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Tag: Zhang Yimou

  • Beijing’s Englight acquires shares in major Chinese TV production house

    Beijing’s Englight acquires shares in major Chinese TV production house

    NEW DELHI: Beijing Enlight Media has acquired 27.6 per cent of Cao Huayi’s New Classics Media Corporation for RMB 829 million ($ 136 million).

    In a release for its investors, Enlight states that the move was made based on the strong financial performance of NCM, as well as the success of both its film and television productions. Enlight plans to use NCM mainly to strengthen its television sector.

    In addition to television dramas such as Beijing Love Story, which is currently being adapted to a film), NCM also co-produced Zhang Yimou’s Under the Hawthorn Tree (2010), Chen Kaige’s Caught in the Web and surprise hit Love Is Not Blind (2011).

    Enlight’s release revealed that NCM had a profit of RMB 81.7 million ($ 13.4 million) in 2012. The company forecasts that profit will rise to RMB150 million in 2014.

  • Mumbai Film Festival to present lifetime achievement award to Zhang Yimou

    Mumbai Film Festival to present lifetime achievement award to Zhang Yimou

    MUMBAI: The Mumbai Film Festival will honour acclaimed director, producer, writer and Chinese actor Zhang Yimou with the Lifetime achievement award at the forthcoming 14th Mumbai Film Festival that would be held from 18 to 25 October.

    Considered to be one of China‘s most prominent directors, the prolific director is in the league of select oriental filmmakers who have successfully made a transition to mainstream Western cinema. He has been at the helm of record breaking films such as House of Flying Daggers, Hero, Curse of The Goldern Flower, and Raise the Red Lantern among numerous others.

    Zhang Yiimou has been conferred several notable international accolades including the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes for his film To Live, the Technical Grand Prize for Shanghai Triad, the Asia Pacific Screen Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Film, BAFTA‘s for To Live and Raise the Red Lantern and four different awards at the Berlin Film Festival as well as many others.

    In addition to his cinematic achievements, Zhang Yimou also directed the opening and closing ceremonies for the Beijing Summer Olympic Games in 2008, which received widespread global acclaim.

    The Mumbai Film Festival, an initiative by MAMI has been known to honour cinematic legends who have contributed to enriching the art and craft of cinema in varied capacities. Earlier recipients of this award have been Oliver Stone and Morgan Freeman respectively.

  • Chinese film industry romps in $2 bn in 2011

    Chinese film industry romps in $2 bn in 2011

    MUMBAI: The Chinese film industry’s performance in the bygone year was good when it raked in $ 2.07 billion (13.1 billion yuan) at the box office, an increase of 28.93 per cent from that of 2010.

    Film studios in China produced 791 films in various genres taking in $1.11 billion (7.03 billion yuan) at the box office, accounting for 53.6 per cent of total ticket sales.

    Most small-budget films didn‘t even hit the silver screens. The country added 803 cinemas in 2011 at a daily average of 8.3 new
    screens.

    Domestic production of blockbusters has become more mature in the country with remarkable improvements in quality. For example there was The Flowers of War, directed by Zhang Yimou. The film has already grossed over $88.69 million (560 million yuan) in less than a month after its release.

    Notably, various blockbusters continued using the old formula: Ancient Chinese legend, big-name movie stars, Kung Fu elements and grand battle scenes. Films like It‘s Love, Mural, The Lost Bladesman and White Vengeance all passed the $23.7 million (150 million yuan) mark at the box office.

    On the negative side, some critically acclaimed films like Kuiba, The Piano in a Factory and Return Ticket did poorly at the box office. Though the films in mention had won praises and even awards, many filmgoers were not even aware of them due to poor marketing.