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NEWS Friday 11 May 2018
DAY 4

THE BUZZ
OF THE DAY GILLIS BRINGS

THE LITTLE VIOLINIST POWER OF MAJORS

TO SEE SAW FILMS
GETS BIGGER WITH SEE-SAW Films’ Head

of Commercial Affairs
WANG’S FIRST FEATURE Simon Gillis is in
Cannes following
the announcement of
a three-year first-look
development,
RODUCTION starts this financing and
month on Wang Yang’s debut © DR production deal
feature June, a suspense drama with New Regency.
starring Aaron Kwok Two years into the job, Gillis came to
P (The Monkey King) and Miao the London/Sydney, and now LA-based,
Miao (Youth). The Chinese-language film independent producer of The King’s
is inspired by her short film, The Little Speech, from Universal Pictures, and
Violinist. before that, Disney and BBC Films.
The film is produced by Tianying Media, “By joining forces with New Regency
and co-produced by Arri China, marking we are able to place larger financial
the first time the company has worked bets at the development and
on a Chinese production. production stages,” Gillis said. Steve
June follows the story of Jun (Miao McQueen’s Widows will be the
Miao), an aspiring cellist who grew up in © BLAISE TASSOU company’s first release with New
New York’s Chinatown. Her life is turned Miao Miao and Aaron Kwok, pictured in Cannes Regency and Fox later this year.
upside-down when she discovers a secret “New Regency gives us a foothold in
about her father (Aaron Kwok). Under in New York, and we want to start an supporting Wang Yang in her feature-film the US and allows us a bigger budget
the strain of preparing for a life-changing initiative whereby first-time feature debut as a co-producer and partner. slate of $25m-plus films, which is the
music competition, combined with film-makers can tell their stories, and We want this to just be the beginning engine of that deal,” he said. “We now
the trauma of searching through we will support them with a production in bringing both culturally relevant films have the resources and US presence to
his mysterious past, her life begins platform to produce commercially and box-office contenders to audiences compete on hot properties out of the
to unravel. successful films.” in China and around the world.” agencies at the highest level.”
The Little Violinist has shown at over Forest Liu, General Manager of Arri Tianying Media is the production Gillis is happy with his move from the
40 festivals around the world and won China added, “Arri was founded by two and financing associate of China’s majors. “It’s great to be closer to the
10 awards. enthusiastic young film-makers with state-owned Tianjin North Film Group. talent and the production, working on
Tianying Media’s CEO Wu Jian said: a dream of making movies. As such Arri Media is handling European Sales, films which I’d pay to see,” he said.
“We were drawn to the project from the I believe the founders would be proud with sales for the rest of the world “When you know the ins and outs of
talents demonstrated by Wang Yang as a to see their legacy live on as we enter handled by Tianying Media.✦ both worlds, you can decide which
burgeoning Chinese film-maker living the growing Chinese film industry by Julian Newby route is best for the film. We have the
best of both worlds when we’re coming
to source and structure the financing.”
After the success of The King’s Speech
TORONTO INTERNATIONAL See-Saw made a move into high-end TV
with Jane Campion’s Top of the Lake,
FILM FESTIVAL UNVEILS which exceptionally was screened in
Cannes last year. But Gillis said that,
moving into its second decade,
2018 JURY SELECTION the company is happy to stay focused
on both TV and theatrical.
“I know a number of film producers
have shifted their focus to TV, but we
THE TORONTO International Film her first feature to screen at TIFF, to Cannes, with Secret Sunshine (2007) are very optimistic about growing our
Festival has announced that Margarethe and Rosa Luxemburg (1986) and Love winning the Best Actress award, and market share in both media,” he said.
von Trotta, Béla Tarr and Lee Chang- and Fear (1988), both of which were Poetry (2010) winning Best Screenplay “Our strategy across film and TV is
dong will make up its 2018 jury for nominated for the Palme d’Or. three years later. Burning, his latest film, to continue to be a home for authored,
the Festival’s Platform programme, Tarr began his filmmaking career at is in competition for the Palme d’Or high-quality fare whatever the genre
now in its fourth year. the age of 16, making amateur this year. or size of screen. Some stories are
Platform features up to 12 works that documentaries. He made his feature “We are privileged to have a Platform worth leaving the house for.” ✦
show artistic quality and a strong debut with Family Nest (1977) at jury that so perfectly embodies the Julian Newby
directorial vision. The three-person jury the age of 22. He is a regular at TIFF, programme’s essence,” Piers Handling,
will select the winner of the Toronto returning multiple times over the years, Director and CEO of TIFF, said.
Platform Prize of CA$25,000, presented including when he was featured in “The wealth of experience, passion,
to the best film in the programme. 1995 for a spotlight on his work. and knowledge that they will bring NEWS THE OFFICIAL DAIL Y
Von Trotta is known for being one of Lee is known for many critically to this year’s edition will be priceless
the leaders in the New German Cinema acclaimed films, especially Peppermint and exciting to watch this JOIN US ON US ON
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movement, and began her career by Candy and Oasis, the latter his first film September.”✦
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pursuing acting, then making the to screen at TIFF. After serving as South FACEBOOK
switch to directing. Her filmography Korea’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Chloe Teboe and
includes Marianne & Julianne (1981), from 2002 to 2004, he was no stranger Brenna Donovan www.facebook.com/cannesmarketnews

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