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Bitters End has acquired international sales rights for “Two Seasons, Two Strangers,” the latest feature from Japanese director Sho Miyake, ahead of the Cannes film market.

With three decades in the business, Bitters End has established itself as a leading Japanese distributor, handling films from internationally acclaimed filmmakers including Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Bong Joon-Ho, the Dardenne brothers, and Jia Zhangke. Recent acquisitions include “Anora,” “Sex/Love/Dreams,” “Caught by the Tide,” “La Chimera,” and “Perfect Days.” The company also produces and was behind the Academy Award-winning “Drive My Car.”

“Two Seasons, Two Strangers” stars Korean actor Shim Eun-kyung alongside Japanese actor Shinichi Tsutsumi (“Always: Sunset on Third Street”). Currently in post-production, the project is targeting a November domestic release in Japan.

Miyake has built a strong festival reputation with previous works including “All the Long Nights” (Berlinale 2024), “Small, Slow But Steady” (Berlinale 2022), “And Your Bird Can Sing” (Berlinale 2019), and “Playback” (Locarno 2012). His contemplative,...

Indonesia is booming with local content, international co-productions and a vibrant box office, although overseas distribution and the absence of film incentives remain weaknesses, said film professionals currently working in Indonesia, on a panel at Hong Kong’s Filmart.

Indonesia’s culture minister, Fadli Zon, was also present at the panel, alongside a delegation from the Indonesian consulate in Hong Kong.

Justin Kim, head of international production at Cj Enm, has been steadily growing the Korean entertainment powerhouse‘s footprint in Indonesia since 2014.

Kim said that Cj Enm’s foray into the Indonesian film industry started out with the conglomerate giving out a few awards at Busan’s Asian Project Market in 2014, including for a “most anticipated” project, which was given to Joko Anwar’s A Copy of My Mind.

At that time, Kim was an international sales manager and Cj Enm ended up representing the film. Anwar’s feature travelled to the Venice,...

“Silenced” is a 2011 Korean drama film, categorized as True Crime, Crime, and Legal Drama; streaming on Netflix and free with ads on Tubi TV. This movie is based on the novel “The Crucible” by Gong Ji-young, which is a true story about horrific events that occurred at Gwangju Inhwa School for the Deaf. Note: Hwang Dong-hyuk is a South Korean director, producer and screenwriter. Before his massive global success with the Netflix original series survival drama “Squid Game” (2021), he was best known for the films “Miss Granny” (2014) and “Silenced” (2011). Summary: Children ho have disabilities are still children ho should be protected and nurtured by adults responsible for their care. Not abused by them. Child abuse is a Crime and should be Punished. ♦ They’re Deaf Kids. Surely You Can’t Believe Them. In “Silenced”, (aka “The Crucible” or “Dogani”), Kang In-ho moves to the town of Mujin because he got...

Squid Game: Meet the New Cast of the Highly-Anticipated Second Season - Main Image

Squid Game season 2 returns with new sets of players this year on Netflix, just in time for the holidays. Keep in mind that each new actor's roles for the second season have yet to be disclosed. Check out which stars you may recognize from their previous Kdramas!

Im Si-Wan

Outside being a member of the Kpop group, Ze:a, the award-winning actor Im Si-Wan has proven his talent when it comes to the acting industry.

Fans may recognize previous works of his from Jeong Seok-Won in tvN's Reply 1997, Yoon Jong-Woo from Strangers From Hell, Jang Byeong-Tae from 2023's Boyhood, but he is most popularly known for starring as the main culprit on the 2023 flick Unlocked as hacker Oh Jun-Yeong.

Kang Ha-Neul

The multiple best actor awardee Kang Ha-Neul has starred in prominent Kdramas since...

Fresh from their Cannes success with “Kinds of Kindness,” iconic director Yorgos Lanthimos and his totemic star Emma Stone are now busily filming “Bugonia,’ a sci-fi conspiracy movie that is a remake of South Korean film “Save the Green Planet.”

The film follows two conspiracy-obsessed young men who kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth. The adapted script is from “Succession” and “The Menu” writer Will Tracy.

While the new film’s co-producer and co-financier Korean conglomerate Cj Enm long ago put in place an IP strategy that involves the development of local and international remakes, the company believes it unlikely that a new “Save the Green Planet” would have taken off without the global expansion of “Hallyu,” or the Korean wave.

The original “Save the Green Planet,” with its elements of comedy and sadistic torture, was directed...

Below are the remaining three (3) Korean drama movies gems that were released between 2012 and 2017. (4) Miss Granny (2014) (5) Blood and Ties (2013) (6) Helpless (2012) The first three (3) films listed in Part 1 are: (1) Heart Blackened (2017); (2) Remember You (2016); and (3) The Chronicles of Evil (2015). ♦ (4) Miss Granny (2014) A woman who is 70+ years old has her picture was taken at a mysterious photo studio, and she regains her youthful appearance at age 20. So she changes her name to relive her life. It’s the age-old questions that everybody is asked: What would you do if you had the opportunity to go back to the days of your youth, but with the wisdom you now have as a senior citizen? Would you live your life any differently? If so, what would you do differently? Main Characters: Oh Mal-Soon (played by Na Moon-Hee) Oh Doo-Ri (played by Shim Eun-Kyung) Viewership and Rating: IMDb: 7.2 out

The post Six (6) Korean Drama Movie...

