The Golden Horse Film Festival, which operates the premier awards in the Chinese-language film industry, has teamed up with Cannes’ Marché du Film to showcase a handful of new films and projects under the banner Golden Horse Goes to Cannes.
To be presented May 16, the five films comprise new works from directors Chen Yu-hsun, Yang Ya-che, Huang Xi, Giddens Ko and John Hsu, with such high-profile producers as Lee Lieh, Sylvia Chang, Aileen Li, Jeffrey Chan and Hou Hsiao-hsien.
Yang Ya-che, known for Golden Horse-winning “The Bold, the Corrupt and the Beautiful,” and for shaping the careers of several actors, returns behind the camera with “The Chronicles of Libidoists.”
It was a standout at the Golden Horse project market, while at the production stage, the scandalous nature of its erotic take on “The Little Mermaid” tale meant that the names of the cast had to be kept secret.
They are...
To be presented May 16, the five films comprise new works from directors Chen Yu-hsun, Yang Ya-che, Huang Xi, Giddens Ko and John Hsu, with such high-profile producers as Lee Lieh, Sylvia Chang, Aileen Li, Jeffrey Chan and Hou Hsiao-hsien.
Yang Ya-che, known for Golden Horse-winning “The Bold, the Corrupt and the Beautiful,” and for shaping the careers of several actors, returns behind the camera with “The Chronicles of Libidoists.”
It was a standout at the Golden Horse project market, while at the production stage, the scandalous nature of its erotic take on “The Little Mermaid” tale meant that the names of the cast had to be kept secret.
They are...
- 5/15/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
“Golden Horse Goes to Cannes” is looking to make a splash on the Croisette, marking a collaboration with the festival’s Marché du Film that aims to showcase the “diversity, vigor and bold competence of Taiwan cinema, ranging from epic, romance, comedy, fantasy and gender awareness.”
The reality of that promise, for those on the ground in France, will be the presentation on May 16 of five projects featuring the leading lights of contemporary Taiwanese cinema. They’ve been selected by the Golden Horse organization, the people behind Taiwan’s famed annual festival and awards night, to showcase the strength in depth boasted by a market that has always punched above its weight in terms of talent.
New works from directors Chen Yu-hsun, Yang Ya-che, Huang Xi, Giddens Ko, and John Hsu will be on show, and they feature some of the island’s biggest stars, among them Sylvia Chang, who...
The reality of that promise, for those on the ground in France, will be the presentation on May 16 of five projects featuring the leading lights of contemporary Taiwanese cinema. They’ve been selected by the Golden Horse organization, the people behind Taiwan’s famed annual festival and awards night, to showcase the strength in depth boasted by a market that has always punched above its weight in terms of talent.
New works from directors Chen Yu-hsun, Yang Ya-che, Huang Xi, Giddens Ko, and John Hsu will be on show, and they feature some of the island’s biggest stars, among them Sylvia Chang, who...
- 5/15/2024
- by Mathew Scott
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Taiwan’s major awards body Golden Horse will have a consolidated presence at Cannes’ Marché du Film for the first time, under the umbrella ‘Golden Horse Goes to Cannes’.
With support from Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture under the ‘1plus4’ Taiwanese content plan, Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival Executive Committee and the Bureau of Audiovisual and Music Industry Development have collaborated to organize “Golden Horse Goes to Cannes” at the premier festival’s film market.
On May 16, the collaboration will present five upcoming projects, helmed by directors Chen Yu-hsun, Yang Ya-che, Huang Xi, Giddens Ko and John Hsu.
Paranormal comedy Dead Talents Society by John Hsu has already secured major investment from Sony Pictures International Productions alongside Taiwan’s Activator, with the former also acquiring worldwide distribution rights and global remake rights.
Hsu’s debut feature Detention topped the domestic box office with over $8 million and also won the Best...
With support from Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture under the ‘1plus4’ Taiwanese content plan, Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival Executive Committee and the Bureau of Audiovisual and Music Industry Development have collaborated to organize “Golden Horse Goes to Cannes” at the premier festival’s film market.
On May 16, the collaboration will present five upcoming projects, helmed by directors Chen Yu-hsun, Yang Ya-che, Huang Xi, Giddens Ko and John Hsu.
Paranormal comedy Dead Talents Society by John Hsu has already secured major investment from Sony Pictures International Productions alongside Taiwan’s Activator, with the former also acquiring worldwide distribution rights and global remake rights.
Hsu’s debut feature Detention topped the domestic box office with over $8 million and also won the Best...
- 4/10/2024
- by Sara Merican
- Deadline Film + TV
The Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival is to showcase five upcoming Taiwanese projects at Cannes including features from Chen Yu-hsun, Yang Ya-che, Huang Xi, Giddens Ko and John Hsu with stars such as Wu Kang-ren, Gingle Wang, Kai Ko, Caitlin Fang and Karena Lam.
The new programme, titled Golden Horse Goes To Cannes, comprises works-in-progress projects and will be presented to industry professionals on May 16 at Palais K during the Cannes Film Festival. It marks Golden Horse’s first collaboration with the Marche du Film.
See below for full project list
The collaboration was initiated by Taipei Golden Horse Film...
The new programme, titled Golden Horse Goes To Cannes, comprises works-in-progress projects and will be presented to industry professionals on May 16 at Palais K during the Cannes Film Festival. It marks Golden Horse’s first collaboration with the Marche du Film.
See below for full project list
The collaboration was initiated by Taipei Golden Horse Film...
- 4/10/2024
- ScreenDaily
Patriot Games
The Hong Kong government has licensed the broadcast rights to the Summer Olympic Games in Paris. It intends to relicense the rights to four TV broadcasters in the city – Tvb, ViuTV, Hoy TV and government-owned Rthk. While in most territories, broadcasters negotiate directly with the International Olympic Committee or its agents, the Hong Kong government previously intervened in bidding for rights to the Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021. It also organized large public screenings in shopping malls.
“By procuring the broadcasting rights for these two games in Hong Kong, members of the public will be able to enjoy the Paris Og and PG [Paralympic Games] on television free of charge, and to cheer for Mainland and Hong Kong athletes,” said Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Kevin Yeung.
While the cost of the rights was not disclosed, Yeung said that the fee was lower than the rights for Tokyo. If correct,...
The Hong Kong government has licensed the broadcast rights to the Summer Olympic Games in Paris. It intends to relicense the rights to four TV broadcasters in the city – Tvb, ViuTV, Hoy TV and government-owned Rthk. While in most territories, broadcasters negotiate directly with the International Olympic Committee or its agents, the Hong Kong government previously intervened in bidding for rights to the Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021. It also organized large public screenings in shopping malls.
“By procuring the broadcasting rights for these two games in Hong Kong, members of the public will be able to enjoy the Paris Og and PG [Paralympic Games] on television free of charge, and to cheer for Mainland and Hong Kong athletes,” said Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Kevin Yeung.
While the cost of the rights was not disclosed, Yeung said that the fee was lower than the rights for Tokyo. If correct,...
- 4/10/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
John Hsu’s long-awaited Dead Talents Society is set for a summer release, with an official opening date scheduled for August 7 in Taiwan.
Starring Chen Bo-lin, Sandrine Pinna and Gingle Wang, the supernatural comedy is backed by Sony Pictures International, which also handles worldwide distribution, and Taiwan’s Activator. Taiwan is the first territory to be dated and will be released through Sony Pictures Releasing Taiwan.
The story follows how veteran ghosts need to train a newcomer to become the next superstar among the dead. “Every ghost is trying to be the best of the best in an over-populated and competitive society,...
Starring Chen Bo-lin, Sandrine Pinna and Gingle Wang, the supernatural comedy is backed by Sony Pictures International, which also handles worldwide distribution, and Taiwan’s Activator. Taiwan is the first territory to be dated and will be released through Sony Pictures Releasing Taiwan.
