Arclight Films launches Chinalight Co-Pro Development Program

02 08 2017 - Media release Arclight Films launches Chinalight Co-Pro Development Program

Guardians of the Tomb director Kimble Rendall with director of photography Brad Shield

Arclight Films' new development initiative, Chinalight, begins taking submissions today. Created to focus on the development of official Australian-Chinese film co-productions and supported by Screen Australia's Enterprise program, Chinalight wants to hear from Australian talent, including writers, producers and directors, with proposals for genuine Chinese/Australian co-production feature films. Successful applicants will be invited to take part in a hothouse script development laboratory to develop their ideas into potential co-productions.

Individuals and teams selected for the hothouse will benefit from resources for script development as well as input from Chinese and Australian production partners to produce movies with international appeal.

Arclight Managing Director Gary Hamilton says, Chinese studios have never been more willing to engage with the West both creatively and commercially, and Australia's entertainment industry stands to reap huge gains, spearheading a new era of storytelling for global audiences.

While China is already one of the world's largest economies, the country is moving at an even faster pace to becoming one of the world's most important theatrical markets. The Chinese box office has grown significantly over the last few years often coming close to the US box office. China also boasts the largest national total of cinemas in the world eclipsing the US last year.

With production complete on Guardians of the Tomb, the largest Chinese-Australian co-production to date, Arclight Films aims to become the market leader in initiating new collaborations in financing, development and production between the two industries. Guardians of the Tomb stars an international cast including Li Bingbing, Kellan Lutz, Kelsey Grammer and Chinese popstar and actor Wu Chun. The film is produced by Gary Hamilton, Ying Ye and Mark Lazarus; and directed by Kimble Rendall whose debut feature, Bait 3D, became one of the highest grossing Australian films in the history of Chinese cinema.

Driving the Chinalight program will be creative executive Jenevieve Chang, an alumnus of Screen Australia's Developing the Developers program, and whose memoir about growing up in Australia and returning to China as an adult was published by Penguin Random House this year. For me, China is one of the most exciting places in the world right now. The rate of change there is as fast as its history is rich and varied. Engaging with the culture on a story level means connecting to an incredibly diverse palette of human experience, as well as investing in the next hot spot for screen stories.

Gary Hamilton agrees that Chinalight is designed to have far-reaching international benefits. Our aim is to work with Chinese partners to create content that satisfies Australian, Chinese and international audiences and generate revenue that expands our screen industry and nurtures emerging Australian talent.

Apply at arclightfilms.com/chinalight by 1 September 2017

Note Chinalight is not administered by Screen Australia.

Chinalight enquiries Jenevieve Chang | Arclight Films

61 2 8353 2649 | jenevieve@arclightfilms.com

Media enquiries Meilin Potter | Maxine Leonard PR

1 323 930 2345 | meilin@maxineleonard.com

Media enquiries Jane Alexander | Senior Publicist

61 2 8113 5833 | 61 400 940 682 | jane.alexander@screenaustralia.gov.au

Clio Anne Ellis | Publicity and Events Coordinator

61 2 8113 1091 | 61 450 492 745 | clio.ellis@screenaustralia.gov.au

All other general/non-media enquiries Sydney 61 2 8113 5800 | Melbourne 61 3 8682 1900 | info@screenaustralia.gov.au

LINK:	https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/sa/media-centre/news/2017/08-02-chi...
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