cate Blanchett, Anjelica Huston, Willem Dafoe, and other Anderson all-stars.
Why We're In: This Criterion package includes audio commentary,...
"Cheap Thrills"
What's It About? Just how far would you go for a dare? David Koechner ("Anchorman") plays a super rich dude who's looking for some cheap thrills at the expense of a couple of guys who need cash. Pat Healy ("Compliance") and Sara Paxton ("The Innkeepers") co-star.
Why We're In: This disturbing indie got great reviews, but it's definitely not for everyone. If you like your gore with a side of sly political commentary, this could be your jam.
Moviefone's Top Blu-ray of the Week
"The Life Aquatic"
What's It About? Bill Murray stars as Steve Zissou, an oceanographer who's making a documentary about his hunt for the Jaguar Shark, which made a snack out of his old partner. He's joined by a ragtag gang played by Owen Wilson, Cate Blanchett, Anjelica Huston, Willem Dafoe, and other Anderson all-stars.
Why We're In: This Criterion package includes audio commentary,...
- 5/27/2014
- by Jenni Miller
- Moviefone
The Pang Brothers failed to set the world on fire recently with Out of Inferno, so forgive me for not getting too excited about the upcoming Hong Kong DVD and Blu-Ray release of As the Light Goes Out, a big-budget disaster thriller from Gallants director Derek Kwok. Okay, so that's maybe brightened my evening a little bit. Sharing the screen for the first time since Dragon Tiger Gate, Nicholas Tse and Shawn Yue co-star as two fire-fighters whose friendship is tested in the face of great calamity. Two more reasons to get excited then. Co-starring Simon Yam, Hu Jun and Andy On, As the Light Goes Out topped the Hong Kong box office for four consecutive weeks and earned eight nominations at the Hong Kong Film Awards. It's available to buy from May 22, 2014. Synopsis: Christmas Eve, Hong Kong. Temperature is at an all-time high, and so is the tension between...
- 5/16/2014
- 24framespersecond.net
The Pang Brothers failed to set the world on fire recently with Out of Inferno, so forgive me for not getting too excited about the upcoming Hong Kong DVD and Blu-Ray release of As the Light Goes Out, a big-budget disaster thriller from Gallants director Derek Kwok. Okay, so that's maybe brightened my evening a little bit. Sharing the screen for the first time since Dragon Tiger Gate, Nicholas Tse and Shawn Yue co-star as two fire-fighters whose friendship is tested in the face of great calamity. Two more reasons to get excited then. Co-starring Simon Yam, Hu Jun and Andy On, As the Light Goes Out topped the Hong Kong box office for four consecutive weeks and earned eight nominations at the Hong Kong Film Awards. It's available to buy from May 22, 2014. Synopsis: Christmas Eve, Hong Kong. Temperature is at an all-time high, and so is the tension between...
- 5/16/2014
- 24framespersecond.net
The opening scenes of Stephen Chow and Derek Kwok’s fantastically weird Journey to the West gives you a good idea of what the rest of the movie will be like. First, in a scene that goes from playful to terrifying to comically gory, a young girl watches her fisherman father get consumed by a mysterious water demon. Then, the villagers kill a giant manta ray, thinking that it’s the culprit. But just as they start to think the water’s safe again, the real demon — a giant fishlike creature with huge eyes and giant fangs and long tentaclelike thingamabobs — shows up and starts to lay waste to the entire town. After a suspenseful back-and-forth, the demon manages to eat the terrified young girl and her mother as well. And then the real comedy begins.Journey to the West, adapted extremely loosely from a very famous 16th-century Chinese novel,...
- 3/7/2014
- by Bilge Ebiri
- Vulture
A Demon in My View: Chow Returns with Rousing, Comedic Action
Director Stephen Chow returns with Journey to the West: Conquering Demons, his first film since the effervescent CJ7 (2008), this time granting co-director credit to Derek Kwok. Adapted from a famous 16th century novel (which in English, is known as Monkey), it’s considered one of the four great classics of Chinese literature, though those familiar with Chow’s frenetic mix of slapstick humor and striking visuals should rightly assume that considerable liberties have been taken in adapting the source material. Chow certainly stands as one of the very few directors who can smartly mix sappy with sweet, silly with exhilarating, and box it all in a mainstream composite of galvanizing aesthetic. While his latest starts to feel a bit batshit crazy by the time we get to the final lap, it’s easy to forgive the sometimes rampantly unfocused broad strokes.
