Hong Kong's Sundream will release Israeli film 'The Band's Visit' under a deal with the Weinstein Company.
HONG KONG -- The Weinstein Co. has inked an output deal with Sundream Motion Pictures, which is also ramping up its movie production with two projects to be announced at this week's FilMart Asian pic market in Hong Kong.
Sundream gets access to TWC's current slate, from which the two companies will jointly select titles with theatrical potential in the territory.
The first three pics to be released under the deal are likely to be "The Band's Visit," "Teeth" and "Sicko," with Berlin winner "The Elite Squad" and comedy spoof "Superhero" set for later in the year.
Deal with TWC underscores plans by Sundream, the film arm of Hong Kong paybox I-Cable, to become a fully fledged Hong Kong studio.
Last year Sundream hired veteran distrib exec Nan Wong from Intercontinental to give its releasing ambitions instant credibility.
Separately, Sundream is adding "The Equation of Love and Death" and "The Champions" to its slate.
"Equation" is a $2 million drama about a woman taxi driver who becomes an amateur detective after her boyfriend disappears. Tentatively set for a July release, it's helmed by Cao Baoping and co-produced with Huayi Brothers, China's biggest private-sector movie company.
Sundream topper Tsui Siuming will step behind the camera for actioner "The Champions." Further details will be released on Tuesday at a press event at the four-day FilMart, which wraps Thursday.
Company revealed that its sophisticated drama "Lost Indulgence," about a Chinese boy's fantasy about a woman with whom he is thrown together after a car crash, has been invited to the Udine and Tribeca festivals in April and May, respectively.
Sundream must get approval from China's Film Bureau before it can accept the invites.
Karen Mok, Eason Chan and Eric Tsang star in the pic directed by Zhang Yi Bai ("Curiosity Kills the Cat"). It was previously known as "Juvenile."
Company has finally set an April 3 release date for its Sammo Hung, Andy Lau and Maggie Q starrer "Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon."
Historic martial arts actioner is helmed by Daniel Lee, with production by Korea's Taewon Entertainment and coin from equity investors including Sundream.
Wong and her team have also begun acquiring third-party pictures and have bought South Korean hit "Le Grand Chef" from ShowEast.
Contact the Variety newsroom at
news@variety.com