WellGo USA Entertainment has acquired the North American rights to acclaimed cult director Takashi Miike’s First Love following the world premiere in Director’s Fortnight at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. The deal was negotiated by Doris Pfardrescher on behalf of WellGo USA and HanWay Films with ICM Partners on behalf of the filmmakers. It will be released in select theaters later this year, with the digital and home entertainment release scheduled for first quarter 2020.
HanWay Films has also closed deals with Haut et Court (France), Eurovideo, Nonstop (Scandinavia), Odeon (Greece), Mars (Turkey), Discovery (Former-Yugoslavia), Paradise and Frontrow (Middle East).
First Love marks the fourth collaboration between Academy Award® winning producer Jeremy Thomas (The Last Emperor) and Takashi Miike. The film is the prolific auteur at his most fun and anarchic, a noir-tinged yakuza film blending genres in the story of a young boxer and a call girl, who fall...
HanWay Films has also closed deals with Haut et Court (France), Eurovideo, Nonstop (Scandinavia), Odeon (Greece), Mars (Turkey), Discovery (Former-Yugoslavia), Paradise and Frontrow (Middle East).
First Love marks the fourth collaboration between Academy Award® winning producer Jeremy Thomas (The Last Emperor) and Takashi Miike. The film is the prolific auteur at his most fun and anarchic, a noir-tinged yakuza film blending genres in the story of a young boxer and a call girl, who fall...
- 7/4/2019
- by Don Anelli
- AsianMoviePulse
Well Go USA Entertainment has picked up North American rights to Takashi Miike’s First Love following its world premiere in Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival.
The noir-tinged yakuza film follows the story of a young boxer and a call girl who fall passionately in love while getting innocently caught up in a drug-smuggling scheme over the course of one night in Tokyo. Starring are Masataka Kubota (13 Assassins), Nao Omori (Ichi The Killer), Shota Sometani (Samurai Marathon) and newcomer Sakurako Konishi.
The deal was negotiated by Doris Pfardrescher on behalf of Well Go USA and HanWay Films with ICM Partners on behalf of the filmmakers. Pic is due to be released in select theaters later this year, with the digital and home entertainment release scheduled for first quarter 2020.
HanWay has also closed deals with Haut et Court (France), Eurovideo, Nonstop (Scandinavia), Odeon (Greece), Mars (Turkey), Discovery (Former-Yugoslavia), Paradise and Frontrow (Middle East).
First Love marks the fourth collaboration between producer Jeremy Thomas (The Last Emperor) and cult director Miike (Blade Of The Immortal).
“Takashi Miike is one of the most exciting filmmakers working in international cinema today,” said Doris Pfardrescher, President & CEO of Well Go USA. “His new film, First Love, continues his extraordinary track record for interesting and provocative films and audiences will be blown away.”
Pic was written by Masaru Nakamura (Sukiyaki Western Django) and produced by Muneyuki Kii, Jeremy Thomas and Misako Saka and executive produced by Shigeji Maeda, Hidehiro Itoh and Takara Kosugi. HanWay Films is handling worldwide sales and distribution, alongside Toei Films which handles Asia & Australasia.
The noir-tinged yakuza film follows the story of a young boxer and a call girl who fall passionately in love while getting innocently caught up in a drug-smuggling scheme over the course of one night in Tokyo. Starring are Masataka Kubota (13 Assassins), Nao Omori (Ichi The Killer), Shota Sometani (Samurai Marathon) and newcomer Sakurako Konishi.
The deal was negotiated by Doris Pfardrescher on behalf of Well Go USA and HanWay Films with ICM Partners on behalf of the filmmakers. Pic is due to be released in select theaters later this year, with the digital and home entertainment release scheduled for first quarter 2020.
HanWay has also closed deals with Haut et Court (France), Eurovideo, Nonstop (Scandinavia), Odeon (Greece), Mars (Turkey), Discovery (Former-Yugoslavia), Paradise and Frontrow (Middle East).
First Love marks the fourth collaboration between producer Jeremy Thomas (The Last Emperor) and cult director Miike (Blade Of The Immortal).
“Takashi Miike is one of the most exciting filmmakers working in international cinema today,” said Doris Pfardrescher, President & CEO of Well Go USA. “His new film, First Love, continues his extraordinary track record for interesting and provocative films and audiences will be blown away.”
