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Patrick Brzeski

Asia Bureau Chief

More from Patrick Brzeski

Chinese Auteur Jia Zhang-ke’s ‘Caught By the Tides’ Sells to Sideshow, Janus Films for U.S. Distribution

Sideshow and Janus Films have snapped up U.S. distribution rights to Chinese master filmmaker Jia Zhangke’s latest feature Caught by the Tides, which premiered to rave reviews at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The two distributors said they will “release the film exclusively in theaters in the coming months.” Caught by the Tides is composed almost […]

Rising Taiwanese Editing Studio Cutting Edge Films Keeps the Festival Hits Coming

What did five of the most critically acclaimed Asian movies that premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival have in common? They all were edited by rising Taiwanese studio Cutting Edge Films.  Formally established only in 2022, the company comprises a small group of film professionals who have worked together for over a decade. They […]

Shanghai Film Festival: Kazakh Drama ‘The Divorce’ Takes Top Prize

The 26th Shanghai International Film Festival came to a glitzy conclusion Saturday as Kazakh film The Divorce, directed by Daniyar Salamat, took home the top Golden Goblet award for best feature at a star-studded closing ceremony in the Chinese commercial capital. A period drama set in the 1920s during the establishment of Soviet authority on the Kazakh steppe, […]

Shanghai: Zeng Zi’s ‘Friday, Funfair’ Wins Asian New Talents Top Prize

Chinese drama Friday, Funfair, directed by Zeng Zi, was named best film of the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival’s Asian New Talent section, which honors distinguished works by emerging filmmakers from across the Asia-Pacific region. The film is in tune with a recent trend in Chinese cinema of tackling the pressures and hardships women face […]

‘Train to Busan’ Director Yeon Sang-ho Teams With Alfonso Cuarón for Netflix Thriller ‘Revelations’ (Exclusive)

Korean multi-talent Yeon Sang-ho is getting back in business with Netflix for his next feature film — with a little help from Oscar-winning filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón. Yeon has signed to direct a movie adaptation of his own popular Korean webtoon, Revelations, with Cuarón onboard to executive produce and consult on the project.  Yeon first became […]

Imax Expands Partnership With China’s Wanda Film

Imax Corporation and Wanda Film, China’s largest movie exhibitor, are deepening their longstanding partnership with a new deal to upgrade technology and collaborate on future events and experiences. Wanda Film is already Imax’s biggest exhibition partner in the world, with 381 Imax locations in operation across China — and another 19 already on the way. The deal […]

Shanghai: CMC Pictures to Release Chen Sicheng’s Spy Thriller Tentpole ‘Decoded’ in U.S., U.K. (Exclusive)

Chinese distributor CMC Pictures has taken the worldwide rights — excluding China — to local hitmaker Chen Sicheng’s much-anticipated next feature, Decoded. The company says it will release the film theatrically in North America, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand and other major international markets later this year following its Chinese bow, expected in the second half […]

China’s Zhang Yimou to Direct ‘Three-Body Problem’ Movie

Liu Cixin’s best-selling sci-fi book The Three-Body Problem is heading home to China to get another screen adaptation. Zhang Yimou, arguably China’s most revered living filmmaker, is set to direct a Chinese-language feature film based on the novel, it was revealed Sunday during a forum at the Shanghai International Film festival. In Shanghai, Wang Changtian, […]

China Box Office: Japanese Anime ‘Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle’ Tops Weekend, Guan Hu’s Cannes Winner ‘Black Dog’ Opens Quietly

Japanese anime was back on top at China’s box office over the weekend as volleyball movie Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle dominated ticket sales during a downbeat period for moviegoing in the country. Released Saturday, the imported film won the Friday-to-Sunday frame with a $9.8 million debut, according to data from Artisan Gateway. Holdover local youth […]

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Secures China Release Date (With Some Censorship Cuts)

Disney/Marvel Studios’ wildly anticipated Deadpool & Wolverine has landed a day-and-date release in China on July 26. The approval from Beijing’s film regulators marks the first time the Merc with a Mouth has gotten the greenlight to launch in China simultaneously with the U.S. Disney announced the news Monday over Marvel’s Chinese social media accounts. The […]

Shanghai Film Festival: 5 Chinese Movies Not to Miss

Less than a decade ago, the Shanghai International Film Festival was the preeminent annual hotspot for Hollywood and European dealmakers determined to forge alliances and carve out a foothold in China’s then-booming commercial film sector. In the post-pandemic era, however, as the Chinese industry continues to mature and the Hollywood hype over the country’s market […]

Hollywood Flashback: How the 1980 ‘Shogun’ Was Pretty True to Japan

Paramount Television’s Shogun was arguably the original international event series. The five-part TV adaptation of James Clavell’s sprawling 1975 novel of the same name became a pop culture sensation when it aired on NBC in 1980, winning an Emmy for outstanding limited series and the Golden Globe for best television series in the drama category. […]

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