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Beijing born Hu Jin Quan, better known as King Hu, worked as an actor, scriptwriter, set decorator and assistant director after joining the Shaw Brothers Studio in 1958. Hu slowly worked his way up as the director of “Sons of the Good Earth” (1965) under the influence of director Li Han Hsiang. Besides launching the film career of its star Cheng Pei Pei, Hu’s highly acclaimed wuxia film “Come Drink with Me” (1966) would put him on the world map. After leaving Shaw, he directed “Dragon Inn” (1967) in Taiwan which became a phenomenal cult classic in Southeast Asia.

Hu continued to achieve more fame with films like “A Touch of Zen” (1971), “The Valiant Ones” (1975), “Raining in the Mountain” and “Legend of the Mountain” both in 1979. Although his later films were less successful commercially, he returned from California to direct “Swordsman” (1990) and “Painted Skin” (1992). Actually, producer Tsui Hark‘s team had to finish...

In Shantou in the 1930s, Wang Liwen (Wang Qianyuan) is on the job when he accidentally reunites with an old friend Chen Jiadong (William Chan). They team up to investigate a secret mission, but the appearance of a mysterious man foils their original plan. As the investigation deepens, the tug of war between the two sworn brothers becomes more apparent with each passing day. The storm has arrived, and everyone in the vortex is trying their best to get back into the game… (Sources: Translated from Douban and Far East Films)

This action thriller will be released in China on April 14, 2023 and is helmed by Hong Kong director Gordon Chan known for his diverse filmography which ranges from romcom Tempting Hearts (2021) to historical war movie God of War (2017) as well as Liaozai (Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio) adaptations Painted Skin (2008) and Mural (2011).

Taipei- and Hong Kong-based sales agency Distribution Workshop heads to Berlin with a rich slate that includes one of the mainland Chinese hits from the recent Lunar New Year season and an anticipated supernatural horror film from Taiwan. The company will present to buyers in person at Berlin’s European Film Market next week.

Starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai and pop star turned actor Wang Yibo, Huang Lei and Zhou Xun, “Hidden Blade” is a lusciously presented espionage story that runs from the 1920s to the period Second Sino-Chinese War. It is directed by Cheng Er, who previously directed 2017’s “The Wasted Times.”

(Wang and Zhou also both appear in “All Tomorrow’s Parties,” a Chinese short film by Zhang Dalei that plays in next week’s Berlin short film competition.)

As nationalist, Communist and Japanese factions fan out across China and Japanese-occupied Manchuria, the narrative sees espionage agencies operating behind enemy lines,...

Netflix has picked up international rights to “The Yin Yang Master” a film that is one of the big seven tentpole titles that will open in mainland Chinese cinemas on Friday and compete for Lunar New Year holiday audiences.

Netflix acquired distribution rights in the rest of the world ex-mainland China from Huayi Brothers Media (“The Eight Hundred”).

The fantasy movie is a game-to-film adaptation of “Onmyoji” directed by Li Weiran and starring Chen Kun (“Mojin: The Lost Legend”) and Zhou Xun.

It should not be confused with another film with a similar title “The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity” that ultimately draws on the same source material. The latter is the first element of a two-part, book-to-film adaptation, directed by Guo Jingming (“Tiny Times”). Netflix acquired rights to the Guo title from sales agency Fortissimo Films ahead of the film’s mainland China release on Dec. 25. It earned some...

In “Shadow,” Chinese director Zhang Yimou is poised to reveal new layers of darkness, danger and brooding sensuality. Zhang says his film is a story of “struggle and survival,” faced by commoners and women in the face of greater power. These are themes that Zhang has approached from numerous angles over some three decades of work, while repeatedly expanding the horizons of contemporary Chinese filmmaking. Small wonder that Venice Film Festival director Alberto Barbera calls Zhang a pioneer and “one of the most important directors in contemporary cinema.” Zhang will receive the Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker award in Venice ahead of the out-of-competition screening of “Shadow” Sept. 6.

The logline says that the film is set during the period of the Three Kingdoms (220-280 A.D.), and features an exiled king and his people, who develop a plot to regain control of their land. The events are told from the...

At the Hong Kong Filmart today, Golden Network Asia Limited held a press conference to unveil the promo for The Wrath Of Vajra, a martial arts film from the producers behind the Painted Skin series. This marks Xing Yu's (aka Shi Yanneng) lead debut, and is being called China's answer to Rambo. The former Shaolin monk-turned-actor previously had supporting roles showcasing his martial arts talents in Kung Fu Hustle, Shaolin and Flash Point.According to director Law Wing Cheong, who is currently helming The Iceman Cometh with Donnie Yen, the film will explore themes of cultural pride and present a Chinese hero possessing a strong sense of justice and an indomitable spirit.  On the martial arts scenes, Cheong claims to revive a more realistic style than the recent...

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