Pic was written by Masaru Nakamura (Sukiyaki Western Django) and produced by Muneyuki Kii, Jeremy Thomas and Misako Saka and executive produced by Shigeji Maeda, Hidehiro Itoh and Takara Kosugi. HanWay Films is handling worldwide sales and distribution, alongside Toei Films which handles Asia & Australasia.
- 6/6/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired the North American rights to Takashi Miike’s “First Love” following its world premiere at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, the company announced Wednesday.
“First Love” marks the fourth collaboration between Academy Award-winning producer Jeremy Thomas and Miike. The film follows the stories of a young boxer and a call girl, who fall passionately in love while being caught up in a drug-smuggling scheme.
The film stars Masataka Kubota, Nao Omori, Shota Sometani and newcomer Sakurako Konishi.
Also Read: Netflix Acquires 'Atlantics' and 'I Lost My Body' Following Cannes
“Takashi Miike is one of the most exciting filmmakers working in international cinema today,” said Doris Pfardrescher, President and CEO of Well Go USA. “His new film, ‘First Love,’ continues his extraordinary track record for interesting and provocative films and audiences will be blown away.”
Masaru Nakamura wrote the screenplay. Muneyuki Kii,...
“First Love” marks the fourth collaboration between Academy Award-winning producer Jeremy Thomas and Miike. The film follows the stories of a young boxer and a call girl, who fall passionately in love while being caught up in a drug-smuggling scheme.
The film stars Masataka Kubota, Nao Omori, Shota Sometani and newcomer Sakurako Konishi.
Also Read: Netflix Acquires 'Atlantics' and 'I Lost My Body' Following Cannes
“Takashi Miike is one of the most exciting filmmakers working in international cinema today,” said Doris Pfardrescher, President and CEO of Well Go USA. “His new film, ‘First Love,’ continues his extraordinary track record for interesting and provocative films and audiences will be blown away.”
Masaru Nakamura wrote the screenplay. Muneyuki Kii,...
- 6/5/2019
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Yakuza tale marks fourth collaboration between Japanese auteur and Jeremy Thomas.
Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired North American rights to Takashi Miike’s First Love following its world premiere in Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, while HanWay Films has licensed multi-territory sales.
Haut et Court picked up the film for France, Eurovideo for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, Nonstop for Scandinavia, Odeon for Greece, Mars for Turkey, Discovery for former Yugoslavia, Paradise for Cis and Baltics, and Front Row for the Middle East. HanWay represents worldwide rights and Toei Films handles Asia and Australasia.
Producer Jeremy Thomas and Miike unite for the...
Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired North American rights to Takashi Miike’s First Love following its world premiere in Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, while HanWay Films has licensed multi-territory sales.
Haut et Court picked up the film for France, Eurovideo for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, Nonstop for Scandinavia, Odeon for Greece, Mars for Turkey, Discovery for former Yugoslavia, Paradise for Cis and Baltics, and Front Row for the Middle East. HanWay represents worldwide rights and Toei Films handles Asia and Australasia.
Producer Jeremy Thomas and Miike unite for the...
- 6/5/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Yakuza tale marks fourth collaboration between Japanese auteur and Jeremy Thomas.
Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired North American rights to Takashi Miike’s First Love following its world premiere in Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, while HanWay Films has licensed multi-territory sales
Haut et Court picked up the film for France, Eurovideo for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, Nonstop for Scandinavia, Odeon for Greece, Mars for Turkey, Discovery for former Yugoslavia, Paradise for Cis and Baltics, and Front Row for the Middle East. HanWay represents worldwide rights and Toei Films handles Asia and Australasia.
Producer Jeremy Thomas and Miike unite for the...
Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired North American rights to Takashi Miike’s First Love following its world premiere in Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, while HanWay Films has licensed multi-territory sales
Haut et Court picked up the film for France, Eurovideo for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, Nonstop for Scandinavia, Odeon for Greece, Mars for Turkey, Discovery for former Yugoslavia, Paradise for Cis and Baltics, and Front Row for the Middle East. HanWay represents worldwide rights and Toei Films handles Asia and Australasia.
Producer Jeremy Thomas and Miike unite for the...
- 6/5/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
The film was co-produced by HanWay founder Jeremy Thomas.
London-based sales company HanWay Films has added Takashi Miike’s First Love to its Cannes slate ahead of the film’s premiere in the festival’s Directors’ Fortnight programme.
