jailbreak
THE PREY: Dark Star Acquires Latest From ‘Jailbreak’ Director
Survival thriller The Prey is making a killing at Fantasia Festival this month before its systemic commercial releases in Cambodia and other territories. The film is especially the latest work of director Jimmy Henderson who left a massive impression in 2017 with Jailbreak, adding it to the pantheon of martial arts action favorites.
BREAKING OUT, AND FURTHER IN: An Interview With Actor Jean-Paul Ly
2013 was definitely a freshman year going into this site, but it became a surprising endeavor to get to meet people almost instantaneously, which is funny because I live in New York City and I was sooner meeting people from other countries. I still am, too… I guess this town is like that.
Martial Arts Action Comedy Hit, JAILBREAK, Breaks Out Onto Netflix Everywhere
Not getting around any in the festival scene is a greater hinderance than preferred. It hasn’t stopped me from trying to cover certain events, especially with the equal excitement and appeal drawn with viewers and film fans alike for Cambodia’s milestone cinematic effort, martial arts action comedy Jailbreak.
The past two years have been an amazing ride covering this martial arts action comedy directed by Jimmy Henderson and starring the likes of Jean-Paul Ly, Dara Our, Tharoth Sam and Celine Tran. The acclaimed hit movie is now on Netflix globally, including in the UK where MCM London Comic-Con attendees will get to exclusively meet Ly among the panelists repping his newest martial arts thriller, Nightshooters, from director Marc Price.
That event will be on May 26 at the Silver Theater, which still leaves you plenty of time to warm up to Ly’s screen caliber as a rising film talent via Jailbreak. Check out my review, believe the hype and watch it now on Netflix, and don’t miss out on Ly’s most recent action directing effort on Henderson’s prison survival action thriller, The Prey, which is now in post-production.
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Jailbreak now on NetflixThis is it ! 3 Years in the making, with fans regularly asking how they could see the film. Well the wait is over! Jailbreak is now available on Netflix !
#KhmerPride #JailbreakTheMovie #khmerproduction #KongchakPicturesPosted by Jailbreak on Tuesday, May 1, 2018
A TIME TO ‘PREY’: Jimmy Henderson Talks THE PREY, JAILBREAK, Sequel Prospects And More
Henderson’s growth will eventually see him switch gears as he’s not one to restrict himself. Until then, promise looms with Jailbreak 2 after all is said and done with The Prey which commences principal photography this week on March 6.
FIVE-A-DAY ROUND-UP II: Jailbreak, Re:Born, Master Z, The Night Comes For Us, Lazarus
We’re continuing the Five-A-Day column today listing, and in no certain order, various action film titles fans may be keen on going into the new year. Here’s yesterday’s batch for starters and below are today’s:
Legendary actress and martial artist Michelle Yeoh is reportedly the In Focus subject for the forthcoming International Film Festival & Awards Macao which takes place between December 8 through 14. It makes an even worthier note of the Star Trek: Discovery series co-star’s forthcoming appearance Yuen Woo Ping’s pending Ip Man spin-off, Master Z: Ip Man Legacy in which actor Max Zhang reprises Cheung Tin-Chi, the role he played opposite action star Donnie Yen in the 2016 kung fu hit, Ip Man 3. Details on all ends are pending for the film which also has Dave Bautista and Tony Jaa in its line-up.
Jimmy Henderson’s third directorial offering, Jailbreak was a festival favorite among cinephiles and genre loyalists alike. Rising stars Jean-Paul Ly, Dara Our and Thatothoum Sam lead the cast opposite Celine Tran for the story of a tactical unit trapped inside an unsecure prison and forced to fight to keep a criminal witness alive. XYZ Films is releasing this one through Vertical Entertainment and presumably in 2018 as well as a date is still pending.
