South Korea’s Redice Entertainment, creator of hit webtoon Solo Leveling, has invested in Thai horror The Cursed Land as the company moves to extend activities outside its home market.
Redice Entertainment CEO Woogy Han and Neramitnung Film CEO Kanogwan Watchara signed an investment agreement in Bangkok on Thursday (March 7). It marks the first major outside investment in a Neramitnung Film production, which has previously fully financed its own titles.
“We see immense potential in Thai films, particularly within the horror genre,” said Han. “Genre films like The Cursed Land have a widespread appeal worldwide, presenting us with significant opportunities for growth.
Redice Entertainment CEO Woogy Han and Neramitnung Film CEO Kanogwan Watchara signed an investment agreement in Bangkok on Thursday (March 7). It marks the first major outside investment in a Neramitnung Film production, which has previously fully financed its own titles.
“We see immense potential in Thai films, particularly within the horror genre,” said Han. “Genre films like The Cursed Land have a widespread appeal worldwide, presenting us with significant opportunities for growth.
- 3/8/2024
- ScreenDaily
Today, when we hear dubbing artists, our first thought goes to the ones who make anime and movies available to movie lovers around the world by translating media into a native language. However, Nonzee Nimibutr’s Once Upon a Star brings to us a culture from Thailand where dubbing artists toured the country in buses and used projectors and mics to show movies and dub with their voices. Often used as a tactic to sell items, this was a very popular culture in Thailand during the ’50s and ’60s. Starring quite a few popular actors in Thai cinema, here’s a detailed review of the latest Thai release on Netflix, Once Upon a Star.
Spoilers Ahead
Plot Synopsis: What’s The Movie About?
Manit, Kao, and Uncle Man are a three-man team working for a company that sells medicines, but to attract customers, they’ve got a rather unique way.
Spoilers Ahead
Plot Synopsis: What’s The Movie About?
Manit, Kao, and Uncle Man are a three-man team working for a company that sells medicines, but to attract customers, they’ve got a rather unique way.
- 10/11/2023
- by Indrayudh Talukdar
- Film Fugitives
Once Upon a Star is a 2023 Thai period comedy film directed by Nonzee Nimibutr and starring Sukollawat Kanaros, Nuengthida Sophon, Jirayu LA-ongmanee, and Samart Payakaroon. It was released on Netflix on October 11, 2023.
The film is set in 1970 and follows the story of a traveling pharma-cinema troupe as they journey across Thailand to entertain eager audiences by live-dubbing beloved films. The troupe consists of a group of colorful characters, including a charming leader, a talented actress, a shy projectionist, and a bumbling assistant.
As they travel from village to village, the troupe faces a number of challenges, including mechanical difficulties, financial struggles, and even a romantic rivalry. However, they persevere through it all, determined to bring the joy of cinema to everyone they meet.
Once Upon a Star is a heartwarming and nostalgic film that celebrates the golden age of Thai cinema.
Release Date
October 11, 2023
Where to Watch Once Upon a Star...
The film is set in 1970 and follows the story of a traveling pharma-cinema troupe as they journey across Thailand to entertain eager audiences by live-dubbing beloved films. The troupe consists of a group of colorful characters, including a charming leader, a talented actress, a shy projectionist, and a bumbling assistant.
As they travel from village to village, the troupe faces a number of challenges, including mechanical difficulties, financial struggles, and even a romantic rivalry. However, they persevere through it all, determined to bring the joy of cinema to everyone they meet.
Once Upon a Star is a heartwarming and nostalgic film that celebrates the golden age of Thai cinema.
Release Date
October 11, 2023
Where to Watch Once Upon a Star...
- 10/10/2023
- by Movies Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
WME Independent is handling international sales on the film at Cannes.
Ananda Everingham, Bront Palarae and Jennis Oprasert have been revealed as the cast of Thai horror The Cursed Land, on which WME Independent is handling international sales at Cannes.
Written and directed by Panu Aree and Kong Rithdee as their directorial fiction feature debut, the film follows a widower and his daughter who travel to Thailand’s deep south to seek help from a Muslim witch doctor after unleashing a djinn in a rundown house. A first look at Ananda in the film can be seen above.
Ananda is...
Ananda Everingham, Bront Palarae and Jennis Oprasert have been revealed as the cast of Thai horror The Cursed Land, on which WME Independent is handling international sales at Cannes.
Written and directed by Panu Aree and Kong Rithdee as their directorial fiction feature debut, the film follows a widower and his daughter who travel to Thailand’s deep south to seek help from a Muslim witch doctor after unleashing a djinn in a rundown house. A first look at Ananda in the film can be seen above.
Ananda is...
- 5/17/2023
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
Johnnie To, Watanabe Hirobumi and Jang Sun-woo set to attend.
The Far East Film Festival (Feff), held in the Italian town of Udine, has revealed the full line-up for its landmark 25th edition, which is set to include appearances from filmmakers Johnnie To, Watanabe Hirobumi and Jang Sun-woo.
Running April 21-29, the festival will open with a double bill: He Shuming’s Ajoomma, the first co-production between Singapore and South Korea; and black comedy Bad Education by Taiwan’s Giddens Ko. It will close with Zhang Yimou’s Chinese blockbuster Full River Red.
The festival will screen 78 Asian films from 14 countries,...
The Far East Film Festival (Feff), held in the Italian town of Udine, has revealed the full line-up for its landmark 25th edition, which is set to include appearances from filmmakers Johnnie To, Watanabe Hirobumi and Jang Sun-woo.
Running April 21-29, the festival will open with a double bill: He Shuming’s Ajoomma, the first co-production between Singapore and South Korea; and black comedy Bad Education by Taiwan’s Giddens Ko. It will close with Zhang Yimou’s Chinese blockbuster Full River Red.
The festival will screen 78 Asian films from 14 countries,...
- 4/6/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
The Far East Film Festival in Italy’s Udine will open with a double bill of He Shuming’s “Ajoomma” and Kai Ko’s “Bad Education.” It will close with Zhang Yimou’s blockbuster period epic “Full River Red.”
In between, the festival will showcase a stunning 78-title array of commercial and art-house films from across East Asia. Operating according to a motto of diversity –implying cultural asymmetries and artistic multiplicities – the 25th edition of the festival will run April 21-29.
Organizers say that their selection “shows in real time how the cinemas of East and Southeast Asia have re-emerged from the gruelling period of the pandemic, not all in the same way and not all with the same results.”
They point to the impact of Covid, politics and emigration from Hong Kong, and the recent resurgence of Cantonese-language cinema.
Similarly, Udine’s organizers note the recent box office struggles of South Korean cinema,...
In between, the festival will showcase a stunning 78-title array of commercial and art-house films from across East Asia. Operating according to a motto of diversity –implying cultural asymmetries and artistic multiplicities – the 25th edition of the festival will run April 21-29.
Organizers say that their selection “shows in real time how the cinemas of East and Southeast Asia have re-emerged from the gruelling period of the pandemic, not all in the same way and not all with the same results.”
They point to the impact of Covid, politics and emigration from Hong Kong, and the recent resurgence of Cantonese-language cinema.
Similarly, Udine’s organizers note the recent box office struggles of South Korean cinema,...
- 4/5/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Filmmakers had called for a boycott over the rule change.
The organisers behind Thailand’s Suphannahong National Film Awards have dropped a rule that would effectively disqualify independent features from nomination following a major backlash.
A recent rule change by the National Federation of Motion Pictures and Contents Associations (Mpc) stated that theatrical releases in five regions of Thailand and a minimum of 50,000 cinema admissions were required for a film to be considered for nomination. These regions include Bangkok, Chiangmai (the north), Chonburi (the east), Nakhon Ratchasima (the northeast) and Nakhon Si Thammarat (the south).
