ZHANG SERIES DEBUT
Zhang Yimou, China’s most enduring filmmaker, is joining the worldwide shift by feature film directors into the streaming arena.
Zhang, who directed “Full River Red,” the most successful film of 2023 in China, is to be involved with his first TV series. He will executive produce “The First Shot,” his representatives confirmed to Variety.
The show is to be directed by Xing Lu and is backed by Tencent Video. It is currently in development, with a tentative air date in 2025. That’s because Zhang has a film directing project with an anticipated Chinese New Year release date, due to begin shooting this summer.
SAKAMOTO DEAL
Award-winning Japanese screenwriter Sakamoto Yuji will partner with Netflix over the next five years to develop a range of titles to premiere only on the streaming platform. “In Love and Deep Water,” set to be released later this year, promises to be Sakamoto’s most ambitious film and his largest in scale to date. The romantic mystery takes place aboard a luxury cruise ship and stars Yoshizawa Ryo and Miyazaki Aoi. Sakamoto won the screenplay award at the recent Cannes film festival for “Monster,” directed by Kore-eda Hirokazu Kore-eda, who previously partnered with Netflix on his debut series “The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House.” Sakamoto’s previous notable works include “Beautiful Bouquet,” the social phenomenon “Tokyo Love Story” and “Mother,” which has been remade in many countries and become a worldwide hit.
ANSELM SALES
Sideshow and Janus have acquired all U.S. rights to Wim Wenders’ “Anselm,” a documentary on celebrated contemporary artist Anselm Kiefer. Shot at 6K resolution and returning to the 3D format Wenders previously utilized in his Academy Award-nominated documentary “Pina,” “Anselm” had its world premiere as a special screening at this year’s Cannes film festival. It is produced by Karsten Brünig for Road Movies and executive produced by Jeremy Thomas. Sideshow and Janus Films are planning a theatrical release following fall festivals.
Sales agent, HanWay has distribution for the film in France with Films Du Losange, Germany with DCM, Benelux with Cherry Pickers, Greece with The Film Group, Italy with Lucky Red, Spain with A Contracorriente, Portugal with Alambique, Poland with New Horizons, Australia and New Zealand with Madman, China with DDDream and NonStop releasing in Scandinavia, Iceland and the Baltics.