The story follows how veteran ghosts need to train a newcomer to become the next superstar among the dead. “Every ghost is trying to be the best of the best in an over-populated and competitive society,...
- 4/2/2024
- ScreenDaily
Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.
Babylon (Damien Chazelle)
Those seeking an insightful exploration of cinema history in Hollywood’s Golden Age or a nuanced, affecting character study on the lives within this early era will mostly like be disappointed by Damien Chazelle’s latest. Babylon is a brash, bombastic, unwieldy comic opera conveyed with enough bad taste and directorial panache that it—refreshingly—registers as a refutation of the well-mannered prestige drama to which these kinds of nostalgic odes often conform. And while there’s a touch of wistfulness in regards to the communal power of big-screen cinema, the film is more defined by an acidic unsentimentality, both when it comes to its characters and the precarious world they inhabit. Capturing the mad, violent clash of high...
Babylon (Damien Chazelle)
Those seeking an insightful exploration of cinema history in Hollywood’s Golden Age or a nuanced, affecting character study on the lives within this early era will mostly like be disappointed by Damien Chazelle’s latest. Babylon is a brash, bombastic, unwieldy comic opera conveyed with enough bad taste and directorial panache that it—refreshingly—registers as a refutation of the well-mannered prestige drama to which these kinds of nostalgic odes often conform. And while there’s a touch of wistfulness in regards to the communal power of big-screen cinema, the film is more defined by an acidic unsentimentality, both when it comes to its characters and the precarious world they inhabit. Capturing the mad, violent clash of high...
- 7/21/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
‘The Little Mermaid’ Becomes a Blockbuster in the Philippines Amid Racist Backlash Elsewhere in Asia
The Little Mermaid may have bombed in some key movie markets in Asia, but in the Philippines, it has been a splashy success.
Disney’s live-action remake of its 1989 animated classic is currently the biggest blockbuster of the year in the Southeast Asian country, having earned $5.8 million and surpassed Hollywood’s two biggest global hits of the year: Universal’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie ($2.2 million) and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 ($4.7 million).
“The Philippines, obviously, is a standout market for us,” says John Hsu, Disney’s senior vp studio business in Asia Pacific. “It’s rare, but it’s the biggest territory for The Little Mermaid in Southeast Asia by far, our third-highest-grossing market in Asia-Pacific behind Australia and Japan, and our 11th-highest-grossing territory globally,” he says.
Elsewhere in Asia, the picture hasn’t been so bright. In the vastly larger markets of China and South Korea,...
Disney’s live-action remake of its 1989 animated classic is currently the biggest blockbuster of the year in the Southeast Asian country, having earned $5.8 million and surpassed Hollywood’s two biggest global hits of the year: Universal’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie ($2.2 million) and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 ($4.7 million).
“The Philippines, obviously, is a standout market for us,” says John Hsu, Disney’s senior vp studio business in Asia Pacific. “It’s rare, but it’s the biggest territory for The Little Mermaid in Southeast Asia by far, our third-highest-grossing market in Asia-Pacific behind Australia and Japan, and our 11th-highest-grossing territory globally,” he says.
Elsewhere in Asia, the picture hasn’t been so bright. In the vastly larger markets of China and South Korea,...
- 6/22/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Law is an award winning director based in Brooklyn. His narrative, documentary, and commercial films have earned 19 Cannes Lions, as well as multiple Webby Awards, Vimeo Staff Picks. His first feature ‘Starring Jerry as Himself' premiered at Slamdance, winning the Grand Jury, Audience, and Best Actor Awards, and tells a deeply personal story about an immigrant's pursuit of the American Dream.
On the occasion of “Starring Jerry as Himself' screening at Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, we speak with him about the amazing story presented in the movie, Jerry and his ex-wife Cathy, about truth being stranger than fiction, and other topics.
Usually I don't not like dramatization in documentaries, but you really made it work and it seems organic. Why did you choose to make it like that? And how did you manage to make it so organic?
Thank you so much. “Starring Jerry as Himself” is a kind...
On the occasion of “Starring Jerry as Himself' screening at Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, we speak with him about the amazing story presented in the movie, Jerry and his ex-wife Cathy, about truth being stranger than fiction, and other topics.
Usually I don't not like dramatization in documentaries, but you really made it work and it seems organic. Why did you choose to make it like that? And how did you manage to make it so organic?
Thank you so much. “Starring Jerry as Himself” is a kind...
- 3/21/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
“Truth is stranger than fiction” as Mark Twain famously said, and the documentary format seems to be the one proving the proverb every chance filmmakers get. “Starring Jerry as Himself”, which is also literally what happens in the movie, is a type of hybrid movie that is very difficult to classify, since not even the mockumentary title is enough in this case. Why? Because it is a film talking about what happened to Jerry, who happens to be producer John Hsu's father, in a format that points more towards a feature movie, but also acted by real members of the particular family, including Jerry and John. The movie premiered in Slamdance, where it got the Grand Jury Prize (Best Documentary Feature), Audience Award, Acting Award and is now screening in Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival.
Jerry is a retired, divorced Taiwanese immigrant in Orlando, who has been living like a poor man all his life,...
Jerry is a retired, divorced Taiwanese immigrant in Orlando, who has been living like a poor man all his life,...
- 3/12/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
In the last 20 years, Taiwan has become a pivotal voice in horror. A few Taiwanese horror films cropped up throughout the '60s, '70s, and '80s. But 2002's "Double Vision," one of the first Hollywood-funded productions in Taiwan cinema, completely changed the genre. In the following decades, Taiwanese horror planted its flag firmly in the modern landscape and declared itself a prominent leader in the future of horror. Whether they offer a fresh glimpse into familiar territory or venture into the dark recesses of the wildly unhinged, Taiwan's contributions to modern horror are nothing short of remarkable. It's quickly becoming a force, with many entries competing directly with J-horror and K-horror.
Our list showcases the country's finest entries, including films that twist the membrane and some that soak you in blood. As you'll notice, most of our selections were released during the 2010s when Taiwan began taking full...
Our list showcases the country's finest entries, including films that twist the membrane and some that soak you in blood. As you'll notice, most of our selections were released during the 2010s when Taiwan began taking full...
- 9/13/2022
- by Bee Scott
- Slash Film
When Taiwan auteur Chung Mong-hong’s acclaimed drama “A Sun” became a hit among film critics and film buffs from around the world after Variety’s chief film critic Peter Debruge named it the best film of 2020, it had reignited the hope and expectations of the island’s cinematic offerings. The buzz and excitement were seen as what could be the beginning of a comeback of Taiwanese cinema on the international stage.
Nearly two years on, the momentum is still there, but Taiwanese filmmakers are approaching the international stage with a more pragmatic approach. “A Sun,” and the director’s follow-up feature, “The Falls,” which both premiered on the international festival circuit (and now stream on Netflix), have certainly brought Taiwanese projects more exposure, according to industry insiders, but it was not yet enough to revive the glory from the golden days of Hou Hsiao-Hsien (“City of Sadness”) and Edward Yang...
Nearly two years on, the momentum is still there, but Taiwanese filmmakers are approaching the international stage with a more pragmatic approach. “A Sun,” and the director’s follow-up feature, “The Falls,” which both premiered on the international festival circuit (and now stream on Netflix), have certainly brought Taiwanese projects more exposure, according to industry insiders, but it was not yet enough to revive the glory from the golden days of Hou Hsiao-Hsien (“City of Sadness”) and Edward Yang...
- 2/12/2022
- by Vivienne Chow
- Variety Film + TV
It's that frightfully delightful time of year again for Fangoria's highly anticipated Chainsaw Awards, with this year's nominees including Nia DaCosta's Candyman, Don Mancini's Chucky series, Jill Gevargizian's The Stylist, and many more!
