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carnaby_ad_screendaily_page_footsoldier_artwork2.indd 1 27/10/17 17:39 blacksite_screendaily_mar_18_v2.indd 1 17/03/2018 17:29 MAKING BIG WAVES PERSPECTIVE CANADA AT HONG KONG.

A curated program of Canadian genre fi lms screening at FILMART, fi nanced by Telefi lm Canada.

International Premiere/ Asian Premiere Market Premiere Juggernaut Daniel Di Marco Knuckleball Ice Blue THRILLER Mike Peterson Sandi Somers Production HORROR/SUSPENSE Mad Samurai THRILLER Production Sales Production/Sales 775 Media Corp. Spotlight Pictures Iylond Entertainment Sales [email protected] [email protected] AMP International 20/03 16:00 N104 - N105 21/03 10:00 N109 - N110 nina@amp-fi lm.com 20/03 10:00 N206 - N207

International Premiere/ Asian Premiere/ Market Premiere Market Premiere Trench 11 Todd and the Book Leo Scherman Ordinary Days of Pure Evil: HORROR/THRILLER/WAR Jordan Canning The End of the End Production Kris Booth Carousel Pictures Craig David Wallace Sales Renuka Jeyapalan Richard Duhaney Raven Banner DRAMA/MYSTERY/THRILLER [email protected] ANIMATED COMEDY/HORROR Production 19/03 16:00 N102 - N103 Relay Station, Seedaylight Production Sales Aircraft Pictures, Corvid Pictures, Relay Station Frantic Films, Smiley Guy Studios [email protected] Sales Raven Banner 21/03 16:00 N102 - N103 [email protected] 19/03 10:00 N111 - N112 For more info RDVCANADA.CA SEE BIG.

CANADA PAVILION HONG KONG FILMART BOOTH 1B-E21-E28 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21 2018 TODAY DAY 3

AT FILMART Omotenashi, review, p6 NEWS www.ScreenDaily.com Stand 1A-B19 Editorial +852 2582 8958 Advertising +1 213 447 5120 Bound for China Japanese coming-of-age tale Hanagatami sells for Free Stone » Page 4 China 3D thrills with trio REVIEW Omotenashi BY JEAN NOH police task force hunting a vigi- Matsuoka, Benny Chan, Raymond HKIFF’s joint opening film strives China 3D Digital Entertainment lante serial killer. The film fea- Chiu and Kelly Chen. to satisfy a broad audience has launched three feature titles at tures , Louis Koo, Set in ancient China, Dynasty » Page 6 Filmart: director Herman Yau’s , Myolie Wu and Warriors sees a showdown Secret Of The Living Dead crime action film Death Notify, Pakho Chau. between three warriors struggling Final print daily Christopher Suen’s thriller Decep- Deception Of The Novelist follows to control a colossal and mysteri- This is Screen’s final print edition Buyers bite for tion Of The Novelist and action a successful young writer who is ous power. The film stars Han at Filmart 2018. Please continue drama Dynasty Warriors, directed embroiled in the suspected murder Geng, Wang Kai, Louis Koo, Guli- to follow all the latest news and Detective K and produced by Roy Chow. of his neighbour. The fi lm features nazha, Tong Yang, Carina Lau, Ray deals at ScreenDaily.com South Korea’s Showbox has Death Notify follows an elite Justin Cheung, Jeana Ho, Linah Lui and Justin Cheung. announced a raft of deals on Detective K: Secret Of The Living Dead. The adventure comedy sold to China (iQiyi), Hong Kong and Kosse hails Film Mode Macau (Edko Films), Japan (Twin), tastemakers makes Escape Taiwan (Movie Cloud), Philippines (Viva Communications), worldwide STXinternational president David BY JEAN NOH in-flight (Emphasis) and Singapore, Kosse explained how international US sales, production and distribu- Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and fi lm markets are evolving at a ‘Film- tion company Film Mode Enter- Thailand (CJ E&M HK). maker Spotlight’ at Filmart yester- tainment has announced a raft of Directed by Kim Sok-yun, the day: “Markets like Asia and Russia, Asian deals on its titles at Filmart, film sees Detective K (Kim Myung- where 15-20 years ago you’d only led by Ron Perlman-starring crime min) investigate deaths involving release action fi lms and thrillers, are thriller The Escape Of Prisoner 614 vampire bites. Released on becoming more receptive to drama and family adventure Mail Order February 8 in Korea, it has clocked and more sophisticated fare.” He Monster to China (Times Vision). up nearly 2.5 million admissions added that digital technology is Other sales include thrillers and $18.5m according to the reducing P&A costs, which could Broken Ghost and The Ninth Pas- Korean Film Council. The film was infl uence the US studios’ greenlight- senger, starring and released last month in North ing process: “It’s getting cheaper to Tom Maden, to the Philippines STXinternational president David Kosse America by Well Go USA and in release fi lms globally, so potentially (Pioneer). takes part in Filmart’s ‘Filmmaker Spotlight’ Australia/NZ by JBG Pictures, they’ll take more of a risk.” Company head Clay Epstein with Lotte Entertainment Vietnam said: “The Film Mode Entertain- releasing in that territory on ment team prides itself on appeal- March 8. Jean Noh Elephant moves for Rediance ing to the Asian marketplace.” BY LIZ SHACKLETON miere at the New Directors/New A Beijing Film Academy gradu- TBS solves Perfect Village Beijing-based sales agent Redi- Films festival in New York at the ate and acclaimed novelist, the ance has sold Hu Bo’s An Elephant end of this month. fi lm’s director Hu Bo took his own Love, Crimes admits Guilt Sitting Still, which premiered in Set over the course of one day, life at the age of 29 shortly after this year’s Berlinale Forum, to the 230-minute film follows a completing the fi lm. BY JEAN NOH BY LIZ SHACKLETON Capricci for France and Spain. teenage boy who is in trouble after Rediance’s slate also includes Japan’s TBS has announced deals China’s Perfect Village Entertain- Rediance is also in talks for a hospitalising the school bully, his Zhai Yixiang’s Mosaic Portrait, on anime Love, Chunibyo And ment has joined Grand Canal Pic- sale to North America, which it is classmate who is having an affair which is in post-production, Other Delusions! Take On Me and tures and Hong Kong’s Mei Ah hoping to close before the film with a teacher, and an old man and Cai Chengjie’s award winner suspense drama The Crimes That Films Production to produce Hong receives its North American pre- estranged from his family. The Widowed Witch. Bind. The former sold to Singa- Kong courtroom drama Guilt By pore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Bru- Design. will star in nei (Purple Plan) while the latter the film, which has been written sold to Hong Kong (Golden Scene) and will be directed by a trio of Wi Ding Ho wraps Cities Of Last Things and Taiwan (Movie Cloud). Hong Kong fi lmmakers — Lai Siu- Directed by Tatsuya Ishihara, kwan, Sze Pak-lam and Lau Wing- Malaysia-born, Taiwan-based vignettes told in reverse chronology. band Mayday also make special Love, Chunibyo And Other Delu- Tai. Derek Yee, Jason Guo and filmmaker Wi Ding Ho has wrapped Lee won best new performer at appearances. Cities Of Last Things sions! Take On Me is the latest in Ellen Eliasoph are producing. his feature Cities Of Last Things, the Golden Horse Awards for 2015 is produced by Taiwan-based the high-school romance series. Selected for HAF in 2016 (under starring Lee Hong-Chi, Jack Kao drama Thanatos, Drunk, while Kao is Changhe Films and co-produced by Directed by Katsuo Fukuzawa the title Hypnotize The Jury), it tells and French actress Louise Grinberg a veteran Taiwanese actor with China’s Hymn Pictures, Singapore’s (I’d Rather Be A Shellfish), police the story of a juror who discovers (The Class). The film tells the story credits including The Assassin and mm2 Entertainment and Kaohsiung drama The Crimes That Bind his daughter has been kidnapped of a man and his relationships with One Night Only. Lu Huang (Blind City Government. stars Hiroshi Abe, Nanako Matsu- and is under pressure to ensure the different women through three Massage) and Stone of Taiwanese Liz Shackleton shima, Junpei Mizobata and Rena accused is acquitted. Tanaka. NEWS

Thai Pitch Battleship Island producer Toei launches unveiled for Jiro Shono Cannes regrets screen takeover romance

