Studiocanal CEO & Bona Film VP Among Speakers For Cannes’ China Event ‘Bridging The Dragon’

Rebecca Davis editorChina’s Joy Pictures is selling 10 Chinese titles at the Cannes market this year, including two of its own animated features scheduled for summer 2022. The shingle, which began as a marketer and distributor best-known in its early days for bringing “La La Land” to China, has recently shifted its focus to the production and sale of animation.

The Chinese legend of the Moon Goddess is getting treated to a gorgeous animated update with Netflix’s “Over The Moon”.

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.

At Donald Trump's campaign rally at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Saturday, he said that "Kung Flu" is one of the names for COVID-19, the diseased caused by the novel coronavirus. The President, who has previously referred to the illness as a "Chinese virus" — claiming his language isn't racist if the virus comes from Wuhan, China — made the reference early on in his address.

Christopher Vourlias The Key Buyers Event: Digital Edition, a virtual platform for Russian content hosted by film promotion body Roskino, wrapped this week with a slew of sales and an affirmation that global players are increasingly looking to tap into the Russian market.The online market welcomed some 600 international participants from 70 countries, with the largest number of buyers coming from the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Spain, Japan and China.

Naman Ramachandran The U.K. dominated the Banff World Media festival’s 2020 Rockie Awards international program competition, winning 14 top honors, including for “Fleabag” and “Gentleman Jack.” U.S.

Rebecca Davis editorHuang Wei, the VP of China’s Bona Film Group who managed its cinema division, has died by suicide, jumping from the 18th-floor offices of the company’s Beijing headquarters today, according to multiple Chinese reports.

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 editor“Moses on the Plain,” a film executive produced by art house director Diao Yinan, is among the first notable Chinese titles to have completed shooting since the country’s coronavirus outbreak. It stars A-listers Zhou Dongyu, who has enjoyed a further rise on the back of last year’s breakout teen drama “Better Days,” and Liu Haoran, the young star of the “Detective Chinatown” franchise.

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.

By Dave McNary

By Rebecca Davis

By Klaritza Rico

By Patrick Frater

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.

By Patrick Frater