Mandragora International Group, headquarted in Romania, has signed an agreement to co-produce a feature film, The Girl Who Knew Too Much, with China Film Group Corp., China’s government-run production and distribution company.
Paunescu produced 2005’s The Death of Mr. Lazarescu, directed by Cristi Puiu. He is a co-producer of Cristian Mungui’s Beyond the Hills, which is screening in competition at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival.
"It’s exciting that Solar Pictures and Mandragora International Group are on the front line of the box-office boom that is taking place in China,” Paunescu said. “To be producing this film with China and have our brand new company in the mix in what is considered to be the fastest growing and soon to be largest film market in the world is an incredible honor.”
In March, Paunescu teamed with former Comerica Entertainment group manager Jared Underwood, film and television producer Kearie Peak and business affairs and acquisitions executive Christopher Taylor to form the new feature film company Solar Pictures with an eye toward financing and producing four to five films per year for the international market. Underwood joined Paunescu as managing director, while Peak and Taylor are co-CEOs. The company has since added Amy Beecroft as head of distribution. Edward Lawson Johnston, founder of the London-based merchant bank LJ Group, is one of the major investors in the firm.