BY LIZ SHACKLETON BY JEAN NOH dicting it would surpass 10 fuelled by local media criticism. In Japan’s Toei has launched sales Thailand’s Ministry of Culture has Speaking to the hot-button issue million admissions. Featuring top conversation at Filmart yesterday, on romantic feature Taberu revealed the three projects that of screen monopolisation in South stars such as Hwang Jung-min, Kang said: “When the contro- Onna (working title), directed by will participate in this year’s Thai Korea, The Battleship Island pro- So Ji-sub, Song Joong-ki and Lee versy about screen monopolisa- Jiro Shono (Time Lost, Time Pitch event at Cannes. ducer Kang Hye-jung says gov- Jung-hyun, the film is a $20m tion happened, I learned how Found), at Filmart. Tongpong Chantarangkul, ernment and distributors need to historical epic about a massive much the public are interested in A tale of eight women of whose first film I Carried You create a system that encourages escape attempt by forced labour- the film industry, in a way that cut different ages, occupations and Home (2011) was acquired by mutual growth for films, whether ers and comfort women from a to the heart.” perspectives trying to find their France’s Pretty Pictures, has had large or small in scale. Japanese mining island during Released on July 26, 2017, the own ways of living through food his long-awaited follow-up Directed by Kang’s husband the Second World War. film reached 6.6 million admis- and sex, the film stars Kyoko The Fireflies selected for the event. and partner at Filmmaker R&K, But when distributor CJ Enter- sions, according to the Korean Koizumi (), Erika Set in Barcelona, it is the story Ryoo Seung-wan, whose previous tainment booked the film on more Film Council. Sawajiri (Shinjuku Swan), Atsuko of a Thai fire juggler who leaves film Veteran clocked up more than 2,000 screens across the Kang ended on an optimistic Maeda (Kabukicho Love Hotel), behind his family when he finds a than 13 million admissions in country — out of a total of around note saying: “In my 20 years of Kyoka Suzuki (The Kiyosu job in Spain. Korea, The Battleship Island ini- 2,800 — a backlash occurred filmmaking, it gave me the most Conference), Alice Hirose, Yu Prolific filmmaker Tanwarin tially had industry insiders pre- among the industry and public, to think about.” Yamada, Dan Mitsu and Sukhaphisit (A Gas Station) is Charlotte Kate Fox. Currently in bringing LGBT-themed project production, it is set for release Down To Heaven to Cannes. The locally this autumn. film is produced by Thailand’s Toei’s Filmart slate also Donsaron Kovitvanitcha (Malila: includes police action film The The Farewell Flower). Blood Of Wolves, directed by The third project will be pro- Kazuya Shiraishi (Birds Without duced by Chatchai Chaiyon, Names), and Hideo Nakata’s whose credits include Pimpaka upcoming drama Life In Towira’s The Island Funeral and Overtime, starring Hiroshi Tachi, Rotterdam Tiger winner Vanish- Hitomi Kuroki and Ryoko ing Point. The feature debut of Hirosue. Patiparn Boontarig, an alumnus Jean Noh of Busan’s Asian Film Academy and Singapore’s Southeast Asian Film Lab, the project is a same-sex love story set in south Thailand. Arclight rises Now in its seventh edition, Thai Pitch brings together Thai film- to Serbian makers and their projects with prominent international produc- sci-fi tale ers, sales agents and festivals. This year’s edition will be held BY LIZ SHACKLETON May 13-14 at the Thai Pavilion, Free Stone’s Hanagatami sets sail to China Arclight Films has closed sales on International Village, in Cannes. Serbian sci-fi thrillerEderlezi Rising Japan’s Free Stone Production has sold Hanagatami Prefecture. Entertaining a crush on his tubercular to My Way Films for Hong Kong — the final film in award-winning director Nobuhiko cousin Mina (Honoka Yahagi), while revelling in his and Creative Century for Taiwan. Planeta cuts Obayashi’s ‘wartime trilogy’ after Casting Blossoms ‘depraved’ adolescence with other girls, Toshihiko Directed by Lazar Bodroza, the To The Sky and Seven Weeks — to China (Lemon Tree). indulges in courage-testing escapades with his school film follows an astronaut who is Scythian deals Based on a script Obayashi wrote prior to his 1977 buddies around the time the Pacific War breaks out. sent on a long space flight to a dis- debut feature House, Hanagatami is set in spring 1941 The film made its international premiere at tant planet accompanied by a BY JEAN NOH when Toshihiko (Shunsuke Kubozuka) shows up at International Film Festival Rotterdam after screening at female android. The film won five Russia’s Planeta Inform Film Dis- the home of his aunt (Takako Tokiwa) in Karatsu, Saga Fukuoka and Tokyo film festivals. Jean Noh prizes including best film, best tribution has announced a deal on director and best actor (Sebastian action adventure The Scythian Cavazza) at Belgrade’s FEST (aka The Last Warrior) to 4Digital International Film Festival earlier Media for the UK, Ireland and the Wide House doubles up on Dutch doc this year. US. Directed by Rustam Mosafir, Arclight is also launching sales the $7m film is set in 11th-century BY JEAN NOH husband, UK filmmaker Peter The company has also closed a on Liang Ting’s family action Europe at the time of the Vikings, France’s Wide House has sold Greenaway, as he answers ques- deal for The Waldheim Waltz, adventure Year Of The Dogs, star- and features a young Scythian Dutch documentary The Greena- tions from his 16-year-old daugh- about the wartime record of former ring Cheng Yi, Cui Yahan and a warrior who sets off on a perilous way Alphabet, directed by Saskia ter Pip and constructs an alphabet UN secretary general Kurt Wald- canine cast, at Filmart. Currently journey to save his family. The Boddeke, to Taiwan (Joint Enter- for and with her as a blueprint of heim, to Greece (Alkionis) in addi- in post-production, the film fol- Scythian was produced by Sergey tainment) and Italy (I Wonder). his life — touching on autism, tion to already announced deals to lows a dog lover and former secret Selyanov (Mongol: The Rise To Multimedia artist Boddeke has creativity and the two other chil- North America (Menemsha Films) agent on a mission to rescue kid- Power Of Genghis Khan). created a personal portrait of her dren he has not seen for years. and ex-Yugoslavia (Tricontinental). napped stray dogs.

4 Screen International at Filmart March 21, 2018 www.screendaily.com

HKIFF REVIEWS Reviews edited by Fionnuala Halligan [email protected]

In The Intense Now

Reviewed by Sarah Ward REALITY BITES Deftly compiled from found footage dating back five decades, In The Intense Now dives headfirst into the Bra. 2017. 127mins feverish political fervour of the late 1960s: of May ’68 in Director/screenplay Paris, the Prague Spring, protests against military dicta- Joao Moreira Salles torship in Brazil and China’s Cultural Revolution. Street Production company marches, crusading students and rousing slogans fill the VideoFilmes screen with scenes of passion, with Joao Moreira Salles International sales sharing their zeal. The Entreatos and Santiago filmmak- Luxbox, info@luxboxfilms. er’s calmly toned, poetically phrased narration might com seem to indicate otherwise, but his immersive cine- Producer Maria Carlota essay-style documentary unreservedly evokes its title — Bruno its intensity not only evident in its chronicle of the past, Editing Eduardo Escorel, but in its clear parallels with the present. Lais Lifschitz Salles favours the former, letting the latter arise Music Rodrigo Leao Omotenashi organically in viewers’ minds via every fight against power, every outspoken youth leading the charge, and Reviewed by Sarah Ward every response from the establishment, be it televised OPENING FILM speeches, military occupation or forced displays of con- The amiable Omotenashi comes with an apt moniker: formity. It is not difficult to join the dots, but it is an the Japanese term not just for hospitality, but for whole- Tai-Jap. 2018. 96mins approach that never underestimates the film’s audience heartedly striving to accommodate others. A blend of Director/editing/ or the strength of its bustling, heaving material. earnest drama, light comedy, workplace angst and cinematography That In The Intense Now dedicates the bulk of its run- yearning romance, the Kyoto-set effort endeavours to Jay Chern ning time to France is similarly expected, with the well- satisfy a broad audience with its tale of a struggling ryo- Production companies documented events of 50 years ago gifting Salles a kan. From its picturesque lakeside imagery to its explo- Epic Entertainment, treasure trove of footage. Contrasting Daniel Cohn-Ben- ration of both generational and cultural clashes, the Shochiku Studio dit’s standing as the personable pseudo-leader of the film’s quest to serve up something for everyone is evi- International sales uprising with Charles de Gaulle’s official addresses leads dent in every good-natured frame — almost to a fault. Eric Chou, cs98h040@ to a fascinating throughline about control and commod- One of two titles opening Hong Kong International gmail.com ification. A comparable train of thought emerges when Film Festival, Omotenashi marks the theatrical feature Producers Jay Chern, Salles explores the movement’s turns of phrase. The debut of Taiwan-born, US-raised filmmaker Jay Chern Jun’ichi Kitagawa assertion that some slogans stemmed from advertising (Golden Horse Award-winning short Thief, TV movies Screenplay Jay Chern, professionals certainly paints evocative expressions like Dawn/Spring and Warmth). Here, he helms, co-writes Mami Sunada “under the paving stones, the beach” in a different light. with Mami Sunada, co-produces, shoots and edits, with Main cast Rena Tanaka, Here as in the other interweaved sections, the film does the resulting Taiwan-Japan co-production likely to play Wang Po-chieh, Kimiko Yo, not endeavour to recount history but to probe it: why the best in its home markets. Tae Kimura, Mina Fujii, uprisings occurred — or didn’t, in China’s case — is less The two countries are also weaved into the narrative Lieh Yang important than what each really meant for the people — the feature’s Japanese leanings are instantly apparent, affected. Of course, its conclusions come with the benefit while its protagonist is the heir to a Taipei construction of hindsight. As Salles says early in the piece, in a state- company. When Jacky (Wang Po-chieh) arrives at the ment that doubles as a plea for his audience’s close atten- Blue Moon Ryokan on the banks of Lake Biwa, he pos- tion, people don’t always know what they are witnessing. sesses little appreciation for its rustic charms. Desperate to succeed after a failed restaurant venture in New York, he would rather renovate the hotel to lure in new buyers, much to the dismay of innkeeper’s daughter Rika (Rena Tanaka). On discovering his ex, Naoko (Mina Fujii), is getting married, he decides to turn the inn into a wed- ding venue in the hopes of winning her back. Gentle, affable humour ensues, as does a thoughtful depiction of trying to blend old and new ways. Indeed, a telling line makes plain the feature’s inspiration, if not its intentions: during a visit to another ryokan, Jacky remarks that its proprietor feels like a character from an Ozu movie. These are big footprints to tread in, butOmotenashi mostly finds a balance between nodding to the Japanese master’s multigenerational family portraits and offering its own insights. Specifically, the film’s commentary on breaking down boundaries — between tradition and modernity, as well as between cultures — proves timely and astute.

