Valerie Wu Intern For Jane Wu, the supervising director and producer of Netflix’s adult animated series “Blue Eye Samurai,” which premieres on Nov. 3, animation is “magical.” It’s not a genre, but a medium in which to tell a story.
18.10.2023 - 13:25 / deadline.com
Geng Zihan has just won Best Director in the Fei Mu Awards of Pingyao International Film Festival for her debut feature, A Song Sung Blue, a coming-of-age tale set in Harbin in northeast China.
The film, which premiered in Directors Fortnight at this year’s Cannes film festival, is produced by Jane Zheng with backing from Liang Jing and Guan Hu’s Seventh Art Pictures. Zheng’s producing credits include Lulu Wang’s The Farewell, starring Awkwafina, and Cathy Yan’s Dead Pigs.
Written by Liu Yining, the story revolves around a teenage girl, Liu Xian, who is left with her father for the summer when her mother gets a job in Africa. While her father is more interested in his relationship with the receptionist at his photography studio, Liu Xian strikes up a friendship with the receptionist’s daughter, Mingmei – a glamorous older girl who is training to be an air hostess and is adept at getting older men to shower her with gifts.
Zhou Meijun (Angels Wear White), who is fast becoming China’s new indie queen, stars with Huang Ziqi playing Mingmei, Liang Jing and Liang Long. Matthieu Laclau (Only The River Flows) and Tsai Yann-Shan (The Last Queen) edited the film.
DEADLINE: What were the origins of this project and how did you two meet?
GENG ZIHAN: A Song Sung Blue is my graduation film from Beijing’s Central Academy of Drama and was written by my classmate, Yining. We wanted to tell a story about that period in your life which is sometimes crazy, often painful, but when you look back on that time, it’s also somehow beautiful. We submitted the project to CFDG Young Director Support Program and it won one of the top five prizes. That’s where we met Jane.
DL: Jane, what made you decide to take on this project?
JANE ZHENG: I
Valerie Wu Intern For Jane Wu, the supervising director and producer of Netflix’s adult animated series “Blue Eye Samurai,” which premieres on Nov. 3, animation is “magical.” It’s not a genre, but a medium in which to tell a story.
Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Christmas has come early for Beatles fans… who fortunately have been granted a week between gifts, so they don’t have to choose which to unwrap first. There was Thursday’s release, of course, of the newsmaking “Now and Then” single, a track that features the late John Lennon and George Harrison that was recently completed by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, with Martin on board as McCartney’s co-producer.
In what will be welcome news for the UK sector, former Lionsgate UK & Europe CEO and Marv Studios Group CEO Zygi Kamasa is launching a new UK theatrical distributor called True Brit Entertainment, which will focus exclusively on British feature films and TV.
Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Elvis Lenić has picked up the coveted Opus Bonum award for Best World Documentary for his latest work “Ship” at Ji.hlava Intl. Documentary Film Festival. He also got to say goodbye to a place that has defined his life.
Marta Balaga Sergei Loznitsa met with “immediate confrontation” following the premiere of “Babi Yar. Context,” he revealed at Ji.hlava Documentary Film Festival. The film focused on the massacre of nearly 34,000 Jews at Babi Yar in Kyiv, Ukraine in 1941.
A quick look at results would suggest Manchester United are building momentum but those who have watched their recent wins would suggest otherwise.
Can love last between a girl and a corpse? The new film “Lisa Frankenstein” presents a black comedy with a heart for horror. Producer and screenwriter Diablo Cody once again brings the genres together; her 2009 film “Jennifer’s Body,” directed by Karyn Kusama, has achieved cult status as fans rediscover it.
“Yesterday” all over again.That’s because there will be a brand new Beatles song — yes, you read that right — coming here, there and everywhere in just one week. On Thursday, it was announced that “Now and Then” — featuring all four members of the Fab Four — will be released on Nov.
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Marta Balaga Péter Kerekes will follow “107 Mothers” – which won Venice’s Horizons Award for best screenplay – with “Marathon,” currently in production and eyeing a winter 2024 release. Set in his Slovak hometown and revolving around the Košice Peace Marathon, established in 1924, the doc will clock in at exactly 2 hours and 7 minutes, mirroring its current record. “It’s not just about people who run, get to the finish line and that’s it, end credits.