“Poor Things” director Yorgos Lanthimos will reteam with Element Pictures on a remake of South Korean fantasy comedy “Save the Green Planet,” Variety has learned.

Lanthimos — whose latest film, “Poor Things,” is nominated for 11 Oscars and just won five BAFTAs (including best actress for Emma Stone) — is expected to start shooting the movie in the U.K. and New York this summer. Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe at Element Pictures will produce the movie alongside Ari Aster’s Square Peg and Cj Enm (previously named Cj Entertainment). It will mark the sixth collaboration between Lanthimos and Element Pictures.

The long-gestated project, which seems to be a perfect Lanthimos vehicle, is an eccentric black comedy involving a disillusioned young man who captures and tortures a businessman whom he believes to be part of an alien invasion. A battle of wits ensues between the captor, his devoted girlfriend, the businessman and a private detective.

The hit series “Squid Game” will be returning to Netflix for Season 2, and Netflix notes in a letter to shareholders this week – obtained by Variety – that it’s planned for this year.

Here’s the full letter from Netflix that was shared by Variety this afternoon:

Looking ahead, despite last year’s strikes pushing back the launch of some titles, we have a big, bold slate for 2024. Audiences will be able to choose from hit returning dramas like The Diplomat S2, Bridgerton S3, Squid Game S2 and Empress S2; unscripted series like Tour de France: Unchained S2, Love is Blind S6, F1: Drive to Survive S6 and Full Swing S2; and brand new shows like 3 Body Problem (based on the best selling novel and from the Game of Thrones showrunners), Griselda, The Gentlemen (from Guy Ritchie), Eric (starring Benedict Cumberbach), Avatar: The Last Airbender, Cien Años de Soledad...

Korea’s Anthology Studios and India’s Panorama Studios have partnered for the remake of the Drishyam franchise in Korea.

Panorama Studios is backed by producer Kumar Mangat Pathak, while Anthology Studios is founded by former Warner Bros. local Korean production head, Choi Jae-won (aka Jay Choi), “Parasite” actor Song Kang-ho and acclaimed director Kim Jee-woon. The trio previously worked together on 2016 film “The Age of Shadows.” Anthology’s “Cobweb,” directed by Kim, produced by Choi and starring Song, is premiering out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival on May 25.

The two studios will join hands for the Korean remake of the Drishyam franchise. The announcement was made at the India Pavilion in Cannes on Sunday by the two studios with Pathak and Choi present.

Written and directed by Jeetu Joseph, the Malayalam-language “Drishyam” (2013) was headlined by superstar Mohanlal. It followed a cable TV operator whose simple world splinters...

Most independent producer/financiers would be glad to have one hot title up for sale in Toronto. Limelight arrives this week with three: the Jane Fonda/Lily Tomlin-led comedy-drama “Moving On,” plus a pair of distinctive coming-of-age dramas, “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” and “Wildflower.”

Now Limelight is developing the script for a comedy tentatively titled “Coachella,” written by Andy Siara (“Palm Springs”) and Joey Siara. The feature centers on teens who tell their parents they’re going on a church trip, but sneak off to the famed desert music festival instead. The Siara brothers are loosely drawing on their experiences playing the fest with their indie rock band, The Henry Clay People.

By any measure, Limelight partners Dylan Sellers, Chris Parker and Alex Dong are on a roll. Their comedy “Palm Springs” sold to Neon and Hulu for around 22 million in 2020, a record-breaking Sundance deal at the time.

Korean festival returns as a full in-person event for the first time since 2019.

The 23rd Jeonju International Film Festival opened with chairman Kim Seung-su announcing a new cinema centre to be built on the spot of the Jeonju Dome, where the opening ceremony was held last night (April 28).

Stars and filmmakers walked the red carpet to applause from an excited audience as in pre-pandemic years, albeit many with masks on at the ever-safety-conscious film festival.

The Jeonju Dome is a temporary structure traditionally erected for the opening and closing ceremonies and other popular events during the annual film festival. Tickets...

“Decision to Leave,” the detective mystery by Korean director Park Chan-wook that will debut in competition in Cannes next month, is to be given theatrical releases in the U.S. and U.K. by streaming platform Mubi.

Mubi, which pitches itself as a global distributor, streaming service and production company, picked up multiple territory rights including North America, U.K., Ireland, Turkey, and India, in a deal with South Korea’s Cj Entertainment.

“The film will be released theatrically in the U.S. and the U.K. with fall 2022 release dates planned, followed by an exclusive Mubi streaming release,” Mubi said.

“Decision to Leave” was produced by Moho Film and is presented by “Parasite” studio Cj Enm.

The film stars Park Hae-il and China’s Tang Wei in a tale about a detective who develops a personal interest in the woman who should be the chief suspect in his ongoing murder investigation.