You can check out the full list of nominees below, and to cast your votes, visit:
https://www.fangoria.com/original/chainsaw-awards-2022/
In their most recent magazine issue, Fangoria officially announced the nominations for its 2022 Chainsaw Awards, and horror fans everywhere can currently cast their votes at https://www.fangoria.com/original/chainsaw-awards-2022/ for their favorite films, television series, directors, artists, and more that kept us all thrilled, chilled and entertained throughout the course of 2021. Winners will be celebrated later this year during a yet-to-be-revealed Chainsaw Awards event.
The 2022 Chainsaw Awards Nominees include fan favorite films such as James Wan’s Malignant, Candyman from Nia DaCosta, and Edgar Wright’s Last Night in Soho,...
You can check out the full list of nominees below, and to cast your votes, visit:
https://www.fangoria.com/original/chainsaw-awards-2022/
In their most recent magazine issue, Fangoria officially announced the nominations for its 2022 Chainsaw Awards, and horror fans everywhere can currently cast their votes at https://www.fangoria.com/original/chainsaw-awards-2022/ for their favorite films, television series, directors, artists, and more that kept us all thrilled, chilled and entertained throughout the course of 2021. Winners will be celebrated later this year during a yet-to-be-revealed Chainsaw Awards event.
The 2022 Chainsaw Awards Nominees include fan favorite films such as James Wan’s Malignant, Candyman from Nia DaCosta, and Edgar Wright’s Last Night in Soho,...
- 1/26/2022
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Exclusive: In yet another of a recent string of intriguing local-language projects, Sony Pictures International Productions is teaming with Taiwan’s Activator to co-produce paranormal comedy Dead Talents Society. Spip has also acquired worldwide distribution rights in addition to closing a deal for global remake rights.
Directed by John Hsu (Detention), the feature is based on his short film which he also wrote (check it out below). The premise centers around ghosts who strive to be the most successful and famous stars in the underworld through their scare tactics and performances amongst the living. The end goal is to become the spookiest of urban legends.
The film is set to start production in 2022 and slated for a theatrical release in Taiwan via Sony Pictures Releasing Taiwan in 2023.
Bolin Chen (In Time With You) and Sandrine Pinna (Yang Yang) are set to star. Award-winning Taiwanese filmmakers Lieh Lee, Aileen Li and...
Directed by John Hsu (Detention), the feature is based on his short film which he also wrote (check it out below). The premise centers around ghosts who strive to be the most successful and famous stars in the underworld through their scare tactics and performances amongst the living. The end goal is to become the spookiest of urban legends.
The film is set to start production in 2022 and slated for a theatrical release in Taiwan via Sony Pictures Releasing Taiwan in 2023.
Bolin Chen (In Time With You) and Sandrine Pinna (Yang Yang) are set to star. Award-winning Taiwanese filmmakers Lieh Lee, Aileen Li and...
- 1/18/2022
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.
Blue Bayou (Justin Chon)
After Antonio (Justin Chon) is wrongfully arrested in front of his wife Kathy (Alicia Vikander) and step-daughter Jessie (Sydney Kowalske), he’s surprised to learn he’s been flagged for deportation. Due to his adoptive parent’s oversight, Antonio, who was born in Korea but has lived in Louisiana since he was a toddler, doesn’t have citizenship. Justin Chon’s Blue Bayou is an amalgam of real stories like Antonio’s, among which there are thousands. – Gabrielle M. (full review)
Where to Stream: VOD
Detention (John Hsu)
As a subversive poem (according to the Chinese Nationalist Party that ruled Taiwan under martial law during the period known as the White Terror from 1947 until 1987) read by Miss Yin...
Blue Bayou (Justin Chon)
After Antonio (Justin Chon) is wrongfully arrested in front of his wife Kathy (Alicia Vikander) and step-daughter Jessie (Sydney Kowalske), he’s surprised to learn he’s been flagged for deportation. Due to his adoptive parent’s oversight, Antonio, who was born in Korea but has lived in Louisiana since he was a toddler, doesn’t have citizenship. Justin Chon’s Blue Bayou is an amalgam of real stories like Antonio’s, among which there are thousands. – Gabrielle M. (full review)
Where to Stream: VOD
Detention (John Hsu)
As a subversive poem (according to the Chinese Nationalist Party that ruled Taiwan under martial law during the period known as the White Terror from 1947 until 1987) read by Miss Yin...
- 10/8/2021
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Just in time for Halloween, Taiwan’s biggest horror hit arrives in U.S. cinemas October 8th!
Nominated for 12 Golden Horse Awards (Taiwan’s Academy Awards)
Winner of Best New Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Visual Effects, Best Art Direction, and Best Original Song
1962 Taiwan, during the time of the White Terror. Martial law is in full force across the country. In a time of extreme repression, all ideas considered to be dissident are banned, and the culprits are tortured or executed.
Tsuihua Secondary School is not an exception from this oppression. Despite close surveillance by the military police, Professor Chang (Fu Meng-Po) runs an underground literary club where he and his students learn about banned books and dream of freedom. One of his club members, Fang is madly in love with him. The usually shy teenage girl from an abusive home manages to open up like a book in his presence.
Nominated for 12 Golden Horse Awards (Taiwan’s Academy Awards)
Winner of Best New Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Visual Effects, Best Art Direction, and Best Original Song
1962 Taiwan, during the time of the White Terror. Martial law is in full force across the country. In a time of extreme repression, all ideas considered to be dissident are banned, and the culprits are tortured or executed.
Tsuihua Secondary School is not an exception from this oppression. Despite close surveillance by the military police, Professor Chang (Fu Meng-Po) runs an underground literary club where he and his students learn about banned books and dream of freedom. One of his club members, Fang is madly in love with him. The usually shy teenage girl from an abusive home manages to open up like a book in his presence.
- 9/28/2021
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
"Have you forgotten? Or are you just afraid?" Dekanalog Releasing has debuted an official US trailer for an acclaimed Taiwanese horror film titled Detention, directed by John Hsu. This originally opened in Taiwan back in 2019, and is finally showing in the US after playing at various festivals - including Fantasia, Busan, and the New York Asian Film Festival last year. Set in 1962 in Taiwan, during the time of the White Terror. Martial law is in full force. In a time of extreme repression, all ideas considered to be dissident are banned, and the culprits are tortured or executed. Adapted from a video game, based on true events, this "masterful debut from director & co-writer John Hsu creates at once a shocking historical drama, melancholy coming-of-age tale + nightmarish horror film that recalls the masterworks of Guillermo del Toro, and with enough blood, striking sound design, art direction, and special effects to evoke the best of Silent Hill.
- 9/23/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Gotham-based distributor Dekanalog has picked up Taiwanese horror flick Detention, an adaptation of a video game by director John Hsu. If all goes well they plan to release the pic in theaters, but definitely in virtual cinemas, on October 8th. Just in time for Halloween season. Our own Josh caught Detention when it played at Fantasia last Summer. You may find his full review here, but here are a couple positive points taken from it. Detention is a fairly slick, well-executed, topical horror film along the lines of films like Guillermo Del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth or Issa López's Tigers Are Not Afraid.... Hsu's film doesn't really feel like an adaptation at all, in fact, it's a effective, spooky, dread filled experience that works...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 4/21/2021
- Screen Anarchy
Dekanalog Acquires Taiwanese Horror Movie Detention: "Gotham-based distributor Dekanalog has added the acclaimed Taiwanese festival favorite Detention to their bustling 2021 slate, with plans to release the award-winning film in theatres and virtual cinemas nationwide on October 8th. The film, from director John Hsu, marks the distributor's second genre release following the Tunisian horror favorite Dachra, which Dekanalog will bow on July 9th.
Set in 1962 Taiwan during the White Terror martial law period, Detention tells the story of Fang Ray Shin (Golden horse Award nominee Gingle Wang), a female student at the hillside Greenwood High School and, attending counselling with teacher Mr. Chang (Meng-Po Fu), they gradually fall in love. It was a dangerous period where sensitive books were banned and free speech were restricted, but Mr. Chang has secretly organized a study group for banned books.