It meant that, earlier this week,...
The organisers behind Thailand’s Suphannahong National Film Awards have dropped a rule that would effectively disqualify independent features from nomination following a major backlash.
A recent rule change by the National Federation of Motion Pictures and Contents Associations (Mpc) stated that theatrical releases in five regions of Thailand and a minimum of 50,000 cinema admissions were required for a film to be considered for nomination. These regions include Bangkok, Chiangmai (the north), Chonburi (the east), Nakhon Ratchasima (the northeast) and Nakhon Si Thammarat (the south).
It meant that, earlier this week,...
- 3/31/2023
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
The Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy, is back in full force in 2023, celebrating its 25th anniversary edition from April 21–29.
A key component of the celebrations will be a focus on the Asian films of the 1980s. “We have never programmed these films, nor put together this kind of program before,” says Thomas Bertacche, the Feff’s co-head. “But these were the films and directors that inspired us to shape Udine into the festival that it is today.”
Pitching the historical lineup as “hidden treasures,” the selection is expected to include early works by Japan’s Kurosawa Kiyoshi, Thailand’s Nonzee Nimibutr and South Korea’s Jan Sung-woo.
Roger Garcia, former executive director of the Hong Kong International Film Festival, is set to curate a section on Leung Po-chi, the 83-year-old British-Hong Kong director who made the leap from commercials to TV and into film. Leung was at the...
A key component of the celebrations will be a focus on the Asian films of the 1980s. “We have never programmed these films, nor put together this kind of program before,” says Thomas Bertacche, the Feff’s co-head. “But these were the films and directors that inspired us to shape Udine into the festival that it is today.”
Pitching the historical lineup as “hidden treasures,” the selection is expected to include early works by Japan’s Kurosawa Kiyoshi, Thailand’s Nonzee Nimibutr and South Korea’s Jan Sung-woo.
Roger Garcia, former executive director of the Hong Kong International Film Festival, is set to curate a section on Leung Po-chi, the 83-year-old British-Hong Kong director who made the leap from commercials to TV and into film. Leung was at the...
- 3/13/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix has revealed the first images from “Hunger,” an upcoming Thai drama film in which a woman in her twenties chases her dreams in the unsavory world of fine dining.
The film stars Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying, locally known as ‘Aokbab’ and internationally recognized as the star of “Bad Genius,” in the lead role. She plays alongside Gunn Svasti Na Ayudhya (“Diary of Tootsies”) as the sous-chef who gives her a break and Nopachai ‘Peter’ Jayanama as her ingenious and intolerant rival.
Directed by Sitisiri Mongkolsiri and produced by Kongdej Jaturanrasame and Soros Sukhum (“Memoria”) through Song Sound Productions, the show is expected to be uploaded in April.
“Hunger” is part of a wider menu of Thai-language films and series content set out by Netflix late last year. Other Thai contnet in the pipeline included writer-director Prueksa Amaruji’s dark comedy film “Lost Lotteries”; veteran director Wisit Sasanatieng (“Tears of the Black...
The film stars Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying, locally known as ‘Aokbab’ and internationally recognized as the star of “Bad Genius,” in the lead role. She plays alongside Gunn Svasti Na Ayudhya (“Diary of Tootsies”) as the sous-chef who gives her a break and Nopachai ‘Peter’ Jayanama as her ingenious and intolerant rival.
Directed by Sitisiri Mongkolsiri and produced by Kongdej Jaturanrasame and Soros Sukhum (“Memoria”) through Song Sound Productions, the show is expected to be uploaded in April.
“Hunger” is part of a wider menu of Thai-language films and series content set out by Netflix late last year. Other Thai contnet in the pipeline included writer-director Prueksa Amaruji’s dark comedy film “Lost Lotteries”; veteran director Wisit Sasanatieng (“Tears of the Black...
- 2/1/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix has revealed its debut slate of original Thai productions, including four feature films and two TV series.
The four films will be produced in partnership with local production partners Gmm Studios International, Song Sound Production, Transformation Films, and 18 Tanwa.
The slate includes Director Sitisiri Mongkolsiri’s latest Hunger, which is billed as a restaurant drama that follows Aoy, a woman in her twenties, who runs her family’s local stir-fried noodles restaurant in the old quarter of Bangkok. One day, she receives an invitation to leave the family business and join team ‘Hunger’, Thailand’s number one luxury Chef’s table team led by the famously ingenious, and infamously nasty, Chef Paul.
Writer-director Prueksa Amaruji will bring The Lost Lotteries, produced by Ekachai Uekrongtham, to the streamer. The film is billed as a heist-comedy film about 5 losers united by a crazy mission to retrieve their 30-million-baht winning lottery...
The four films will be produced in partnership with local production partners Gmm Studios International, Song Sound Production, Transformation Films, and 18 Tanwa.
The slate includes Director Sitisiri Mongkolsiri’s latest Hunger, which is billed as a restaurant drama that follows Aoy, a woman in her twenties, who runs her family’s local stir-fried noodles restaurant in the old quarter of Bangkok. One day, she receives an invitation to leave the family business and join team ‘Hunger’, Thailand’s number one luxury Chef’s table team led by the famously ingenious, and infamously nasty, Chef Paul.
Writer-director Prueksa Amaruji will bring The Lost Lotteries, produced by Ekachai Uekrongtham, to the streamer. The film is billed as a heist-comedy film about 5 losers united by a crazy mission to retrieve their 30-million-baht winning lottery...
- 10/11/2022
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Four features and two series include the latest from award-winning director Wisit Sasanatieng.
Netflix has announced its first ever slate of original features and series from Thailand, directed by a string of award-winning filmmakers and produced by powerhouse studios Gdh and Gmm.
The films include The Murderer, directed by Wisit Sasanatieng, which marks the streaming platform’s first feature in the northeastern Thai dialect. It stars popular Thai comedian Mum Jokmok as a policeman who investigates whether an English man has killed his Thai in-laws.
Wisit is known for titles such as Western homage Tears Of The Black Tiger, which...
Netflix has announced its first ever slate of original features and series from Thailand, directed by a string of award-winning filmmakers and produced by powerhouse studios Gdh and Gmm.
The films include The Murderer, directed by Wisit Sasanatieng, which marks the streaming platform’s first feature in the northeastern Thai dialect. It stars popular Thai comedian Mum Jokmok as a policeman who investigates whether an English man has killed his Thai in-laws.
Wisit is known for titles such as Western homage Tears Of The Black Tiger, which...
- 10/11/2022
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
International streaming company Netflix has unveiled six new titles representing its first wide-ranging slate of content from Thailand.
Its four films and two series span the comedy, suspense and comedy drama genres and hail from six different local production firms – Gmm Studios, International, Gdh, Song Sound Productions, Transformation Films, 18 Tanwa and Jungka Bangkok. Significantly, too, they are sourced from established directors or producers.
Writer-director Prueksa Amaruji’s dark comedy film “Lost Lotteries” is produced by Ekachai Uekrongtham and will stream from mid-November.
Writer-producer Kongdej Jaturanrasmee and veteran indie producer Soros Sukhum are behind director Sitisiri Mongkolsiri’s “Hunger,” a family drama with food as its central theme. It stars Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying, aka Aok Bap, the breakout star of “Bad Genius” and a former Talent to Watch, selected by Variety and the International Film Festival & Awards Macao.
Veteran director Wisit Sasanatieng (“Tears of the Black Tiger”) is directing “The Murderer,...
Its four films and two series span the comedy, suspense and comedy drama genres and hail from six different local production firms – Gmm Studios, International, Gdh, Song Sound Productions, Transformation Films, 18 Tanwa and Jungka Bangkok. Significantly, too, they are sourced from established directors or producers.
