AsianCrush Announces Four Months of Chinese Programming
BEGINNING JULY 20, ASIANCRUSH, THE LEADING STREAMING
SERVICE FOR ASIAN PROGRAMMING, WILL PREMIERE A
NEW CHINESE THEATRICAL RELEASE EACH WEEK STARTING
WITH DIRECTOR ANN HUI’S TOP-GROSSING
OUR TIME WILL COME
Upcoming Films from Leading Chinese Theatrical Distributors
China Lion and Orchid Tree Include the Coming-of-Age Drama YOUTH from Director Feng Xiaogang, the High-Octane Thriller THE VIRAL FACTOR and RUN FOR LOVE, A Star-Studded Love Story Anthology
As the Chinese film boom continues to be heard around the world, leading OTT channel AsianCrush seeks to be the home for top Chinese programming in North America. And with a steady stream of upcoming top-grossing films from leading Chinese theatrical distributors China Lion and Orchid Tree , they’re well on their way. Starting this Friday, July 20, AsianCrush will premiere a new Chinese film each week on the platform beginning with OUR TIME WILL COME, a war-time drama from acclaimed director Ann Hui, starring Zhou Xun, Eddie Peng and Wallace Huo. The announcement was made by Michael Hong, CEO of AsianCrush parent company, Digital Media Rights, a pioneer in digital distribution.
Set in the ’40s, OUR TIME WILL COME tells the story of the legendary Fang Gu (Zhou), one of the key figures during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, and portrays the fight and struggle for freedom and independence by youth resistance groups. Directed by Hui, one of the most critically acclaimed and award-winning of the Hong Kong New Wavefilmmakers, the film was nominated for 25+ international awards, including Best Film and Best Director at the 37th Hong Kong Film Awards. It will be available for all cinephiles and sinophiles on AsianCrush’s apps and website as well as iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast and additional platforms.
Additional upcoming Chinese theatrical premieres on AsianCrush include:
THE VIRAL FACTOR (2012) | PREMIERING JULY 27 – In an operation to escort a bacteriologist from Jordan to Norway, IDC agent Jon (Taiwan pop idol Jay Chou and ex-fiancee Ice (Bai Bing) are betrayed and shot by fellow agent Sean (Andy Tien), who steals a deadly virus sample. When he learns that the bullet lodged in his head will leave him paralyzed in two weeks, the countdown begins in this high-octane globetrotting thriller from award-winning director Dante Lam (Stool Pigeon, Beast Stalker), who The Detroit News calls “John Woo via Michael Bay” (122 mins.) (China Lion)
The Viral Factor
THE KING OF THE STREETS (2013) | PREMIERING AUGUST 3— Yue Feng (Yue Song, Iron Protector) is a young streetfighter imprisoned for accidentally killing one of his foes. When he’s released, he discovers that his brotherhood has been destroyed and sets out on a quest for revenge. China’s first street-fighting movie, THE KING OF THE STREETS pits real-life martial artist Song against more than 10 of the world’s top contenders in MMA, Jiu-jitsu, Jeet Kune Do, Sanda, and Muay Thai boxing. (88 mins.) (China Lion)
The King of the Streets
RUN FOR LOVE (2016) | PREMIERING AUGUST 10 – With a star-studded cast of some of China’s finest actors, this anthology of five stories set in locales around the world reflects different perspectives on love, family, and home through the lens of the varying settings and genres: a romance in snowy Hokkaido starring Eddie Peng and Zhang Ziyi, a tense family drama in Instanbul, a Route 66 road trip across America, a poignant tale set in Norway’s darkest season, and a neo-noir thriller about sisters in Saipan starring Zhou Dongyu. (137 minutes) (Orchid Tree)
ANNIVERSARY (2015) | PREMIERING AUGUST 17— Over 10 years of marriage, Bo (Stephy Tang, The Empty Hands, Badges of Fury) and Keung (Lik-Sun Fong, Never Too Late, Death Ouija 2) have had their ups and downs. Between work stresses and questions about whether or not to start a family, their union is at a breaking point. And though Bo believes that love is forever, when past betrayals surface, decisions must be made in this emotional drama. (108 mins.) (Orchid Tree)
LUCKY FAT MAN (2017) | PREMIERING AUGUST 24 – Chow Chong Fat (Bob Lamb) and Wat Kam Heung (Ling Ling Mak, Never Too Late, L for Love, L for Lies Too) are about to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. Fat, an accountant and a handyman in his wife’s family business, is bullied non-stop by various family members. The only thing that lifts him from his rigid, boring life is the thought of a reunion with his dream lover, Ceci (Natalie Tong, Return of the Cuckoo). But when he wins 20 million dollars in the lottery, his life takes a turn for the exciting in this hilarious, slapstick comedy. (90 mins.) (Orchid Tree)
BREAKUP BUDDIES (2014) | PREMIERING AUGUST 31 – One of China’s highest grossing films of all time, this wild, offbeat comedy follows the hijinks of a hapless former singer reeling from a messy divorce. When he and his womanizing best friend hit the road from Beijing to Dali City – China’s unofficial capital of one night stands – anything can and does happen in this rom-com that grossed nearly $200MM worldwide (116 mins.) (China Lion)
Breakup Buddies
BANGKOK REVENGE (2011) | PREMIERING SEPTEMBER 7 – After witnessing the brutal murder of his parents, a young boy is raised by a martial arts master who grooms him to be a lethal killer. Some 20 years later, it’s time to take revenge on the assassins who destroyed his childhood. Jon Foo (“Rush Hour”) stars in this revenge thriller directed by Jean-Marc Minéo. (82 mins.) (China Lion)
Bangkok Revenge