Also on deck from Vertical is Shimomura Yuji’s ghoulish new commando action thriller, Re:Born, which has seen actor Sakaguchi Tak’s return to film be quite the ceremonies revival it deserves. The film’s show of WAVE combat techniques serve as part of the backdrop for the tale of a reclusive ex-soldier forced back into battle to protect a young girl in his care from an old friend-turned-enemy in the wake hunting down his former team. Considering the nature of limited theater releases like this, I would hate to see this film released in a theater that won’t allow later showtimes. Here’s a trailer for its U.K. release:
Following up on his previous pairings with film cohort Kimo Stamboel, fellow ‘Mo Bro Timo Tjahjanto goes solo for the hotly anticipated return of actor and martial artist Joe Taslim with gangland thriller, The Night Comes For Us. The film was stifled for a few years due to unforeseen circumstances before production finally took off late last year and with a 2018 date, will soon tell the tale of an enforcer who returns to Jakarta where his crime family awaits the boiling point of a brewing mob war between bitter rivals. The film is already in post-production with Timo teasing the goods little by little on his Instagram page:
Here’s a first teaser of @joe_taslim as Ito the Triad’s enforcer in #TNCFU. Yes he’ll bleed alot & yes it will be Joe like you’ll never see him before. Stay tuned for more characters revealed.
A post shared by Timo Tjahjanto (@timobros) on Sep 4, 2017 at 7:49pm PDT
There hasn’t been much put out in public view but progress is still being made as director R.L. Scott continues to put the finishing touches on his latest superhero pivot, Lazarus. Scott reunites with Call Me King co-star Sean Riggs who leads the gritty and dark vigilante action horror tale telling of a super powered crimefighter’s one-man war on an organization to free the city from darkness. I honestly wish I could tell you more about this project, and seeing as how I can’t at current, next year should be a lot more promising as the film nears all the ins and outs of completion and acquisition.
We’ll pick up on five more tomorrow. In the meantime, post your picks in the comment section below for what lies ahead on your 2018 moviegoing calendar!
BEYOND FEST 2017: 12 Days Of Classic Hit Niche Delight With Schwarzenegger, Van Damme, Argento And More In Attendance
Such films include Jean-Claude Van Damme classic, Double Impact as well as the first two episodes of upcoming Amazon series, Jean-Claude Van Johnson, Schwarzenegger hit thriller The Running Man, Cambodian action romp, Jailbreak, Ted Geohegan’s new thriller, Mohawk and so much more. Not for nothing either with a raft of slated appearances by the likes of Van Damme and Schwarzenegger themselves, in addition to Vince Vaughn seeing to the premiere of RLJE Films’s most recent acquisition, Brawl In Cell Block 99, and cult figure Tommy Wiseau whose 2003 cult favorite, The Room is the subject of its own biopic, A24’s December release of The Disaster Artist.
FANTASIA 2017: Read Up On The First Wave!
This year’s events at Fantasia Film Festival is jam-packed with a sick load of titles that have been ramping up with buzz this year. The announcement was made on Tuesday for the first wave with the full line-up forthcoming on July 5 and the entries this year read something fierce and exciting if you’ve been keeping up, including Jung Byung-Gil’s The Villainess, Fukuda Yuichi’s Gintama, Jimmy Henderson’s Jailbreak (read our review), Miike Takashi’s JoJo’s Bizzare Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable, Joe Lynch’s SXSW hit, Mayhem, and many more.
Click here for photos or read on below!
FANTASIA’S 21st EDITION TO FEATURE NUMEROUS WORLD PREMIERES, CANNES SENSATIONS, AND NORTH AMERICAN DEBUTS!
The North American Premiere of Cannes Sensation THE VILLAINESS, World Premiere of new work from Géla Babluani, North American Premiere of Takashi Miike’s JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: DIAMOND IS UNBREAKABLE, a special screening of Luc Besson’s VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS, a pair of dazzling new creations from Masaaki Yuasa, and a lifetime achievement award for the legendary Larry Cohen are among the Montreal genre festival’s First Wave announcements
Montreal, June 13, 2017 – The Fantasia International Film Festival celebrates its 21st Anniversary in Montreal this summer, taking place from July 13-August 2, with its Frontières International Co-Production Market and Industry Rendez-Vous Weekend being held July 20-23. The full lineup of over 130 feature films will be announced July 5. In the meantime, the festival is excited to reveal a selected First Wave of titles, along with several special happenings.
UNVEILING OUR 2017 POSTER ART!
In celebration of Montreal’s 375th anniversary, veteran Fantasia artist Donald Caron has created a visual love letter to our city with a piece that truly speaks for itself. Voilà!
A POWERFUL OPENING NIGHT WITH JUNG BYUNG-GIL’S THE VILLAINESS and TAKASHI MIIKE’S JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: DIAMOND IS UNBREAKABLE
Fantasia 2017 will start with a thunderous smash! After leaving the Cannes audience absolutely mesmerized with its groundbreaking and spectacular fight scenes and Kim Ok-vin’s ferocious, yet poignant interpretation, Jung Byung-gil’s action thriller THE VILLAINESS (North American Premiere) will be the Opening Film of this year’s edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival.