HanWay will handle worldwide sales on the project excluding Asia, where rights are held by an undisclosed company.
The film is a co-production between Japan’s Muneyuki Kii and Misako Saka, with the UK’s Jeremy Thomas of Recorded Picture Company.
Thomas and director Miike have previously collaborated on Blade Of The Immortal and Hara-Kiri: Death Of A Samurai, both of which played in Cannes,...
London-based sales company HanWay Films has added Takashi Miike’s First Love to its Cannes slate ahead of the film’s premiere in the festival’s Directors’ Fortnight programme.
HanWay will handle worldwide sales on the project excluding Asia, where rights are held by an undisclosed company.
The film is a co-production between Japan’s Muneyuki Kii and Misako Saka, with the UK’s Jeremy Thomas of Recorded Picture Company.
Thomas and director Miike have previously collaborated on Blade Of The Immortal and Hara-Kiri: Death Of A Samurai, both of which played in Cannes,...
- 4/24/2019
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
Details have been released today about Takashi Miike’s Cannes Directors’ Fortnight-bound action-thriller First Love.
Set over one night in Tokyo, the film will follow Leo, a young boxer down on his luck as he meets his ‘first love’ Monica, a call girl and an addict but still an innocent. Little does Leo know, Monica is unwittingly caught up in a drug-smuggling scheme, and the two are pursued through the night by a corrupt cop, a yakuza, his nemesis, and a female assassin sent by the Chinese Triads. According to the production, all their fates intertwine in “spectacular Miike style, at his most and fun and anarchic.”
The film reunites Oscar-winning producer Jeremy Thomas’ (The Last Emperor) Recorded Picture Company with cult director Miike for the fourth time after their collaborations on Blade of the Immortal, Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai and 13 Assassins. HanWay Films will handle worldwide sales...
Set over one night in Tokyo, the film will follow Leo, a young boxer down on his luck as he meets his ‘first love’ Monica, a call girl and an addict but still an innocent. Little does Leo know, Monica is unwittingly caught up in a drug-smuggling scheme, and the two are pursued through the night by a corrupt cop, a yakuza, his nemesis, and a female assassin sent by the Chinese Triads. According to the production, all their fates intertwine in “spectacular Miike style, at his most and fun and anarchic.”
The film reunites Oscar-winning producer Jeremy Thomas’ (The Last Emperor) Recorded Picture Company with cult director Miike for the fourth time after their collaborations on Blade of the Immortal, Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai and 13 Assassins. HanWay Films will handle worldwide sales...
- 4/24/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: HanWay inks deal with Arrow Films, which plots “major” release.
Arrow Films has acquired all UK rights for Blade Of The Immortal from HanWay at Cannes Film Festival.
Takashi Miike’s samurai epic, based on Hiroaki Samura’s long-running manga of the same name, follows an immortal warrior who is enlisted by a young girl to avenge her parents’ slaughter at the hand of a group of master swordsmen.
Takuya Kimura (Hero), plays the lead alongside newcomer Hana Sugisaki. Sôta Fukushi and Ebizô Ichikawa (13 Assassins) round out the cast with veterans Min Tanaka and Tsutomu Yamazaki.
Arrow plans to release the film later this year.
The film was written by Tetsuya Oishi and produced by Jeremy Thomas, Misako Saka, and Shigeji Maeda, with Warner Bros Japan.
The deal was negotiated by Mark Lane at HanWay Films on behalf of the filmmakers with Tom Stewart, acquisitions director of Arrow Films, who said of...
Arrow Films has acquired all UK rights for Blade Of The Immortal from HanWay at Cannes Film Festival.
Takashi Miike’s samurai epic, based on Hiroaki Samura’s long-running manga of the same name, follows an immortal warrior who is enlisted by a young girl to avenge her parents’ slaughter at the hand of a group of master swordsmen.
Takuya Kimura (Hero), plays the lead alongside newcomer Hana Sugisaki. Sôta Fukushi and Ebizô Ichikawa (13 Assassins) round out the cast with veterans Min Tanaka and Tsutomu Yamazaki.
Arrow plans to release the film later this year.
The film was written by Tetsuya Oishi and produced by Jeremy Thomas, Misako Saka, and Shigeji Maeda, with Warner Bros Japan.
The deal was negotiated by Mark Lane at HanWay Films on behalf of the filmmakers with Tom Stewart, acquisitions director of Arrow Films, who said of...