One day, Mr. Chang disappears without explanation, and only Ray-shin and her fellow student...
Set in 1962 Taiwan during the White Terror martial law period, Detention tells the story of Fang Ray Shin (Golden horse Award nominee Gingle Wang), a female student at the hillside Greenwood High School and, attending counselling with teacher Mr. Chang (Meng-Po Fu), they gradually fall in love. It was a dangerous period where sensitive books were banned and free speech were restricted, but Mr. Chang has secretly organized a study group for banned books.
One day, Mr. Chang disappears without explanation, and only Ray-shin and her fellow student...
- 4/21/2021
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Exclusive: British-born Eurasian actor Mayling Ng (Wonder Woman) has joined the cast of UK-set boxing drama The Journeyman and will star opposite retired UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping. Dax Phelan is directing the pic, which follows Kenny “The Beast” Breen (Bisping), an alcoholic, drug-abusing, past-his-prime journeyman boxer who, after being diagnosed with neurological damage, continues his career on the small-hall circuit at grave risk to himself and lands a fight with his former rival who’s gone on to become a star in the division. Ng will play Alina, a woman struggling to start her life over after escaping an abusive relationship, who becomes romantically involved with the boxer. Phelan and British author Mark Turley co-wrote the screenplay based on the latter’s book. The film is planning to shoot in Manchester and the team are now seeking a UK-based producing partner. Ng is repped by Eric Kind at Brave Artists Management.
- 4/21/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Kam-Engle will be responsible for local-language content to expand the company’s direct- to-consumer offerings.
The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific has appointed Jessica Kam-Engle as head of content & development, Apac, to oversee the delivery of local-language content across the region.
Content and development teams in each Asian market will report to Kam-Engle as well as their respective in-market leaders and will be responsible for developing, producing, and acquiring content to expand the company’s direct- to-consumer offerings.
Disney has so far rolled out its streaming services Disney+ Hotstar in Indonesia and Disney+ in Singapore.
Kam-Engle was previously at HBO Asia...
The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific has appointed Jessica Kam-Engle as head of content & development, Apac, to oversee the delivery of local-language content across the region.
Content and development teams in each Asian market will report to Kam-Engle as well as their respective in-market leaders and will be responsible for developing, producing, and acquiring content to expand the company’s direct- to-consumer offerings.
Disney has so far rolled out its streaming services Disney+ Hotstar in Indonesia and Disney+ in Singapore.
Kam-Engle was previously at HBO Asia...
- 2/25/2021
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
Despite the fact that J-horror is long since dead, for the most part, the genre was always one of the most predominant ones in S/Se Asian, and particularly in the Asean countries, where horror was always quite popular. Recently, S. Korean genre cinema also seems to have made a turn towards the category, probably instigated by the huge success of “Train to Busan“, the sequel of which is also included in the list. Lastly, the trend that started in Indonesia with Joko Anwar‘s remake of “Satan’s Slaves” continued this year, with Kimo Staboel‘s “Queen of Black Magic” while the other member of Mo Brothers, Timo Tjahjanto also presented in an effort in the genre.
Without further ado, here are the best horror films of 2020, in reverse order. Some films may have premiered in 2019, but since they mostly circulated in 2020, we decided to include them.
*By clicking on the title,...
Without further ado, here are the best horror films of 2020, in reverse order. Some films may have premiered in 2019, but since they mostly circulated in 2020, we decided to include them.
*By clicking on the title,...
- 1/6/2021
- by Don Anelli
- AsianMoviePulse
One of the more prominent and popular genre video-games in recent memory, Red Candle’s “Detention” was a massively popular entry that managed to hit on a topical period of Taiwanese history with the focus on the White Terror period in the 1960s. Already adapted into a feature-length adaptation by John Hsu, prominent streaming service Netflix dips into the fray by adapting the game into a new series released at the tail-end of December 2020 with two episodes per week until the end of the month.
Arriving at Greenwood High School in the 1990s, transfer student Yunxiang Liu (Wei Li Ling), steps into the forbidden area on the campus by accident where she encounters the ghost of Ruixin Fang (Ning Han). Fang later unveils the hidden history and trauma over the past 30 years, and how a group of young students and teachers were persecuted as they fought for freedom in the era of censorship.
Arriving at Greenwood High School in the 1990s, transfer student Yunxiang Liu (Wei Li Ling), steps into the forbidden area on the campus by accident where she encounters the ghost of Ruixin Fang (Ning Han). Fang later unveils the hidden history and trauma over the past 30 years, and how a group of young students and teachers were persecuted as they fought for freedom in the era of censorship.
- 1/2/2021
- by Don Anelli
- AsianMoviePulse
The London East Asia Film Festival (Leaff) celebrates its fifth edition in 2020. In keeping with the times, Leaff presents a unique approach to our programme between 10th and 13th December. Leaff 2020 opens with the gripping Korean box office hit, Beasts Clawing At Straws, directed by Kim Yong-hoon which was awarded the Special Jury Prize at Rotterdam Film Festival earlier this year. The Festival closes the Official Selection with acclaimed director Yonfan’s first film in a decade, No.7 Cherry Lane, an exquisite animation painting the portrait of late 1960s Hong Kong.
The five titles in Official Selection are cinematic offerings from Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. From Japan, Director Naomi Kawase’s latest feature True Mothers was selected at Cannes Film Festival, and will be screened as a UK premiere. From China, Director Derek Tsang’s powerful adaptation of Jiu Yuexi’s novel In His Youth, In Her Beauty,...
The five titles in Official Selection are cinematic offerings from Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. From Japan, Director Naomi Kawase’s latest feature True Mothers was selected at Cannes Film Festival, and will be screened as a UK premiere. From China, Director Derek Tsang’s powerful adaptation of Jiu Yuexi’s novel In His Youth, In Her Beauty,...
- 12/3/2020
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
AMC Networks investor relations head Seth Zaslow is stepping down at year end, the company said Wednesday, expanding the role of Nicholas Seibert to VP, Corporate Development and Investor Relations.
Seibert will continue to report to John Hsu, AMC Networks Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Treasurer.
Zaslow joined AMC Networks in 2011 and oversaw the creation of the investor relations function for the company after its spin-off from Cablevision. Previously, he had served in various senior financial and operational roles at Cablevision and the former Time Warner and Time Warner Cable.
Seibert joined AMC Networks in 2017 and serves on the board of directors for Next Games and Levity, AMC Networks’ production services and comedy venues business. He was previously a buy-side analyst at Gamco Investors focused on tech, media and telecom. He started his career in the M&a group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
“We thank Seth for...
Seibert will continue to report to John Hsu, AMC Networks Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Treasurer.
Zaslow joined AMC Networks in 2011 and oversaw the creation of the investor relations function for the company after its spin-off from Cablevision. Previously, he had served in various senior financial and operational roles at Cablevision and the former Time Warner and Time Warner Cable.
Seibert joined AMC Networks in 2017 and serves on the board of directors for Next Games and Levity, AMC Networks’ production services and comedy venues business. He was previously a buy-side analyst at Gamco Investors focused on tech, media and telecom. He started his career in the M&a group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
“We thank Seth for...
- 12/2/2020
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Five Flavours Asian Film Festival invite you for a journey through taste, colors, and sounds of the Asian continent, hoping they can provide food for your thoughts and solace for your spirits.
The Programme of this year’s Festival comprises more than forty titles representing the extreme variety of Asian cinemas – from horror cinema to sweet melodramas, from grasping auteur cinema to relaxing journeys around the continent.
All the films will be presented online between November 25 and December 6.