Following this astonishing jolt of raw adrenaline, who else than the Grand Maestro of international genre cinema could keep the pace? Fantasia favorite Takashi Miike, who received a well deserved Lifetime Achievement Award last year, will once again please his hordes of Montreal fans with the exuberant JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: DIAMOND IS UNBREAKABLE (North American Premiere), masterfully adapted from Hirohiko Kitakubo’s cult manga and featuring a stellar cast led by Kento Yamazaki.
A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR LARRY COHEN
This Summer, Fantasia will be saluting the groundbreaking work of independent American filmmaker Larry Cohen. Widely recognized as one of the godfathers of progressive, socially conscious genre cinema with such individualistic landmarks as the IT’S ALIVE films, BLACK CASEAR, Q, and THE STUFF, in addition to his distinctive screenwriting work for a plethora of other filmmakers, Cohen’s output has always been smart, character-driven, and boldly confrontational.
Larry Cohen will be awarded before the World Premiere of Steve Mitchell’s KING COHEN, a phenomenal documentary about the filmmaker’s extraordinary history and work, that features appearances by Martin Scorsese, John Landis, Yaphet Kotto, J.J. Abrams, Fred Williamson, Rick Baker, Joe Dante, and Eric Bogosian, among many others.
Celebrated actor Michael Moriarty, who has appeared in no fewer than seven features for Cohen, and appears prominently in KING COHEN, will be in attendance at the award ceremony.
In addition, the festival will be teaming up with the Cinémathèque Québécoise to screen 35mm archival prints of IT’S ALIVE, GOD TOLD ME TO, and Q.
A GLORIOUS CINEMATOGRAPHIC CONCERT: THE MAN WHO LAUGHS
Following our past live performance events of METROPOLIS and THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, Gabriel Thibaudeau and Fantasia are re-teaming for a presentation of a unique cinematographic concert of Paul Leni’s 1928 classic THE MAN WHO LAUGHS, rightfully recognized as an early masterpiece of horror cinema. Thibaudeau’s original score for the film, which has been performed worldwide over the past 20 years, from Paris to São Paulo, Tokyo to New York, will be interpreted live by a nine-piece orchestra under the direction of the composer, featuring the Quatuor Molinari. Do not miss this true homage to silent cinema’s golden age!
THRILL TO THE RETURN OF GELA BABLUANI AT THE WORLD PREMIERE OF MONEY’S MONEY
Georgian-born French filmmaker Géla Babluani created one of the most significant thrillers of the last 15 years with his enthralling debut, the classic 13 TZAMETI. Now, after a seven-year hiatus following that film’s 2010 US remake, he has returned with MONEY’S MONEY – a taut robbery thriller whose stellar cast includes Benoît Magimel, Olivier Rabourdin, Vincent Rottiers, and Féodor Atkine. Fantasia will proudly be showcasing the film’s World Premiere.
MIND GAME MASTERMIND MASAAKI YUASA RETURNS WITH NOT ONE BUT TWO NEW FEATURES
Fantasia’s Axis Section presents two new animated films by Japan’s Yuasa Masaaki, who will attend the festival in person. Masaaki’s 2004 opus MIND GAME, showcasing his free-spirited sensibility, remains an all-time animated highlight of the festival’s programming history. First up, a wild jumble of characters and events that come together on one strange night in Kyoto, in the madcap, musical romantic comedy NIGHT IS SHORT, WALK ON GIRL (International Premiere). And then there’s LU OVER THE WALL (North American Premiere) – boy meets mermaid in this manic anime mash-up of Gothic folklore, wild fantasy, and feelgood teenage J-pop jams!
A SPECIAL SCREENING OF LUC BESSON’S VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS
Fantasia will be presenting a special screening of Luc Besson’s hotly anticipated fantasy spectacular VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS. Based on the adored French comic series by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières, the film stars Dane DeHaan, Cara Delevingne, Clive Owen, and Rihanna – and promises to be one of the most visually extravagant genre works the screen has ever seen.