Director Stephen Chow returns with Journey to the West: Conquering Demons, his first film since the effervescent CJ7 (2008), this time granting co-director credit to Derek Kwok. Adapted from a famous 16th century novel (which in English, is known as Monkey), it’s considered one of the four great classics of Chinese literature, though those familiar with Chow’s frenetic mix of slapstick humor and striking visuals should rightly assume that considerable liberties have been taken in adapting the source material. Chow certainly stands as one of the very few directors who can smartly mix sappy with sweet, silly with exhilarating, and box it all in a mainstream composite of galvanizing aesthetic. While his latest starts to feel a bit batshit crazy by the time we get to the final lap, it’s easy to forgive the sometimes rampantly unfocused broad strokes.
- 3/4/2014
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Magnet Releasing has announced that they will be releasing Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons on iTunes/On Demand and in theaters starting March 7, 2014.
Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons is an action-comedy film by Chinese director, producer and actor Stephen Chow (Shaolin Soccer, Kung Fu Hustle, CJ7) and Derek Kwok (Gallants, The Pye Dog). The film is loosely based on a Chinese literary classic Journey to the West written by Wu Cheng’en.
The story is centered on a Buddhist Tang Sanzang who is trying to protect the village from the demons; his emerging feelings for a powerful demon hunter Miss Duan who helps him fight the demons, and his transformative encounter with the Monkey King. Journey to the West stars Qi Shu (as Miss Duan), Zhang Wen (as Xuan Zang) and Bo Huang (as Sun Wukong).
Synopsis
This is a world plagued by demons, who cause its human inhabitants unspeakable suffering.
Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons is an action-comedy film by Chinese director, producer and actor Stephen Chow (Shaolin Soccer, Kung Fu Hustle, CJ7) and Derek Kwok (Gallants, The Pye Dog). The film is loosely based on a Chinese literary classic Journey to the West written by Wu Cheng’en.
The story is centered on a Buddhist Tang Sanzang who is trying to protect the village from the demons; his emerging feelings for a powerful demon hunter Miss Duan who helps him fight the demons, and his transformative encounter with the Monkey King. Journey to the West stars Qi Shu (as Miss Duan), Zhang Wen (as Xuan Zang) and Bo Huang (as Sun Wukong).
Synopsis
This is a world plagued by demons, who cause its human inhabitants unspeakable suffering.
- 3/3/2014
- by Nermina Kulovic
- AsianMoviePulse
The 33rd Hong Kong Film Awards is expected to be a hell of a show with some great films going head to head. Leading the way with nominations is The Grand Master with 14, followed by Unbeatable (Dante Lam).
There were complaints last year, that the show didn’t live up to expectations, mainly due to the fact the movie Cold Wars, won nearly every award. Best actor award see the likes of these guys going head to head, Tony Leung (The Grandmaster), Louis Koo (The White Storm) and also Anthony Wong (Ip Man: The Final Fight).
Take a look at the list and comment who you think will win. The winners will be announced on April 13.
Best Film:
- The Grandmaster
- Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons
- The Way We Dance
- The White Storm
- Unbeatable
Best Director:
- Wong Kar Wai (The Grandmaster)
- Johnnie To...
There were complaints last year, that the show didn’t live up to expectations, mainly due to the fact the movie Cold Wars, won nearly every award. Best actor award see the likes of these guys going head to head, Tony Leung (The Grandmaster), Louis Koo (The White Storm) and also Anthony Wong (Ip Man: The Final Fight).
Take a look at the list and comment who you think will win. The winners will be announced on April 13.
Best Film:
- The Grandmaster
- Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons
- The Way We Dance
- The White Storm
- Unbeatable
Best Director:
- Wong Kar Wai (The Grandmaster)
- Johnnie To...