Preparing this year’s edition forced the organisers to face up to completely new challenges – from the matters of logistics to finding new ways of thinking about their mission, priorities, building bridges between filmmakers and audiences outside the screening rooms. The online edition of the Festival is not a compromise, but a different way to reach the, perhaps even wider, audiences, discover the rich variety of Asian cultures, and explore the contemporary...
The Programme of this year’s Festival comprises more than forty titles representing the extreme variety of Asian cinemas – from horror cinema to sweet melodramas, from grasping auteur cinema to relaxing journeys around the continent.
All the films will be presented online between November 25 and December 6.
Preparing this year’s edition forced the organisers to face up to completely new challenges – from the matters of logistics to finding new ways of thinking about their mission, priorities, building bridges between filmmakers and audiences outside the screening rooms. The online edition of the Festival is not a compromise, but a different way to reach the, perhaps even wider, audiences, discover the rich variety of Asian cultures, and explore the contemporary...
- 11/2/2020
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
John Hsu obtained his master’s degree in the department of Radio, Television and Film at Shih Hsin University. His first TV film, Real Online, was awarded Best Fiction Film at the 2005 South Taiwan Film & Video Festival. It also earned him the Best Director Award at Golden Bell Awards, the biggest television award in Taiwan. Hsu is co-founder of Afk Pl@Yers, the biggest machinima production group in Taiwan. Several of his short films have previously screened at Iffr. “Detention” is his first feature film, and it was nominated for twelve prizes at the 56th Golden Horse Awards and won five, including Best Adapted Screenplay, shared by Fu Kai-ling, Chien Shih-keng, and Hsu, as well as Best New Director for Hsu. The film has been banned in mainland China, but enjoyed strong box office success in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
On the occasion of “Detention” screening at the New York Asian Film Festival,...
On the occasion of “Detention” screening at the New York Asian Film Festival,...
- 9/13/2020
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning “Parasite” leads the race of this year’s Asian Film Awards, which will be hosted in his home country South Korea for the first time since the prize ceremony’s inception in 2007. The acclaimed drama picked up 10 nominations, including best film, best director and best screenplay.
“Parasite” was closely followed by Wang Xiaoshuai’s drama “So Long, My Son” from mainland China, and Taiwan drama “A Sun” by Chung Mong-hong. They each scored seven nominations including best film and best director, organizers of the 14th Asian Film Awards announced on Wednesday. A total of 39 films from 11 countries and regions are competing for the awards.
Founded by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society, the AFAs have been staged in Hong Kong and Macau since their launch. In 2013, three major film festivals in Asia — Busan, Hong Kong and Tokyo — joined hands to launch the non-profit Afa Academy,...
“Parasite” was closely followed by Wang Xiaoshuai’s drama “So Long, My Son” from mainland China, and Taiwan drama “A Sun” by Chung Mong-hong. They each scored seven nominations including best film and best director, organizers of the 14th Asian Film Awards announced on Wednesday. A total of 39 films from 11 countries and regions are competing for the awards.
Founded by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society, the AFAs have been staged in Hong Kong and Macau since their launch. In 2013, three major film festivals in Asia — Busan, Hong Kong and Tokyo — joined hands to launch the non-profit Afa Academy,...
- 9/9/2020
- by Vivienne Chow
- Variety Film + TV
The Asian Film Awards Academy has decided to announce the winners online on October 14.
Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite leads the nominations for this year’s Asian Film Awards (Afa) – hosted by Busan International Film Festival and the first to be held outside of Hong Kong and Macau – with ten nominations including best film and best director.
The Asian Film Awards Academy (Afaa), comprising the Hong Kong, Tokyo and Busan international film festivals, announced during last year’s Busan that the 14th Afa ceremony would be held in the South Korean city this year. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the organisers...
Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite leads the nominations for this year’s Asian Film Awards (Afa) – hosted by Busan International Film Festival and the first to be held outside of Hong Kong and Macau – with ten nominations including best film and best director.
The Asian Film Awards Academy (Afaa), comprising the Hong Kong, Tokyo and Busan international film festivals, announced during last year’s Busan that the 14th Afa ceremony would be held in the South Korean city this year. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the organisers...
- 9/9/2020
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
Taiwan brings virtual reality (VR) projects featured at this year’s Venice Film Festival to the island as one of the world’s 15 local hosts of the event’s competition section as it gains a greater international foothold in the discipline that blends cinema and technology.
Forty-four VR films from 24 countries — including three from Taiwan — in the Venice VR Expanded, the official virtual reality competition of the 77th Venice Film Festival running, are available to viewers on the self-governed island at Taipei’s Changchun Ambassador Theaters through Sept. 12, beamed via a satellite network.
Festival organizers changed the VR section format to online due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. While online access is available, those who visit the theaters in person can watch the films with special headsets. On Sept. 7, Taicca will host a live-stream forum on the future of cultural content at this year’s Venice Film Festival. Taiwan is...
Forty-four VR films from 24 countries — including three from Taiwan — in the Venice VR Expanded, the official virtual reality competition of the 77th Venice Film Festival running, are available to viewers on the self-governed island at Taipei’s Changchun Ambassador Theaters through Sept. 12, beamed via a satellite network.
Festival organizers changed the VR section format to online due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. While online access is available, those who visit the theaters in person can watch the films with special headsets. On Sept. 7, Taicca will host a live-stream forum on the future of cultural content at this year’s Venice Film Festival. Taiwan is...
- 9/7/2020
- by Vivienne Chow
- Variety Film + TV
As a subversive poem (according to the Chinese Nationalist Party that ruled Taiwan under martial law during the period known as the White Terror from 1947 until 1987) read by Miss Yin (Cecilia Choi) to the members of her and Mr. Chang’s (Meng-Po Fu) underground high school book club relates: a tree’s roots never ask to be repaid by the fruit that blooms as a result of their effort. It’s a succinctly beautiful metaphor for the education system and its liberal teachers doing all they can to ensure the next generation graduates with a full awareness of the problematic history surrounding them. Rather than facilitate the creation of future oppressors, those like Yin and Chang seek to cultivate free thinkers who will always refuse to blindly accept authoritarianism.
That it comes from the cinematic adaptation of a Taiwanese videogame entitled Detention shouldn’t surprise anyone aware of how powerful...
That it comes from the cinematic adaptation of a Taiwanese videogame entitled Detention shouldn’t surprise anyone aware of how powerful...
- 9/1/2020
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
What | Taiwan Creators Night: Bridging Taiwan and the World
A 2020 Networking Cocktail Party, including 3 panels around creative industry topics
Cannes Cinefondacion nominated director Keff chatting with director John Hsu and actress/ screenwriter Wu Ke Xi
Who | Leehom Wang, Sylvia Chang, Midi Z, Eddie Huang, Janet Hsieh and George Young; and companies including HBO Asia, Line TV, Kakao (Korea), Catchplay, KKBox, and MM2
Hosted By | Kindred Spirit’s Anita Gou
When | August 21st, 2020 from 6pm-10pm
Where | TripMoment VR, Taipei City, Da’an District
Youtube Co-Founder Steve Chen discusses the future of tech and content with international superstar Leehom Wang...
A 2020 Networking Cocktail Party, including 3 panels around creative industry topics
Cannes Cinefondacion nominated director Keff chatting with director John Hsu and actress/ screenwriter Wu Ke Xi
Who | Leehom Wang, Sylvia Chang, Midi Z, Eddie Huang, Janet Hsieh and George Young; and companies including HBO Asia, Line TV, Kakao (Korea), Catchplay, KKBox, and MM2
Hosted By | Kindred Spirit’s Anita Gou
When | August 21st, 2020 from 6pm-10pm
Where | TripMoment VR, Taipei City, Da’an District
Youtube Co-Founder Steve Chen discusses the future of tech and content with international superstar Leehom Wang...
