Television and Film Production in Asia Slowly Opens Up

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefKorean specialty distributor D.O. Cinema has picked up local rights to Yuya Ishii’s “All The Things We Never Said,” which is bowing at the virtual edition of the Cannes Market, where it is represented by Hong Kong based sales agent Good Move Media.“Things We Never Said” stars Taiga Nakano, Wakaba Ryuya and Yuko Oshima and is set for a fall festival bow, before theatrical releases confirmed for China, Japan and now Korea.

announced that a sequel will go into production next year for distribution by Netflix (excluding China).The film will pick up the story of the chickens who pulled off an escape from Tweedy’s farm in the original film where Ginger (voiced in the original by Julia Sawalha) has finally found her dream – a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete.

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.

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterWarner Chappell Music has opened its second office in mainland China — in Shanghai — the company announced today. The publishing division of Warner Music Group has its sights on a fast-growing market, which is home to a number of digital services including KuGou, KuWo, QQ Music and NetEase Cloud Music, the latter of which struck a deal with Warner Chappell in May.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefChinese video streaming platform Bilibili and European specialty broadcaster Arte are co-producing documentary feature “The Deep Med.” The underwater film is produced by French company LGB and underwater photographer Laurent Ballesta.The film involved 28 days of filming at depth and documents one of Arte’s regular scientific expeditions.“Revealing vast unexplored ocean territories, luxurious gardens and the finest tropical coral reefs, The Deep Med takes viewers

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefChinese streaming giant iQIYI has hired Singaporean executive Kuek Yu-Chuang as VP of international business. He was previously MD for Asia Pacific at Netflix.Reporting to Yang Xianghua, iQIYI’s president of overseas business, Kuek will oversee strategic planning, market development and public affairs in company’s global expansion.Kuek studied at Peking University and later obtained post-graduate degrees from Harvard and INSEAD.

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 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.

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By Tom Grater

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

By Rebecca Davis

By Patrick Frater

By Patrick Frater

By Patrick Frater

By Patrick Frater