Korean sales agents pick up feature debuts set to receive world premieres in Jeonju.

Seoul-based sales agents Finecut and M-Line Distribution have each picked up Korean directorial debut features set to premiere at the Jeonju International Film Festival (April 28-May 7).

Finecut has boarded international sales for director Lee Soon-sung’s feature debut My Perfect Roommate – aka Room Sharing – starring Na Moon-hee, best known for comedy-drama hits such as I Can Speak and Miss Granny.

Choi Woo-sung (TV’s It’s Okay To Not Be Okay) plays a college boy who ends up sharing a house with a cranky old lady who...

A minor player in the Chinese film scene, “Hi, mom” has turned incredibly quickly into a box office superstar, propelling its co-writer, director and star Jia Ling into directors’ heaven. To give you an idea, the film is, as we speak, the second highest ever grossing film in China – just behind “Wolf Warrior 2,” – and its director, writer and star Jia Ling is the world’s (!!) highest-grossing female director. It has been calculated that the film has cashed more than the entirety of Zhang Yimou’s body of work, or Feng Xiaogang in his whole career. But is the film any good? It is with great curiosity and a touch of scepticism that I prepared to watch it.

“Hi, Mom” is screening at Udine Far East Film Festival

Xiaoling is a likeable ordinary girl who, in her opinion, never managed to make her mother Ying (Liu Jia), feel proud. She...

Lionsgate’s local-language film consortium GlobalGate Entertainment has added Japan’s Rakuten to its worldwide team of production and distribution partners.

“We will acquire the adaptation and remake rights to IPs with high global value and recognition and work with talented creators in Japan to create world-class content. We will also leverage the Rakuten Ecosystem to distribute the newly created content around the world, sharing it with as many fans as possible,” said Ando Koji, Rakuten Group managing executive officer and communications and energy company senior VP. “We hope that this production process creates opportunities for Japanese creators to go global, while also providing opportunities for a diversity of creators and artists to collaborate.”

Globalgate’s other consortium partners include Lionsgate (U.S./U.K./Canada), Televisa (Latin America), TF1 (France), Nordisk (Scandinavia), Lotte (Korea), Tobis (Germany), Rai (Italy), Tme (Turkey), Belga Films, Paris Filmes (Brazil), CineColombia/Dynamo (Colombia), Falcon...

Upcoming releases from Globalgate partnerships include Hunting Season from Germany, Miss Granny from Mexico.

US-based Globalgate Entertainment has struck a deal with the Ratuken group and added the Japanese e-commerce and internet services company to its global network of producers and distributors.

Ratuken is ramping up its entertainment content creation, marketing and distribution businesses and will work with Globalgate to source co-financing opportunities.

Globalgate’s slate of films and digital/TV series includes Dhamaka from India and Mexico’s Sin Hijos and upcoming releases Hunting Season aka Jagdsaison from Germany, Miss Granny from Mexico and remake No Kids in South Korea.

CinemaThe film, titled ‘Arrangements of Love’, is likely to see Samantha playing a bisexual Tamil woman. Tnm StaffInstagram/ Samantha Ruth Prabhu Actor Samantha is set to make her international debut with the film Arrangements of Love, an adaptation of the novel of the same name, written by novelist Timeri N Murari. The novel tracks the life of a bisexual Tamil woman who runs a detective agency. The film is set to be helmed by BAFTA-winning Welsh director Philip John, who is best known for the 2010 British period drama series Downton Abbey. Arrangements of Love is to be produced by Sunitha Tati’s Guru Films, who also produced the hit 2019 film Oh! Baby with Samantha in the lead. Oh! Baby was the Tollywood adaptation of the 2014 Korean film Miss Granny. Arrangements of Love follows a Welsh-Indian man who tries to find his estranged father. Samantha’s character, a woman who runs a detective agency,...

Samantha Ruth Prabhu, one of India’s top actors, has boarded the cast of feature film “Arrangements of Love.”

The film is to be directed by BAFTA-winning Welsh director Philip John, whose credits include “Downton Abbey” and “The Good Karma Hospital.”

The film is produced by Sunitha Tati’s Indian outfit Guru Films, whose “Oh! Baby,” the 2019 Telugu-language adaptation of 2014 Korean film “Miss Granny,” was a commercial success. “Oh! Baby” starred Samantha, who is known by just her first name.

The actor won much acclaim for her antagonist’s role in the second season of Amazon Prime Video series “Family Man,” which began streaming earlier this year. Active in both the Telugu and Tamil language industries, Samantha’s credits include S.S. Rajamouli’s “Eega,” “Super Deluxe,” “Janatha Garage” and “Mersal.”

Samir Sarkar, of Singapore’s Magic Hour Films, has joined the project as executive producer. Sarkar previously produced Rotterdam winner “Nasir,...

Wrapping a months-long process, Endeavor Group Holding has sealed a deal to sell most of its successful production unit to South Korean media giant Cj Enm.

Cj is investing $775 million for 80% of Endeavor Content’s scripted business, according to the official announcement, with the equity valuation reaching $970 million.