- 5/24/2017
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Watch the first full-length English-language trailer for samurai epic.
Screen can reveal the first full-length English-language trailer for Takashi Miike’s samurai epic Blade Of The Immortal, which is playing out of competition in Cannes.
Watch the trailer, whose kick-ass theme song comes from Japanese musician Miyavi, below or on mobile Here.
Magnet releasing recently acquired Us rights to the movie which is sold by HanWay.
The film is based on Hiroaki Samura’s long-running manga of the same name about a warrior enlisted by a young girl to avenge her parents’ slaughter by master swordsmen.
Takuya Kimura stars alongside newcomer Hana Sugisaki, Sôta Fukushi, Ebizô Ichikawa, and veterans of the screen Min Tanaka, and Tsutomu Yamazaki.
Tetsuya Oishi wrote the screenplay and producers are Jeremy Thomas, Misako Saka, and Shigeji Maeda, in association with Warner Bros Japan.
Read more:
Takashi Miike talks ‘Blade Of The Immortal’ and Cannes
The latest Cannes news, reviews and features...
Screen can reveal the first full-length English-language trailer for Takashi Miike’s samurai epic Blade Of The Immortal, which is playing out of competition in Cannes.
Watch the trailer, whose kick-ass theme song comes from Japanese musician Miyavi, below or on mobile Here.
Magnet releasing recently acquired Us rights to the movie which is sold by HanWay.
The film is based on Hiroaki Samura’s long-running manga of the same name about a warrior enlisted by a young girl to avenge her parents’ slaughter by master swordsmen.
Takuya Kimura stars alongside newcomer Hana Sugisaki, Sôta Fukushi, Ebizô Ichikawa, and veterans of the screen Min Tanaka, and Tsutomu Yamazaki.
Tetsuya Oishi wrote the screenplay and producers are Jeremy Thomas, Misako Saka, and Shigeji Maeda, in association with Warner Bros Japan.
Read more:
Takashi Miike talks ‘Blade Of The Immortal’ and Cannes
The latest Cannes news, reviews and features...
- 5/18/2017
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Samurai epic plays out of competition in Cannes. HanWay handles international sales.
The genre arm of Magnolia Pictures has acquired North American rights to Takashi Miike’s Cannes official selection Blade Of The Immortal.
The film will play out of competition and is based on Hiroaki Samura’s long-running manga of the same name. Magnet plans to release the film later this year.
Blade Of The Immortal follows a warrior enlisted by a young girl to avenge her parents’ slaughter by master swordsmen.
Takuya Kimura stars alongside newcomer Hana Sugisaki, Sôta Fukushi, Ebizô Ichikawa, and veterans of the screen Min Tanaka, and Tsutomu Yamazaki.
Tetsuya Oishi wrote the screenplay and producers are Jeremy Thomas, Misako Saka, and Shigeji Maeda, in association with Warner Bros Japan.
Magnolia / Magnet also have rights to two more films in Cannes: Arnaud Desplechin’s festival opener Ismael’s Ghosts, and Ruben Östlund’s Palme d’Or contender The Square.
“We’ve been...
The genre arm of Magnolia Pictures has acquired North American rights to Takashi Miike’s Cannes official selection Blade Of The Immortal.
The film will play out of competition and is based on Hiroaki Samura’s long-running manga of the same name. Magnet plans to release the film later this year.
Blade Of The Immortal follows a warrior enlisted by a young girl to avenge her parents’ slaughter by master swordsmen.
Takuya Kimura stars alongside newcomer Hana Sugisaki, Sôta Fukushi, Ebizô Ichikawa, and veterans of the screen Min Tanaka, and Tsutomu Yamazaki.
Tetsuya Oishi wrote the screenplay and producers are Jeremy Thomas, Misako Saka, and Shigeji Maeda, in association with Warner Bros Japan.
Magnolia / Magnet also have rights to two more films in Cannes: Arnaud Desplechin’s festival opener Ismael’s Ghosts, and Ruben Östlund’s Palme d’Or contender The Square.
“We’ve been...
- 5/12/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The North American rights deal for Japanese genre master Takashi Miike’s comedic vampire action thriller precedes the Midnight Madness screening in Toronto next month.
Yakuza Apocalypse premiered in Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes and follows a mob lieutenant newly possessed of supernatural powers who is ordered by his dying mentor to destroy a rival gang.
