Fortissimo Films announced today that it has acquired global sales rights to Larry Yang’s (SORRY, I LOVE YOU; NANA) highly anticipated film MOUNTAIN CRY. The film, which won the prize for ‘Best Commercial Potential’ at last year’s Beijing International Film Festival ‘Pitch & Catch’ event, was just announced yesterday to have its World Premiere on October 10, 2015 as the Closing Film of the 20th Busan International Film Festival.
MOUNTAIN CRY is the first of the initial slate of five films to be completed pursuant to the recently announced production partnership between Village Roadshow Pictures Asia Limited and China’s powerful production giant, Hairun Pictures Co., Ltd. The companies will jointly release the film in China next year, and Village Roadshow Pictures Asia will retain the rights for Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, where it has its own distribution and exhibition affiliates. The film was produced by Ellen Eliasoph and Victoria Hon, with Yanming Liu and Greg Basser serving as Executive Producers.
Set in a remote, spectacularly scenic mountain village in China in the mid 1980’s, MOUNTAIN CRY weaves a tale that begins with the sudden violent death of a man under unusual circumstances, leaving behind a mysterious widow – a young mute woman (played by Yueting Lang – OFFICE) with two young children. The now broken family, strangers from a distant province, upends the village’s tight-knit traditional community structure. As the local village leaders struggle with how to handle the matter, the widow forms a bond with the hardworking young man (Ziyi Wang – CHONGQING BLUES) who is tasked with providing for her and her children, and both he and the villagers discover that she has a dark story to tell, and the power to tell it wordlessly.
The deal was negotiated by Fortissimo Films’ Chairman, Michael J. Werner with the film’s producers, Ellen Eliasoph, CEO of Village Roadshow Pictures Asia and Victoria Hon, Vice President of Hairun Pictures.
Upon announcing the deal, Werner noted “MOUNTAIN CRY is one of those rare films you see today from China that is heartfelt and powerful while subtly exploring some important social issues presented in a commercial way. Director Larry Yang is one to watch.”
Producers Ellen Eliasoph and Victoria Hon added, “We, Larry, and our entire team are thrilled and gratified to be working with Fortissimo Films on the global promotion and sales of MOUNTAIN CRY. Their enthusiasm and consummate professionalism will ensure that our film finds its broadest possible audience and is seen – and ‘heard’ — around the world.”
Pre-sales of MOUNTAIN CRY will commence immediately at the upcoming Venice International Film Festival, where Fortissimo will present teaser artwork and a promo reel. In addition to Busan, the film will be screened at the upcoming American Film Market.
