Huang Wei, China’s Bona Film Group VP, Dies of Apparent Suicide

Jill Goldsmith The Council of the European Union has kept restrictions on travel from the U.S. in place even as it lifts them for 15 other countries including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan and China starting tomorrow, July 1.U.S.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefThe Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) has unveiled 22 feature projects shortlisted for its Work-in-Progress Program. The project will take place exclusively online, running Aug.

justice secretary condemned thugs who reportedly assaulted and hurled racist abuse at a Chinese man at a Glasgow city centre protest.Photographer Tommy Ga-Ken Wan posted details of his ordeal in George Square involving groups who claimed to be guarding statues on Sunday.Their gathering followed earlier Black Lives Matters rallies and a highly charged national debate on how Britain’s past is commemorated.In a damning post on social media, Tommy wrote: “I have never felt less safe anywhere in the

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefShares in NetEase made a strong start in Hong Kong, where they began trading on Thursday. The Chinese company is the world’s second largest games firm by revenue.The company is already listed in on the U.S.’s NASDAQ market.

Shock waves of sorrow ripped through the Chinese film industry on Wednesday as news spread that Huang Wei, an influential and widely liked senior executive at Bona Film Group, leapt to his death from an 18th floor window at the company’s headquarters in central Beijing. Bona released a statement over social media late Wednesday saying that Huang, a vice president at the company who oversaw its cinema division, had died at the age of 52.

Tom Grater International Film ReporterHuang Wei, vice president of Chinese major Bona Film Group, has died at the age of 52. The company posted a note on its WeChat channel confirming the news, stating that it was “mourning deeply”.The suggestion that the executive took his own life has been spreading on social media, though this has not been confirmed.

Rebecca Davis editorA rare letter of dissent circulating online slammed China’s government for failing to help film industry workers whose livelihoods have been shaken by prolonged coronavirus-imposed shutdowns.Written this weekend as China hit its 136th day since cinemas shuttered nationwide, the letter has spread within film industry circles despite being censored on some platforms. Variety was unable to contact the author or verify its source.

Tom Grater International Film ReporterHong Kong’s two major theme parks, Disneyland and Ocean Park, are set to re-open as part of the local government’s plans to reboot the region’s economy.The South China Morning Post is reporting that Ocean Park will open to visitors from Saturday (June 13), with the Disneyland resort on Lantau Island set to follow soon on an unspecified date.

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Former Hollywood filmmaker Renny Harlin is returning to his roots for a comedy feature that will begin shooting in Finland later this month under strict COVID-19 safety protocols. The director, best known in the U.S.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s heavy-handed response to George Floyd protests has given China’s propaganda machine invaluable fodder to slam the U.S. for hypocrisy in its support of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong.

By Patrick Frater

The East-West tussle between efficient authoritarianism and the wealthy but decaying democratic-capitalist model has seen blood spilled daily on the streets of Hong Kong — even more so now that coronavirus is on the wane and social distancing is being relaxed.

By Patrick Frater

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