- 8/29/2020
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Taiwan's White Terror was among the longest periods of a nation under martial law in modern history. From 1947 to 1987, the country was at the mercy of a government fearful of its own people. Dissenters were tortured, imprisoned, and much worse for even the slightest perceived transgressions against the state. In the decades since the orders were lifted, the story has been told numerous times, but one of the most popular versions came in the form of a video game, Detention, created by Red Candle Games, which has now been adapted into a terrifying feature film directed by newcomer, John Hsu. Detention takes place on the campus of the Greenwood School, where students follow rigid daily schedules and procedures prescribed by their government watchers....
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 8/29/2020
- Screen Anarchy
(above) Still from “They Say Nothing Stays The Same,”Joe Oagiri, 2019, Japan
The 19th edition of the Lincoln Center’s New York Asian Film Festival will be virtual this year, and will go from August 28 to September 12, 2020. This year’s focus is on women filmmakers, under the title “Women Transforming Film.” In this year’s line-up, Nyaff spotlights titles directed and led by women — including “Heavy Craving”, “Lucky Chan-sil”, “Kim Ji-young, Born 1982,”, “My Prince Edward”, and “Victim(s)”.
A generous share of the program is devoted to new filmmakers, including striking directorial debuts and sophomore efforts. This edition reflects today’s particularly kinetic innovations, much informed by social media and the hyper information highway. An impressive cross-section of work highlights new ideas in storytelling and tackles social mores and personal demons, including “John Denver Trending”, “Beauty Water”, “Detention”, and “IWeirDo”, to name a few. Work by first and second-time directors...
The 19th edition of the Lincoln Center’s New York Asian Film Festival will be virtual this year, and will go from August 28 to September 12, 2020. This year’s focus is on women filmmakers, under the title “Women Transforming Film.” In this year’s line-up, Nyaff spotlights titles directed and led by women — including “Heavy Craving”, “Lucky Chan-sil”, “Kim Ji-young, Born 1982,”, “My Prince Edward”, and “Victim(s)”.
A generous share of the program is devoted to new filmmakers, including striking directorial debuts and sophomore efforts. This edition reflects today’s particularly kinetic innovations, much informed by social media and the hyper information highway. An impressive cross-section of work highlights new ideas in storytelling and tackles social mores and personal demons, including “John Denver Trending”, “Beauty Water”, “Detention”, and “IWeirDo”, to name a few. Work by first and second-time directors...
- 8/11/2020
- by Grace Han
- AsianMoviePulse
The 77th Venice International Film Festival is one of the first “big” Festivals that will open its physical doors after the Covid-19 pandemic. The Festival is organised by La Biennale di Venezia and directed by Alberto Barbera; it will take place at Venice Lido from 2 – 12 September 2020.
Here are all the Asian Titles on the Programme:
Competition/Venezia 77
“In Between Dying” by Hilal Baydarov
“Laila In Haifa” by Amos Gitai
“Wife of a Spy” by Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Japan)
“Sun Children” by Majid Majidi (Iran)
“The Disciple” by Chaitanya Tamhane (India)
“Nomadland” by Chloe Zhao (USA)
Out of Competition (Fiction)
“Love After Love” by Ann Hui (China)
“Night in Paradise” by Park Hoon-Jung (South Korea)
Horizons
“Milestone” by Ivan Ayr (India)
“The Wasteland” by Ahmad Bahrami (Iran)
“Genus Pan” by Lav Diaz (Philippines)
“Careless Crime” by Shahram Mokri (Iran)
“Gaza Mon Amour” by Tarzan Nasser and Arab Nasser (Palestine/Qatar)
“The Best Is Yet to Come...
Here are all the Asian Titles on the Programme:
Competition/Venezia 77
“In Between Dying” by Hilal Baydarov
“Laila In Haifa” by Amos Gitai
“Wife of a Spy” by Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Japan)
“Sun Children” by Majid Majidi (Iran)
“The Disciple” by Chaitanya Tamhane (India)
“Nomadland” by Chloe Zhao (USA)
Out of Competition (Fiction)
“Love After Love” by Ann Hui (China)
“Night in Paradise” by Park Hoon-Jung (South Korea)
Horizons
“Milestone” by Ivan Ayr (India)
“The Wasteland” by Ahmad Bahrami (Iran)
“Genus Pan” by Lav Diaz (Philippines)
“Careless Crime” by Shahram Mokri (Iran)
“Gaza Mon Amour” by Tarzan Nasser and Arab Nasser (Palestine/Qatar)
“The Best Is Yet to Come...
- 7/31/2020
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Venice VR Expanded will run online this year.
The virtual reality line-up for the Venice Film Festival (September 2-12) features 31 competition titles, including a project created by Jon Favreau.
Badged Venice VR Expanded, the strand will run entirely online. The out of competition line-up includes nine of the best international VR titles and four projects developed during the Biennale College Cinema - VR.
The Favreau project is Gnomes & Goblins, an original production from Wevr, MWMi and Golem Creations that features a virtual world created by the Lion King director in collaboration with VR director Jake Rowell.
The Venice VR digital platform,...
The virtual reality line-up for the Venice Film Festival (September 2-12) features 31 competition titles, including a project created by Jon Favreau.
Badged Venice VR Expanded, the strand will run entirely online. The out of competition line-up includes nine of the best international VR titles and four projects developed during the Biennale College Cinema - VR.
The Favreau project is Gnomes & Goblins, an original production from Wevr, MWMi and Golem Creations that features a virtual world created by the Lion King director in collaboration with VR director Jake Rowell.
The Venice VR digital platform,...
- 7/31/2020
- by 1101184¦Orlando Parfitt¦38¦
- ScreenDaily
NewImages Festival has unveiled the Xr competition lineup for its 3rd edition, running at Forum des Images in Paris from Sept. 23-27. Sixteen VR or Ar projects, including six world premieres, have been selected from the 130 submitted to compete for the Masque d’Or and two Special Jury Prizes.
One of the world premieres is “Missing Pictures Ep. 1 – Birds of Prey,” produced by France’s Atlas V, Arte France, and Albyon Studio, and Britain’s BBC. The documentary series gives film directors a chance to tell the story they were never able to bring to the screen, and explains why it had to be given up. In episode one, U.S. director Abel Ferrara brings to life his story for “Birds of Prey” with animations based on his original film’s preproduction material.
“Legends of the Brush: The Girl and the Crane” (pictured) was selected to world premiere at SXSW,...
One of the world premieres is “Missing Pictures Ep. 1 – Birds of Prey,” produced by France’s Atlas V, Arte France, and Albyon Studio, and Britain’s BBC. The documentary series gives film directors a chance to tell the story they were never able to bring to the screen, and explains why it had to be given up. In episode one, U.S. director Abel Ferrara brings to life his story for “Birds of Prey” with animations based on his original film’s preproduction material.
“Legends of the Brush: The Girl and the Crane” (pictured) was selected to world premiere at SXSW,...
- 7/25/2020
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Canadian festival will run a virtual event from August 20 to September 2.
Canada’s Fantasia International Film Festival has revealed a second wave of titles – including eight world premieres - for this year’s virtual ediion which is taking place from August 20 to September 2.
The Montreal-based festival will offer live screenings, a programme library, panels and workshops which will be accessible across Canada and geo-locked to prevent access from elsewhere.
World premieres now set for Fantasia include The Block Island Sound, the latest horror outing from Kevin and Matthew McManus; The Oak Room, a fourth feature from Canadian filmmaker Cody Calahan; and Minor Premise,...
Canada’s Fantasia International Film Festival has revealed a second wave of titles – including eight world premieres - for this year’s virtual ediion which is taking place from August 20 to September 2.
The Montreal-based festival will offer live screenings, a programme library, panels and workshops which will be accessible across Canada and geo-locked to prevent access from elsewhere.
World premieres now set for Fantasia include The Block Island Sound, the latest horror outing from Kevin and Matthew McManus; The Oak Room, a fourth feature from Canadian filmmaker Cody Calahan; and Minor Premise,...