6 Screen International at Filmart March 21, 2018 www.screendaily.com SCREENINGS, PAGE 18

Foreboding

Reviewed by Ben Croll CINEPHILE PARADISE “It all began with a sense of foreboding.” So begins ’s Foreboding (Yocho), a curiously Jap. 2017. 140mins human-scaled end-of-days drama that never raises its Director Kiyoshi voice above a whisper. That sense of foreboding continues Kurosawa all the way to the end, and though the film does score Production company/ points for an original spin on a familiar Invasion Of The international sales Body Snatchers theme, its act begins to wear thin when Wowow, aya.takagawa@ spread over a languid 140 minutes. wowow.co.jp This version of Foreboding collapses five episodes of a Producers Takehiko Aoki, TV mini-series that aired as a companion piece to Kuro- Tomomi Takashima, Yumi sawa’s 2017 filmBefore We Vanish — and it shows, result- Arakawa, Nobuhiro Iizuka ing in a theatrical experience that leaves viewers with the Screenplay Hiroshi slight discomfort of having binged too much. Still, Kuro- Takahashi, Kiyoshi The Widowed Witch sawa’s talents are undeniable and should make this film Kurosawa, based on the an easy sell to his many fans around the globe, even if it original play Before We does not seem as likely to breakout further. Vanish by Tomohiro Reviewed by Wendy Ide PAN-CHINESE Foreboding’s original format is most apparent in its Maekawa CINEMA unhurried pace, though we are introduced to Etsuko Production design Er Hou (Tian Tian) finds herself widowed for the third (Kaho) from the outset, as she spends the first 30 minutes Norifumi Ataka time when an explosion destroys the family-owned fire- China. 2018. 120mins investigating a side plot that subsequently falls away. Editing Koichi Takahashi works factory, taking with it her home and husband. The Director/screenplay The main narrative tracks a jealous triangle between Cinematography credulous locals in her village community in Hebei prov- Cai Chengjie Etsuko, her husband Tatsuo (Shota Sometani) and the ince, northern China, perhaps unsurprisingly, decide that Production company dead-eyed Dr Makebe (), a shape- Music Yusuke Hayashi Er Hou is cursed. But the enterprising young woman Beijing Glazed Sky shifting extraterrestrial who has come to Earth to learn its Main cast Kaho, Shota turns superstition to her advantage, rebranding herself Production customs ahead of an invasion and finds, in Etsuko, the Sometani, Masahiro as a shaman and peddling life advice and supernatural International sales one human he cannot bend to his will. Higashide, Ren Osugi quick fixes in return for food and shelter. A blend of wry Rediance, joyboffin@ Kurosawa delivers a wide-scale invasion narrative cynicism and matter-of-fact mysticism, The Widowed gmail.com without any news-report cutaways, elaborate production Witch is an intriguing film that ultimately suffers from its Producers Jiao Feng, design or ostentatious visual effects. His guiding principle lack of tonal consistency. Hu Xiaotao is the uncanny, relying on a series of otherwise mundane This version of the film is a re-edit of a feature that Production design sets rendered slightly askew thanks to the widescreen screened, with the alternative title Shaman, at Xining Li Zhengzong, Hu Xiaotao compositions and cinematographer Akiko Ashizawa’s First Film Festival. Although it has been taken on by Bei- Editing Li Cheng vivid light. Most likely due to the source material’s stage- jing sales company Rediance, The Widowed Witch might Cinematography bound origins and budgetary restraints, this myopia gives prove a little too idiosyncratic for all but the most com- Jiao Feng the material a hushed, intimate focus entirely uncommon mitted overseas distributors. Festival audiences, however, Music Jin Weiye, Li Qiang to the genre — sometimes at the expense of the global should be receptive to the film’s stark beauty and mor- Main cast Tian Tian, Wen threat the story wants to impart. dant humour, and it already took top prize at Rotterdam Xinyu, Wang Qilin, Wang Other technicalities further the unease. Though used in February. Fuyou, Yang Shuyou, Gao sparingly, unearthly reverberations occasionally pop in to The film opens in colour. A man and a woman walk Pengcheng, Li Wenfu, destabilise, while Kurosawa’s precise camerawork grows through a snow-covered birch wood; she tells him about Zhao Shulin increasingly agitated as the invasion draws near. the year her five-year-old brother froze to death. An encounter with a drum-wielding shaman leaves the woman prostrate in the snow, and it becomes clear this scene is all in the mind of the unconscious Er Hou. She awakens to a world that is shot in black and white, embellished with occasional flashes of bright colour. As soon as she is able, Er Hou briskly vacates the home of her extended family and reclaims her husband’s van from his slippery best friend and, for want of a better option, sets up home in the vehicle. Director Cai Chengjie favours long, fixed camera shots that allow scenes to unfold at a pace that, while reflecting life in the rural backwaters in winter, can drag a little. It is not entirely clear whether the apparently magical powers that Er Hou possesses are genuine but after a prosaic start, they take her to darker territory. It is at this point, in an increasingly inconsistent third act, that the film starts to lose its own peculiar magic.

www.screendaily.com March 21, 2018 Screen International at Filmart 7 FOR FURTHER COVERAGE, HAF PROFILES SEE SCREENDAILY.COM

A Man Used To Stay At My Naive Melody On High Ice Room Dir Arvin Chen Dir Gary Kam Byung-seok Dir Emily Tang Project’s country of origin Taiwan Project’s country of origin South Korea-Israel Project’s country of origin China Au Revoir Taipei director Arvin Chen’s latest project Best known as the producer of 2011 IDFA best fea- Chinese director Emily Tang was inspired by real-life is an unconventional love story about an introverted ture documentary winner Planet Of Snail, Gary Kam peasant woman and poet Yu Xiuhua, who was born man who decides to lose his virginity in a Taipei Byung-seok is making his feature debut as a director with cerebral palsy. Despite never finishing high brothel, but falls into a complicated relationship with with On High Ice. The documentary follows a group school, Yu started writing in her late 20s to break a much older Mama-san. of women in the Himalayan desert who painstak- away from an abusive marriage. Her poetry about “It’s loosely based on some anecdotes I’ve heard ingly create an ice rink that lasts only six weeks, so her village, love and erotic longing became a sensa- over the years, but the story is fiction,” says Chen, they can practice ice hockey. Battling male chauvin- tion, and she is now one of China’s most-read poets. who was born in the US and has a master of fine arts ism and a shortage of equipment and support for “Yu is one of the most brilliant and controversial from University of Southern ’s film produc- women’s teams, they travel to remote villages to pro- women in contemporary China. She uses her poetry tion programme. “I try to work in a tone mixing dark mote skating and ice hockey and improve the stand- to search for love and never bows down to anyone, comedy and romance. It’s an unusual take on a ing of women in India. not the media, the authority or any men. I’ve wanted romantic relationship and I hope to blur the lines “I’ve been working in broadcasting for a long time to make a film about such a woman for decades,” between maternal and romantic love. It’s definitely a and producing and mentoring others, but I never Tang says, adding it is not a biopic of the famous poet. departure [for me] in terms of genre.” had a chance to direct even though I wanted to,” says Tang has never been one to shy away from taboo. Chen’s previous two features are both romantic Kam. “This story about these women really tugged Her debut feature Conjugation, set in the aftermath comedies. Au Revoir Taipei won Netpac’s best Asian at my heartstrings. of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, won a spe- film award at Berlin and was one of the top grossing “I talked about it with [Ingenue Production’s] cial mention at Locarno in 2001, while Perfect Life, Taiwanese films in 2010, whileWill You Still Love Me Naama Pyritz, a producer who I mentored at a work- the tale of two marginal women, premiered in Ven- Tomorrow? also premiered in Berlin and was in com- shop in India and who is also very interested in ice’s Horizons section and won the Tigers & Dragons petition at Tribeca. His graduate short film,Mei , won women’s issues,” he continues, explaining how Award at Vancouver in 2008 and the Golden Digital the Silver Bear at Berlin in 2007. Israeli company Ingenue (If The Dead Could Speak) Award at HKIFF in 2009. More recently, All Apolo- Naive Melody is at script stage, and will be submit- came on board. “The camera team is made up of a gies won the jury prize at HKIFF in 2013. ted for government subsidies in Taiwan. The producer Dutch husband and wife, so our entire team is half On board her latest work are Shanghai Interna- is Aileen Li of Taipei-based Filmagic Pictures, whose male, half female. It’s a women’s story so I needed tional Film Festival programmer-turned-producer credits include When A Wolf Falls In Love With A Sheep, the help of a female cinematographer’s gaze.” Wu Jueren and Li Liangwen, who produced Golden Ode To Time and Forêt Debussy. Filmagic has provided They have been shooting at intervals since 2010 Horse Award winner The Summer Is Gone, box-office production services to international productions film- with plans to shoot more by the end of this year, and hit Go Away Mr Tumor and 12 Citizens through Bei- ing in Taiwan such as Luc Besson’s Lucy, John Woo’s Kam says he would also like to find a female editor jing-based Yoshow Film & TV Production. The Crossing and Jackie Chan-starrer Bleeding Steel. for the project. Silvia Wong Silvia Wong Jean Noh

A Man Used To Stay At My Room Naive Melody On High Ice

Producers Wu Jueren, Li Liangwen Production Producer Aileen Li Production company Producer Naama Pyritz Production company companies Yoshow Film & TV Production, Shanghai Filmagic Pictures Budget $800,000 Contact Filmagic Ingenue Production Budget $550,000 Finance raised Raging Fire Film and Television Culture Budget $4.8m Pictures [email protected] to date $162,000 Contact Gary Kam Byung-seok Finance raised to date $1.6m Contact Wu Jueren [email protected] [email protected]