Endeavor will retain 20% of the scripted portion of the business, in addition to keeping the non-scripted portion as well as certain documentary and film sales and financing consulting services. Endeavor Content’s Graham Taylor and Chris Rice will continue to lead the studio as co-CEOs. The two companies expect the deal to close in early 2022.

This acquisition is the largest M&a transaction for Cj Enm, which has also put money into Skydance Media and, more than a quarter-century ago, DreamWorks Skg.

Word of Cj nearing a deal first surfaced Thursday afternoon. On Monday, during an earnings call with Wall Street analysts,...

Korean entertainment powerhouse Cj Enm has entered into a strategic partnership with leading Japanese animation studio Toei Animation as it continues to expand its global footprint. Under the agreement, the two companies will collaborate across both their libraries and team to create new product including television series, films and animation. The tie-up will also allow both to tap each other’s regional markets.

Cj Enm is is Korea’s foremost film and television studio, cable operator and music producer. Best known for multiple Oscar winner Parasite, the company’s film credits also include Snowpiercer and Miss Granny. Series credits range from Crash Landing On You to Goblin: The Lonely And Great God and Hospital Playlist while it is also behind music format I Can See Your Voice; stage credits include the Tony Award winning Broadway production Kinky Boots.

Cj further has a strategic investment in David Ellison’s Skydance Media...

Top South Korean actor Lee Jung-jae is thoroughly enjoying the extra burnish to his already distinguished career that has come from the global success of “Squid Game,” Netflix’s hit survival game TV series. However, he says that the phone is not ringing off the hook with new offers from Hollywood.

“No proposals or requests have come my way,” he told Variety. “But, if the right one came along, I’d be happy to be in an overseas production. It could be fun.”

Lee plays Gi-hun, a penniless wastrel who gambles too much, steals from his family, gets beaten up by loan sharks and accepts a mysterious invitation to become contender #456 in the deadly competition. His affability and carefully crafted backstory make him an easy-to-like protagonist who faces an evil organization that its literally playing with people’s lives.

It was a role that Lee accepted with relish after a more than two-decade career,...

“Squid Game” has emerged as the unexpected TV blockbuster of the fall season. The Korean survival thriller has become Netflix’s number one show in 90 countries, including the United States, and naturally many of its fans want to know if the streaming giant will be bringing the series back for a second season. In a deep dive on the show’s breakout success published by Vulture, Netflix’s global TV head Bela Bajaria appeared optimistic about the potential for “Squid Game” Season 2. At this time, however, no second season has been officially ordered.

As reported by Vulture: “Nothing firm has been decided about a second season of ‘Squid Game,’ but Bajaria sounds upbeat about the prospect and suggests that it would depend on [creator Hwang Dong-hyuk’s] schedule and his desires for how to proceed. ‘He has a film and other things he’s working on,’ she says, noting the creator likes to collaborate...

Netflix’s chief content officer Ted Sarandos expressed surprise at Vox Media’s Code Conference this week (via Variety) when revealing the Korean survival drama “Squid Game” is becoming such a blockbuster for the streaming giant that it could soon dethrone “Bridgerton” as the biggest Netflix television series of all time. The first season of Shonda Rhimes’ Regency romance stands atop Netflix’s list of most popular series by household (82 million) and most popular series by hours spent viewing (625 million). As always, it’s important to note the streamer counts 2 minutes of streaming as a view.

As reported by Variety: “Sarandos said that high-concept Korean survival drama ‘Squid Game,’ which premiered Sept. 17, has a very [big] chance of becoming the biggest Netflix show ever, and currently ranks as the No. 1 show worldwide on the service. ‘We did not see that coming, in terms of its global popularity,’ Sarandos said.”

“Squid Game” comes from writer-director Hwang Dong-hyuk,...

Korean TV series have dominated viewing preferences across large parts of Asia for the last decade. But it has taken a high-concept survival drama “Squid Game” to become the first K-drama to rate as Netflix’s top show in the U.S.

The nine-part Netflix original involves a group of people from all walks of life who sign up for a series of simple, but utterly lethal games, organized by mysterious hosts in masks and red overalls. What spurs on the contestants are their own dire straits and the lure of a more than $40 million cash prize.

Released on Sept. 17, the show entered the Top 10 on Sept. 19 at No. 8, climbed to No. 2 the next day, and was at No. 1 by its fourth day of availability on Sept. 21. In its home market of South Korea, “Squid Game” debuted in second place and reached the top spot a day later.

The show...

BAFTA-winning Welsh director Philip John, whose credits include “Downton Abbey” and “The Good Karma Hospital,” will direct “Arrangements of Love,” the sole Asian project selected at the Toronto International Financing Forum, which sits alongside the Toronto film festival.

The film is an adaptation of the bestselling 2004 novel of the same title by Indian author Timeri N. Murari (“The Taliban Cricket Club”) by John and British Sri Lankan actor Nimmi Harasgama, who played the female lead in Deepa Mehta’s “Funny Boy” and is a series regular on “The Good Karma Hospital.”

“Arrangements of Love” follows a Welsh-Indian man on his quest to find his estranged father with an impromptu visit to his homeland.