“The pandemic has finally passed, and cinema has returned to normal, but the way people think has changed dramatically,” Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou concluded when quizzed by Deadline about cinema post-Covid 19 during a brief chat at the Tokyo Film Festival (TIFF).
Cher is opening up about being 40 years older than her boyfriend, music producer Alexander “A.E.” Edwards.
Manchester United are reportedly considering appointing former Monaco sporting director Paul Mitchell.
Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Margreth Olin’s “Songs of Earth,” Norway’s Oscar entry for the international feature film race, has been bought by Strand Releasing for North American distribution. The documentary feature, which is executive produced by Wim Wenders and Liv Ullman, played at Toronto where it sold to key territories, and had its U.S.
K.J. Yossman When producer Judy Craymer persuaded ABBA to allow her to make a musical out of their back catalogue, she never imagined the show would still be running twenty-five years later – not to mention spawn two hit movies starring Meryl Streep. To celebrate the stage production’s quarter century anniversary, Craymer is now bringing “Mamma Mia” to British TV screens with a new talent competition show, titled “Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream.” Produced by Fremantle-owned Thames and set to air on ITV1 in the U.K.
Martin Scorsese‘s Killers Of The Flower Moon lands on Apple TV+ this week, and comes complete with an epic soundtrack.The film, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, is based on a series of murders in the Osage tribe in 1920s Oklahoma.A synopsis reads: “In the 1920s, members of the Osage Native American tribe of Osage County, Oklahoma, are murdered after oil is found on their land, and the FBI decides to investigate.”In a five-star review of the film, NME wrote: “This is among Scorsese’s most important work. Popular music from the 1920s, Native American songs and Robbie Robertson’s bluesy score help round off this remarkable Western, a film that will linger in the minds of its audience for a long time.”Alongside a score from Robbie Robertson, who died in August of this year after completing the score, the film’s soundtrack features a host of popular music from the 1920s and Native American songs.1. ‘(Intro) The Sacred Pipe’2. ‘Osage Oil Boom’3. ‘My Land…My Land’4. ‘Heartbeat Theme/ Ni-U-Kon-Ska’5. ‘They Don’t Live Long’6. ‘The Wedding’7. ‘Tribal Council’8. ‘Reign Of Terror’9. ‘Insulin Train’10. ‘Tulsa Massacre Newsreel’11. ‘Shame On Us’12. ‘Too Much Dynamite’13. ‘Not If it’s Illegal’14. ‘Salvation Adagio’15. ‘Still Standing’16. ‘Tupelo Blues’ – Rayna Gellert, Kieran Kane, Philip Jamison & David Mansfield17. ‘Livery Stable Blues’ – Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks18. ‘The Gallop, Chasse, Pas de Bourree’ – Adam Nielsen19. ‘Metropolis (A Blue Fantasie)’ – Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks20. ‘Mollie’ – Andy Stein21. ‘Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)’ – Osage Tribal SingersTalking to NME about his relationship with Robertson and his score for the film, Scorsese said: “We knew each other for 50 years.
Caroline Brew editor Gravitas Ventures, an Anthem Sports & Entertainment company, has acquired the U.S. rights to Connie Cocchia’s coming-of-age drama “When Time Got Louder.” The film will be released on Nov. 17 in select theaters and on VOD.
Marta Balaga Pole-vaulting champion Armand “Mondo” Duplantis might be on his way to another record, as Red Bull Studios continues selling “Born to Fly,” a documentary feature about his life. So far, the film has been picked up by Germany (Sky), France (Canal+), Switzerland (3+ and RTS), Norway (NRK), Finland (MTV3), Spain (Movistar Plus+), Belgium (VRT) and Estonia (ERR). “We are delighted to partner with broadcast partners throughout the world to showcase this incredible athlete and his sport to global audiences,” said Sebastian Burkhardt, head of partnerships and commercial strategy at Red Bull Studios.
If you just saw Taylor Swift‘s The Eras Tour concert film and are hoping you can see her perform the show live, there’s still a chance.
A 'killer clown' is stalking the streets of a sleepy Scots village - leaving locals terrified. The creepy character, wearing a Pennywise-style outfit - complete with scary mask and make-up - even leaves red balloons dotted around Skelmorlie in North Ayrshire.