8 Screen International at Filmart March 21, 2018 www.screendaily.com

HAF PROFILES

Love In The Valley Of Vengeance Is Mine, All The Shepherdess And The Daughters Others Pay Cash Seven Songs Dir Yuen Han-yan Dir Edwin Dir Pushpendra Singh Project’s country of origin Hong Kong Project’s country of origin Indonesia Project’s country of origin India

During a trip to Yunnan over a decade ago, Hong Posesif director Edwin’s new project is based on the Adapted from folklore, Ashwatthama director Push- Kong filmmaker Yuen Han-yan met a young couple acclaimed novel of the same name by Eka Kurni- pendra Singh’s new project centres on a newlywed who could not be more different — one is a city girl awan, the first Indonesian author longlisted for lit- nomadic shepherdess who is trapped between her and the other comes from a matriarchal mountain vil- erature’s prestigious Man Booker International cowardly husband and regular harassment by pow- lage. Their love story may have started as a summer Prize. The story follows a young man forced to watch erful men. “The shepherdess wants to challenge her fling on the shores of Lugu Lake, but the girl decides to a mentally ill woman raped and murdered by two exploiters but her husband is against it. This leads sell her apartment in Foshan, province, policemen, an experience that leaves him impotent. her to question her own identity and she decides to and move to Yunnan, the historical home of the Mosuo He channels his anger and frustration into regular renounce her family life. As the film is set in the con- people who are one of the last matrilineal societies. fights, until he falls for a girl with martial-arts skills. flict zone of Kashmir, her journey is a metaphor for Yuen started documenting the pair when theirs Edwin sees a parallel between the project and his Kashmiri struggles,” says Singh, who has been work- was still a budding romance and her footage, cap- country’s fear of impotence: its fear of failure to per- ing on the story for the last seven years. tured over 10 years, has now been developed into her form. “Machismo and patriarchal values are still ever The Gojri-language film will be told in seven first feature-length documentary about the real life present in today’s Indonesia, supposedly a more chapters, with each marked by a song to highlight story of the couple’s fight against the odds, which open-minded and democratic society than the one of the shepherdess’s state of mind. The seven songs are mirrors the larger problems of contemporary China. the protagonist’s youth,” he says. “I would like to like the seven stages towards the path of renuncia- Based in Hong Kong and London, Yuen is a film- encourage people around me to relax their macho tion in Sufism, Singh adds. maker with more than 10 years’ experience in TV attitudes. Should we waste time obsessing about the The Pune-based filmmaker studied at the city’s documentaries. Her work has been broadcast on Dis- ‘bird’ that can’t get up, while more and more of the Film and Television Institute of India, where he is now covery Channel in the US and by Hong Kong’s public same violence occurs all around us?” a visiting faculty member. In 2014, his debut feature broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong. She has In 2005, Edwin’s Kara, The Daughter Of A Tree The Honour Keeper premiered at the Berlinale, while been recognised by Chicago International Film Festi- became the first Indonesian short screened in Direc- his second film Ashwatthama, which received the val Television Awards — documentary: arts/humani- tors’ Fortnight at Cannes. In 2009, his feature debut Asian Cinema Fund’s post-production grant, pre- ties (2014); the Women of the Year in Media Awards Blind Pig Who Wants To Fly won the Fipresci award at miered in Busan’s New Currents competition last year. by UNWomen China & Wangyi (2014); and the Rotterdam, while his second feature, Postcards From The director is currently working on Pearl Of The United Nations Development Programme human The Zoo, played in the Berlinale’s Competition in 2012. Desert, a documentary about an extended family of development media fellowship (2009). Edwin’s longtime producer Meiske Taurisia Muslim musicians in the Thar desert, which is a recip- For Love In The Valley Of Daughters, Yuen has the founded Jakarta-based Palari Films in 2016 with fel- ient of Busan’s Asian Network of Documentary Fund. backing of producer Ruby Yang, whose The Blood Of low producer Muhammad Zaidy. The company pro- The Honour Keeper and Ashwatthama producer Yingzhou District won the Academy Award for docu- duced Edwin’s teen romance thriller Posesif, which Sanjay Gulati will collaborate with Singh again on mentary short subject in 2007, and veteran TV docu- won three prizes including best director at Festival Shepherdess through Crawling Angel Films. Ravi mentary filmmaker Eric Poon. Film Indonesia in 2017. Kiran Ayyagari will serve as cinematographer. Silvia Wong Silvia Wong Silvia Wong

Love In The Valley Of Daughters Vengeance Is Mine, All Others The Shepherdess And The Seven Pay Cash Songs Producers Yuen Han-yan, Eric Poon, Ruby Yang Production company Singing Cicadas Budget Producers Meiske Taurisia, Muhammad Zaidy, Lorna Tee Producers Sanjay Gulati, Ajit Singh Rathore Production $85,000 Finance raised to date $11,500 (through Production company Palari Films Budget $750,000 companies Crawling Angel Films, ASR Films Budget Hong Kong Documentary Initiative) Contact Yuen Han- Finance raised to date $150,000 Contact Nathan $750,000 Finance raised to date $155,000 yan [email protected] Gunawan [email protected] Contact Pushpendra Singh [email protected]

www.screendaily.com March 21, 2018 Screen International at Filmart 11 Seven Days And Nights Sex Is Guilt Deadline Dir Yao Tian Dir O Sing-pui Dir Kiwi Chow Project’s country of origin China Project’s country of origin Hong Kong Project’s country of origin Hong Kong

Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture left a lasting Hong Kong director O Sing-pui also serves as pro- Linked to immense pressure exerted by parents and impression on director Yao Tian following a visit to ducer and cinematographer on his latest project, schools, student suicide is a serious social issue. In the region with a Kazakh friend. The prefecture is which focuses on a terminally ill teenager whose last his latest project, Kiwi Chow takes a critical look into located in China’s far northwest Xinjiang province, wish is to lose his virginity. When the hired woman Hong Kong’s pressure-cooker education system. The covering a vast area with no shortage of natural fails to turn up at the hotel room, his buddy’s girl- story revolves around a mass suicide note signed by wonders, and the Nalati Grassland, China’s highest friend decides to take her place and sets off an unex- seven secondary students as a protest against unfair prairie, is the setting for his latest project. pected ripple that touches everyone involved. exams. Set in contemporary Hong Kong, the Can- Featuring both Mandarin and Kazakh dialogue, “In today’s changing society, teenagers tend to tonese-language film centres on the use of drugs to the story revolves around a dying man; his daughter have a different understanding about relationships,” boost student concentration. Casting is now under- who he has not seen since marrying her off seven says O. “But what do they know about sex and what way for non-professional, real-life students to play years ago; his friend whom he hopes will purge his do they know about themselves? Sex may not seem the main roles. soul for seven days and nights; and an old horse that to matter to them, but what would you do when Chow hopes his new project will heighten public travels several thousand miles to see him off. your girlfriend sleeps with your best friend who is awareness of student suicide, and show support for One unique characteristic of the film is the use of a dying?” These questions will be explored in the film, the troubled students. “We will co-operate with a long take incorporating the viewpoint of seven char- which will be produced through O’s Zero Image youth organisation to launch a big suicide-concern acters (the number bears special significance in Production House. campaign, which will ultimately transform the film Kazakh tradition and is a recurring figure in the film). O is also a celebrated cinematographer, with cred- into a social movement,” he adds. “We usually see one sunrise and one sunset every its including Hollywood Hong Kong (2001) and Chow is a graduate of Hong Kong Academy for Per- day, but in Natali Grassland, thanks to the different Ip Man (2008), which were nominated for best cin- forming Arts, and his debut feature, A Complicated altitudes of the surrounding high mountains, multi- ematography at the Golden Horse Awards and the Story, produced by Johnnie To and Bill Kong, won him ple sunrises and sunsets occur in a day. The film will Hong Kong Film Awards respectively. He also shot the award for young artist (film) at the 2014 Hong go through four seasons during seven days and Made In Hong Kong (1997), You Shoot, I Shoot (2001) Kong Arts Development Awards. He also directed one nights as a reflection on the Kazakh philosophy in and Gallants (2010). of the five segments (titled ‘Self-Immolation’) of dys- life and death,” says Beijing-based Yao, whose debut Starting out as an assistant director to Tsui Hark topian omnibus filmTen Years, which won the best feature 500M800M won best film at Vesoul Interna- in 1980, O directed his first film,The Story Behind film prize at the 2016 Hong Kong Film Awards. tional Film Festival of Asian Cinema in 2016. The Concert, in 1986, and has since helmed seven Chow founded Photon Films in 2016 along with Seven Days And Nights is produced by Soul On A more films including Dream Of Desire (1989) and Deadline screenwriter Felix Tsang, and the duo are also String director Zhang Yang with Zhao Jin, co- Comic King (2001). More recently, he doubled as collaborating on Forget Me Knot, a recipient of Hong founder of Shanghai-based production and interna- both producer and cinematographer on Chan Chi Kong’s Film Development Fund. Deadline’s producer tional sales company Parallax Films, which has Fat’s basement drama Weeds On Fire, which received will be Jacqueline Liu, whose recent credits includeSis - Zhang Dalei’s The Summer Is Gone and Mei Feng’s eight nominations at the Hong Kong Film Awards terhood and In Your Dreams, while Zhang Ying, who Mr No Problem among its credits. in 2017. shot Mad World and Trivisa, is cinematographer. Silvia Wong Silvia Wong Silvia Wong