Writer-director Prueksa Amaruji’s dark comedy film “Lost Lotteries” is produced by Ekachai Uekrongtham and will stream from mid-November.
Writer-producer Kongdej Jaturanrasmee and veteran indie producer Soros Sukhum are behind director Sitisiri Mongkolsiri’s “Hunger,” a family drama with food as its central theme. It stars Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying, aka Aok Bap, the breakout star of “Bad Genius” and a former Talent to Watch, selected by Variety and the International Film Festival & Awards Macao.
Veteran director Wisit Sasanatieng (“Tears of the Black Tiger”) is directing “The Murderer,...
- 10/11/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix is broadening its original content output from Thailand, a country with a history of punching above its weight with original genre filmmaking, TV production and creative advertising.
Netflix has produced and released a smattering of individual originals from Thailand over the past few years — including reality series The Stranded and crime thriller Bangkok Breaking — but the lineup unveiled by the streamer at a glitzy event in Bangkok Tuesday evening represents its first full Thai slate. The slate includes four films and two series.
“From broad comedy to twisty thrillers, this is our most diverse lineup of titles to date in Thailand,” said Netflix’s director of content for Thailand, Yongyoot Thongkongtoon.
“While we explore class disparity in culinary film Hunger, pay homage to itinerant mobile film troupes in Mon Rak Nak Pak and follow the emotional journey of strangers pretending to be a family in Analog Squad,...
Netflix has produced and released a smattering of individual originals from Thailand over the past few years — including reality series The Stranded and crime thriller Bangkok Breaking — but the lineup unveiled by the streamer at a glitzy event in Bangkok Tuesday evening represents its first full Thai slate. The slate includes four films and two series.
“From broad comedy to twisty thrillers, this is our most diverse lineup of titles to date in Thailand,” said Netflix’s director of content for Thailand, Yongyoot Thongkongtoon.
“While we explore class disparity in culinary film Hunger, pay homage to itinerant mobile film troupes in Mon Rak Nak Pak and follow the emotional journey of strangers pretending to be a family in Analog Squad,...
- 10/11/2022
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Hong Kong multi-hyphenate Peter Chan Ho-sun is far too intellectual to call himself an “arms dealer,” as Sony Pictures has in casting itself as an unattached supplier to streaming platforms.
But politeness and Bob Dylan references aside, Chan’s new company, Changin’ Pictures, aims to become a major independent purveyor of premium Asian TV content for the streamers. The company is using this week’s Busan International Film Festival as its launchpad and will unveil the first five series of its 20-title pan-Asian slate.
Chan’s thesis is that global audiences are hungry for Asian content but have not been able to access it easily under legacy film and TV distribution systems. With streaming making everything accessible everywhere, and audiences no longer balking at subtitles, quality Asian drama can and will travel.
His benchmark examples include not only “Squid Game,” which was conceived locally in South Korea and became a world- wide phenomenon via Netflix,...
But politeness and Bob Dylan references aside, Chan’s new company, Changin’ Pictures, aims to become a major independent purveyor of premium Asian TV content for the streamers. The company is using this week’s Busan International Film Festival as its launchpad and will unveil the first five series of its 20-title pan-Asian slate.
Chan’s thesis is that global audiences are hungry for Asian content but have not been able to access it easily under legacy film and TV distribution systems. With streaming making everything accessible everywhere, and audiences no longer balking at subtitles, quality Asian drama can and will travel.
His benchmark examples include not only “Squid Game,” which was conceived locally in South Korea and became a world- wide phenomenon via Netflix,...
- 10/5/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Initial slate of five series set to be unveiled in Busan.
Hong Kong filmmaker Peter Ho-Sun Chan has launched production company Changin’ Pictures with an initial slate of five titles that includes stars Donnie Yen and Zhang Ziyi.
The company will focus on content for streaming services and plans to roll out 20 limited series across various genres in its first four years across the Asia Pacific region.
It aims to sign up leading filmmakers and fresh talent from throughout the region to create drama projects for a pan-Asian audience and aims to work with platforms and co-production partners looking to...
Hong Kong filmmaker Peter Ho-Sun Chan has launched production company Changin’ Pictures with an initial slate of five titles that includes stars Donnie Yen and Zhang Ziyi.
The company will focus on content for streaming services and plans to roll out 20 limited series across various genres in its first four years across the Asia Pacific region.
It aims to sign up leading filmmakers and fresh talent from throughout the region to create drama projects for a pan-Asian audience and aims to work with platforms and co-production partners looking to...
- 10/4/2022
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Hong Kong filmmaker Peter Ho-sun Chan has launched a production company to focus on streaming content, Changin’ Pictures, with a debut slate of five projects and talent including action star Donnie Yen and Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi.
The new outfit aims to “revolutionize the streaming multiverse in Asia” by signing up leading filmmakers and fresh talent from across the region to create drama series for a pan-Asian audience and beyond. Chan also intends to collaborate with platforms and potential co-production partners who want to jump into Asia’s expanding streaming market.
Changin’ Pictures plans to roll out 20 limited series across various genres from across the Asia Pacific region in its first four years.
The first two projects on the slate are Korean series, both adapted from popular webtoons: One: High School Heroes, produced by Covenant Pictures (Desperate Mr. X), about a bullied high school kid who transforms himself into a...
The new outfit aims to “revolutionize the streaming multiverse in Asia” by signing up leading filmmakers and fresh talent from across the region to create drama series for a pan-Asian audience and beyond. Chan also intends to collaborate with platforms and potential co-production partners who want to jump into Asia’s expanding streaming market.
Changin’ Pictures plans to roll out 20 limited series across various genres from across the Asia Pacific region in its first four years.
The first two projects on the slate are Korean series, both adapted from popular webtoons: One: High School Heroes, produced by Covenant Pictures (Desperate Mr. X), about a bullied high school kid who transforms himself into a...
- 10/4/2022
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
Projects starring Donnie Yen and Zhang Ziyi are among the independently produced TV series to be launched on the sidelines of this week’s Busan International Film Festival. The company responsible is Changin’ Pictures, a would-be studio being hatched by Hong Kong-based film director and producer Peter Chan Ho-sun.
Propelled by the growing recognition of Asian talent and the worldwide distribution potential of multinational SVOD platforms, Changin’ Pictures aims to be a powerhouse production hub suppling premium drama content to streaming players.
The company has raised very substantial finance from Asian sources and aims to develop and produce series which it will pitch and license to the platforms, without recourse to the Ott companies’ production funding, greenlighting and editorial constraints.
The company expects to sign up a mix of Asia’s top-billing established filmmakers and fresh talents “to create innovative drama series for Pan-Asian netizens, with an eye to cross-cultural global assimilation.
Propelled by the growing recognition of Asian talent and the worldwide distribution potential of multinational SVOD platforms, Changin’ Pictures aims to be a powerhouse production hub suppling premium drama content to streaming players.
The company has raised very substantial finance from Asian sources and aims to develop and produce series which it will pitch and license to the platforms, without recourse to the Ott companies’ production funding, greenlighting and editorial constraints.
The company expects to sign up a mix of Asia’s top-billing established filmmakers and fresh talents “to create innovative drama series for Pan-Asian netizens, with an eye to cross-cultural global assimilation.
- 10/4/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Horror and action titles include ’The Cursed Land’ and a sequel to ‘The Bridge Curse’.
Nascent US sales outfit WME Independent has swooped on five genre features from Southeast Asia and Taiwan, and is launching pre-sales at the Marché.
The deals were brokered by Singapore-based Nelson Mok, WME’s director, advisory, film group, who is in talks with international buyers in Cannes.