- 2/7/2014
- by kingofkungfu
- AsianMoviePulse
I’m typically a little skeptical when it comes to movies about firefighters battling epic blazes. Some of them are pretty good (“Backdraft”) and others, well, not so much (“Ladder 49″). Let me say this: The first person who posts anything bad about Howie Long’s “Firestorm” is going to have to answer to me. I’m not kidding. Okay, maybe I am. Derek Kwok’s upcoming firefighting flick “As the Light Goes Out” actually looks pretty good. Nevermind that I have a soft spot for Hong Kong movies — I’d watch this thing regardless of where it originated. Besides, it’s always fun to see Nicholas Tse, Simon Yam, Andy On, and Bai Bing doing their respective things. The flames and turmoil are just an added bonus. Check out this synopsis: The bond of brotherhood is always stronger when you can be pitched into a life and death situation...
- 12/5/2013
- by Todd Rigney
- Beyond Hollywood
Nothing like a good disaster movie to get you in the holiday spirit, and Derek Kwok’s - firefighter/action/ drama - As The Light Goes Out looks just just that... Good. And the antidote to all that new years cheer. As The Light Goes Out open in Hong Kon Jan 2nd. Synopsis: The bond of brotherhood is always stronger when you can be pitched into a life and death situation at any time and the only thing that gets you through the inferno is the trust that your brother will have your back. The firefighters of Hong Kong’s Pillar Point division who are expecting a quiet night to see off their retiring chief find their faith in each other stretched to the limits when a small fire at a liquor warehouse threatens to plunge the whole of Hong kong into darkness if it spreads to a nearby power plant supplying natural gas.
- 12/4/2013
- 24framespersecond.net
Ziyi Zhang: Best Actress at the 2013 Golden Horse Awards (photo: Ziyi Zhang in ‘The Grandmaster’) (See previous post: “Golden Horse Awards: Singaporean Movie ‘Ilo Ilo’ Is Surprising Best Picture Choice.”) Although Anthony Chen’s Ilo Ilo took home the top award at the 50th Golden Horse Awards, Wong Kar Wai’s Berlin Film Festival opening gala film The Grandmaster was this year’s big winner: six awards, including the Best Actress trophy for Ziyi Zhang. That marked Zhang’s first victory, after three previous nominations: Best Actress for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2000 and for 2046 in 2004; Best Supporting Actress for Forever Enthralled in 2009. "It was a very long and suffering journey making The Grandmaster, but now I’m very happy," Zhang said in her acceptance speech. In Wong’s Hong Kong-Chinese martial arts drama she plays the daughter of fighting master, who, so as to restore her family’s honor,...
- 11/29/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
If you're among the lucky folks who live in a city with an Alamo Drafthouse theater, you'll be happy to hear the powers-that-be are taking Fantastic Fest 2013 on the road in November. Read on for all the details.
From the Press Release
Fantastic Fest -- the nation's largest genre film festival -- is pleased to announce the Fantastic Fest Tour, which will take place at all Alamo Drafthouse markets over three weekends in November. Fantastic Fest has partnered with Drafthouse Films, Magnet Releasing, and Well Go USA to present audience favorites from the films that played at Fantastic Fest 2013. The Fantastic Fest tour is designed to highlight these independent titles and give discerning and adventurous filmgoers across the nation the opportunity to enjoy unique works well before their theatrical and/or online release.
"We wanted to bring the excitement of Fantastic Fest to other cities around the country," said Alamo Drafthouse...
From the Press Release
Fantastic Fest -- the nation's largest genre film festival -- is pleased to announce the Fantastic Fest Tour, which will take place at all Alamo Drafthouse markets over three weekends in November. Fantastic Fest has partnered with Drafthouse Films, Magnet Releasing, and Well Go USA to present audience favorites from the films that played at Fantastic Fest 2013. The Fantastic Fest tour is designed to highlight these independent titles and give discerning and adventurous filmgoers across the nation the opportunity to enjoy unique works well before their theatrical and/or online release.
"We wanted to bring the excitement of Fantastic Fest to other cities around the country," said Alamo Drafthouse...
- 10/22/2013
- by Debi Moore
- DreadCentral.com
Widely regarded as the foremost awards ceremony in Asian Cinema, Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards announced the nominees for its 50th Anniversary edition earlier today, and it should come as little surprise to see Wong Kar Wai's martial arts epic The Grandmaster leading the pack with a whopping 11 nominations, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress - though notably missing out in the Best Screenplay category.Wong's Ip Man biopic will face healthy competition, however, from Anthony Chen's Ilo Ilo, Jia Zhangke's A Touch of Sin, Feng Xiaogang's Back to 1942, Dante Lam's Unbeatable and Stephen Chow & Derek Kwok's Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons - all of which bagged 6 nominations, despite only the first two listed here garnering a Best Film nod....