Seven Days And Nights Sex Is Guilt Deadline

Producers Zhang Yang, Zhao Jin, Cao Liuying Producer O Sing-pui Production company Producer Jacqueline Liu Production company Production company Parallax Films Budget $1.2m Zero Image Production House Budget $1m Photon Films (HK) Budget $1.3m Finance raised Contact Parallax Films [email protected] Contact O Sing-pui [email protected] to date $650,000 Contact Jacqueline Liu [email protected]

12 Screen International at Filmart March 21, 2018 www.screendaily.com HAF PROFILES

While You Were Working Saving One Who Was Dead Stonewalling Dir Leung Ming Kai Dir Vaclav Kadrnka Dir Huang Ji Project’s country of origin Hong Kong Project’s country of origin Czech Republic Project’s country of origin China

The directorial feature debut of Hong Kong cinema- Throughout the summer and autumn of 2016, direc- Chinese writer/director Huang Ji reunites with non- tographer Leung Ming Kai is a buddy comedy about tor Vaclav Kadrnka made diary entries as he and his professional actress Yao Honggui in the last instal- three immigrant women: a Filipina domestic worker mother nursed his father miraculously back to ment of her trilogy about the hardship of young who is set to take part in a singing competition, an health after he fell into a coma following a stroke. Chinese women growing up in villages. elderly Chinese woman under her care and their US His latest project, Saving One Who Was Dead, evolved After appearing as a left-behind child in both Egg neighbour. The first part of the story takes place in from these diary entries. And Stone (2012) and The Foolish Bird (2017), Yao Mei Foo, a large, middle-class housing estate where “I would like to base the film on observation and will this time play a 21-year-old in the new project, Leung spent his childhood. searching for the images I recall from my memory,” which charts the relationship between a university “I look forward to making a first feature that he says. “The film will depict a resurrection and will student and her distant parents. When the student is bridges my memories of growing up in a city of be full of light.” asked to visit her parents who run a medical clinic in opportunities, and my experiences working and liv- Educated in the UK and Czech Republic, Kadrnka the city, the rare family reunion is marred by their ing in foreign lands,” says Leung. made his feature debut with the autobiographical impending divorce and one of their patients’ A film directing graduate of Columbia University’s Eighty Letters (2011), which premiered in the Berli- demand for monetary compensation after a birth MFA programme, his short films include Lock, nale’s Forum. The film won the special jury award delivery that has gone wrong. At the same time, the which competed at Tribeca in 2007, and Three Boys, — Silver Alexander and the Fipresci prize at the discovery of an unplanned pregnancy means the which competed at Clermont-Ferrand and received 52nd Thessaloniki International Film Festival, woman has to decide whether to keep her own baby. the Gold Award at the Hong Kong Independent Film and travelled extensively to other fests. His second Huang has developed a distinctive voice through and Video Awards in 2009. feature, the medieval road-trip filmLittle Crusader, realistic work based on her experience as a left- More recently, Leung has been nominated for sev- premiered at Karlovy Vary in 2017, where it won the behind child in rural Hunan province. She says that eral national awards as a cinematographer. He shot Crystal Globe for best film. although the new project is partially based on her Sylvia Chang’s Murmur Of The Hearts, the opening Kadrnka, who has taught at the Academy of Per- distant relationship with her parents, it is also film of HKIFF 2015, Anocha Suwichakornpong’s forming Arts in Prague’s film and TV school since inspired by society. Locarno 2016 competition title By The Time It Gets 2014, realised after making Little Crusader how con- Her feature debut Egg And Stone, which won Rot- Dark and Johnny Ma’s Old Stone, which premiered at nected are his works. With Saving One Who Was terdam’s Tiger award in 2012, is about a 14-year-old the Berlinale and won the best Canadian first feature Dead, they form “a loose trilogy. They all share simi- girl’s sexual awakening. Her second feature The Fool- film prize at Toronto in 2016. lar motives like an absence of a person, searching ish Bird, which won a special mention after playing Producing alongside actress (and Leung’s wife) and reaching for that person [and] are formally con- in the Berlinale’s Generation 14plus section last year, Kate Reilly are curator-producer Teresa Kwong (Big nected,” he says. follows the same girl as a 17-year-old high-school Blue Lake, Dot 2 Dot and the upcoming Napping Little Crusader producer Sirius Films returns for student who yearns for love and money. Kid), and writer-director Chun Siu Chun, whose lat- Saving One Who Was Dead, which won development Huang founded production company Yellow- est directorial effort is Les Aventures d’Anthony. Edi- support from the Czech Film Fund and is currently Green Pi with her Japanese husband Ryuji Otsuka tor Mary Stephen is also attached to the project. in pre-production. who is also her producer and cinematographer. Silvia Wong Jean Noh Silvia Wong

While You Were Working Saving One Who Was Dead Stonewalling

Producers Teresa Kwong, Kate Reilly, Chun Siu Chun Producer Vaclav Kadrnka Production company Producers Ryuji Otsuka Production company Production company JABES Most Company Limited Sirius Films Budget $770,000 Finance raised to Yellow-Green Pi Budget $500,000 Contact Ryuji Budget $700,000 Contact Kate Reilly reillykate@ date $42,000 (Czech Film Fund, private sources, Otsuka [email protected] gmail.com partners and sponsors) Contact Vaclav Kadrnka [email protected]

www.screendaily.com March 21, 2018 Screen International at Filmart 13 CASE STUDY THE FOREIGNER

On foreign soil The Fyzz Facility’s Wayne Marc Godfrey talks to Liz Shackleton about setting up The Foreigner as a Sino-UK co-production that worked in both the West and China

hen Wayne Marc Godfrey established London-based fi nancing and production Woutfit The Fyzz Facility with Robert Jones in 2007, Stephen Leather’s The Chinaman — a book God- frey had read as a child — came to mind as the perfect property to adapt. “I had no attention span as a kid, but my dad was a huge Stephen Leather fan and gave me this book to read on a fam- ily holiday,” Godfrey remembers. “It was one of the fi rst books I engaged with that really got me reading.” Set in London and Belfast, the book tells the story of a Vietnamese restaura- teur and war veteran (played in the fi lm by Jackie Chan) who loses his daughter in an IRA terror blast, then hounds a government offi cial (Pierce Brosnan) to give him the names of the perpetrators so he can avenge her death. “I took Stephen Leather to lunch and The Foreigner stars Pierce Brosnan and told him I had no money but loved the Jackie Chan book and asked to option it. We agreed the deal for £100 and he gave me the rights, obviously with a deferred fee.” with Marconi. STX started to work out After meeting writer David Marconi the fi nancing with Chan’s Beijing-based ‘When I optioned the (Enemy Of The State) on a scouting trip, production outfi t Sparkle Roll. book, I wasn’t thinking Godfrey asked him to adapt the book, but move the timeframe from the early 1990s Offi cial co-production would it work in China. to the present day to make it more con- A crucial element at this stage was that In some respects, I’m temporary. He then started casting and the fi lm qualifi ed as an offi cial China co- visited Hong Kong to meet major stars production — one of the fi rst under the lucky it took so long’ Wayne Marc such as Donnie Yen, Andy Lau and Chow Sino-UK treaty — meaning it would be Wayne Marc Godfrey, The Fyzz Facility Godfrey Yun-fat, but immediately ran into his treated as a local production, and foreign fi rst hurdle. producers could enjoy a higher share of Vietnamese to Chinese soldier who Godfrey came up against: fi nding Chi- “This was before the Chinese market Chinese box office. The Foreigner was fought in the Vietnam War, helped the nese stars that have marketability out- had started to take off and, while these eventually released on China’s National fi lm tick all the regulatory boxes. side China and Southeast Asia. actors were massive stars in China, they Day holiday, when only local fi lms or offi - Production started in the UK in late The Foreigner succeeded by having a were difficult to monetise internation- cial co-productions can be released. 2015, with around 10 days of shooting in story that fi t the regulations but wasn’t ally,” Godfrey says. “You have to be sit- Godfrey says the China market didn’t China. Rolled out theatrically from Sep- trying to artifi cially combine two cultures ting down when you get their pricing cross his mind when he started develop- tember 2017, the $35m fi lm has grossed — it plays like a Hollywood action fi lm from their agents. We started to wonder ing the project. “It wasn’t important 10 almost $150m to date, including $35m that just happens to have an Asian lead. how we were going to pull it off.” or 11 years ago, not like today when you in North America and $81m in China. But fi lms starring Chan are a special case. Eventually, Godfrey went to China’s consider any opportunity to monetise The film has bucked a trend in that Not only does he have global box-offi ce biggest global name, Jackie Chan, via his China as a financier and producer. So very few Sino-foreign co-productions clout, but also the kind of infl uence with former agent at WME, Philip Button, and when I optioned the book, I wasn’t think- have performed in both China and West- Chinese authorities and fi nanciers that managed to get the star’s attention on the ing would it work in China. I was just ern markets. Recent high-profi le failures, can get fi lms into production. condition that an experienced director driven by the story. In some respects, I’m including The Great Wall and smaller- Godfrey, however, believes it is becom- was brought in. In early 2014, after work- lucky it took so long and the China mar- budgeted fi lms that have only worked in ing easier to get similar projects off the ing on the project for seven years, God- ket became so relevant and viable.” one market, or neither, have made fi nan- ground with Chinese stars. “The list of frey pitched it to STX Entertainment, In order to qualify, China co-produc- ciers and distributors wary of hybrid actors both male and female that are able which had just launched as a producer of tions require one third of the leading cast fi lms. Producers struggle to fi nd stories to cross over is increasing, which creates mid-budget movies and had Chinese and finance to be Chinese, along with that resonate across two very different more opportunities for co-productions, backing. Martin Campbell (GoldenEye, signifi cant Chinese elements in the story. cultures, and also satisfy China’s increas- especially in the $30m-$40m range. Green Lantern) was brought in as director Chan’s involvement as star and investor, ingly stringent co-production There are now more viable routes to get- and started several months of rewrites along with changing his character from a requirements. There’s also the issue that ting things done.” Is

