'Funeral' set to open at Pusan

Cast of Asian actors star in Chi film

By VARIETY STAFF

HONG KONG – A cast of Asian actors making cross-over moves in the U.S. front "Dim Sum Funeral," one of the first movies to unspool at next week's Pusan Int'l Film Festival.

Pic, about a family of westernized adult children called to China to mourn their mother, stars Bai Ling, Steph Song, Russell Wong, Lisa Lu, Kelly Hu, and Talia Shire. It is helmed by Anna Chi, herself a Chinese national now based in LA.

Scripted by Donald Martin ("Never too Late"), the film was produced by Jeffrey Lando of a budget under $5 million, and exec produced by Tom Berry, Clark Peterson, Andy Reimer, Martin, Ray Cuerdo and Andrew Ooi.

Singapore-born Song established herself in Singapore with TV series "Achar" but more recently appeared with Jason Statham in "War." Wong's most recent credits include "The Mummy: Curse of the Dragon Emperor." Lu, now shooting "2012," was one of the first Asians to work steadily in Hollywood and has credits including "I Love Trouble" and "Joy Luck Club."

Pic has its world preem on Oct 3.