LIKE NOTHING YOU’VE SEEN BEFORE: THE WORLD PREMIERE OF LOWLIFE
The lives of an addict, a Luchador, a cartel organ smuggler, and an ex-con collide in this wildly original crime/drama/blacker-than-black comedy/thriller that’s as informed by Mexican subcultures as it is by American cinema. A ferocious feature debut by Ryan Prows, LOWLIFE is one of the most gobsmacking crime film discoveries that we’ve come across in years. Beg, cheat, or steal to be at our World Premiere and witness the birth of an unforgettable instant classic.
A BRAND NEW TALENT FROM SOUTH KOREA WILL BLOW YOUR MIND WITH THE INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE OF A DAY
Director Cho Sun-ho amazes with his masterfully crafted first feature film A DAY (International Premiere), which tells the story of a famous doctor stuck in a time loop where he must try to save his daughter from a fatal car accident over and over again. Going far beyond the GROUNDHOG DAY concept in terms of emotional implication and unpredictable twists, this riveting thriller will keep you on the very edge of your seat! Cho Sun-ho is definitely a name to remember!
INSTINCT AND TRANSGRESSION: THE WORLD PREMIERE OF FRIENDLY BEAST
Fantasia is proud to be presenting the World Premiere of FRIENDLY BEAST, a bold and brilliant feature debut from Brazilian writer/director Gabriela Amaral Almeida. Easily one of the most provocative works you’ll encounter this year, the film concerns a restaurant owner going over the edge when an armed robbery is attempted at his establishment. He holds everyone captive at gunpoint – criminals and customers alike – and situations corrode into a nightmare state, guided by manipulation and raw compulsion.
SCALPS WILL BLEED AT THE WORLD PREMIERE OF MOHAWK
Ted Geoghegan’s sophomore feature, following 2015’s acclaimed WE ARE STILL HERE, confronts audiences with a very different kind of horror: our collective history. Set in 1814, MOHAWK tells the white-knuckle tale of two young Mohawk warriors and their British lover pursued by murderous American military renegades Hell-bent on blind revenge, and features a striking ensemble cast that includes Kaniehtiio Horn, Eamon Farren, Ezra Buzzington, Jonathan Huber (WWE Superstar Luke Harper), and Noah Segan. History often hurts, but sometimes it hits hard enough to kill.
CAMERA LUCIDA UNVEILS THE LAPLACE’S DEMON AND MORE!
The CAMERA LUCIDA Section is back at Fantasia for its eighth consecutive year! Opening with the Québec Premiere of David Lowery’s A GHOST STORY, a metaphysical exploration of love, longing, destiny and mortality that reunites the PETE’S DRAGON’s director with actors Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck, the section will once again showcase some of world cinema’s boldest and most innovative voices, at the very edge of genre cinema.
World premiering at Fantasia, Giordano Giulivi’s THE LAPLACE’S DEMON unfolds like an all-time great TWILIGHT ZONE episode directed by the three-headed offspring of Guy Maddin, Mario Bava, and Val Lewton! It will send you right over the edge with its unique mix of faux-vintage aesthetics, probabilistic science-fiction, and Gothic style. A total discovery, it beautifully balances pastiche, homage, and invention!
Also in the section, Yuya Ishii’s THE TOKYO NIGHT SKY IS ALWAYS THE DENSEST SHADE OF BLUE (Canadian Premiere) is an offbeat rom-com, a slacker dramedy, and a poetic ode to the Big City, all rolled into one virtuosic film from the director of THE GREAT PASSAGE, and based on the poetry of Tahi Saihate.
Geng Jun’s FREE AND EASY (also a Canadian Premiere) sees a soap salesman, a monk, and some lazy cops collide in a factory town in the Northeast of China. Putting the “dead” firmly back in deadpan, Geng’s comedy unfolds as an absurdist caper of Beckettian proportions, making for a great portrait of small-town crime in the wake of China’s rapid industrialization. The rest of this year’s Camera Lucida lineup will be revealed on July 5.
DISCOVER CAMBODIAN ACTION CINEMA AT THE NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE OF JAILBREAK
Years ago, Thailand gave the world ONG BAK. Then Indonesia surprised us with THE RAID. This year, it’s Cambodia’s turn to redefine the limits of action cinema with spectacular stunts and breathtaking fights at an unrelenting, frenetic pace. Explosively directed by Jimmy Henderson, JAILBREAK highlights the beauty and the know-how of a national cinema worth discovering. Don’t miss this!
