Based in Hong Kong, sales powerhouse Autumn Sun has secured international distribution rights for "Moonlight Madness," a film marking Korean actor Don Lee's (renowned for "The Roundup") debut in a comedy role and his maiden performance in a Chinese production. Costarring Kris Phillips ("Creation of the Gods I & II") as a prominent lawyer entangled in a steamy hotel affair, the movie also boasts a memorable cameo by Lee, portraying a jealous lover dishing out his trademark punches.
Autumn Sun is collaborating with Scene One, launched by producer Serena Deng Shuo, who doubles as the film's producer and the driving force behind bringing Don Lee on board. "When we initially presented Ma Dong-seok (Don Lee) with the script, he embraced its comedic essence," shared Deng. "Moreover, it represents a groundbreaking venture for the action legend to venture into a Chinese production."
Already, Autumn Sun has sealed a deal with Korea's Big Wave Cinema, planning a theatrical rollout for the film. Deng's impressive resume of international coproductions encompasses "Guardians of the Tomb," starring Li Bingbing and Kelsey Gramer, and "Guilt By Design," a China-Hong Kong coproduction headlined by Cheung Ka Fai and produced by Derek Yee. Both films were backed by mainland Chinese investors, yet helmed by creative talents from beyond the mainland.
Other titles in Autumn Sun's roster include the Tamil epic action film "The Mayan," directed by J. Rajes Kanna, which weaves Indian mythology with an apocalyptic prophecy from Mayan culture. Led by production and sales veteran Elliot Tong, Autumn Sun is also offering the Thai horror flick "The Master's Face" (Mulu Nakru), presold to Taiwan's Movie Cloud ahead of market launch, along with two fresh Indonesian horror offerings: "Curse of the Flesh" and "Summoning Evil." The company is also set to premiere the animation "Inspector Sun," featuring the voice of Ronny Chieng, in the Asian market, and is handling Asian sales for "Cop and a Half," a new gangster thriller from South Africa, on behalf of Indigenous, a powerhouse in the region.
"This year, beyond featuring films, we're venturing into other format sales, such as short-form content," said Tong. "In China, it's already a formidable industry worth over US$1 billion (RMB7 billion), piquing Asian buyers' curiosity about the viability of short-form and micro-dramas in their markets."