Hayato Ichihara, Yayan Ruhian and Lily Franky star and the producers are Yoshinori Chiba, Shinichiro Masuda, Shinjiro Nishimura and Misako Saka.
“I wonder if it’s really okay to let this film loose outside of Japan,” said Miike. “As it’s not anything anyone can deal with on their own, it’s best to watch with friends.”
Samuel Goldwyn Films brokered the deal with Xyz Films on behalf of the filmmakers and has earmarked an October 9 release.
Yakuza Apocalypse premiered in Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes and follows a mob lieutenant newly possessed of supernatural powers who is ordered by his dying mentor to destroy a rival gang.
Hayato Ichihara, Yayan Ruhian and Lily Franky star and the producers are Yoshinori Chiba, Shinichiro Masuda, Shinjiro Nishimura and Misako Saka.
“I wonder if it’s really okay to let this film loose outside of Japan,” said Miike. “As it’s not anything anyone can deal with on their own, it’s best to watch with friends.”
Samuel Goldwyn Films brokered the deal with Xyz Films on behalf of the filmmakers and has earmarked an October 9 release.
- 8/17/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Nikkatsu pacts with Paris-based company, which will handle European sales on upcoming vampire yakuza movie.
Japanese studio Nikkatsu has pacted with Paris-based Backup Media, which will handle European sales on Takashi Miike’s upcoming vampire yakuza movie, Yakuza Apocalypse.
Nikkatsu has also sold the film to South Korea’s Media Soft, while Merantau Films, a production house on The Raid and The Raid 2, has acquired rights for Indonesia. As previously announced, Xyz Films is handling sales for North America.
Set for a spring 2015 delivery, the film will be released in Japan by Nikkatsu. The studio describes the movie as both a “festival favourite and a crowd pleaser”.
“Miike is one of the ‘in’ directors in Japan, and we expect he will entertain all Europe with Yakuza Apocalypse through Backup Media,” said Nikkatsu executive vice president, international operations, Aki Sugihara.
“It’s an honor for Backup Media to partner with such a great talented director and to...
Japanese studio Nikkatsu has pacted with Paris-based Backup Media, which will handle European sales on Takashi Miike’s upcoming vampire yakuza movie, Yakuza Apocalypse.
Nikkatsu has also sold the film to South Korea’s Media Soft, while Merantau Films, a production house on The Raid and The Raid 2, has acquired rights for Indonesia. As previously announced, Xyz Films is handling sales for North America.
Set for a spring 2015 delivery, the film will be released in Japan by Nikkatsu. The studio describes the movie as both a “festival favourite and a crowd pleaser”.
“Miike is one of the ‘in’ directors in Japan, and we expect he will entertain all Europe with Yakuza Apocalypse through Backup Media,” said Nikkatsu executive vice president, international operations, Aki Sugihara.
“It’s an honor for Backup Media to partner with such a great talented director and to...
- 11/8/2014
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Ahead of next month’s Toronto International Film Festival, La-based Xyz Films has pacted with Nikkatsu to handle North America sales on two of the Japanese distributor’s anticipated genre titles. Tokyo Tribe, the latest from helmer Sion Sono (Love Exposure, Cold Fish, Why Don’t You Play In Hell?), is adapted from Santa Inoue’s manga about futuristic gang wars waged between thugs who battle through violence and rap. The film is written and directed by Sono and is set to open Tiff’s Midnight Madness program next month. Producers are Yoshinori Chiba, Kinya Oguchi and Nobuhiro Iizuka.
Xyz’s also repping North America on action-thriller Yakuza Apocalypse from Takashi Miike (Audition, Ichi The Killer, 13 Assassins). The gangster pic/horror mash-up stars Yayan Ruhian of Xyz-produced The Raid and The Raid 2 alongside Hayato Ichihara in the story of a young yakuza who discovers his seemingly invincible boss is a vampire.
Xyz’s also repping North America on action-thriller Yakuza Apocalypse from Takashi Miike (Audition, Ichi The Killer, 13 Assassins). The gangster pic/horror mash-up stars Yayan Ruhian of Xyz-produced The Raid and The Raid 2 alongside Hayato Ichihara in the story of a young yakuza who discovers his seemingly invincible boss is a vampire.
- 8/11/2014
- by Jen Yamato
- Deadline
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