The titles include Thai horror The Cursed Land, co-directed by Panu Aree and Kong Rithdee, which follows a widower who travels to Thailand’s deep south to seek help from a witch doctor. Producer is Nonzee Nimibutr, whose credits include Nang Nak.
Nascent US sales outfit WME Independent has swooped on five genre features from Southeast Asia and Taiwan, and is launching pre-sales at the Marché.
The deals were brokered by Singapore-based Nelson Mok, WME’s director, advisory, film group, who is in talks with international buyers in Cannes.
The titles include Thai horror The Cursed Land, co-directed by Panu Aree and Kong Rithdee, which follows a widower who travels to Thailand’s deep south to seek help from a witch doctor. Producer is Nonzee Nimibutr, whose credits include Nang Nak.
- 5/18/2022
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
Leading indie film project market, the Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum has revealed a selection of 28 titles for its twentieth edition and confirmed that it will be held online for the third time in a row.
“Unfortunately, we won’t have the opportunity to celebrate our 20th anniversary by hosting our usual in-person event due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and travel restrictions,” Hkiff industry director Jacob Wong said. “Nevertheless, based on experience gained from the last two years, we will strive to improve our online booking and meeting system to make it a breeze for all participants.”
The market will operate March 14-16, 2022, alongside the 26th edition of rights market Hong Kong FilMart (March 14-17.)
The market contains a familiar mix of experienced hands and newcomers. Among the well-established producers and directors with projects selected are: Huang Ji (2021 Rotterdam festival winner “Egg and Stone”); Hong Kong’s Jun Li...
“Unfortunately, we won’t have the opportunity to celebrate our 20th anniversary by hosting our usual in-person event due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and travel restrictions,” Hkiff industry director Jacob Wong said. “Nevertheless, based on experience gained from the last two years, we will strive to improve our online booking and meeting system to make it a breeze for all participants.”
The market will operate March 14-16, 2022, alongside the 26th edition of rights market Hong Kong FilMart (March 14-17.)
The market contains a familiar mix of experienced hands and newcomers. Among the well-established producers and directors with projects selected are: Huang Ji (2021 Rotterdam festival winner “Egg and Stone”); Hong Kong’s Jun Li...
- 1/18/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The selection includes eight Hong Kong projects and the first-ever Thai-Muslim horror
The Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (Haf) has announced 28 in-development projects for its 20th anniversary edition.
All are fiction projects, including eight from Hong Kong, 12 debut features and projects spearheaded by renowned filmmakers and producers including Huang Ji, Jun Li, Tetsuya Mariko, Ida Panahandeh, Michael J. Werner, Fruit Chan, Nonzee Nimibutr, Yang Chao and Jane Zheng.
For the third year in a row, Haf will run online from March 14-16 alongside the 26th edition of Hong Kong Filmart.
“Unfortunately, we won’t have the opportunity to celebrate our...
The Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum (Haf) has announced 28 in-development projects for its 20th anniversary edition.
All are fiction projects, including eight from Hong Kong, 12 debut features and projects spearheaded by renowned filmmakers and producers including Huang Ji, Jun Li, Tetsuya Mariko, Ida Panahandeh, Michael J. Werner, Fruit Chan, Nonzee Nimibutr, Yang Chao and Jane Zheng.
For the third year in a row, Haf will run online from March 14-16 alongside the 26th edition of Hong Kong Filmart.
“Unfortunately, we won’t have the opportunity to celebrate our...
- 1/18/2022
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
One of the country’s most infamous ghost stories, the allegedly true story of Mae Nak Phra Khanong is a favorite among Thai people who gather from all over at a popular shrine dedicated to her near where she lived. Although film adaptations have been sparse, it still remains to be said that the most celebrated version is the 1999 masterpiece directed by celebrated Thai auteur Nonzee Nimibutr.
In 1868, Mak (Winai Kraibutr) is summoned to the army to fight in the war and leaves his beloved wife Nang Nak (Inthira Charoenpura), who is pregnant, alone in their isolated house in the village of Prakanong. Mak fights with his friend but is seriously wounded while his friend dies. He miraculously survives and after several years, he returns to Prakanong to finally meet Nak and their son, and they live happily together. However, one day a friend comes to visit...
In 1868, Mak (Winai Kraibutr) is summoned to the army to fight in the war and leaves his beloved wife Nang Nak (Inthira Charoenpura), who is pregnant, alone in their isolated house in the village of Prakanong. Mak fights with his friend but is seriously wounded while his friend dies. He miraculously survives and after several years, he returns to Prakanong to finally meet Nak and their son, and they live happily together. However, one day a friend comes to visit...
- 10/11/2019
- by Don Anelli
- AsianMoviePulse
Kyoko (Kyoko Hasegawa) is a successful novelist whose latest work is especially popular among readers. However, despite her popularity, Kyoko feels somewhat empty and haunted by the memory of her twin sister Shoko (Yuu Suzuki) whose demise, caused by Kyoko herself, has been the cause of numerous nightmares.
Feeling guilty for having left her for dead, Kyoko travels back to the circus tent where she performed together with Shoko and their benefactor Yoshii (Atsuro Watabe) only to find the past is anything but dead but lurking within the insides of her sister’s last resting place.
Following the concept of the omnibus film “Three” (2002) which featured the works of Peter Chan, Kim Jee-woon and Nonzee Nimibutr, “Three … Extremes” consists of short films by various Asian filmmakers dealing with the general subject of extremes. After “Dumplings” by Fruit Chan and “Cut” by Park Chan-wook, Japanese director Takashi Miike...
Feeling guilty for having left her for dead, Kyoko travels back to the circus tent where she performed together with Shoko and their benefactor Yoshii (Atsuro Watabe) only to find the past is anything but dead but lurking within the insides of her sister’s last resting place.
Following the concept of the omnibus film “Three” (2002) which featured the works of Peter Chan, Kim Jee-woon and Nonzee Nimibutr, “Three … Extremes” consists of short films by various Asian filmmakers dealing with the general subject of extremes. After “Dumplings” by Fruit Chan and “Cut” by Park Chan-wook, Japanese director Takashi Miike...
- 8/8/2019
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Selection includes films from Siddiq Barmak, Yoon Gaeun and Min Bahadur Bham.
In South Korea, the Busan International Film Festival (Biff)’s Asian Project Market (Apm) has announced 28 titles from 17 countries for this year.
The 20th Apm’s selection includes projects from Golden Globe best foreign language film award winner Siddiq Barmak (Osama) and Berlinale Generation director Yoon Gaeun (The World Of Us).
Afghan filmmaker Barmak’s Georgia-France co-production The Pass is a wartime drama about two soldiers from opposite sides who are forced to cooperate in order to cross a dangerous mountain pass alongside refugees.
Korean director Yoon’s Sora is a drama about a middle school girl who finds out a secret about the new kid in the neighborhood.
According to organizers, the number of projects submitted to Apm this year went up “almost 25%” from the previous year to reach 317. In the 19 previous years, “a total of 499 projects have been selected with more than 220 of...
In South Korea, the Busan International Film Festival (Biff)’s Asian Project Market (Apm) has announced 28 titles from 17 countries for this year.
The 20th Apm’s selection includes projects from Golden Globe best foreign language film award winner Siddiq Barmak (Osama) and Berlinale Generation director Yoon Gaeun (The World Of Us).
Afghan filmmaker Barmak’s Georgia-France co-production The Pass is a wartime drama about two soldiers from opposite sides who are forced to cooperate in order to cross a dangerous mountain pass alongside refugees.
Korean director Yoon’s Sora is a drama about a middle school girl who finds out a secret about the new kid in the neighborhood.