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[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 10/1/2013
- Screen Anarchy
With only weeks left before Fantastic Fest gets underway in Austin, the final wave of films has been announced. Check out the goodies below, and visit FantasticFest.com for the complete schedule and to get your tickets.
All The Boys Love Mandy Lane (USA, 2006)
Special Screening
Director - Jonathon Levine, 98 min
All the boys love Mandy Lane and all the girls want to be her. There's at least one person, though, that wants Mandy and her friends dead.
Chanthaly (Lao People's Democratic Republic, 2013)
North American Premiere
Director - Mattie Do, 98 min
A sickly young woman experiences visions of her dead mother. Is the apparition simply a side effect of her daily medication, or her mother actually reaching out to her from beyond the grave?
Confession Of Murder (Korea, 2012)
U.S. Premiere
Director - Jeong Byeong-Gil, 119 min
After the statute of limitations expires on a series of high profile murders, a...
- 9/6/2013
- by Alyse Wax
- FEARnet
In 2 weeks, you will be seeing tons of content from one of the best genre film festivals in North America, Fantastic Fest. Held in Austin, TX, Fantastic Fest is a orgasmic wave of sci-fi, horror, crime and foreign film. We have been lucky enough to be attending since 2010 and this year, I plan on giving you the most coverage I can. There will be daily video recorded and published on the site in addition to interviews and reviews. Today, the final wave and closing night film was announced. Every year, Fantastic Fest tends to have side events/parties that tie into the Opening & Closing Night films and given the content, I can’t wait to see what they come up with. The closing night film is the North American Premiere of Terry Gilliam’s The Zero Theorem.
Without further ado, here is the official press release with a full list of films that were added.
Without further ado, here is the official press release with a full list of films that were added.
- 9/5/2013
- by Andy Triefenbach
- Destroy the Brain
Fantastic Fest has sent out a press release announcing their closing night film and the final wave of programming that includes All The Boys Love Mandy Lane, We Are What We Are, Rigor Mortis, and more:
Austin, TX-Thursday, September 5, 2013- Fantastic Fest is excited to announce its final wave of film programming, including Terry Gilliam’s unique dystopian vision of the future, The Zero Theorem, as the closing night film on September 26th. The ninth edition of Fantastic Fest, will take place September 19 – 26 at Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline in Austin, Texas. See below for descriptions of twenty-five new World, North American & Us premiere films at this year’s festival.
All The Boys Love Mandy Lane (USA, 2006)
Special Screening
Director – Jonathon Levine, 98 min
All the boys love Mandy Lane and all the girls want to be her. There’s at least one person, though, that wants Mandy and her friends dead.
Chanthaly (Lao People’s Democratic Republic,...
Austin, TX-Thursday, September 5, 2013- Fantastic Fest is excited to announce its final wave of film programming, including Terry Gilliam’s unique dystopian vision of the future, The Zero Theorem, as the closing night film on September 26th. The ninth edition of Fantastic Fest, will take place September 19 – 26 at Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline in Austin, Texas. See below for descriptions of twenty-five new World, North American & Us premiere films at this year’s festival.
All The Boys Love Mandy Lane (USA, 2006)
Special Screening
Director – Jonathon Levine, 98 min
All the boys love Mandy Lane and all the girls want to be her. There’s at least one person, though, that wants Mandy and her friends dead.
Chanthaly (Lao People’s Democratic Republic,...
- 9/5/2013
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Following the unveiling of Super Hero Films at Hk Filmart last month, the joint production venture between Media Asia and Donnie Yen, the company has now announced their first two projects. The Master is a martial arts drama set in the Us in the 1970s, centring on a Hong Kong immigrant turned kung-fu school master who is targeted for revenge by a gun shop owner. The film will star Donnie Yen in the title role and is to be directed by Soi Cheang, whose previous work includes Motorway and Accident.The second project, Dragon City, is to be directed by Derek Kwok (Gallants) and is again set during the 70s. Yen takes the lead, this time as a cop who leads a special task force assigned with...