- 7/9/2020
- by 31¦John Hazelton¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Adapting a video game to cinema has always been a tricky business, with the majority of efforts having failed to produce desired results, despite the usually big budgets allocated to such efforts. The problem usually is the writing of the video games, with the stories rarely having the quality of movie scripts. Here, however, that is not the case, since the script of the Taiwanese game “Detention” is quite layered and well written, resulting in a film that is truly intriguing, to say the least.
Detention is screening at the Asian Pop-Up Cinema: Taiwan Cinema Online
The story takes place during the 60s, the White Terror martial law period, a time when free speech was restricted and political literature, particularly text that were considered in favor of the Left, prohibited. Fang, a female student at the Greenwood High School, which is located in a mountainous area, is attending counseling with Mr Chang,...
Detention is screening at the Asian Pop-Up Cinema: Taiwan Cinema Online
The story takes place during the 60s, the White Terror martial law period, a time when free speech was restricted and political literature, particularly text that were considered in favor of the Left, prohibited. Fang, a female student at the Greenwood High School, which is located in a mountainous area, is attending counseling with Mr Chang,...
- 6/6/2020
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
The festival will play 46 features from eight Asian countries.
Udine’s Far East Film Festival (Feff) has revealed a lineup of 46 features including four world premieres, for the online-only edition of the event that will run from June 26 until July 4.
It will open with the international premiere of Lee Hae-jun and Kim Byung-seo’s disaster action film Ashfall, available to viewers in Europe only.
The film was a blockbuster hit in South Korea over Christmas, grossing almost $60m (£47.9m) by the end of January.
The world premieres are Ning Yuanyuan’s Chinese title An Insignificant Affair; Daigo Matsui’s Japanese...
Udine’s Far East Film Festival (Feff) has revealed a lineup of 46 features including four world premieres, for the online-only edition of the event that will run from June 26 until July 4.
It will open with the international premiere of Lee Hae-jun and Kim Byung-seo’s disaster action film Ashfall, available to viewers in Europe only.
The film was a blockbuster hit in South Korea over Christmas, grossing almost $60m (£47.9m) by the end of January.
The world premieres are Ning Yuanyuan’s Chinese title An Insignificant Affair; Daigo Matsui’s Japanese...
- 6/4/2020
- by 1101321¦Ben Dalton¦26¦
- ScreenDaily
Non-profit pan-Asian film organization Sophia’s Choice has announced Asian Pop-Up Cinema’s second specially curated online program as a result of the Pandemic.
“In support of first line responders and social distancing, we feel that as an Asian film festival, it’s good to remind the public of alternative online content other than the mainstream choices,” states Sophia Wong Boccio, Founder & Executive Director of Asian Pop-Up Cinema.
Riding on the success of the first online program, Audience Choice Winners Rewind (May 10-31), Asian Pop-Up Cinema are bringing together a new line up for early June: Mini-Focus: Taiwan Cinema Online, focusing on contemporary Taiwanese cinema.
Three short films and five narrative features will be streamed for free during June 5 – 12. A wide array of different styles of story-telling will provide a “glimpse” into contemporary Taiwanese filmmakers’ recent endeavors.
Each movie will be made available for a one-time viewing between 2:00pm-10:00pm Cdt.
“In support of first line responders and social distancing, we feel that as an Asian film festival, it’s good to remind the public of alternative online content other than the mainstream choices,” states Sophia Wong Boccio, Founder & Executive Director of Asian Pop-Up Cinema.
Riding on the success of the first online program, Audience Choice Winners Rewind (May 10-31), Asian Pop-Up Cinema are bringing together a new line up for early June: Mini-Focus: Taiwan Cinema Online, focusing on contemporary Taiwanese cinema.
Three short films and five narrative features will be streamed for free during June 5 – 12. A wide array of different styles of story-telling will provide a “glimpse” into contemporary Taiwanese filmmakers’ recent endeavors.
Each movie will be made available for a one-time viewing between 2:00pm-10:00pm Cdt.
- 6/2/2020
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
The “White Terror” period in Taiwan’s history, during which thousands were executed by order of the repressive Kuomintang (Kmt) authorities, has been little explored in film. Hou Hsiao-hsien’s “A City of Sadness” is one exception, and Edward Yang’s “A Brighter Summer Day” makes oblique reference to it. But away from the arthouse, depiction of the state’s violent, decades-long suppression of “dissident” activity, has been all but taboo. John Hsu’s “Detention” is designed to address that lack in a populist format: the film is an ambitious, if not entirely successful mix of haunted-house horror, monster movie, love story, historical reckoning and sentimentalized call for the national remembrance of a period many would prefer to forget.
More surprisingly still, this homegrown hit, which won in five categories at the 2019 Golden Horse Awards in Taipei, is based on a videogame, which accounts for many of its strengths but...
More surprisingly still, this homegrown hit, which won in five categories at the 2019 Golden Horse Awards in Taipei, is based on a videogame, which accounts for many of its strengths but...
- 3/27/2020
- by Jessica Kiang
- Variety Film + TV
The full programme and tickets for the 13th edition of CinemAsia is now available online. This year, CinemAsia will introduce films from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, India, Bhutan, Thailand and The Philippines. Enjoy the biggest box office hits, like “Exit”, “Gundala”, and “The Wild Goose Lake”, and check out the work by upcoming and young directors from Asia, like “Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom”, “Moonlit Winter” and “Dolly Kitty and Those Twinkling Stars”. There is something for every Asian cinema lover!
Online ticket sales start today. Explore the complete programme below or check out their website for more details about their complete film selection.
Special Focus Diaspora: “Neither Burned, nor Banished”
CinemAsia Film Festival traditionally screens a wide variety of Asian diaspora films. This year we’ve asked veteran film programmer and critic Léo Soesanto to guest curate a special selection of five films that represent...
Online ticket sales start today. Explore the complete programme below or check out their website for more details about their complete film selection.
Special Focus Diaspora: “Neither Burned, nor Banished”
CinemAsia Film Festival traditionally screens a wide variety of Asian diaspora films. This year we’ve asked veteran film programmer and critic Léo Soesanto to guest curate a special selection of five films that represent...
- 2/10/2020
- by Grace Han
- AsianMoviePulse
Adapting a video game to cinema has always been a tricky business, with the majority of efforts having failed to produce desired results, despite the usually big budgets allocated to such efforts. The problem usually is the writing of the video games, with the stories rarely having the quality of movie scripts. Here, however, that is not the case, since the script of the Taiwanese game “Detention” is quite layered and well written, resulting in a film that is truly intriguing, to say the least.
“Detention” is screening at the International Film Festival Rotterdam
The story takes place during the 60s, the White Terror martial law period, a time when free speech was restricted and political literature, particularly text that were considered in favor of the Left, prohibited. Fang, a female student at the Greenwood High School, which is located in a mountainous area, is attending counseling with Mr Chang,...
“Detention” is screening at the International Film Festival Rotterdam
The story takes place during the 60s, the White Terror martial law period, a time when free speech was restricted and political literature, particularly text that were considered in favor of the Left, prohibited. Fang, a female student at the Greenwood High School, which is located in a mountainous area, is attending counseling with Mr Chang,...
- 1/30/2020
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
France has a burgeoning eco-system of virtual reality and augmented reality producers, and is one of Europe’s leading Vr/Ar hubs. The UniFrance Rendez-Vous with French Cinema in Paris, a showcase of French projects that wraps Monday, included a Vr/Ar showcase, with recent projects demonstrated by Wide Management Vr, VRrOOm and Atlas V. UniFrance’s online MyFrenchFilm Festival also includes three Vr projects – “The Scream,” by Sandra Paugam and Charles Ayats, “Isle of the Dead” by Benjamin Nuel, and “A Bar at the Folies Bergère” by Gabrielle Lissot. Variety looks at this emerging sector.