According to organizers, the number of projects submitted to Apm this year went up “almost 25%” from the previous year to reach 317. In the 19 previous years, “a total of 499 projects have been selected with more than 220 of...
- 8/14/2017
- by hjnoh2007@gmail.com (Jean Noh)
- ScreenDaily
The 35th edition of Hawaii International Film Festival (Hiff) recently announced their Audience Award winners. Throughout the festival, ballots were distributed for the screenings of every eligible film. Audiences voted on their favorite narrative feature, documentary feature and short film.
The audience award for Best Narrative Feature went to "Kitarajanipon," a feature comprised of four short films directed by four leading Thai directors. Each film was inspired by the songs from His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej’s (also known as King Rama IX) royal songbook, which threads each film together into one feature presentation. "The Singers" directed by Nonzee Nimibutr, "Smiles" by Wallop Prasopphol, "Falling Rain" by Parkpoom Wongpoom, and "Star" by Yongyoot Thongkongtoon artfully reinterpret the profound meaning and philosophy behind the monarch’s songs.
The audience award for Best Documentary Feature went to"Tyrus," directed by Pamela Tom. The film tells the unlikely story of the 104-year old artist Tyrus Wong, reveals the significant impact Wong has made in the world of art and animation while telling the dramatic and little known story of Chinese Americans in the 20th century.
The audience award for Best Short Film went to "The Roots of ‘Ulu," directed by John Antonelli. The transports the viewer from the mythological origins of ‘ulu, to the Polynesian voyaging canoes that brought ‘ulu, or breadfruit, from Tahiti to Hawaii, illuminating its important role in cultural preservation and food sustainability for Hawaii's future.
Hiff Executive Director Robert Lambeth highlights, "The diversity of the HIFF35 Audience Award winners presented by Hawaii News Now show that our audiences truly have international tastes and that the power of cinema is universal."
Earlier in the festival, during the Awards Gala, Hiff honored actress Ryoko Hirosue with the Career Achievement Award. She is best known for her role in the Luc Besson produced "Wasabi" co-starring Jean Reno and "Departures," the winner of an Oscar® for Best Foreign Language Film. Hiff premiered her latest film, "Hana's Miso Soup." Actor Tadanobu Asano was honored with the Maverick Award for his bold performances in seminal films and cult classics, such as "Ichi the Killer," "Bright Future," "Last Life in the Universe" and more recently "Journey to the Shore," working with the top directors around the world for over twenty years. Actor Ha Jung Woo, from South Korea, was honored with the Renaissance Award for his profound career as an actor ("The Chaser," "Assassination"), also as a director ("Fasten Your Seatbelt") and as a painter. Known to attract both critical acclaim and commercial success, Ha quickly became the most in-demand leading actor of his generation in Korean cinema.
Also presented during the Gala were the Halekulani Golden Orchid awards for Best Narrative Feature to director Shin Su-won (South Korea) for the film, "Madonna;" Best Documentary Feature Award to "Crocodile Gennadiy," directed by Steve Hoover; and Best Short Film Award to "Ahi Ka," directed by Richard Curtis (New Zealand). "The Kids" (Taiwan 2015), by Sunny Yu was presented with the Netpac award for Best Asian Film from an Emerging Filmmaker this past weekend.
The audience award for Best Narrative Feature went to "Kitarajanipon," a feature comprised of four short films directed by four leading Thai directors. Each film was inspired by the songs from His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej’s (also known as King Rama IX) royal songbook, which threads each film together into one feature presentation. "The Singers" directed by Nonzee Nimibutr, "Smiles" by Wallop Prasopphol, "Falling Rain" by Parkpoom Wongpoom, and "Star" by Yongyoot Thongkongtoon artfully reinterpret the profound meaning and philosophy behind the monarch’s songs.
The audience award for Best Documentary Feature went to"Tyrus," directed by Pamela Tom. The film tells the unlikely story of the 104-year old artist Tyrus Wong, reveals the significant impact Wong has made in the world of art and animation while telling the dramatic and little known story of Chinese Americans in the 20th century.
The audience award for Best Short Film went to "The Roots of ‘Ulu," directed by John Antonelli. The transports the viewer from the mythological origins of ‘ulu, to the Polynesian voyaging canoes that brought ‘ulu, or breadfruit, from Tahiti to Hawaii, illuminating its important role in cultural preservation and food sustainability for Hawaii's future.
Hiff Executive Director Robert Lambeth highlights, "The diversity of the HIFF35 Audience Award winners presented by Hawaii News Now show that our audiences truly have international tastes and that the power of cinema is universal."
Earlier in the festival, during the Awards Gala, Hiff honored actress Ryoko Hirosue with the Career Achievement Award. She is best known for her role in the Luc Besson produced "Wasabi" co-starring Jean Reno and "Departures," the winner of an Oscar® for Best Foreign Language Film. Hiff premiered her latest film, "Hana's Miso Soup." Actor Tadanobu Asano was honored with the Maverick Award for his bold performances in seminal films and cult classics, such as "Ichi the Killer," "Bright Future," "Last Life in the Universe" and more recently "Journey to the Shore," working with the top directors around the world for over twenty years. Actor Ha Jung Woo, from South Korea, was honored with the Renaissance Award for his profound career as an actor ("The Chaser," "Assassination"), also as a director ("Fasten Your Seatbelt") and as a painter. Known to attract both critical acclaim and commercial success, Ha quickly became the most in-demand leading actor of his generation in Korean cinema.
Also presented during the Gala were the Halekulani Golden Orchid awards for Best Narrative Feature to director Shin Su-won (South Korea) for the film, "Madonna;" Best Documentary Feature Award to "Crocodile Gennadiy," directed by Steve Hoover; and Best Short Film Award to "Ahi Ka," directed by Richard Curtis (New Zealand). "The Kids" (Taiwan 2015), by Sunny Yu was presented with the Netpac award for Best Asian Film from an Emerging Filmmaker this past weekend.
- 12/1/2015
- by Peter Belsito
- Sydney's Buzz
World premieres from Goupil, Li, De La Cruz, Yeo, Yoshida and more.Scroll down for Competition line-up
The 27th Tokyo International Film Festival (Tiff) (Oct 23-31) has announced the rest of its line-up with a Competition selection that includes world premieres such as Romain Goupil’s French film The Days Come and Li Ruijun’s Chinese film River Road.
The other world premieres in Competition will be: Filipino maverick Khavn De La Cruz‘s Ruined Heart - Another Love Story Between A Criminal & A Whore; Malaysian producer of Cannes title Tiger Factory, Edmund Yeo’s feature directorial debut River Of Exploding Durians, and the previously announced single Japanese film in Competition, Pale Moon, directed by Daihachi Yoshida.
Claudio Noce’s Italian film Ice Forest will make an international premiere in Competition.
Tiff Programming director Yoshi Yatabe explained the selection was made on three criteria: “an unswerving focus on depicting humanity”, “diversity” and “auteurism”.
He said, “To sum up...
The 27th Tokyo International Film Festival (Tiff) (Oct 23-31) has announced the rest of its line-up with a Competition selection that includes world premieres such as Romain Goupil’s French film The Days Come and Li Ruijun’s Chinese film River Road.
The other world premieres in Competition will be: Filipino maverick Khavn De La Cruz‘s Ruined Heart - Another Love Story Between A Criminal & A Whore; Malaysian producer of Cannes title Tiger Factory, Edmund Yeo’s feature directorial debut River Of Exploding Durians, and the previously announced single Japanese film in Competition, Pale Moon, directed by Daihachi Yoshida.
Claudio Noce’s Italian film Ice Forest will make an international premiere in Competition.
