Fortissimo Films just announced that it has struck a deal with China’s media tycoon Wanda Media to co-handle the worldwide representation on Wanda’s massive commercial hit, THE GREAT HYPNOTIST outside Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia. The film is currently running in Chinese cinemas with a first week box-office approaching US$25 million, ranking No.2 in Week 18 in China.
Xu Ruining (XU Zheng) is a renowned therapist skilled in hypnotherapy getting trapped by a mysterious new patient whose root of problems seems inconceivable. Critics comment this mystery thriller has set a new direction in genre films for China. It marks the 2nd commercial success for its Taiwan-born Director Leste Chen who previously scored with his 2013 rom com Say Yes. Starring Chinese Superstar XU Zheng (Lost in Thailand) and Hong Kong singer/actor phenon Karen Mok (Around the World in 80 Days, Shaolin Soccer), THE GREAT HYPNOTIST was produced by Tina Shi, and James Li. It has XU Zheng and Gillian ZHAO as Executive Producer and is presented by Jerry Ye on behalf of Wanda Media Co. The film has just premiered as the closing film of the 4th Beijing International Film Festival and will be shown next week in the Cannes Market.
Fortissimo’s Chairman, Michael J. Werner said, “Wanda Media is one of the World’s most exciting and globally focused entertainment companies in the Industry today. The chance to work with Wanda on Leste Chen’s, THE GREAT HYPNOTIST is a fantastic opportunity for Fortissimo to bring another break-through film from China to the world. This film represents a continuing evolution in the global outlook of Chinese Cinema by combining a commercial genre with a strong budget, great production values, and an engaging and engrossing story packaged together with stunning visuals and artistic highlights which I am sure will be well received by audiences everywhere.”
Wanda’s James Li agrees: “We believe that THE GREAT HYPNOTIST has the potential to enjoy success around the globe, and that by working with Fortissimo, we can achieve that goal.”
THE GREAT HYPNOTIST joins Fortissimo’s strong Cannes slate which includes a number of high profile films like Berlin’s Golden Bear Winner Black Coal, Thin Ice, Fruit Chan’s The Midnight After, Ira Sach’s Love Is Strange, and Isabel Coixet’s Another Me, along with pre-sale titles like Terence Davies’ Sunset Song, John Cameron Mitchell’s, How to Talk to Girls at Parties, Alex Van Warmerdam’s Schneider Vs. Bax, and Roger Goldby’s The Time of Their Lives starring Joan Collins and Pauline Collins.