14 Screen International at Filmart March 21, 2018 www.screendaily.com

IN FOCUS CHINESE PRODUCTION American dream With China’s local film industry booming, the US studios are finding it difficult to gain a foothold in Chinese-language production, while a few persistent indies are making inroads. Liz Shackleton reports

hree to four years ago, as Chi- production are not entirely unrelated. nese box-office growth was ‘In its Chinese studios are positioning them- starting to hit warp speed, the own way, selves as fi nanciers and co-producers of TUS studios made a string of Hollywood fi lms, but when it comes to splashy announcements about local-lan- the China projects they’re producing themselves guage production initiatives in China. market has back home they don’t really need for- In 2015, Warner Bros established eign investment. “They’re happy to Beijing-based Flagship Entertainment actually access our know-how and international with Li Ruigang’s China Media Capital already matured’ muscle but, when we’ve mentioned hav- (CMC) to produce a slate of Chinese- Sanford Panitch, Columbia Pictures ing skin in the game in terms of local language films, as well as $150m box offi ce, they didn’t need our money English-language action title The Meg. so why share the pot?” said one Around the same time, Fox lost Sanford DreamWorks Animation, selling the US-based executive with experience in Panitch, founding president of Fox 45% it didn’t already own to CMC. China who asked not to be named. International Productions (FIP), who So what is it about Chinese produc- Even when US studios develop pro- moved to a similar role at Sony, but tion that is so difficult for the world’s jects themselves from the ground up, appointed distribution veteran Tomas biggest movie-making machines to get a they face an intensely competitive envi- Jegeus to oversee local-language produc- handle on? On one level, it’s a good old- ronment for sourcing directors, writers tion, including in China. Universal also fashioned culture clash between the risk- and acting talent. There’s also the prob- started hiring executives to explore this averse, highly regulated US studios and lem of hiring and retaining local devel- Detective Chinatown II space in Beijing. the Chinese film industry’s more free- opment and production executives. Disney was also ramping up a slate of wheeling, entrepreneurial fi lmmaking While the US studios have worked hard Chinese productions, with partners style. When it comes to overseas produc- to fi nd the right people on the ground, ‘Domestic including Shanghai Media Group and tion, the US studios need to consider the Chinese studios can just pay more content Taiwan’s Wudi Pictures. There was also issues such as tax, currency remittance and are more obviously committed to DreamWorks Animation’s joint venture and compliance with the US’s anti-cor- local production over the long run. creators like with CMC, Oriental DreamWorks, estab- ruption legislation, the Foreign Corrupt Panitch, promoted last year to presi- Perfect World lished with much fanfare in 2012. Practices Act, long before they even get dent of Columbia Pictures but still understand Cut to early 2018 — when China has to worrying about creative control. working on a Chinese-language slate just scored the world’s biggest ever But these are also factors in other terri- with local executive Carrie Wong, says it the need for flexibility monthly box office with $1.6bn tories, and the US studios are currently helps if you stop thinking about China to seize opportunities’ (RMB10bn) in February — and there’s lit- much more active in other Asian and as a developing market. “China has Ellen Eliasoph, Perfect Village tle to show for the US studios’ previous international markets. Warner Bros has grown so quickly that you can’t treat it enthusiasm. While The Meg is scheduled long been producing Japanese fi lms and as a brand new market any more. In its for release in August, Flagship has only scored a Korean hit with Age Of Shadows. own way and its own timeline, it’s actu- each gross more than $360m over a holi- invested in a handful of Chinese movies, Fox also scored in South Korea with The ally already matured.” day period. “It’s a very vibrant market, so none of which have set the local box Wailing, recently wrapped Indonesian co- Of course, competition for talent is not you have to wait 18 months for a big star office on fire, and is beset by rumours production 212 Warrior and is active in just a Chinese phenomenon — the rise of to become available,” says Panitch. “But that its joint venture partner CMC has India through Fox Star Studios. Sony, too, television and streaming platforms has then you have to wait 18 months for [a pulled back from fi lm fi nancing. had hits with Pad Man in India, Psychic made securing talent much more com- star like] Dwayne Johnson to become Disney has halted Chinese-language Kusuo in Japan and a record-breaking petitive on a global level — but China is available [for a US project]. If you think of production after the fl op last summer of opening weekend for Oleg Trofi m’s Ice in the only market out- China as a mature market, then you have The Dreaming Man, a remake of 1995 Russia. If the studios are gaining so much side the US where to wait for the right directors and stars.” romcom While You Were Sleeping starring traction in other markets, they are obvi- three films can Chen Bolin. Fox shuttered FIP late last ously facing distinct obstacles in China. Indie approach year and Jegeus was moved back into the Meanwhile, some fl eet-footed indies main studio. Sony continues to develop Mature market are starting to make headway in and acquire Chinese-language produc- In some ways, the huge Chinese production — but not tions but has recently been more active in success of this year’s without years of plugging away at India and Japan, and Universal’s local crop of Chinese New the market. Among the most suc- production executives have mostly left Year films and the cessful is Australia’s Village the studio. difficulties foreign Roadshow, which last year More recently, Universal’s parent com- companies face joined forces with Beijing- pany, NBC Universal, divested itself of engaging in local based Perfect World and US the stake it inherited in Oriental talent agency WME to DreamWorks following its acquisition of (Right) Pad Man form Chinese production

16 Screen International at Filmart March 21, 2018 www.screendaily.com The Meg

‘Filmmakers are becoming more confident and trying different genres’ Winnie Lau, Ivanhoe Pictures Xiaoyan Bai Xiaoyan Monster estab- says. “Filmmakers are becoming more Hunt 2 lish its confi dent and trying different genres, and own produc- even exhibitors are becoming more open- tion team under for- minded about what they’ll book.” mer Fortissimo and Jet Tone Films executive Winnie Lau. Appointed head Persistence is key of Asia production and distribution, Lau Meanwhile, most of the US studios insist is building a Beijing-based team to they have not given up entirely on develop a slate of Chinese-language pro- Chinese production. Sony has two pro- jects, working in tandem with local pro- jects expected to go into production this duction companies. year; Warner Bros says it remains com- The US-based company — which, mitted and Fox is assessing opportunities Shadow through its team is produc- through its local distribution offi ces. They ing an English-language adaptation of are also keeping their hand in with local venture Perfect Village Entertainment. Its Eliasoph says this structure — her team Kevin Kwan’s novel Crazy Rich Asians producers by picking up Chinese fi lms to upcoming slate includes Zhang Yimou’s works out of the Perfect World offi ces in with Warner Bros — is aiming to get two distribute overseas. Sony recently took Shadow, cyber-hacker thriller Reborn and Beijing — helps to enable a creator- Chinese-language projects into produc- some territories on Monster Hunt 2 and a Hong Kong project that will be friendly environment. “Domestic content tion by the end of the year. “We’ve strug- Warner Bros distributed Detective announced at Filmart. creators like Perfect World understand gled for several years trying to impute a Chinatown 2 in North America. Perfect World — an online gaming the need for fl exibility to seize opportuni- particular methodology [in China], and They will, however, remain cautious and TV production giant — is also grow- ties before someone else does and work at finally had more success in becoming until China’s white-hot production sec- ing its distribution team, owns a cinema ‘China speed’,” she adds. “While we’re a support mechanism, allowing our tor starts to cool down. The message chain and has a slate fi nancing deal with operating in accordance with rules and local team to create a strong Chinese seems to be that if you want to get Universal for English-language pictures. procedures, we appreciate the company’s apparatus,” says SK Global president involved in Chinese-language produc- “It’s a whole different concept. We’re not entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to John Penotti. tion, at least within China, you need to just a satellite or outpost of a foreign try new things, which are essential if you Lau agrees with Panitch on how the make a major commitment in terms of company. Perfect World, a strong con- want to keep up with China’s rapidly China market has matured, not just in investment, people, developing a slate tent creator in its own right, is the major- evolving fi lm industry.” terms of infrastructure but also the audi- and building relationships with local tal- ity shareholder of Perfect Village, so SK Global’s international division ence, which is demanding better quality ent and partners. More importantly, if we’re now part of the Perfect World fam- Ivanhoe Pictures recently changed and more diverse fi lms. “You saw it last you want the best people and projects, ily,” says Perfect Village president and course in China, where it had previously year with two documentaries making a you have to prove that you’re in it for the CEO Ellen Eliasoph. invested in a few projects, deciding to mark at the box offi ce unexpectedly,” Lau long haul. Is

www.screendaily.com March 21, 2018 Screen International at Filmart 17 » Screening times and venues SCREENINGS are correct at the time of going to press but subject to alteration Edited by Paul Lindsell [email protected]