Tiff Programming director Yoshi Yatabe explained the selection was made on three criteria: “an unswerving focus on depicting humanity”, “diversity” and “auteurism”.
He said, “To sum up...
- 9/30/2014
- by hjnoh2007@gmail.com (Jean Noh)
- ScreenDaily
Directors include Brillante Mendoza, Vimukthi Jayasundara, Yeon Sang-ho.Scroll down for full list
Busan’s Asian Project Market (Apm) has announced this year’s line-up including films from directors Brillante Mendoza, Vimukthi Jayasundara, Yeon Sang-ho and July Jung.
Winner of the 2005 Cannes Film Festival Camera d’or, Vimukthi Jayasundara (The Forbidden Land) will present Sri Lankan project Hair Of The Dog That Bit You.
The drama is about a female tourist guide’s loss of memory and identity, and her struggle to come to terms with what is left of her life and an unknown future.
Cannes 2009 Best Director winner Brillante Mendoza (Kinatay) has Philippines-France-Germany co-production Fowl in the Apm line-up.
The story follows Ramon, a Filipino contract worker working at Singapore Post. When his wife Jenny suddenly dies, he has to travel back to the Philippines with her as if she were one of the many parcels he is so used to handling.
Korean directors...
Busan’s Asian Project Market (Apm) has announced this year’s line-up including films from directors Brillante Mendoza, Vimukthi Jayasundara, Yeon Sang-ho and July Jung.
Winner of the 2005 Cannes Film Festival Camera d’or, Vimukthi Jayasundara (The Forbidden Land) will present Sri Lankan project Hair Of The Dog That Bit You.
The drama is about a female tourist guide’s loss of memory and identity, and her struggle to come to terms with what is left of her life and an unknown future.
Cannes 2009 Best Director winner Brillante Mendoza (Kinatay) has Philippines-France-Germany co-production Fowl in the Apm line-up.
The story follows Ramon, a Filipino contract worker working at Singapore Post. When his wife Jenny suddenly dies, he has to travel back to the Philippines with her as if she were one of the many parcels he is so used to handling.
Korean directors...
- 8/19/2014
- by hjnoh2007@gmail.com (Jean Noh)
- ScreenDaily
Directors include Brillante Mendoza, Vimukthi Jayasundara, Yeon Sang-ho.
Busan’s Asian Project Market (Apm) has announced this year’s line-up including directors Brillante Mendoza, Vimukthi Jayasundara, Yeon Sang-ho and July Jung.
Winner of the 2005 Cannes Film Festival Camera d’or, Vimukthi Jayasundara (The Forbidden Land) will present Sri Lankan project Hair Of The Dog That Bit You.
The drama is about a female tourist guide’s loss of memory and identity, and her struggle to come to terms with what is left of her life and an unknown future.
Cannes 2009 Best Director winner Brillante Mendoza (Kinatay) has Philippines-France-Germany co-production Fowl in the Apm line-up.
The story follows Ramon, a Filipino contract worker working at Singapore Post. When his wife Jenny suddenly dies, he has to travel back to the Philippines with her as if she were one of the many parcels he is so used to handling.
Korean directors include July Jung, the [link=nm...
Busan’s Asian Project Market (Apm) has announced this year’s line-up including directors Brillante Mendoza, Vimukthi Jayasundara, Yeon Sang-ho and July Jung.
Winner of the 2005 Cannes Film Festival Camera d’or, Vimukthi Jayasundara (The Forbidden Land) will present Sri Lankan project Hair Of The Dog That Bit You.
The drama is about a female tourist guide’s loss of memory and identity, and her struggle to come to terms with what is left of her life and an unknown future.
Cannes 2009 Best Director winner Brillante Mendoza (Kinatay) has Philippines-France-Germany co-production Fowl in the Apm line-up.
The story follows Ramon, a Filipino contract worker working at Singapore Post. When his wife Jenny suddenly dies, he has to travel back to the Philippines with her as if she were one of the many parcels he is so used to handling.
Korean directors include July Jung, the [link=nm...
- 8/19/2014
- by hjnoh2007@gmail.com (Jean Noh)
- ScreenDaily
Director Anubhav Sinha will be one of judges at the prestigious Asia Pacific Film Festival. The director has been invited as one of the high profile Jury members at the festival that celebrates the best of Asian film from the world over. Other jury members include Hong Kong actress Carina Lau, French festival selector Christian Jeune, Chinese director Lu Chuan, Indonesian producer Mira Lesmana, Thai director Nonzee Nimibutr and Taiwanese director Su Chao Pin.
Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur (Part 1 and 2) garnered nominations in four categories including best film and best director.
Details of the event were unveiled this week by multi-talented Eric Tsang, who helped bring the festival to Macau, after earlier plans to hold it in Shanghai were ruined.
The 55th edition of the festival moves to Macau this year, where it is to be held in the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel and the prizes will be...
Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur (Part 1 and 2) garnered nominations in four categories including best film and best director.
Details of the event were unveiled this week by multi-talented Eric Tsang, who helped bring the festival to Macau, after earlier plans to hold it in Shanghai were ruined.
The 55th edition of the festival moves to Macau this year, where it is to be held in the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel and the prizes will be...
- 12/11/2012
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
Director Anubhav Sinha will be one of judges at the Asia Pacific Film Festival. Anubhav has been invited as one of the high profile Jury member at the Asia Pacific Film Festival where Anurag Kashyap's Gangs of Wasseypur (Part 1 and 2) has received nominations in four categories for the prize ceremony along with Hong Kong drama Life Without Principle. The final decision is yet to be taken by the jury. The prizes will be presented at a ceremony on December 15.
Other jury members include Hong Kong actress Carina Lau, French festival selector Christian Jeune, Chinese director Lu Chuan, Indonesian producer Mira Lesmana, Thai director Nonzee Nimibutr and Taiwanese director Su Chao Pin.
Details of the event were unveiled this week by multi-talented Eric Tsang (pictured), who helped bring the festival to Macau, after earlier plans to hold it in Shanghai were ruined.
The 55th edition of the festival moves to Macau this year,...
Other jury members include Hong Kong actress Carina Lau, French festival selector Christian Jeune, Chinese director Lu Chuan, Indonesian producer Mira Lesmana, Thai director Nonzee Nimibutr and Taiwanese director Su Chao Pin.
Details of the event were unveiled this week by multi-talented Eric Tsang (pictured), who helped bring the festival to Macau, after earlier plans to hold it in Shanghai were ruined.
The 55th edition of the festival moves to Macau this year,...
- 12/10/2012
- by Bollywood Hungama News Network
- BollywoodHungama
We first covered news on Nonzee Nimibutr's (‘Tears of the Black Tiger,’ ‘The Eye 2’) latest movie psychological horror thriller Distortion last month, and even though the films already opened in its home country we thought this newly discovered English subtitled trailer for the film would round things off nicely. With such a well known name a Nimibutr’s attached as director, and the fact they’ve gone to the trouble to create one at all, usually means they will be angling for some overseas sales, so we’ll expect to see it turning up in and English speaking territory soon. You can scan through a detailed synopsis of the plot here, or head straight down for madness and murder.
- 5/31/2012
- 24framespersecond.net
We first covered news on Nonzee Nimibutr's (‘Tears of the Black Tiger,’ ‘The Eye 2’) latest movie psychological horror thriller Distortion last month, and even though the films already opened in its home country we thought this newly discovered English subtitled trailer for the film would round things off nicely. With such a well known name a Nimibutr’s attached as director, and the fact they’ve gone to the trouble to create one at all, usually means they will be angling for some overseas sales, so we’ll expect to see it turning up in and English speaking territory soon. You can scan through a detailed synopsis of the plot here, or head straight down for madness and murder.