UniFrance published studies in 2018 and 2019 on foreign sales for the country’s Vr sector, which revealed that there were 109 foreign sales of Vr titles in 2017, generating total sales of €41,963, and 204 foreign sales in 2018, with total sales of $240,000. UniFrance emphasizes that these results show that the market remains embryonic, but notes that French sales agents such as MK2 Films,...
UniFrance published studies in 2018 and 2019 on foreign sales for the country’s Vr sector, which revealed that there were 109 foreign sales of Vr titles in 2017, generating total sales of €41,963, and 204 foreign sales in 2018, with total sales of $240,000. UniFrance emphasizes that these results show that the market remains embryonic, but notes that French sales agents such as MK2 Films,...
- 1/20/2020
- by Martin Dale
- Variety Film + TV
Taiwanese films “A Sun” and “Detention” were the big winners of Taipei’s Golden Horse Awards on Saturday. Wang Xiaoshuai’s “So Long, My Son” was the standout title at mainland China’s rival Golden Rooster Awards, held the same evening.
The two events collided because of a pro-Taiwanese independence acceptance speech at last year’s Golden Horse Awards, which are usually considered the most prestigious film prizes in Chinese-language film. That prompted Beijing to ban mainland industry players from attending this year’s ceremony in Taiwan, threaten to cut off access to China’s enormous movie market for any others who chose to participate, and schedule its Golden Rooster ceremony for the same evening.
The rival events offered a revealing contrast both in their choice of winners and the comments by some of the winners, who at the Golden Horse ceremony felt free to make politically oriented statements that...
The two events collided because of a pro-Taiwanese independence acceptance speech at last year’s Golden Horse Awards, which are usually considered the most prestigious film prizes in Chinese-language film. That prompted Beijing to ban mainland industry players from attending this year’s ceremony in Taiwan, threaten to cut off access to China’s enormous movie market for any others who chose to participate, and schedule its Golden Rooster ceremony for the same evening.
The rival events offered a revealing contrast both in their choice of winners and the comments by some of the winners, who at the Golden Horse ceremony felt free to make politically oriented statements that...
- 11/24/2019
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Chung Mong-hong’s Taiwanese family drama A Sun scooped the best narrative feature prize at the 2019 Golden Horse Awards, which were held today in Taipei. Scroll down for the full list of winners.
Chinese authorities boycotted this year’s ceremony, provoked by political fallout from last year’s ceremony, meaning no Chinese actors, directors and producers were entered into the nominations pool. As such the winners are primarily from Taiwan, as well as other Asian nations including Malaysia and Singapore.
A Sun, which premiered at Toronto, follows a family of four that fractures under the weight of unmet expectations, unexpected tragedy, and uncompromising pride. It also won best director for Chung Mong-hong – his second win in the category after he triumphed for The Fourth Portrait in 2010 – as well as best leading actor for Chen Yi-wen, and the supporting actor and editing prizes.
John Hsu’s psychological horror-thriller Detention was also...
Chinese authorities boycotted this year’s ceremony, provoked by political fallout from last year’s ceremony, meaning no Chinese actors, directors and producers were entered into the nominations pool. As such the winners are primarily from Taiwan, as well as other Asian nations including Malaysia and Singapore.
A Sun, which premiered at Toronto, follows a family of four that fractures under the weight of unmet expectations, unexpected tragedy, and uncompromising pride. It also won best director for Chung Mong-hong – his second win in the category after he triumphed for The Fourth Portrait in 2010 – as well as best leading actor for Chen Yi-wen, and the supporting actor and editing prizes.
John Hsu’s psychological horror-thriller Detention was also...
- 11/23/2019
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s finally time for the prestigious Taiwanese Award Ceremony “Golden Horse Awards” (23rd November 2019) and this is year the event is heavily influenced by the the snowballing effect of director Fu Yue’s cry for independence during her acceptance speech for the documentary “Our Youth In Taiwan” at last year’s edition. The statement caused a stir, ended with China boycotting the Golden Horse and Hong Kong directors being advised to stay away.
On the other hand, China’s Golden Rooster Awards has just opened and announced that from now on it will be held permanently in Xiamen and annually, instead of every two years. Therefore the two events will happened almost at the same time.
The “Golden Horse Awards” lineup is consequently “different” this year and – to stay positive – Taiwanese film-makers will have a greater chance to showcase their work and be awarded.
Leading the competition is the horror movie “Detention” with 12 nominations,...
On the other hand, China’s Golden Rooster Awards has just opened and announced that from now on it will be held permanently in Xiamen and annually, instead of every two years. Therefore the two events will happened almost at the same time.
The “Golden Horse Awards” lineup is consequently “different” this year and – to stay positive – Taiwanese film-makers will have a greater chance to showcase their work and be awarded.
Leading the competition is the horror movie “Detention” with 12 nominations,...
- 11/23/2019
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
The nominations for this year’s Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan were unveiled Tuesday, with no Chinese films in contention amid the political fallout from last year’s ceremony.
Now in their 56th year, the awards have traditionally been seen as among the most prestigious for Chinese-language film. But tension bubbled over last year after Taiwanese filmmaker Fu Yue said onstage during an acceptance speech that she hoped Taiwan could be regarded as “independent.”
China classifies Taiwan as a renegade province rather than a separate country, and, according to various reports, authorities declared that China’s actors, directors and producers would not be allowed to submit to year’s Golden Horse Awards.
Instead, this year’s nominees list is largely composed of Taiwanese films, with a handful of features from Hong Kong and elsewhere also up for prizes. Taiwan’s Detention, John Hsu’s thriller, leads the pool with 12 noms including Best Narrative Feature,...
Now in their 56th year, the awards have traditionally been seen as among the most prestigious for Chinese-language film. But tension bubbled over last year after Taiwanese filmmaker Fu Yue said onstage during an acceptance speech that she hoped Taiwan could be regarded as “independent.”
China classifies Taiwan as a renegade province rather than a separate country, and, according to various reports, authorities declared that China’s actors, directors and producers would not be allowed to submit to year’s Golden Horse Awards.
Instead, this year’s nominees list is largely composed of Taiwanese films, with a handful of features from Hong Kong and elsewhere also up for prizes. Taiwan’s Detention, John Hsu’s thriller, leads the pool with 12 noms including Best Narrative Feature,...
- 10/1/2019
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Films from mainland China are completely absent from the list of nominees announced Tuesday for the annual Golden Horse Awards. And with only a handful of titles from Hong Kong on the list, the competition has devolved into a mostly Taiwanese affair.
The awards, based in Taiwan and chaired by Oscar-winner Ang Lee, have traditionally been considered the most prestigious prizes for films in the Chinese language. But a political spat at last year’s ceremony, where a Taiwanese award-winner infuriated mainland Chinese attendees and the Beijing regime by giving a speech in favor of Taiwanese independence, sparked a pullout by mainland films from this year’s contest. China considers self-governing, democratic Taiwan as part of its rightful territory, to be retaken by force if necessary.
Hong Kong titles in the running for Golden Horse Awards include Ray Yeung’s “Suk Suk,” best song nominee “My Prince Edward,” and documentary “Bamboo Theatre.
The awards, based in Taiwan and chaired by Oscar-winner Ang Lee, have traditionally been considered the most prestigious prizes for films in the Chinese language. But a political spat at last year’s ceremony, where a Taiwanese award-winner infuriated mainland Chinese attendees and the Beijing regime by giving a speech in favor of Taiwanese independence, sparked a pullout by mainland films from this year’s contest. China considers self-governing, democratic Taiwan as part of its rightful territory, to be retaken by force if necessary.
Hong Kong titles in the running for Golden Horse Awards include Ray Yeung’s “Suk Suk,” best song nominee “My Prince Edward,” and documentary “Bamboo Theatre.
- 10/1/2019
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
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