Middle East
HEADLINES FROM ASIA: Amazon, Okja, YuppTV & Alibaba
Amazon unveils first India original, Netflix's Okja shut out of Korean cinemas, plus latest news from Alibaba, YuppTV, Youku and iQiyi.
Chinese Speaking
FESTIVALS: Shanghai Fest Replaces Opening Film
Bille August’s The Chinese Widow will open this year’s Shanghai film festival, replacing Ann Hui’s Our Time Will Come, which was previously announced as the opening film.
Chinese Speaking
FESTIVALS: 'Our Time Will Come' To Open Shanghai
Ann Hui’s historical drama Our Time Will Come will open this year’s Shanghai International Film Festival (June 17-26).
Middle East
Asia’s Original Content Wars Heat Up
While Netflix and Amazon are pouring investment into local-language content across Asia, several regional platforms are entering the fray with a slew of announcements in recent months.
Chinese Speaking
iQiyi, Sony’s 'Chosen' Starts Shooting In Australia
iQiyi and Sony’s Chinese-language adaptation of US drama Chosen has started shooting in Australia with Lan Cheng-lung and Deng Jiajia heading the cast.
Chinese Speaking
iQiyi To Stream 'Lord Of The Rings' Under Warner Bros Deal
Deal for streaming rights to more than 200 library titles also covers the Harry Potter franchise, Godzilla, Gravity and The Great Gatsby.
Chinese Speaking
China’s LeEco Denies India Exit Despite Downsizing
China’s LeEco has refuted Indian press reports that it will leave the India market after firing 85% of its local workforce.
Chinese Speaking
FESTIVALS: 'Love Off The Cuff' To Open HKIFF
Pang Ho-cheung's Love Off The Cuff will receive its world premiere as the opening film of this year’s Hong Kong International Film Festival.
Middle East
Middle East OTT Heats Up With Viu Launch
Competition in the OTT space in the Middle East is intensifying with PCCW’s Viu becoming the latest platform to roll out across the region.
Chinese Speaking
Alibaba Invests $200m In South Korea’s Kakao
Alibaba’s payment affiliate Ant Financial is investing $200m in South Korean messaging service Kakao, as part of the Chinese tech giant’s move to build out online payment systems around the world.
Chinese Speaking
FESTIVALS: HKIFF To Screen Edward Yang’s Films
The Hong Kong International Film Festival (April 11-25) is presenting a retrospective of the work of late Taiwanese filmmaker Edward Yang.
Middle East
FilmDoo Scoops Up Slate Of 19 Asian Titles
UK-based streaming platform FilmDoo has acquired TVOD rights to 19 Asian films from distributors including Asian Shadows and Stardust Pictures.