- 5/31/2012
- 24framespersecond.net
Nonzee Nimibutr’s horror thriller Distortion has picked up a theatrical trailer and poster of its very own. All the back story and info on the movie can be found here, or you can zip on down to check it out right now. Alas it’s rather dialog heavy - without subs - but there’s a hint of obsession and madness thrown into to mix, to spice it up a little too. Distortion open is Thailand in May. Distortion trailer...
- 4/24/2012
- 24framespersecond.net
One of the leaders of the wave of internationally minded Thai cinema that brought the Asian nation back to global attention in the early 2000's, Nang Nak and Jan Dara director Nonzee Nimibutr returns to Thai screens in May with Distortion. A grisly murder on a hot day in Bangkok sets in motion a psychological horror involving four people haunted by nightmares, repressed memories and the darkest past. Keun is a psychiatrist well-known for criminal profiling. He's sent to help solve the murder and at the crime scene, he meets Tien, a forensic scientist with a traumatic childhood. During the investigation, Keun meets Kwang, a 19-year-old woman whom he first met 9 years ago. Back then, Keun was sent to treat Kwang after she...
- 4/20/2012
- Screen Anarchy
We’ve been tracking what’s been happening with Nonzee Nimibutr's (‘Tears of the Black Tiger,’ ‘The Eye 2’) latest movie - the Thai horror thriller - Distortion for well over 6 months now and it’s finally starting to pay off, with sight of some promo art for the film, plus some newly released stills. Add too that a very long summary of the plotline and things are starting to get interesting. Distortion is being funded by Sahamongkol Film who aren’t know for repping horror flicks that pull their punches. Some Thai movie sites Distortion is set for release their in May, which sound a little early to us considering there’s not even been a trailer for it yet - But as soon as there is we’ll be on it. Synopsis: A grisly murder on a hot day in Bangkok sets in motion a psychological horror...
- 4/15/2012
- 24framespersecond.net
Nonzee Nimibutr’s big budget Thai action adventure ‘The Queens of Langkasuka’ is heading for a Us under its new and “improved” title Legend of the Tsunami Warrior. We’’ll let the dreadfull (Tsunami!?) retag slide as it does mean we finally get to see it English subtitled, but come on Magnet try harder next time. Tsunami Warrior streets on May 11th.Synopsis: War rages on ... Princes of neighbouring dynasties have formed a coalition with rebel pirates, plotting to seize the powerful cannon from the Land of Langkasuka. The mass destruction juggernaut, capable of obliterating foes in a matter of seconds, is much coveted by any party seeking to tip the balance of power to their advantage. The three princesses of the land of Langkasuka must at all costs protect their realm from the evil clutches of the ongoing wave of invaders - even if it means putting their own lives on the line.
- 5/5/2010
- 24framespersecond.net
This Asian triptych sees the collaboration of three prominent directors from three different countries maximising the appeal of Tartan's Asia Extreme label. Director's Kim Jee-Woon (South Korea), Nonzee Nimibutr (Thailand), and Peter Ho-Sun Chan (Hong Kong) each provide a segment in this trio of spooky stories.
Memories, the primary instalment, comes from Kim Jee-Woon (A Tale of Two Sisters) and in it we see a husband fret over his wife’s disappearance. The man (Jung Bo-Seog) sits in lonely silence in his apartment having visions of his wife, which he’s informed is all part of his 'separation disorder'. Concurrently, a woman gains consciousness on a road, apparently having had an accident, and struggles to make her way home. The lack of dialogue and comfortably languid takes in this film makes for a fittingly sombre air to this gently chilling ghost story. Kim Hye-Soo puts a good performance of big-eyed...
Memories, the primary instalment, comes from Kim Jee-Woon (A Tale of Two Sisters) and in it we see a husband fret over his wife’s disappearance. The man (Jung Bo-Seog) sits in lonely silence in his apartment having visions of his wife, which he’s informed is all part of his 'separation disorder'. Concurrently, a woman gains consciousness on a road, apparently having had an accident, and struggles to make her way home. The lack of dialogue and comfortably languid takes in this film makes for a fittingly sombre air to this gently chilling ghost story. Kim Hye-Soo puts a good performance of big-eyed...
- 4/9/2009
- by Fiona
- Latemag.com/film
Bangkok -- The Bangkok International Film Festival's sixth edition kicked off Friday with some officials seeing red, and it had nothing to do with the carpet.
An organizer who asked to remain anonymous expressed annoyance that one of the festival's international judges, Singapore director Eric Khoo, had bolted already, choosing to watch the competition films on DVD instead.
It wasn't readily apparent why Khoo, helmer of Singapore's foreign-language Oscar entry "My Magic," left just as the festival was officially getting under way.
Despite Khoo's absence, the jury snafu failed to dampen opening-night ceremonies, which featured a screening of Thai action-fantasy "Queens of Langkasuka" from director Nonzee Nimibutr.
Industry notables walking the red carpet included veteran director-producer Roger Corman, Hong Kong helmer Andrew Lau ("Infernal Affairs"), U.K. film producer Iain Smith ("Wanted"), the Weinstein Co.'s vp Asian acquisitions Bey Logan and Jean Claude Van Damme, whose latest film, self-parody "Jcvd,...
An organizer who asked to remain anonymous expressed annoyance that one of the festival's international judges, Singapore director Eric Khoo, had bolted already, choosing to watch the competition films on DVD instead.
It wasn't readily apparent why Khoo, helmer of Singapore's foreign-language Oscar entry "My Magic," left just as the festival was officially getting under way.
Despite Khoo's absence, the jury snafu failed to dampen opening-night ceremonies, which featured a screening of Thai action-fantasy "Queens of Langkasuka" from director Nonzee Nimibutr.
Industry notables walking the red carpet included veteran director-producer Roger Corman, Hong Kong helmer Andrew Lau ("Infernal Affairs"), U.K. film producer Iain Smith ("Wanted"), the Weinstein Co.'s vp Asian acquisitions Bey Logan and Jean Claude Van Damme, whose latest film, self-parody "Jcvd,...
- 9/26/2008
- by By Joel Gershon
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
We’ve been tracking this one for what seems like an eternity but Nonzee Nimibutr’s big budget martial arts fantasy epic Queens of Langkasuka finally has an official release date - it’s hitting Thai screens in October - and a new, extended trailer to celebrate. The early press has not been particularly kind - I think you can really feel the compression from two films down into one - but Dan Chupong and Ananda Everigham are both their normal, charismatic selves and there’s loads of eye candy to be had. Check out a pair of trailers for the film below the break.
- 8/23/2008
- by Todd Brown
- Screen Anarchy
SEOUL -- The Pusan International Film Festival, Asia's major film event, announced Thursday that Taiwanese filmmaker Hou Hsiao Hsien will be the dean of the festival's inaugural Asian Film Academy. Hou (Millennium Mambo, The Puppet Master) has strong ties to PIFF, having served on the jury of the 6th PIFF and won the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award at the 9th PIFF. Joining Hou will be leading Thai director Nonzee Nimibutr, Chinese cinematographer and director Yu Likwai, and the director of the Korean Academy of Film Arts and film director Park Ki-yong (Motel Cactus).
- 7/14/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
HONG KONG -- The new motto among the Asian film industry seems to be: "Co-pro is the way to go!" The latest example of pan-Asian collaboration is "Three", a spooky triptych by three eminent directors from different countries.
The brainchild of Applause Pictures, which is Hong Kong director Peter Chan's production company, the other filmmakers involved are Thailand's Nonzee Nimibutr ("Nang Nak", "Jan Dara") and South Korean Kim Jee-woon (who helmed the festival circuit hit "The Foul King"). Chan himself is best known in America for making "The Love Letter" for DreamWorks in 1999.
