HKFilmart 2019: International Film and TV Market News

“Fly by Night” Theatrical Poster

Here’s a look at some of the titles that were presented at the HKFilmart 2019, which took place on March 18th-21st at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Minamata: HanWay Films is promoting Andrew Levitas’s Minamata, an upcoming thriller starring Johnny Depp. In the film, Depp plays celebrated WWII photographer W. Eugene Smith, who ventures to the sleepy Japanese town of Minamata, which was the scene of one of the world’s greatest environmental disasters when it was poisoned by mercury in the 1970s (via Variety).

Fly by Night: Currently being shopped at HKFilmart is Zahir Omar’s Fly By Night, a Scorsese-esque Malaysian crime thriller starring Sunny Pang (Headshot, The Night Comes for Us) and Bront Palarae (Nova). The film is about a gang of petty thieves, two brothers and their respective best pals, who get in over their heads when the younger gets cocky and fails to heed the advice of his more cautious elder (via THR).

The Long Kiss Goodnight 2: While promoting Bodies at Rest, noted Hollywood director Renny Harlin, who now directs films in China, talks about expanding his 1996 hit film The Long Kiss Goodnight: “Several people, producers and financiers, here in China, have talked to me about doing either a Chinese remake or doing an English language sequel and yeah I’ve played with the idea” (via THR). It’s unofficial, but sounds like some pre-sale buzz to me.

Khun Phaen Begins: Thailand’s M Pictures has launched sales for this Kongkiat Khomsiri-directed period action comedy starring Mario Mauer (Pee Mak). The film is set for an October release.

Nemesis: Also from Thailand’s M Pictures is Gunparwitt Phuwadolwisid’s Nemesis, an action thriller about a female psychiatrist and a patient with split-personality disorder, who becomes violent at night (via SD).

Legend of the Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber: Mega-Vision Project Workshop head Wong Jing (City Hunter) will direct/produce this film based off Louis Cha’s wuxia novel of the same name. Production begins this year for a 2020 release (via SD).

Paradise Guesthouse: Wong Kar-wai (The Grandmaster) will soon begin production on the web series Paradise Guesthouse from Huanxi Media. According to SD, the series will revolve around the female proprietor of a guesthouse and her interactions with different guests. Wong is also working on Blossoms, which will be a follow-up to In the Mood for Love and 2046.

Raging Fire (aka Crossfire): Donnie Yen (Big Brother) will soon find himself in Emperor Motion Pictures’ Raging Fire (previously known as Crossfire) an action thriller directed by veteran Hong Kong filmmaker, Benny Chan (Call of Heroes). Joining Yen for the film is Nicholas Tse (As the Light Goes Out).

Killed My Wife: Mirovision is launching sales on Killed My Wife from director Ha-ra Kim (Ready For Start). The film – about a man whose wife is found dead the night after he completely blacked out – stars Si-oen Lee (Tough as Iron), Ji-hye Wang (Le Grand Chef 2: Kimchi Battle) and Nae-sang Ahn (Detective K: Secret of the Living Dead).

Ip Man 4: No introduction is needed for this one. SD reports that Mandarin Motion Pictures has sealed a record number of sales for Ip Man 4, including Well Go USA, which has acquired rights for North America and the UK. Click here for the film’s newly released Poster and Teaser Trailer.

Knockout: Media Asia is promoting Knockout, a boxing thriller from director Roy Chow (Nightfall). According to AFS, Knockout is about a former champion’s comeback to the ring after a prison sentence. The film stars Han Geng (Transformers: Age of Extinction), Vivian Wu (Snow Flower and the Secret Fan), Janine Chang (Girls 2) and Philip Keung (SPL II). Watch the Trailer.

Project Gutenberg (Korean Remake): A Korean remake of Felix Chong’s Project Gutenberg (read our review), which starred Chow Yun Fat and Aaron Kwok, is in-the-works. So far, Korean writer/director Kim Whee (The Tooth and the Nail, Haeundae) is attached (via SD). The film is produced by South Korea’s Noori Pictures and Just Creative Studio.

Vanguard: This upcoming action film will reunite Jackie Chan (Railroad Tigers) with director Stanley Tong (Police Story 3). Chan will play the head of an international security agency who is on a mission to stop a terrorist group that takes him from Africa to the United Arab Emirates (via SD). The cast also includes Yang Yang (Once Upon A Time), Ai Lun (Hello Mr Billionaire) and Mu Qimiya (Kung Fu Yoga). Production company Golden Dragon, headed by Clarence Tang, is presenting the film’s sale. Click here for a first look at Jackie Chan in the film.

Climbers: Jackie Chan (The Foreigner), Wu Jing (Wolf Warriors 2) and Zhang Ziyi (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) are set to to star in Climbers for director Daniel Lee (Dragon Blade). The film, which is produced by Shanghai Film Group, also stars Jing Boran (Monster Hunt) and Hu Ge (1911). Climbers is a real-life story of Chinese climbers who made a historic ascent up Mount Everest’s North Ridge in 1960 (via THR).

The White Storm: Drug Lords (aka The White Storm 2): Andy Lau (Switch) will star in a sequel to 2013’s White Storm. The original’s lead, Louis Koo (Three), co-stars. Director Herman Yau (Shock Wave) is taking over for the first film’s original director, Benny Chan. Universe has sold the film to 11 territories. The White Storm 2 is due in the fall of 2019 (via THR). Click here for Trailer.

Storm Cloud (aka Storm Riders 3): Ma Wing-shing, the creator of the comic books that The Storm Riders and The Storm Warriors were based upon, will co-direct and produce the third adaptation, Storm Cloud. Jonathan Lee (The Brink) and David Lee (Insanity) will co-direct. The film is scheduled for a 2022 release from One Cool Pictures (via THR).

Be Water, My Friend: Anthony Pun (Extraordinary Mission) will direct Chow Yun-fat in Be Water, My Friend, which is presold by Bona Film Group’s sales arm Distribution Workshop. Chow will star as a troubled, pathological gambler who seeks a way to connect with his autistic son (via THR). The film is written by Felix Chong (The Lost Bladesman). The title is in reference to Bruce Lee’s famous philosophical quote.

Rise of the Machine Girls: Nikkatsu is launching sales for this remake of Noboru Iguchi’s The Machine Girl, which will be directed by Yuki Kobayashi (Death Row Family). Just like the original, expect female killing machines and human cyborgs (via SD). Rise of the Machine Girls is produced by Yoshinori Chiba (The Machine Girl) and Yoshihiro Nishimura (Tokyo Gore Police).

Shadowfall: Also from Nikkatsu comes Shadowfall from director Tetsuo Shinohara (Flower And Sword). The film is about a professional thief who has to clear his name of murder by using his burglary skills (via SD). Also stars Masayoshi Yamazaki (One More Time, One More Chance) and Takumi Kitamura (I Want to Eat Your Pancreas).