“’The Arrangements of Love’ is an intricate and subtle exploration of love; quirky and oddball it tells of the characters all looking for something – and hidden under their stories is the search for love, in its many guises,...

Every story has two sides to it. Injo, the sixteenth King of the Joseon dynasty is generally known to be a weak and indecisive ruler, mostly widely disliked for his surrender of Joseon to the Qing dynasty. His Minister, Choi Myeong-gil is equally regarded as a traitor for spearheading the deal that eventually led to the surrender.

Four years after the vastly popular “Miss Granny”, director Hwang Dong-hyuk attempts to tell the side of Injo and Choi’s story of what truly transpired for the King to take such a step in his latest film “The Fortress”. With its star-studded cast and rich production values, “The Fortress” went on to win Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography as well as Best Music at the Korean Critics Choice Awards in 2017.

It’s 1636. The Qing have invaded Joseon, driving King Injo and his ministers into the mountains to the fortified city of Namhansanseong.

TollywoodThe film will be Netflix's follow-up to their upcoming film, 'Pitta Kathalu'.Digital NativeFile PhotoDirector Ajay Bhupathi, who rose to fame with his highly controversial Telugu film Rx 100, has been signed to direct one of the stories in Netflix India’s second Telugu original anthology film, which will be a follow-up to their upcoming film, Pitta Kathalu. According to reports, Netflix has already initiated talks with Ajay and he’s said to have already given his nod. A recent report by Telugu360 states that Netflix has already completed the agreement work for the project and the shoot will commence next year. Apart from Ajay Bhupathi, the three others directors who will be part of this project are Krish Jagarlamudi, Shiva Nirvana and Nandini Reddy. The directors are currently busy with the script work and the web series is expected to release in 2022. Meanwhile, Krish, Shiva Nirvana, Nandini Reddy...

Principal photography began on Monday in Glasgow, Scotland, on “Blind,” a Bollywood remake of the eponymous 2011 Korean action thriller.

Sonam Kapoor (“Veere Di Wedding”) headlines the cast, which also includes Purab Kohli (“Sense8”) and Vinay Pathak (“A Suitable Boy”).

“Blind” follows a woman who loses her sight after a car accident, only to find her other senses develop, allowing her to help the police in an ongoing investigation.

The remake is directed by feature debutant Shome Makhija, who has previously worked with filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh (“Kahaani”) as associate director on a number of films, including the Glasgow-set “Badla,” a remake of 2016 Spanish-language thriller “The Invisible Guest,” starring Amitabh Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu.

my brother @Shomemakhija turns director today + the nutcase @sonamakapoor stars! hopefully i get to assist. pic.twitter.com/HmD7ZUVvsa

— sujoy ghosh (@sujoy_g) December 28, 2020

“Blind” will shoot in a start-to-finish schedule in Glasgow, adhering to Covid-19 protocols.

TollywoodReports suggest that Krish Jagarlamudi, Shiva Nirvana, Nandini Reddy and Ajay Bhupati will come together for the new series, on the theme of ‘love’.Digital NativeFile PhotoStreaming giant Netflix India is taking big strides in the south, with multiple projects in various stages of production. After recently wrapping up the shoot for the Telugu version of Netflix’s Lust Stories, reports have emerged that they have roped in four popular Telugu filmmakers for an anthology series on the theme of ‘love’. Directors Krish Jagarlamudi, Shiva Nirvana, Nandini Reddy and Ajay Bhupathi have been signed to helm four shorts for this upcoming anthology film. Nandini has already worked with Netflix on one segment in their Telugu version of Lust Stories. Her segment features Amala Paul, Jagapathi Babu and Ashwin Kakumanu. A report by Telugu360 states that Netflix has already completed the agreement work for the new series, and that the shoot will commence next year.

The two companies have entered into a slate co-financing deal for projects in Indonesia, Vietnam and Turkey.

South Korea’s leading film studio Cj Entertainment and LA-based local-language content financier Library Pictures International (Lpi) have entered into a multi-year, multi-picture slate co-financing deal covering local-language film productions in Indonesia, Vietnam and Turkey.

Coming on the heels of Cj Entertainment’s multiple Oscar wins with Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite, the deal will see Lpi fund up to 50% of the budget of Cj Entertainment-led local-language productions in each of these three markets where Cj has been investing with an interest in the territories’ rapid growth.

Library Pictures International, a Los Angeles-based local-language content financier has struck a deal with Cj Entertainment, the South Korean studio behind Oscar-winner “Parasite,” to co-finance its production in Indonesia, Vietnam and Turkey.

Library, which is itself backed by Legendary Pictures, will fund up to 50% of the budget of Cj Entertainment-led local-language productions in each of the three markets. Few deal terms were disclosed, though they were described as a “multi-year, multi-picture” agreement.

Cj-cgv, a sister company within the Cj Group, has acquired or developed multiplex cinemas in multiple developing markets, including Indonesia, Vietnam and Turkey. It has followed those initial moves by developing film distribution and production activities in each of them.

