Latest news with #DistributionWorkshop
South China Morning Post
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Why Sons of the Neon Night, new Hong Kong crime movie from Juno Mak, took 8 years to make
For someone who barely slept a wink the previous night, Juno Mak Chun-lung seems to be in surprisingly high spirits. Then again, how could he not be, having just seen his latest movie making its bow at the most important film festival in the world? The premiere of Sons of the Neon Night at Cannes on May 16 was the culmination of nearly eight years of work, says the 41-year-old Hong Kong musician-filmmaker, and he was relieved to see the film play at the Lumiere Theatre, the main venue of the festival held annually on the French Riviera. Principal shooting for the film had already finished by the time Christian Jeune, director of the festival's film department, came to Hong Kong in 2018 for a preview, Mak says, but because editing had not begun, Jeune was only shown 'dailies' - raw, unedited footage. Post-production was completed during the pandemic, after which the film's distributor - Distribution Workshop, co-founded by veteran Hong Kong industry mover Nansun Shi - began reaching out again to film festivals. 'We finally got the call from Cannes in March about the selection of the film at the festival this year,' Mak tells the Post. Juno Mak (second right) poses with (from left) Louis Koo, Gao Yuanyuan and Tony Leung at the Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2025. Photo: AP Sons of the Neon Night was screened as part of the festival's 'Midnight Screenings', a section mostly dedicated to envelope-pushing, action-heavy genre movies. Soi Cheang Pou-soi's Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In received its international premiere in the same section in 2024.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Filmart: Aaron Kwok to Star in Comedy-Drama ‘IOU'
Hong Kong leading man Aaron Kwok will next star in IOU, a heartwarming drama directed by Steven Zhang Zhonghua. The film reunites Kwok with Hong Kong producer Julia Chu, with whom he teamed up for Port of Call (2015) and Where the Wind Blows (2022). Distribution Workshop is shopping the film to international buyers this week at Hong Kong's Filmart content market. Set against the background of recent, real-life fundraising scams in China, IOU is a comedy-drama 'that satirizes the selfishness of an interest-driven society,' according to the producers. More from The Hollywood Reporter China's $2B Blockbuster 'Ne Zha 2': One-off Hit or Beginning of a Box Office Recovery? Filmart: HKIFF Industry Looks to Expand on China's Animation Boom Asian Film Awards: 'All We Imagine as Light' Wins Best Picture, Yoshida Daihachi Takes Best Director for 'Teki Cometh' Kwok plays a desperate man struggling between survival and kindness. Trying to repay his own debts by all means necessary, Kwok's character, a man named Wu, blocks two siblings inside their rural Shaanxi home, hoping to force their father to pay back the money Wu loaned him. Despite causing him endless headaches, the siblings' simple-mindedness and compassion transform Wu, leading him to make an unexpected choice on Chinese New Year's Eve. First discussed in 2020, the project was selected as a Top-30 finalist at the 33rd Golden Rooster Film Project Market and participated in the 20th Hong Kong International Film Festival's industry program. Filming began earlier in March with a production budget around $3 million. Zhang is best known for Hearty Tomato (2012), selected for the 28th Warsaw International Film Festival, The Home in the Tree (2019), nominated for best Children's Film of 32nd Golden Rooster Award, and Home by the River (2025), which recently competed at Poland's Kinolub Film Festival. Other titles on Distribution Workshop's sales slate at Filmart this year include Juno Mak's long-gestating Sons of the Neon Night; Operation Hadal, from action hitmaker Dante Lam; Little Red Sweet, directed by Vincent Chow; and Penguin Girl, helmed by Taiwanese first-timer Yuyu Yang. Filmart runs March 17-20 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Best of The Hollywood Reporter The 10 Best Baseball Movies of All Time, Ranked 20 Times the Oscars Got It Wrong The Best Anti-Fascist Films of All Time
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Aaron Kwok Drama ‘IOU' Unveiled by Distribution Workshop at Hong Kong FilMart
Distribution Workshop has revealed its latest feature film 'IOU' for international sales at Hong Kong FilMart, starring award-winning actor Aaron Kwok in the lead role. Directed by Steven Zhang Zhonghua, an emerging filmmaker from China's post-80s generation, 'IOU' tells the story of a desperate man (Kwok) who blockades the rural lodging of siblings in China's Shaanxi province, attempting to force their father to repay a loan. The siblings' simple-mindedness and compassion eventually transform Kwok's character, leading to an unexpected decision when he returns to their shabby lodging on Lunar New Year's Eve after fleeing other creditors. The comedy-drama, set against the backdrop of recent illegal fundraising scams, satirizes what the producers describe as 'the selfishness of an interest-driven society.' More from Variety 'Game of Thrones' Star Iain Glen Joins TBA Studios' Philippines Historical Biopic 'Quezon' (EXCLUSIVE) Venice Winner Aditya Vikram Sengupta Produces Hong Kong's HAF-Selected Indian Satirical Comedy-Drama 'Republic of Mahalaxmi Apartment' 'Squid Game' Star's Cannes Closer 'Next Sohee' Nabbed for North American Release in Deal Unveiled at Hong Kong FilMart (EXCLUSIVE) The film represents a reunion between Kwok and accomplished Hong Kong producer Julia Chu, following their previous collaborations on 'Port of Call' (2015) and 'Where the Wind Blows' (2022). 'IOU' has already gained industry attention as a Top-30 finalist in the 33rd Golden Rooster Film Project Market and at the 20th HKIFF Industry event. Production began in early March with a budget of approximately $3 million. Director Zhang has built a reputation for his work with child actors, with previous credits including 'Hearty Tomato' (2012), which was selected for the 28th Warsaw International Film Festival; 'The Home in the Tree' (2019), nominated for Best Children's Film at the 32nd Golden Rooster Awards; and 'Home by the River' (2025), which competed at the Poland Kinolub Film Festival. Other titles in Distribution Workshop's current lineup include Juno Mak's 'Sons of the Neon Night,' Dante Lam's 'Operation Hadal,' Vincent Chow's 'Little Red Sweet,' and 'Penguin Girl' from Taiwanese first-time director Yuyu Yang. The company is also representing 'Dear Black Sheep,' a documentary following Taiwanese TV personality Bowie Tsang's experiences with cancer patients. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Oscars 2026: First Blind Predictions Including Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, 'Wicked: For Good' and More What's Coming to Disney+ in March 2025