10:00 DIE TOMORROW (Thailand) Drama. 3 DAYS IN QUIBERON 75mins. Asian (Germany, Austria, Shadows. Dir: Nawapol France) Drama. 115mins. Thamrongrattanarit. Beta Cinema. Dir: Key cast: Sunny Emily Atef. Key cast: Suwanmethanont, Marie Bäumer, Birgit Patcha Poonpiriya, Sirat Minichmayr, Charly Intarachote, Rattanrat Hubner, Robert Gwisdek. Eertaweekul, Morakot Liu. In a spa hotel, Romy An anthology of short Schneider — at the time stories about the last day the biggest female star of people’s lives, inspired by in Europe — gives her newspaper headlines from last interview to two 2012 to 2016. journalists. Three days, Meeting Room N206-N207, driven by romantic desire, HKCEC professional ambition and the urge for life. GIRLS’ ENCOUNTER Meeting Room N101A, HKCEC (Japan) Drama. 101mins. Glasgow15. Dir: Yuka GRASS Eda. Key cast: Moeka (South Korea) Drama. Hoshi, Serena Motola. 66mins. Finecut Co. Miyuri Obara loses her Dir: Hong Sangsoo. FILMART voice after being bullied. Key cast: Kim Minhee, especially as Yudhis In a yurt on the snow- She is unable to assert 10:00 Jung Jinyoung, Ki to Marseille in the nick of becomes increasingly covered fields of the north, herself, nor does she have Joobong, Seo Younghwa. TRANSIT time. In his luggage, he controlling. Lala, with her Nanook and Sedna follow the courage to cut her Down an alley where one (Germany) Drama. carries the documents of athlete’s determination, the traditions of their wrists. Miyuri’s only friend wouldn’t expect to find 101mins. The Match an author, Weidel, who fights for the relationship ancestors. Alone in the is a silkworm she found in it, there is a coffeehouse Factory. Dir: Christian has taken his own life in even as Yudhis’s actions wilderness, they look like the mountains. Naming it where people sit and Petzold. Key cast: Franz fear of his persecutors. escalate. the last people on Earth. Tsumugi, she takes good talk among themselves. Rogowski, Paula Beer, Those documents include Hong Kong Arts Centre Their traditional way care of it. But one day, Opposite the coffee house, Godehard Giese. a manuscript, letters and Cinema of life starts changing bully Shimizu finds out the owner of a small German troops are fast visa assurance from the — slowly but inevitably. about the silkworm and grocery store has planted approaching Paris. Georg, Mexican embassy. SARA’S NOTEBOOK Chena, who visits them throws it away. various kinds of vegetables a German refugee, escapes Theatre 1, HKCEC (Spain) Action/adventure. regularly, is their only Meeting Room N201B, HKCEC that sprout up inside large 115mins. Film Factory connection to the outside rubber basins. As time Entertainment. Dir: world. Their daughter I’VE GOT THE BLUES passes, the people sitting Suzuki. Key cast: Yo A janitor in Warsaw Norberto Lopez Amado. Ag left the icy tundra a (Hong Kong) Action/ at different tables grow Yoshida, Hiroshi Tamaki, stumbles on a time- Key cast: Belen Rueda, long time ago because adventure. 90mins. familiar with each other Shuhei Nomura. travelling device and gets Marian Alvarez. of a family feud. When Good Move Media. and start to mix. One A pastry chef decides to go stuck in the past, while the Laura has spent years Sedna’s health deteriorates, Dir: Angie Chen. woman observes the others to the mysterious Clinic woman he’s been seeing looking for her sister, Sara, Nanook decides to fulfil Documentary about the and writes down her Love Doc, which lets searches for him. who went missing in the her wish. He embarks artist Yank Wong — thoughts. Even as people know everything Meeting Room N111-N112, depths of the Congolese on a journey to see their painter, art director, set the night grows late, they about love through a gene HKCEC jungle. Neither the NGO daughter. designer, writer, musician all remain in the coffee test. she works for, nor the Meeting Room N101A, HKCEC and photographer. house. Meeting Room N202-N203, MIND CAGE embassy, have news of Hong Kong Arts Centre Meeting Room N201B, HKCEC HKCEC (Cambodia) Horror/ her whereabouts until a CARMEN Cinema suspense. 85mins. photo appears of Sara in a (Italy) Musical. 40mins. ICE BLUE LUNA Cambodia Film mining town. Apparently, Rai Com Spa. Dir: OF LOVE & LAW (Canada) Horror/ (France) Drama. 85mins. Commission. Dir: Amit she is being held captive by Valentina Carrasco. Key (Japan, UK, France) suspense. 104mins. Pyramide International. Dubey. Key cast: Sveng The Hawk, the fearsome cast: Jesus Lopexcobos, Documentary. 94mins. Telefilm Canada. Dir: Elsa Diringer. Socheata, Ros Mony, Keo rebel leader who controls Veronica Simeoni, Hakawati and Little Dir: Sandi Somers. Luna would do anything to Ratha, Sarita Reth. the mafias behind a prized Roberto Aronica. Stranger Films. Key cast: Michelle keep Ruben’s love. During A psychiatrist struggles to mineral. An opera in four acts. Dir: Hikaru Toda. Morgan, Billy Maclellan, an evening of partying and defeat superstition and old Meeting Room N201A, HKCEC Meeting Room N109-N110, Fumi and Kazu are Sophia Lauchlin Hirt. drinking, Luna and her beliefs when a disgraced HKCEC partners in love and law; A teenage girl’s life is friends assault a young traditional healer threatens TRANSIT they run the first law turned upside down when man. A few weeks later he to tear his world apart. See box, above DAMNED SUMMER firm in Japan set up by her long-estranged mother reappears. Luna will have Room N101B, HKCEC (Portugal) Romance. an openly gay couple. As 12:00 mysteriously returns to to make choices. 128mins. Slingshot Films. lawyers driven by their their isolated family farm, Meeting Room N102-N103, POSESIF AGA Dir: Pedro Cabeleira. own experience of being revealing a dark past. HKCEC (Indonesia) Drama. (Sakha Republic) Drama. Idling afternoons, drugs, outsiders, they attract a Meeting Room N109-N110, 102mins. Good Move 96mins. Beta Cinema. heartbreaks, psychedelic range of clients who reveal HKCEC THE MAN WITH THE MAGIC Media. Dir: Edwin. Dir: Milko Lazarov. Key moods immersed in music. the hidden diversity of a BOX Lala, a national diver, cast: Mikhail Aprosimov, An adrenaline rush with country that prides itself LOVE X DOC (Poland, Italy) Romance. meets her first love, Yudhis, Feodosia Ivanova, Galina Lisbon as the backdrop to a on collective obedience, (Japan) Comedy. 114mins. 103mins. Reel Suspects. the new kid at school. The Tikhonova, Sergei Egorov, drifting youth. politeness and conformity. Asmik Ace. Dir: Osamu Dir: Bodo Kox. two are quickly inseparable, Afanasy Klaev. Meeting Room N201A, HKCEC Tired of being silenced »