YOLO! FANTASIA EXPLODES WITH THE INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE OF YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE
YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE, the hilarious feature debut of Spanish stunt coordinator Federico Cueva, who has worked extensively on the films of Alex de la Iglesia and Santiago Segura, is an explosive action/comedy that sees a framed con man (Peter Lanzani) having to impersonate an orthodox Jew in order to escape ruthless killers – played by Segura, Gerard Depardieu, and Hugo Silva! Fantasia offers you the chance to be the first to see this incredible actioner outside its home country!
A BLAST WHICHEVER WAY YOU SLICE IT: GINTAMA MAKES ITS NORTH AMERICAN DEBUT!
Fantasia favorite Yuichi Fukuda (HK: FORBIDDEN SUPERHERO) is back, with his biggest film yet: GINTAMA, based on Hideaki Sorachi’s long-running, best-selling shonen manga series – adapted to the big screen in all its comedic, swashbuckling, fourth-wall-breaking glory! Fukuda runs completely wild with the manga’s many sight gags and extravagant costumes, in what proves to be at once a must for diehard fans and a treat for manga enthusiasts in general; a crash-course in live-action done right!
STRONGER THAN PRAYERS: THE NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE OF STEFAN RUZOWITZKY’S COLD HELL
From the Oscar-winning director of THE COUNTERFEITERS and the ANATOMIE films comes the crushingly intense COLD HELL – a film that crackles with elements of Giallo, horror, thriller, and full-throttle action cinema, anchored with powerful doses of socio-political confrontation. A tough-as-nails Turkish taxi driver (Violetta Schurawlow) in Vienna witnesses a murder and finds herself stalked by a fundamentalist serial killer inspired by Islam. After a lifetime of being under siege, she’s not about to run from anyone. What follows is anything but the usual cat and mouse formula, as ideology and hate clash up against ferocious, end-of-the-rope anger.
GET ELECTRIFIED BY THE INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE OF DAN DREAM
Danish madmen Casper Christensen and Frank Hvam became a comedy team for the ages in the unforgettable KLOWN series – the first film having won a Cheval Noir at Fantasia, where it had its North American Premiere. Now, they’re together again, as co-writers and stars, in Jesper Rofelt’s DAN DREAM, an ‘80s-set comedy about a group of eccentric men striving to make an electric car. Fantasia’s audience will be the very first to see the film outside of Denmark. Get excited!
POLITICS GET FUNNY WITH TEIICHI: BATTLE OF THE SUPREME HIGH
If Nicolas Machiavelli would’ve written a comic book with an edgy sense of humor, it would look like Usamaru Furuya’s manga Teiichi no Kuni. Akira Nagai, director of the Fantasia 2016 success IF CATS DISAPPEARED FROM THE WORLD, adapts this witty mix of political satire and coming of age story without falling one second into outrageous cynicism. With a dynamic performance from actor Masaki Suda who bring just enough humanity to his aspiring politician character, TEIICHI: BATTLE OF THE SUPREME HIGH (North American Premiere) is the perfect film to maintain a bit of sanity in today’s political context.
BRIGSBY BEAR COMES TO CANADA
After celebrating its World Premiere at Sundance and its European launch at Cannes (Critic’s Week), Dave McCary’s extraordinary BRIGSBY BEAR will have its Canadian bow at Fantasia. Brigsby Bear Adventures is a children’s TV show produced for an audience of one: James (Kyle Mooney). When the show abruptly ends, James’s life changes forever, and he sets out to finish the story himself. Co-starring Mark Hamill, Claire Danes, and Greg Kinnear, BRIGSBY BEAR is an inventive and touching outsider comedy about the power of storytelling that easily ranks among the most charming films you’ll encounter this year.
CHINA’S FIRST WORLD-CLASS INDIE ANIMATOR, LIU JIAN, WANTS YOU TO HAVE A NICE DAY
Liu Jian’s award-winning 2010 debut, PIERCING 1, marked him as China’s first world-class independent animator, and established an austere, understated visual style and caustic social commentary that has carried through to his latest. Making its Canadian Premiere at Fantasia 2017, Liu’s bold second feature, the Berlinale breakout HAVE A NICE DAY is a bitter, bitingly funny slice of low-key neo-noir, in which a memorable bunch of nobodies chase a bag of cash and strike hopeless bargains with fate.