It backed Joko Anwar’s “Satan’s Slaves,” the highest-grossing horror film of all time in Indonesia. Several others have been localized versions of Cj Entertainment’s original Korean-language intellectual properties, including “Sweet 20,” a Vietnamese version of nostalgic hit “Miss Granny.

Financier Library Pictures International and Korean studio Cj Entertainment, producer of the multi-Oscar winner Parasite, have entered into a multi-year, multi-picture slate co-financing deal covering local-language film productions in Indonesia, Vietnam and Turkey.

Under terms of the deal, Library will fund up to 50% of the budget of Cj Entertainment-led local-language productions in each of the three growing markets.

Cj Entertainment has actively expanded its presence in Southeast Asia and Turkey, producing such films as Satan’s Slaves, the highest-grossing horror film of all time in Indonesia; six of the top 20 local films in Vietnam, including Sweet 20, one of their highest-grossing films of all time, and a re-make of their hit Korean film Miss Granny; and investing in and distributing hit films Aile Arasinda and Kogustaki Mucize in Turkey in the last couple of years.

“Cj Entertainment has been a powerful supporter of creative voices, not only in Korea but in several markets around the world,...

Exclusive: Production and finance co Limelight, which has credits including Sundance hit Palm Springs and upcoming Melissa McCarthy Netflix pic The Starling, has hired Brad Zimmerman as Executive Vice President.

Zimmerman joins from FilmNation where he was Senior Vice President of Production, working on projects including Late Night and The Lodge. Prior to then he was at Matt Tolmach’s production company.

Additionally, Limelight has also upped Cj Barbato to Creative Executive. He has been at the company since its inception in 2018, working as exec producer on Palm Springs, which sold to Hulu/Neon in a $22M pact. Both Zimmerman and Barbato report to Dylan Sellers and Chris Parker, who founded the company with Alex Dong.

Limelight has completed six movies since launching, including Anna Kerrigan’s Cowboys, Spanish-language comedy Miss Granny produced alongside Eugenio Derbez, and Phillip Noyce’s Lakewood, which stars Naomi Watts and began production last month in Canada.

Park Jung-bae has been an assistant director on a couple pretty big productions for Cj Entertainment, namely “Miss Granny” and “Silenced”. Now, he is all set to make his director debut with the production giants with the upcoming “Collectors”.

Synopsis

Kang Dong-goo is an elite grave robber. He works with ancient tomb mural expert Dr Johns and legendary shoveler Sabdari.

Meanwhile, curator Yoon is an expert in ancient art. She offers an attractive, but dangerous deal to Kang Dong-goo, involving a grave robbery in the heart of a city.

The eclectic star-cast includes Lee Je-hoon as Kang Dong-goo, Jo Woo-jin as Dr Johns, Im Won-hee (“Forbidden Dream“) as Sabdari and Shin Hye-sun as curator Yoon. The caper film is scheduled for a November, 2020 release.

Translation by Grace Han

Though “Beasts Clawing at Straws” is his debut feature, Kim Yong-hoon is no stranger to the film industry. After working for about a decade with Cj E&m, where he actively progressed investment in hit projects like “The Berlin File”, “Miss Granny” and “C’est Si Bon”. Filmmaking, however, had always been the end-goal for the salaryman and, after producing his first short film “Do You Wish to Delete?” and several failed attempts at getting a feature-length script off the ground, the 38-year-old was finally able to take the leap to directing with “Beasts Clawing at Straws”.

On the occasion of “Beasts Clawing at Straws” screening at New York Asian Film Festival, we spoke to him about the film, the source novel, the crime thriller genre, the casting of Jeon Do-yeon and Jung Woo-sung and more.

How did you come across the original book by Keisuke Sone...

Naomi Watts and director Phillip Noyce are joining forces for the thriller “Lakewood,” set to begin filming Sept. 16 in Ontario under strict Covid-19 protocols.

The film, written by Chris Sparling and produced by Boies/Schiller’s Zack Schiller and David Boies, Limelight’s Dylan Sellers and Chris Parker, Untapped’s Andrew Corkin, star Watts for Jam Tart Films and Stratagem’s Alex Lalonde, has echoes from today’s headlines. Limelight’s Alex Dong is an executive producer.

“Lakewood” follows a mother (Watts) who desperately races against time to save her child as authorities place her small town on lockdown.

The run-up to filming “Lakewood” was nearly as suspenseful. A month before principal photography was set to begin, the two-time Oscar nominee and veteran producer (“The Painted Veil”) was unsure if her project would move forward as SAG-AFTRA regulations and other pandemic-related issues were being worked out.

“It seems like Canada has everything very under control,...

Tollywood‘Midnight Runners’, a 2017 Korean action-comedy, tells the story of two students at a police academy and how they bust a gang of human traffickers.Digital NativeDigital NativeIf the industry grapevine is anything to go by, Suresh Productions has acquired the remake rights of two Korean films – Midnight Runners and Dancing Queen. Following the phenomenal success of Oh Baby, the Telugu remake of the Korean comedy Miss Granny, which was also produced by Suresh Productions, the popular banner has two more remakes in the offing. Apparently, Regina Cassandra and Nivetha Thomas are believed to have been signed for the remake of Midnight Runners. The yet-untitled project will be directed by Sudheer Varma of Swamy Ra Ra fame. An investigative thriller, Midnight Runners, a 2017 Korean action-comedy, tells the story of two students at a police academy and how they bust a gang of human traffickers. While the original featured two male actors in the lead,...