YOUTH (2017) | PREMIERING SEPTEMBER 14 [1] — From director Feng Xiaogang (Aftershock, China’s entry for Best Foreign Language Film in 2010) comes this sweeping, period coming-of-age drama chronicling the lives of a group of idealistic adolescents in a military art troupe in the People’s Liberation Army during the Cultural Revolution. The award-winner, one of China’s top-grossing films of 2017 stars Huang Xuan (Extraordinary Mission) and newcomers Miao Miao and Zhong Chuxi. (146 mins.) (China Lion)
Youth
FIST & FAITH (2017) | PREMIERING SEPTEMBER 21 – Set during the 1930’s after the Japanese invasion of Manchuria, a teacher, (Jing Tian,
Pacific Rim Uprising, Kong: Skull Island) and a group of students establish a study club to preserve their language and culture as an act of protest against the foreign invaders in this clever genre parody that mashes up high-school gang movies, puppy-love films, anti-Japanese resistance dramas and manga elements. (72 mins.) (Orchid Tree)
MY WIFE IS A SUPERSTAR (2016) | PREMIERING SEPTEMBER 28 — Actress Zhu Qi (Liu Xinyou) dreams of being a major star but is stuck acting in bit parts. Her husband, photojournalist Lai Mao (Zhou Baihao) works for K-9 Weekly and has recently been demoted to an entertainment paparazzo. One day, Outstanding Productions head Zhang Baigao, aka Jeff (Lin Dexin), spots Zhu Qi in a period drama he’s making and thinks she would be ideal as the lead of mega-budget Lunar New Year movie 2047 (a lame parody of Wong Kar-wai’s 2046) and offers her the role on condition that she’s unmarried and causes no scandal. Things, of course, go hilariously awry in this fast-paced satire set against thre backdrop of Hong Kong’s movie business. (105 minutes) (Orchid Tree)
BREAKUP GURU (2014) | PREMIERING OCTOBER 5 — Deng Chao
(Duckweed, The Mermaid) plays Mei Yuangui, a professional “Breakup Guru”, who is hired by a client to end a relationship with Ye Xiaochun (Yang Mi, Reset, The Witness). But his penchant and skill at breaking up couples without complication and worry is put to the test when a battle of wits ensues with Xiaochun, risking his reputation and setting up the ultimate test of his services! (115 mins.) (China Lion)
Breakup Guru
SHOW ME YOUR LOVE (2016) | PREMIERING OCTOBER 12 – Daren (Raymond Wong) was raised by his aunt while his mother Yau Ngan (Nina Baw) was out town for work. Without a mother, he became independent and the two didn’t speak for 20 years. After meeting at the aunt’s funeral, he learns of his mother’s terminal illness and decides to stay with her for the last few months. And when he finds a note written when 10 entitled, “10 Best Wishes to Mommy,” he decides to deliver them to her, one by one, in this heartstring-tugging drama. (98 mins.) (Orchid Tree)
VAMPIRE CLEANUP DEPARTMENT (2017) | PREMIERING OCTOBER 19 — After finding himself at the center of a vampire attack, millennial Tim Cheung (Babyjohn Choi, Shock Wave, Our Time Will Come) discovers a heretofore unknown pedigree and has a new destiny thrust upon him by his family. Vampires have been lurking in Hong Kong’s shadows for centuries, and his parents were part of the secret, monster-busting Vampire Cleanup Department working out of an run-down garbage depot. Armed with an immunity to vampires, he begins training in the art of killing the undead, but is soon distracted by Summer (Lin Min-chen), a rare “human type” vampire. And as a supernatural romance begins to blossom , the VCD prepares to fight a powerful vampire king that’s on the verge of resurrecting when the once-in-a-century blood moon rises in this old-school genre comedy, the first feature by directors Yan Pak-wing (who wrote Full Strike) and Chiu Sin-hang. (94 mins.) (Orchid Tree)
MY ALIEN GIRLFRIEND (2017) | PREMIERING OCTOBER 26 — When Angela’s brother leaves their home planet to search for love across the universe, the alien pair end up on Earth. Upon arriving, she meets Tian Yi (Wang Tian Yi), a naïve, kind-hearted human, who serves as her protector and may, perhaps, be something more. While on Earth, Angels realizes that she must inhabit different human bodies to survive, as well as escape the clutches of mad scientist, Doctor Lo (John Chuii Jong Shinn), who’ll stop at nothing to capture her in this out-of-this-world rom-com sci-fi mash-up. (95 minutes) (Orchid Tree)
“As an ever-expanding force in the international filmmaking world, China continues to push the envelope to deliver movies that are the equivalent of anything coming out of Hollywood, ” says Hong. “As one of the leading North American platforms for blockbusters from China Lion – many of which are already among our most successful titles such as thrillers like Mr. Six and The Witness — we’re building a catalog that’ll thrill fans of Chinese cinema and movie lovers alike”
“Our close association with Asian Crush has allowed the world to discover great new talents coming out of China and we’re glad to see that continue with this selection of some of our major releases, ” says China Lion’s CEO & President, Jiang Yanming. “The stories told by Chinese filmmakers are evolving and growing and we couldn’t be more excited by this great outlet available to North American audiences.”
AsianCrush is available on the web, iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast and additional platforms, and features thousands of streaming titles, with new titles programmed each week. The OTT channel is available to consumers on a freemium model, which they can choose to view for free or with a premium subscription. Registered users can watch videos for free with commercials while premium subscribers can access the entire selection of titles without commercials, in addition to early releases, director’s cuts and exclusive content. Premium subscription pricing starts at $4.99 a month.
[1] Available only on Amazon; available on all platforms in December
