Amazon Studios’s Oscar-winning film Manchester by the Sea has passed censorship in China and could be heading to screens here soon, sources familiar with the matter told China Film Insider.
The news comes just a day after The Lost City of Z, which also comes from Amazon Studios and Bleecker Street was also approved for Chinese cinemas, though a release date is yet to be announced.
Manchester by the Sea, which also stars Michelle Williams, is the story of what happens after an uncle is asked to take care of his nephew after the death of the boy’s father.
The critically acclaimed film which was sold to Amazon for US$10 million, crossed the $75 million global box office milestone earlier this year. The film’s international rollout is still underway and is also set to open in Japan on May 13.
Amazon became the first online streaming service to win an Academy Award when took home Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay for Manchester By The Sea, as well as Best Foreign Language Film for Asghar Farhadi’s The Salesman.
In March, video streaming service iQiyi announced it had secured exclusive streaming rights to Academy Award-winning films Moonlight and La La Land as well as the best foreign language film, The Salesman.
Late last year, internet giant Tencent picked up the rights to Amazon Studios-produced eight-episode drama The Collection to stream on their QQ platform, which boasts over than 830 million active accounts.
At least six other foreign movies are said to have been given the nod from Chinese censors including The Lost City of Z, Warner Bros.’ Wonder Woman, Universal Pictures’ The Mummy, Lionsgate’s Unlocked and Aftermath, as well as Disney’s Cars 3.