EntertainmentThis is by no means an exhaustive list and is only a starter pack! Tnm StaffMahesh Narayanan's C U Soon, released directly on Amazon Prime Video, has been getting rave reviews from viewers. Of special significance is the fact that the film was shot in under 20 days with an iPhone camera and the entire story is told through screens. These factors have piqued the curiosity of viewers and as a consequence, the film has attracted several people who may not have watched a south Indian — let alone Malayalam — film before this. Even film critics who don't usually review south Indian films have been lavish in their praise of C U Soon. Although there are four big film industries in the south, Indian cinema is often equated to Bollywood. Among those who haven't watched south Indian films, there exists a perception that "down south", the films made are all loud, unrealistic and grossly exaggerated.

Exclusive: When Netflix chief Reed Hastings recorded an audio essay for the BBC last month, one comment stood out within his message of solidarity for an industry besieged by virus disruption: “Throughout the pandemic, we’ve seen our members watching more content from other countries or cultures.”

The streamers and their global reach have evidenced over recent years that audiences will consume film and TV from outside their immediate experiences, and that the language barrier is no longer as pronounced as once thought. Hastings name-checked Spanish show Money Heist, Italian drama Summertime, and the German-American show Unorthodox as three series that have broken across national boundaries to be watched by a varied viewership.

And it’s not just series. The success of Korean arthouse drama Parasite, which racked up box offices records in markets around the world, grossing $250M+ before storming the Oscars earlier this year, reaffirmed that the bridge...

TollywoodReports suggest that the film will be a sports drama.Digital NativeNaga Shaurya is currently busy with Ashwathama, which is directed by debutante Ramana Teja and produced by Usha Mulpuri under the banner of Ira Creations. Mehreen Pirzada plays Naga Shaurya’s love interest in the film, with Sargun Kaur in an important role. The technical crew of this film includes Sricharan Pakala for music and Manoj Reddy for camerawork. Recently, Naga Shaurya was in the news for the injuries he sustained during the shoot of this film. Reports said that the actor got hurt while shooting a high octane stunt sequence without opting for a body double. The actor’s other film in the pipeline is titled Mooga Manasulu. The film will be bankrolled by Sithara Entertainment and directed by debut director Lakshmi Sowjanya. Sources in the know say that it is a family entertainer. The prep work is...

TollywoodThe film will be bankrolled by Swapna Dutt and Priyanka Dutt under the banner Swapna Cinema.Digital NativeDirector Nandini Reddy, who shot to fame with her debut flick Ala Modalaindi, has announced her next project after the success of Oh! Baby. The versatile director has now announced her next project through her social media handle. “Super excited about my next with @SwapnaCinema. Produced by #PriyankaDutt #AshwiniDutt @SwapnaDuttCh A @MickeyJMeyer Musical @RIP_apart @LakshmiBhupal #JayashreeLakshminarayan @UrsVamsiShekar," the director wrote on Twitter. Super excited about my next with @SwapnaCinema Produced by #PriyankaDutt #AshwiniDutt @SwapnaDuttCh A @MickeyJMeyer Musical @RIP_apart @LakshmiBhupal #JayashreeLakshminarayan @UrsVamsiShekar pic.twitter.com/cJ7g83QFtW — Nandini Reddy (@nandureddy4u) October 7, 2019 Lakshmi Bhoopal has penned the story and dialogues for the film and cinematographer Richard Prasad has been signed up to handle the camera. Mickey J Meyer will be scoring the music and Jayashree is the art director. The film...

TollywoodThe film is a remake of the Korean movie ‘Miss Granny.’Digital NativeThe trailer of the upcoming film Oh! Baby was out on Thursday and has garnered already two million views. From the trailer, it is evident that it is Samantha all the way in the film. The actor looks gorgeous as usual and her performance is top notch. The narration begins with veteran actor Lakshmi and how she turns young magically to become Samantha, who narrates her life story to Naga Shaurya. The trailer also made it clear that it will be a laugh riot all through. The trailer starts with veteran actor Lakshmi going into a photo studio and walking out as a younger version of herself, played by Samantha. The plot seems to be filled with a number of fun antics as the elderly woman gains her youth back and is set on an adventure. Numerous scenes...

TollywoodThe film is a remake of the Korean movie ‘Miss Granny.’ Tnm StaffYoutube screenshotThe much awaited trailer for Samantha Akkineni’s film Oh Baby is finally here. The trailer starts with veteran actor Lakshmi going into a photo studio and walking out as a younger version of herself, played by Samantha. The plot seems to be filled with a number of fun antics as the elderly woman gains her youth back and is set on an adventure. Numerous scenes between Samantha and the younger men who attempt to woo her, unaware that she is, in fact, an elderly woman provide comedy. The trailer hints of some emotional drama as well, as the lead character reflects upon the loss of her husband (played by Adivi Sesh in a cameo role) at a young age. Samantha took to Twitter to announce the release of the trailer on Thursday morning. “This one is...

