Headlines from China: Douyin Forms Strategic Partnerships with Six Film Production Companies

Douyin Forms Strategic Partnerships with Six Film Production Companies

On April 19, Chinese short video app Douyin announced that the company had formed strategic partnerships with six Chinese film production companies, including Edko Films, Wanda Media, Alibaba Pictures, Beijing Enlight Media, New Classics Media and Emperor Motion Pictures. Douyin will collaborate with these partners on promotions of movie and music content. According to Zhao Tian, VP of Douyin’s parent company Bytedance, Douyin will be associated with over 40 films in the upcoming year. Currently, Douyin is undoubtedly the No. 1 short video app in China. As of January 2019, Douyin has over 250 million daily active users and over 500 million monthly active users. Read more on 36Kr

Disney’s Live-action Movie ‘Aladdin’ Scores China Release

It was announced today that Disney’s live-action movie Aladdin will be released in China day-and-date with North America on May 24. Will Smith plays the leading role in the film as the Genie along with Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott who play Aladdin and Jasmine. Based on the 1992 Disney animated film of the same name, the new version also marks the first collaboration between director Guy Ritchie and Disney Pictures. Aladdin will be released in China in multiple formats including 3D, IMAX 3D, Dolby, and CGS (China Film Giant Screen). Read more on Mtime

China’s E Star to Remake Aamir Khan’s ‘Taare Zameen Par’

E Star, the distributor known for introducing Indian films to the Chinese film market, is tapping into film co-productions. On April 17, the company announced three India-China co-production projects at a BJIFF press conference. The three projects include Aamir Khan’s 2007 film Taare Zameen Par, The Zookeeper and Jewel Thief (珠宝大盗). The remake of Taare Zameen Par will be directed by Chinese filmmaker Ma Duo, who was an assistant director for Jiang Wen’s Let the Bullets Fly. Indian filmmaker Kabir Khan (Bajrangi Bhaijaan) will helm The Zookeeper, which is eyeing a 2020 Chinese New Year release. It’s also announced at the conference that E Star would partner with Iranian director Majid Majidi to facilitate collaborations and exchange between Chinese and Iranian filmmakers. Read more on 1905.com