Film Auckland & Mili Pictures upping Chinese Co-productions

The Chairman of Mili Pictures, Jack Zhang, has established strategic alliances with New Zealand’s largest regional film office, Film Auckland, and the Wuhan government - home to the third largest animation base in China and a hub of high tech innovation.

An MOU between the three parties includes plans to build a substantial 10 billion RMB (USD $1.6 billion) 'Sino-NZ Co-production Film Park' in Wuhan along with plans to participate in the Wynyard Quarter Innovation Precinct in central Auckland.

Founded in May 2012, Zhang has established an energetic animation company that is well into the production of a 3D animated feature, ‘Dragon Nest,' co-produced with Changchun Film Group and based on the massively popular online game by the same name. ‘Dragon Nest’ is being sold at the Marche du Film – Festival de Cannes by All Rights Entertainment.

“Within a year of launching Mili Pictures we are in production on a major animation, we have a pipeline of productions and are now looking to establish a global brand.” says Zhang

“We recognise that New Zealand has produced two of the top three box office hits of all time, 'Avatar' and 'The Lord of the Rings.' The city of Wuhan is enormously supportive of our global strategy for co-productions between China, New Zealand and the USA.”

Mili Pictures has the backing of the Mayor of Wuhan, Mr Liangzhi Tang, the Mayor of Auckland, Mr Len Brown, and their respective economic development agencies; the Wuhan East-Lake High-Tech Zone and Auckland Tourism, Events, and Economic Development.

The Mayor of Wuhan, Mr Liangzhi Tang said, “We are well aware of New Zealand’s reputation in the movie industry, and have been impressed by the vision of Auckland to grow their business in partnership with us. We share that vision and Mili is exactly the sort of company we want to partner with to carry it out.”

Following the Auckland Mayor’s delegation to China last year, the Mayor of Auckland, Len Brown, echoed that sentiment, saying “Film Auckland has been a regular visitor to China and I am thrilled that they have managed to follow up on our visit last year with this important agreement, the MOU will pave the way for some exciting co-productions with China.”

Pete Rive, the Chairman of Film Auckland, has been appointed as president of Mili Pictures Worldwide. “This is a very exciting opportunity for us at Mili. I have led four film delegations to China and been there many more times looking for the right partners who share our global vision to reach an international audience with exciting product that embodies the Chinese culture and talks to universal themes we all love in the movies!”