TollywoodSpeculations are rife that Shraddha Kapoor and Janhvi Kapoor have been approached for the Bollywood remake of this female-centric project.Digital NativeThe makers of the Telugu movie Oh Baby are planning to remake it in Hindi, according to close sources. Samatha has played the lead in the Telugu version -- Oh Baby Yentha Sakkagunnave – which is in turn a remake of the Korean movie Miss Granny. The Telugu movie is releasing on July 5. Speculations are rife that Shraddha Kapoor and Janhvi Kapoor have been approached for the Bollywood remake of this female-centric project. If the news is true this remake will mark the re-entry of Suresh Babu into Hindi films after a long break. The teaser of the Telugu film was out recently and is going viral. From the teaser, it is evident that it is Samantha all the way. The film begins with a narration by veteran actor Lakshmi...

TollywoodSamantha is acting as an elderly woman who finds herself in her 20-year-old body.Tnm Staff“You are going to have one hell of a time, watch out,” Samantha promises viewers at the end of the teaser of her upcoming film, Oh Baby! As promised, the teaser is a fun ride into the world of a 70-year-old single mother, played by veteran actor Lakshmi, who gets transformed into a 20-year-old young singer, played by Samantha. But neither is Lakshmi sad or disappointed with the change, instead she lives her life to the fullest, trapped inside the body of the young woman. Samantha looks chirpy in the role of an old woman who has got a second innings at life. In the one-minute long teaser, Samantha narrates how she lost her husband at a very young age and looked after her kids and now also has grandchildren. As she narrates her story,...

This year’s line-up for the Far East Film Festival in Udine includes numerous surprise hits, as well as a diverse selection that mixes the best of Asian commercial cinema with accessible Asian art house.

Among the surprise hits are “A Cool Fish” and “Dying to Survive” from mainland China, and “Project Gutenberg,” the Hong Kong counterfeiting thriller which topped the Chinese box office. From Taiwan, “More Than Blue” was another title that took China’s box office crown.

The mainland Chinese selection also includes Han Han’s “Pegasus”, Zhang Wei’s transgender drama “The Rib,” and coming of age drama “The Crossing,” which premiered in Toronto.

Labelled as a Hong Kong production, Renny Harlin’s “Bodies at Rest,” and Yuen Woo-ping’s “Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy” also find festival berths.

The festival’s nine titles from Japan include comedy “Fly Me To Saitama,” Sabu’s absurdist “Jam...

TollywoodSamantha's last release was the Tamil-Telugu bilingual 'U-Turn'.Digital NativePost marriage, Samantha Akkineni has been bagging some of the best projects. Recently, there was an announcement that she will be starring in a heroine-centric project titled O Baby. The full title of the film is O Baby Yentha Sakkagunnave, reveal sources. Reports are that this film is inspired from the Korean movie My Granny and will be directed by Nandini Reddy. O Baby will be bankrolled jointly by People's Media Factory, Suresh Productions and Sunita Tati. The shooting of this film has begun and Samantha has joined the sets. Miss Granny is a South Korean comedy-drama film that was directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk. Na Moon-hee stars as a woman in her 70s who magically finds herself in the body of her 20-year-old self after having herself photographed at a mysterious photo studio. The film opened to packed houses on January...

Cj E&M, South Korea’s leading entertainment studio, is to move into the the local film production scene in Turkey in a big way. The company is to invest in and distribute 25 film titles from production houses Bkm and Taff.

The pair are Turkey’s two leading production companies, and produced six of 2017’s top ten local films. “It makes us an all-round studio that finances, produces and distributes films in Turkey,” said Cj in a statement.

The first film to be released by Cj is Bkm-produced road comedy, “Yol Arkadasim 2.” Set for an October release, the film is a sequel to 2017 hit “Yol Arkadasim” which managed to sell 2.05 million tickets. A Taff production, “Dance With the Jackals 5″ (aka “Cakallarla Dans 5” will be released in theaters in December. “Magic Carpet RIde 2” (aka “Organize Isler 2″) by director-actor Yilmaz Erdogan, is set for a January release next year. The original film...

South Korea’s leading movie studio, Cj Entertainment, is developing 10 film projects in Hollywood. Two of them, North American versions of “Miss Granny” and “Hide and Seek,” are set to start production this year.

Cj Entertainment, part of the Cj E&M conglomerate that also owns TV channels and TV production companies, confirmed the details in emails with Variety on Monday. Production expansion outside creative, but crowded, Korea also matches the internationalization of its Cj-cgv exhibition chain, which is now one of the world’s top five.

“We’re proceeding with our global productions as planned. There will be more projects added to the lineup, including both remakes and originals,” spokesperson Yoon In-ho told Variety. Cj has previously indicated production budgets of up to $35 million for its U.S. pictures.

3Pas Studio is currently attaching cast for its Spanish-language remake of 2014 romantic comedy “Miss Granny,” Cj’s most successful international franchise to date.