BUSAN FUNDING REVEALED
The Busan festival’s Asian Cinema Fund has announced 14 film projects to which it will give financial support. Three projects at script stage, black comedy “Chronicles of a Confession,” by Prateek Vats (India), “To Kill a Mongolian Horse” by China’s Jiang Xioaxuan and Suraj Paudel “Where the Rivers Run South” (Nepal) each receive a KRW10 million ($7,750) cash grant and will be invited to the 2023 edition of the festival’s Asian Project Market.
Four projects receive post-production funding and are expected to make their world premieres at Busan this year. They are “Concerning My Daughter,” by Lee Mirang, and “Lay Off” by Park Hongjun, both from Korea. They are joined by “Solids by the Seashore,” from Thailand’s Patiparn Boontarig and “The Spark,” by Indian veteran Rajesh S. Jala.
Seven feature documentary projects (four Korean, four other Asian) each receive up to KRW20 million from the Asian Network of documentary Fund. The four from Korea are “Being a Politician for Dummies,” by Lee Ilha, “K-Number,” by Jo Seyoung, “Plaster Cast Drawing,” by Won Taewoong, and “Returning Figures,” by Kim Mooyoung. The others are “Life in the Shadows,” by K.D. (Afghanistan-Germany), “A Thousand Winds,” by Mok Kwan-ling (Hong Kong) and “XiXi” by Wu Fan (Taiwan, Korea, Philippines). They also receive invitations to Busan’sAsianContents & Film Market. which will provide networking opportunities with industry professionals.
The Busan International Film Festival runs Oct. 4 -13. The market runs Oct. 7-10 at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO).
‘LIONESS’ IN LONDON
Nicole Kidman and Zoe Saldaña visited London while promoting their new series “Special Ops: Lioness,” which premieres on Paramount+ July 23. Posing on a rooftop, Kidman rocked a chic grey suit while Saldaña stunned in a shimmery purple dress.
According to its official logline, the series “follows the life of Joe (Saldaña) while she attempts to balance her personal and professional life as the tip of the CIA’s spear in the war on terror. The Lioness Program, overseen by Kaitlyn Meade (Kidman) and Donald Westfield (Michael Kelly), enlists an aggressive Marine Raider named Cruz (Laysla De Oliveira) to operate undercover alongside Joe among the power brokers of State terrorism in the CIA’s efforts to thwart the next 9/11.”
The show also stars Dave Annable, Jill Wagner, LaMonica Garrett, James Jordan, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton, Stephanie Nur and Hannah Love Lanier. “Special Ops: Lioness” is executive produced by Taylor Sheridan, David C. Glasser, Saldaña, Kidman, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, David Hutkin, Wagner, Geyer Kosinski, Michael Malone and John Hillcoat.
ACQUISITION
Cargo Film and Releasing has acquired global rights, excluding Australia and New Zealand, to the documentary “Mutiny In Heaven: The Birthday Party,” about the whirlwind life and demise of Nick Cave’s post-punk band The Birthday Party. Directed by Ian White, the film was commissioned by BMG and produced by Beyond TNC in collaboration with Eyewhite.
Boutique distributor Label will release the film in Australia and New Zealand later in the year with a theatrical run, supported by band members Mick Harvey and Phil Calvert, starting in the band’s birthplace, Melbourne.
Harvey serves as executive producer and music supervisor. Long term friend of the band Wim Wenders is executive producer, alongside Bill Lord, Michael Murphy, Stuart Souter and Jenny O’Shea. Producers are Greg Blakey and Ian White.
The deal was negotiated by Cargo president David Piperni and Michael Murphy of Beyond TNC on behalf of the filmmakers. Cargo will present the film at upcoming festivals and is scheduling a theatrical release of the film in North America in the fall of 2023 to coincide with a Nick Cave tour in the U.S.
ASIAN AMERICAN
The 46th Asian American International Film Festival, which frames itself as the “First Home of Asian American Cinema,” has announced its full lineup. It comprises consists of 16 world premieres, 21 East Coast premieres, and 20 New York premieres. The films represent a total of 29 countries and 27 languages. This year’s program includes 111 directors.
The festival runs from July 26 – August 6, 2023 as a hybrid festival, both in-person and streaming online in North America.
The event opens with “Jamojaya,” in which director Justin Chon (“Gook”) depicts a father-son relationship that is put to the test when an up-and-coming rapper at the crossroads of his career decides to let go of his manager, who is also his father. This decision forces them to confront the past and figure out what they want from each other. The festival closes with “Raging Grace,” directed by Paris Zarcilla. The U.K.-Philippines production is a coming-of-rage story where Joy, a Filipina immigrant, and her daughter, Grace, encounter a darkness that threatens all they have worked for. Festival organizers describe the film as “a nightmarish fever dream from an exciting new voice.”
PRODUCTION
U.K./U.S. producer October Films is in production on a three-part series for U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 which sees explorer and writer Levison Wood (“Walking With Elephants”) track down some of the most endangered animals on the planet. “Levison Wood: Walking with…” (working title (3 x 60’) follows Levison to Borneo to encounter Orangutans; to Namibia to track down the last remaining desert lions; and to East Greenland to get as close as possible to polar bears.
The series is co-produced by October Films and Blackmane Media. It is directed by Neil Bonner, the line producer is Martin Long, and the series is executive produced by Adam Bullmore, with Dave Luke as executive producer for Blackmane Media. The series was commissioned by Daniel Fromm at Channel 4 and is being distributed by Blue Ant International. Wood is represented by Wolfsong Media.
