Independent film sales group Arclight Films has opened a Beijing office to meet growing demand in the Asian marketplace, and has tapped producer Eliot Tong to head up the operation.
Arclight, which has offices in Los Angeles, Sydney, Hong Kong and Toronto, already has a formidable library of Asian labels under the Easternlight label.
The new Beijing office of Arclight and Easternlight Films will focus on sales rights for China and all Asian territories, new film acquisitions, TV sales, and will act as a liaison between Chinese films, productions and co-productions by assisting in their development and helping mold them into high-value commercial vehicles, Arclight said in a statement.
"We are fully committed to expanding our operations in China to meet the industry’s increasing needs and demands in the region," said Gary Hamilton, managing director of Arclight Films.
Arclight Films was responsible for the highest grossing Australian film in the history of Chinese cinema, Bait 3D, which earned $30 million last year, and has represented the The Assassins starring Chow Yun Fat, Dangerous Liaisons with Zhang Ziyi and Cecilia Cheung, and the forthcoming Special ID with Donnie Yen.
The company is a representing Outcast starring Nicholas Cage and Hayden Christensen, which is currently in pre-production. Gary Hamilton and Ying Ye, Managing Director of Easternlight, are attached to the project as producers.
Tong is a graduate of both the NYU Film School and Beijing Film Academy and has worked extensively with all of China’s biggest names in film from Jackie Chan, to Stanley Tong, Stephen Chow and Andy Lau.
He was formerly head of international distribution Tianjin North Film Studio which made China's first 3D stereoscopic feature Legend of a Rabbit, which was distributed in 80 territories.
"Chinese films from Hong Kong have long been a special favorite among many buyers in the region, but we have witnessed enormous growth in artistic and commercial quality films coming from the Mainland in recent years," said Tong. "Arclight Films has been riding on the forefront of bringing these great films to international audiences as well as having real knowledge of how to coproduce with China. I am so thrilled to come aboard the Arclight Films team at such an exciting time."