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Documentary. 66mins. came from. She wakes BidSlate. Dir: Sally Rowe. up in a ship and meets a Key cast: Paul Sorensen. woman named Toko. Sana, New Zealand farmer who doesn’t have anywhere Paul Sorenson has a to go, begins living in unique connection with Toko’s house. his colleagues — a team of Theatre 1, HKCEC sheep dogs. For 40 years, he has worked to develop SAMURAI JUSTICE smarter and more intuitive (Japan) Drama. 72mins. training methods for fellow Shochiku Co. (TV farmers, while grappling Program). Dir: Yukiyoshi with memories of a difficult Onoda. Key cast: Makoto childhood. Reaching Fujita. retirement, the veteran A father and son, dog whisperer passes his swordsmen with opposite knowledge to the next personalities, make a generation of shepherds, living by way of the sword. and reflects on the sacrifices Kohei’s refined life and he has made to pursue his the atmosphere of an Edo intense passion for the dogs. village are also woven into Meeting Room N109-N110, the story. HKCEC Meeting Room N102-N103, HKCEC OUR HOUSE 14:30 FILMART (Japan) Drama. 80mins. 94mins. Shochiku Co. Dir: in her university. Songha Pia Film Festival. Dir: THIS CRAZY HEART 12:00 all had connections Katsuyuki Motohiro. is handsome and an Yui Kiyohara. Key cast: (Germany) Drama. XIAO MEI with her gradually piece The time is the end of the outstanding student. Nodoka Kawanishi, 107mins. Global Screen. (Taiwan) Drama. together the puzzles of her Samurai era (Edo) and Choranay loves Songha Yasuno Yukiko, Osawa Dir: Marc Rothemund. 95mins. Mandarin life. None of them knows the Meiji government is and proposes to him, only Mariwo. Key cast: Elyas M’Barek, Vision. Dir: Maren where Xiao Mei has founded in Japan. Legend to be rejected. Songha gives Two different stories set Philip Noah Schwarz. Hwang. Key cast: Jao gone, but all they want has it that Orochi, a her a second chance if she in the same house. Seri, When 30-ish rich kid Cincin. is for her to be all right, gigantic snake with special completes all his conditions, 14, lives with her mother, Lenny has to take care of Xiao Mei is missing. The so everything will be all powers, revives itself every which includes bringing up Kiriko. Kiriko has a new 15-year-old David, who interviews and memories right. 300 years bringing harm her failing grades to A+, boyfriend and Seri is is suffering from heart of nine individuals who Theatre 2, HKCEC to the country. Three losing weight and winning against it. One day Seri disease, it is the beginning young brothers who are the Miss University award. takes out a Christmas of a wild adventure. the guardians of Kumou Meeting Room N111-N112, tree from the warehouse Meeting Room N201A, HKCEC and made to feel invisible, 14:00 shrine try to prevent the HKCEC of her late father. Sana 16:00 the lawyers and their Orochi from coming back is a woman who lost her misfit clients expose and CREAM OF MOVIE II (HONG to life. However, the evil OLD DOG memory suddenly. She ADIEU challenge the archaic KONG DESIGN INSTITUTE) Fuma ninja clan attempts (New Zealand) doesn’t know where she See box, below status quo that deems (Hong Kong) Drama. to use the power of Orochi them second-class citizens. 68mins. Hong Kong in order to weaken the With the backdrop of civil Design Institute. government, letting the liberties under attack, Meeting Room N201B, HKCEC snake attack and eventually this film poses universal take over Japan. questions about what it DISTINCTION Meeting Room N206-N207, takes to be an individual, (Hong Kong) Drama. HKCEC what it means to be a 100mins. Golden Scene minority and what role Co. Dir: Au Man Kit. Key MERMAID UNLIMITED a family plays in our cast: Cecilia Yip, Jennifer (South Korea) Drama. increasingly polarised Yu, Kaki Sham, Jo Kuk, 105mins. Mirovision. world. Chung King-Fai. Dir: O Muel. Key cast: Theatre 1, HKCEC Depite their disparate Jeon Hye-bin, Moon backgrounds, Ka-ho, a Hee-kyoung. XIAO MEI student from a Band 3 Yeongju is fired from the See box, above school, and Zoey, who aquarium due to repeated has always been a star drunkeness at work. 12:10 student, have both joined When Ga-yeon hears of a GOD’S NOT DEAD: A LIGHT the volunteer programme position on Jeju island for IN DARKNESS offered by a special school a synchronized swimming FILMART (US) Drama. 140mins. named Kai Kwong. As they coach, Yeongju has a 16:00 Pure Flix/Quality Flix. get along with the students chance of redemption. worker is given three cases. old lady aged 80 who is Dir: Michael Mason. there, they begin to gain Meeting Room N101A, HKCEC ADIEU The first is a middle-class said to have a year to live. Key cast: John Corbett, insight into themselves, (Hong Kong) Drama. family of three with a All three hold a different Tatum O’Neal, David AR and the motive to mend MY JUNIOR MY CRUSH 96mins. Golden Scene little girl named Yanyan attitude to their disease White. relationships. (Cambodia) Comedy. Co. Dir: Kenneth Lau. diagnosed with blood but they are getting closer Pastor Dave responds Hong Kong Arts Centre 100mins. Rock Key cast: Louis Cheung, cancer. The second is a to death every day and to the tragedy of having Cinema Entertainment. Dir: Sok Michelle Wai, Helena young adult called Ka the time to say goodbye is his church, located in Leakhna. Key cast: Sok Law, Gladys Li, Hedwig Shun, a bride-to-be who approaching. the grounds of a local LAUGHING UNDER THE Somavatey, Yim Nara. Tam. is diagnosed with brain Hong Kong Arts Centre university, burned down. CLOUDS Choranay is a lazy girl and A happy-go-lucky social cancer. The third is an Cinema Meeting Room N201A, HKCEC (Japan) Action/adventure. has the worst appearance »

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one night and shows her Films Boutique. Dir: a dead body. She is lost Markus Imhoof. for words when Yamada Drawing inspiration from says: “Seeing this gives his personal encounter Editorial office: Room G202, second floor, Hong Kong me courage.” Kozue, a with Italian refugee child Convention and Exhibition younger student and model Giovanna during the Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wanchai, Hong Kong who also sees this dead Second World War, Markus Filmart stand: 1A-B19 body as a treasure, turns Imhoof tells how refugees up and the three of them and migrants are treated Editorial become bound in a peculiar today. Tel +852 2582 8958 friendship. Yamada hides Meeting Room N101A, HKCEC Editor Matt Mueller, matt. his homosexuality and [email protected] sells his body downtown. MAMA Asia editor Liz Shackleton, Kanna has a violent (China) Documentary. [email protected] passion for Yamada. 89mins. Hangzhou Deputy Asia editor and Kannonzaki cannot hold Helebuwei Culture & Film Korea correspondent back his violent impulses. Co. Dir: Jin Xingzheng. Jean Noh, hjnoh2007@ gmail.com Kozue is bulimic; Rumi is Luo Zhangjie is 88 years Contributing writer (Asia) Haruna’s friend but sleeps old. Her son Qi Caizheng Silvia Wong, screenasia@ with Kannonzaki. One day, caught meningitis while yahoo.com Yamada tells her that he serving in the army, which Reviews editor Finn has found another body. resulted in him sufferring Halligan, finn.halligan@ FILMART Meeting Room N201A, HKCEC memory loss. He cannot screendaily.com parents, the troubled even perform basic tasks Group head of production 16:00 rejection between a detective assigned to the UNTIL THE DAY FREEDOM such as dressing himself. and art Mark Mowbray, GIRLS ALWAYS HAPPY mother and daughter in case and, finally, the young COMES No one can approach him mark.mowbray@screendaily. com (China) Drama. 117mins. contemporary Beijing, woman herself. What (Japan) Horror/ for risk of being attacked. Dir: Yang Mingming. reflecting the power of happens when ordinary suspense. 124mins. Asahi Only his mama is able Sub-editors Paul Lindsell, Jon Lysons, Tim Mawdsley, Key cast: Yang tenderness in the midst of days are interrupted by an Broadcasting Corporation. to get close to him. She Adam Richmond Mingming. despair. extraordinary event? Dir: Tomojiro Amano. is blind in her right eye, Portrait of conflict and Theatre 1, HKCEC Meeting Room N102-N103, Key cast: Miyabi, Kyoko and her arm was broken Advertising HKCEC Miyauchi, Shinichi Hirose. by her son. However, Tel +1 323 654 2301 A young woman who is Luo Zhangjie has cared Sales consultant AN ELEPHANT SITTING mother who instinctively RIVER’S EDGE being harrassed at work for her son selflessly for Ingrid Hammond, STILL claims her back. (Japan) Drama. 118mins. decides to exact her revenge four decades without any [email protected] (China) Drama. 234mins. Meeting Room N101A, HKCEC Kino Films Co. Dir: Isao on the perpetrators. complaint. President, North America Rediance Films. Dir: Hu Yukisada. Key cast: Fumi Meeting Room N101B, HKCEC Meeting Room N201A, HKCEC Nigel Daly, +1 323 654 Bo. GIRLS ALWAYS HAPPY Nikaidou. 2301 / 213 447 5120, 18:00 18:10 To protect his friend, See box, above After Haruna saves him [email protected] 16-year-old Wei Bu pushes from her bullying boyfriend ELDORADO SUNSHINE THAT CAN MOVE International account the school bully down the I AM JOY CHATTERJEE Kannonzaki, Yamada (Switzerland, Germany) MOUNTAINS manager Raphael Bechakjian, +44 90 050 staircase and escapes after (India) Drama. 108mins. invites her to the riverside Documentary. 92mins. See box, below 0799, raphael bechakjian@ the bully is hospitalised Aadiiv Kreation. Dir: screendaily.com with his life hanging by a Manoj Michigan. Key Production manager thread. Wei’s neighbour, cast: Abir Chatterjee Jonathon Cooke, jonathon. 60-year-old Wang Jin, Jaya Ahsan Sabyasachi [email protected] is estranged from his Chakraborty. Sales co-ordinator and family and decides to join The journey of Joy festival manager Rebecca him. Huang Ling, Wei’s Chatterjee, a ruthless, Moran, +44 20 8102 0829, rebecca.moran@screendaily. classmate, is bedeviled by self-centred and egoistic com an affair with the school businessman, whose Commercial director official. Together, the definition of life and its Scott Benfold, scott. desperate three decide to situations is described by [email protected] flee as the wounded bully’s the all important “I”, “me” Publishing director hooligan brother, the school and “myself ”. One fine day, Nadia Romdhani authorities and the parents life takes a turn when Joy Managing director, all go on a cold-blooded goes missing. publishing and events hunt for Wei across town. Meeting Room N104-N105, Alison Pitchford In the end, he boards a HKCEC Chief executive officer, MBI long-distance bus with Conor Dignam Huang and Wang toward ORDINARY DAYS Printer G.L. Graphic & Manchuria, where a circus (Canada) Action/ Printing Ltd, level 1-8, Howard Factory Building, elephant is said to be adventure. 83mins. 66 Tsun Yip Street, Kwun sitting still. Telefilm Canada. Dir: Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong Meeting Room N201B, HKCEC Jordan Canning, Kris FILMART Published by Media Booth, Renuka Jeyapalan. Business Insight Ltd 18:10 DAUGHTER OF MINE Key cast: Jacqueline Jigme, Sonnam Droga. he refuses his mother’s (MBI) Zetland House, (Italy, Germany, Byers, Michael Xavier, SUNSHINE THAT CAN A young Tibetan monk offer to stay and marry 5-25 Scrutton Street, London EC2A 4HJ Switzerland) Drama. Joris Jarsky. MOVE MOUNTAINS living in a temple returns her. A poignant portrait 100mins. Match Factory. Follows the mysterious (China) Drama. home to visit his brother, of the Tibetan people Subscription customer services +44 330 333 9414, Dir: Laura Bispuri. disappearance of a bright, 107mins. Hong Kong who is in a vegetative living in a vanishing [email protected]. A daughter torn between athletic college student International Film state. Despite finding culture with their sacred com two mothers, one who over five tense days, Festival. Dir: Wang himself enamored of traditions. raised her with love, and played from three different Qiang. Key cast: Tenzin his brother’s fiancée, Theatre 1, HKCEC the other her biological perspectives: her worried

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