Yahoo Lifestyle Jia Zhangke Launches Distribution Venture in China
Acclaimed director Jia Zhangke is expanding beyond filmmaking, producing and festival organization to launch a new distribution venture focused on international cinema, Variety has confirmed with the filmmaker.
The director of “A Touch of Sin” and “Ash Is the Purest White,” a regular at Cannes and founder of Fabula Entertainment and Xstream Pictures, has partnered with experienced distributor Tian Qi to create Unknown Pleasures Pictures, a new acquisition and distribution company.
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The company will focus on bringing international arthouse films to Chinese theaters with the goal of diversifying cinematic offerings available to local audiences. Jia will serve as president of the new venture, while Tian Qi, founder of Hero Films, will take on the role of general manager.
This partnership aims to introduce a wider range of global films to the Chinese market, which currently features a limited selection of international titles alongside domestic productions and Hollywood releases.
In 2017, Jia extended his influence beyond the screen with the Pingyao International Film Festival. The festival is held in the historic city of Pingyao and focuses on bridging the gap between international arthouse films and China’s independent cinema scene. With a curated selection that highlights emerging talents and stories often overlooked by mainstream festivals, Pingyao has carved out a niche as a platform for boundary-pushing narratives. Jia’s involvement has helped the festival gain credibility quickly, making it a notable addition to the international film festival circuit.
Jia has also teamed up with Tang Yan, chair and CEO of Hello Group, to launch Wings International, a development fund aimed at supporting non-Chinese films with completed scripts. The fund plans to back five projects a year, aligning with Jia’s ongoing efforts to expand cross-border collaborations and bring diverse stories to a broader audience.
“Unknown Pleasures” is also the name of a 2002 film by Jia.
The news about the launch of Unknown Pleasures Pictures was first reported by Deadline.
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