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[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 4/13/2013
- Screen Anarchy
There was an air of mystery surrounding Tuesday night's "Donnie Yen: Super Hero" press conference at Hong Kong Filmart, but all quickly became clear once the actor took to the stage with Media Asia chief, Peter Lam. Together they unveiled their new production company, Super Hero Films, which will be dedicated to making international action films."I wish to incorporate Hollywood technologies into Hong Kong films and introduce more Chinese action stars to the world," FilmBiz Asia quoted Yen as saying, "and breathe new life and create new opportunities for the Hong Kong film industry." Action directors Derek Kwok and Soi Cheang were also in attendance.Not only is this great news for Action Cinema fans, and Hong Kong martial arts fans in particular, but it is...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 3/21/2013
- Screen Anarchy
The first trailer and poster have debuted for the upcoming martial arts fantasy flick Journey to the West, a.k.a A Chinese Odyssey, a.k.a Odyssey.
This is Stephen Chow‘s new film, which does not yet have a U.S. release date, but does have English subtitled trailer, which can be seen below.
However, subtitles don’t do much to provide necessary context as to what’s going on here, except this madness came from the mind of Chow, who has been quiet since 2008s CJ7.
A new martial arts comedy directed by Chow and Chi-kin Kwok, Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons is set to open in theaters in Hong Kong on February 7th, 2013, which is just in time for the Chinese New Year.
The film stars Qi Shu, Stephen Chow, Chrissie Chow, Zhang Wen, Bo Huang, Show Luo.
Although Chow isn’t afraid of...
This is Stephen Chow‘s new film, which does not yet have a U.S. release date, but does have English subtitled trailer, which can be seen below.
However, subtitles don’t do much to provide necessary context as to what’s going on here, except this madness came from the mind of Chow, who has been quiet since 2008s CJ7.
A new martial arts comedy directed by Chow and Chi-kin Kwok, Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons is set to open in theaters in Hong Kong on February 7th, 2013, which is just in time for the Chinese New Year.
The film stars Qi Shu, Stephen Chow, Chrissie Chow, Zhang Wen, Bo Huang, Show Luo.
Although Chow isn’t afraid of...
- 1/30/2013
- by Nick Martin
- Filmofilia
Derek Kwok and Stephen Chow’s “Journey to the West” (also called “Odyssey”) is destined to wreck Hong Kong theaters next month on Chinese New Year, and it’s anybody’s guess when it’ll finally cross the ocean to our part of the world. I’m guessing late 2013, or if we’re really lucky, mid-Summer, but that’s a bit overly optimistic with these imports. Until the film does manage to find its way Stateside, though, check out a new English-subtitled trailer for the film, which is, yes, just as wacky as you thought it would be given that this is a Stephen Chow movie. Well, partially a Stephen Chow movie, anyway, though I expect he had the more dominant input into the film than his comrade Derek Kwok. Starring Huang Bo, Shu Qi, Wen Zhang, Show Luo, and Chrissie Chau. You’ll notice the absence of Chow’s name in the starring credits.
- 1/28/2013
- by Nix
- Beyond Hollywood
I’m not going to lie: Stephen Chow’s “Journey to the West” looks good to me. The keyword in that sentence: To Me. I know the CGI isn’t the greatest, and I’m aware the film itself appears to have been conceived by a five-year-old on an acid trip, but that’s precisely why I’m intrigued. Hey, I never once said I had good taste in cinema. Last November, the promotional team behind “Journey to the West” dropped a teaser upon the world at-large. Now it would seem another short clip has found its way onto the internet. Both of these clips have been embedded below for your infinite viewing pleasure. Co-directors Stephen Chow and Derek Kwok are currently keeping details about the flick close to their respective chests. During a press conference last month, Chow did say the film would has a romantic subplot. Then again,...
- 12/21/2012
- by Todd Rigney
- Beyond Hollywood
One thing is very clear about the upcoming box office duel between Stephen Chow's Journey To The West and Soi Cheang's The Monkey King. There's going to be a lot of dodgy CGI.Both based on the same popular legends, Cheang's Donnie Yen starring project was first to get some actual footage to the fans (an earlier teaser for the Chow film featured no actual footage) and the fan response was less than impressed. Now Chow's Shu Qi, Bo Huang, Zhang Wen, Show Luo and Chrissie Chow starring effort - written, produced and co-directed by Chow with Derek Kwok - has followed suit and I fear the result will be the same. We get our first look at some key characters here and while the physical...
- 12/20/2012
- Screen Anarchy
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