In coming together for "Three", they've put together the artsy foreign-language version of "The Twilight Zone" with each filmmaker developing a creepy tale from their own country. The curious three-in-one concept has already been a huge hit in Thailand and is just released in Hong Kong.
Nimibutr's story, "The Wheel", opens the film and is the most baroque. Set in the traditional world of Thai street theater, it is the tale of a struggling family troupe of Khon performers whose leader discovers a box of puppets. Realizing he can make more money using the figurines, he starts incorporating them into his group's performances despite being warned the puppets are cursed. Full of slo-mo images contrasting the macabre with the theatrically ornate, Nimibutr's work creates great atmosphere but no suspense.
In contrast, Kim's piece, "Memories", is all suspense and little else. In a new suburban building complex, a man whose wife has suddenly disappeared starts having visions. Concurrently, the wife awakens on a deserted street and tries to understand what has happened to her. The surprise ending is not what's shocking here but the various cheap scares Kim throws at us. There's lot of POV shots in dark empty rooms, agitating soundtrack screeches and gratuitous out-of-nowhere 'boo!' jolts.
Chan's segment, 'Going Home', is by far the most interesting. A policeman and his young son move into a run down, mostly empty tenement. The only other resident is a very private man who spends all his days taking care of his catatonic wife -- who may or may not have passed away already. There's a genuine sense of mystery and intrigue as the story slowly unfolds and Chan imbues the characters with something his colleagues lack -- empathy.
Common to all the segments is a minimum of dialogue -- the easier to appeal to audiences of different tongues, no doubt. But like most scary movies, there's not much point or meaning in these tales beyond the superficial.
Indeed, it's difficult to see what the rationale behind this project is other than auteur vanity. Perhaps it is merely a technical exercise in putting the fear of the supernatural into an audience -- at that, it's only half-successful. More likely, it's an Asian co-production for the sake of an Asian co-production. The three directors collaborated together because they can.
Sure, menage-a-trois productions may still be relatively new and unique among the burgeoning Asian film industry. But let's not kid ourselves "Three" is actually a significant project in any way. Directors without borders is a nice ambition here in Asia. Let's hope the next joint venture of this kind will be more engaging.
THREE
Applause Pictures
THE WHEEL
Cinemasia Co., Ltd.
Credits:
Director: Nonzee Nimibutr
Producers: Nonzee Nimibutr & Duangkamol Limcharoen
Story: Ek Lemcheun & Nonzee Nimibutr
Screenplay: Nitas Singhamat
Director of Photography: Nattawut Kittkhun
Production Designer: Rach-Chanon Khayanngan
Art Director: Suthat Thaengthong
Costume Designer: Nampuang Mojanakul
Music: Sinnapa Sarasas
Cast:
Young apprentice: Suwinit Panjamawat
Kru Tong: Komgich Yuttiyong
MEMORIES
b.o.m. Film productions
Credits:
Director: Kim Jee-woon
Producers: Oh Jung-wan
Screenplay: Kim Jee-woon
Director of Photography: Alex Hong
Art Director: Chung Goo-ho
Costume Designer: Oak Soo-kyung
Music: Lee Byung-woo
Cast:
The Wife: Kim Hye-Soo
Sung-Min: Chung Bo-suk
GOING HOME
Applause Pictures
Credits:
Director: Peter Chan
Producers: Allan Fung, Teddy Chen, Peter Chan, Jojo Hui
Screenplay: Jojo Hui
Director of Photography: Christopher Doyle
Art Director: Yee Chung-man
Cast:
Yu Fai: Leon Lai
Wai: Eric Tsang Chi-wai
Wife: Eugenia Yuan
Running Time -- 120 minutes
No MPAA rating...
The brainchild of Applause Pictures, which is Hong Kong director Peter Chan's production company, the other filmmakers involved are Thailand's Nonzee Nimibutr ("Nang Nak", "Jan Dara") and South Korean Kim Jee-woon (who helmed the festival circuit hit "The Foul King"). Chan himself is best known in America for making "The Love Letter" for DreamWorks in 1999.
In coming together for "Three", they've put together the artsy foreign-language version of "The Twilight Zone" with each filmmaker developing a creepy tale from their own country. The curious three-in-one concept has already been a huge hit in Thailand and is just released in Hong Kong.
Nimibutr's story, "The Wheel", opens the film and is the most baroque. Set in the traditional world of Thai street theater, it is the tale of a struggling family troupe of Khon performers whose leader discovers a box of puppets. Realizing he can make more money using the figurines, he starts incorporating them into his group's performances despite being warned the puppets are cursed. Full of slo-mo images contrasting the macabre with the theatrically ornate, Nimibutr's work creates great atmosphere but no suspense.
In contrast, Kim's piece, "Memories", is all suspense and little else. In a new suburban building complex, a man whose wife has suddenly disappeared starts having visions. Concurrently, the wife awakens on a deserted street and tries to understand what has happened to her. The surprise ending is not what's shocking here but the various cheap scares Kim throws at us. There's lot of POV shots in dark empty rooms, agitating soundtrack screeches and gratuitous out-of-nowhere 'boo!' jolts.
Chan's segment, 'Going Home', is by far the most interesting. A policeman and his young son move into a run down, mostly empty tenement. The only other resident is a very private man who spends all his days taking care of his catatonic wife -- who may or may not have passed away already. There's a genuine sense of mystery and intrigue as the story slowly unfolds and Chan imbues the characters with something his colleagues lack -- empathy.
Common to all the segments is a minimum of dialogue -- the easier to appeal to audiences of different tongues, no doubt. But like most scary movies, there's not much point or meaning in these tales beyond the superficial.
Indeed, it's difficult to see what the rationale behind this project is other than auteur vanity. Perhaps it is merely a technical exercise in putting the fear of the supernatural into an audience -- at that, it's only half-successful. More likely, it's an Asian co-production for the sake of an Asian co-production. The three directors collaborated together because they can.
Sure, menage-a-trois productions may still be relatively new and unique among the burgeoning Asian film industry. But let's not kid ourselves "Three" is actually a significant project in any way. Directors without borders is a nice ambition here in Asia. Let's hope the next joint venture of this kind will be more engaging.
THREE
Applause Pictures
THE WHEEL
Cinemasia Co., Ltd.
Credits:
Director: Nonzee Nimibutr
Producers: Nonzee Nimibutr & Duangkamol Limcharoen
Story: Ek Lemcheun & Nonzee Nimibutr
Screenplay: Nitas Singhamat
Director of Photography: Nattawut Kittkhun
Production Designer: Rach-Chanon Khayanngan
Art Director: Suthat Thaengthong
Costume Designer: Nampuang Mojanakul
Music: Sinnapa Sarasas
Cast:
Young apprentice: Suwinit Panjamawat
Kru Tong: Komgich Yuttiyong
MEMORIES
b.o.m. Film productions
Credits:
Director: Kim Jee-woon
Producers: Oh Jung-wan
Screenplay: Kim Jee-woon
Director of Photography: Alex Hong
Art Director: Chung Goo-ho
Costume Designer: Oak Soo-kyung
Music: Lee Byung-woo
Cast:
The Wife: Kim Hye-Soo
Sung-Min: Chung Bo-suk
GOING HOME
Applause Pictures
Credits:
Director: Peter Chan
Producers: Allan Fung, Teddy Chen, Peter Chan, Jojo Hui
Screenplay: Jojo Hui
Director of Photography: Christopher Doyle
Art Director: Yee Chung-man
Cast:
Yu Fai: Leon Lai
Wai: Eric Tsang Chi-wai
Wife: Eugenia Yuan
Running Time -- 120 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 10/3/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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