ADDITIONAL FIRST WAVE TITLES INCLUDE:
68 KILL
USA – Dir: Trent Haaga
Matthew Gray Gubler and AnnaLynne McCord incinerate the screen in this crazy scumbag thrill-ride of white-trash crime and kink that manages to subversively play with gender and be a toxic anti-romantic bloodbath of a comedy in the same breathless blow. Winner: Audience Award (Midnighters), SXSW 2017. Canadian Premiere.
BAD GENIUS
Thailand – Dir: Nattawut Poonpiriya
When Lynn (Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying) discovers that her academic skills can bring her thousands of baht if she helps her wealthy friends cheat at exams, she elaborates a complex scheme. What if OCEAN’S ELEVEN would somehow meet THE BREAKFAST CLUB? Well, it happened! A breathtaking coming-of-age thriller that is way smarter than anything you can expect! Official Selection: New York Asian Film Festival. Canadian Premiere.
BASTARD SWORDSMAN
Hong Kong – Dir: Tony Liu
Who will truly master the silkworm technique and bring balance to the martial world? The last surviving 35mm copy of the Shaw Brothers gem will blast you with its avalanche of unfettered lunacy. First Canadian screening in 30 years!
BITCH
USA – Dir: Marianna Palka
The provocative tale of a woman (Palka) who snaps under crushing life pressures and assumes the psyche of a vicious dog. A sharp, feminist satire that’s alternately uncomfortably funny and confrontational with a warrior soul, BITCH is a stunning achievement in every sense. Official Selection: Sundance 2017, Chicago Critics Film Festival 2017. Canadian Premiere.
DEAD MAN TELLS HIS OWN TALE
Argentina – Dir: Fabián Forte
Misogynist alpha male Angel has it all – money, power, family, sex. His only problem is, he’s dead. Gender politics are unpacked in Fabián Forte’s subversive black comedy dosed with unexpected terror. Official Selection: Morbido 2016, Fantasporto 2017. Canadian Premiere.
DEAD SHACK
Canada – Dir: Peter Ricq
A rural Canadian mix of DEAD ALIVE, SCOUTS GUIDE TO THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE, and ’80s kids’ movies! Director Peter Ricq (creator of the animated series FREAKTOWN) keeps things fast, light, and full of fight. Official Selection: Neuchetal Fantastic Film Festival 2017, Lund 2017. North American Premiere.
THE ENDLESS
USA – Dir: Justin Benson and Aaron Moorehead
Two brothers return to the cult they fled from years ago to discover that the group’s beliefs may be more sane than they once thought. SPRING and RESOLUTION announced Benson and Moorehead as unconventional genre forces to be reckoned with. THE ENDLESS – in which the gifted filmmaking duo also star – confirms their brilliance beyond any question. Official Selection: Tribeca 2017. Canadian Premiere.
GAME OF DEATH
Canada – Dir: Sebastien Landry and Laurence Baz Morias
A hard-partying pack of teens are forced into a desperate game of kill-or-be-killed after playing the wrong retro game in this high-energy, blood-spattered brainchild of Montreal filmmakers Sebastien Landry and Laurence Baz Morais. Official Selection: SXSW 2017, Jeonju International Film Festival 2017. Canadian Premiere.
KILLING GROUND
Australia – Dir: Damien Power
A young couple (Harriet Dyer; Ian Medows) on a romantic getaway in the Australian wilderness encounter a dangerous pair of locals (Aaron Pedersen; Aaron Glenane) and a make deadly discovery in this inventively intense thriller that brings audiences back to the glory days of Aussie genre cinema and sun-drenched outback horror. Official Selection: Sundance Film Festival. Canadian Premiere.
KODOKU MEATBALL MACHINE
Japan – Dir: Yoshihiro Nishimura
People are turning into bizarre organic/mechanical creatures who terrorize the last survivors of a decimated, dome-covered Tokyo. Yoshihiro Nishimura (TOKYO GORE POLICE), Japan’s master of extreme make-up effects, is back with more of his gory creativity and his formidable capacity to create hellish – but funny – monsters. Official Selection: SXSW 2017, Night Visions 2017, The Overlook Film Festival 2017. Canadian Premiere.
MAYHEM
USA – Dir: Joe Lynch
Amid a frightening viral outbreak that leaves the infected temporarily unable to control their impulses – and subsequently not criminally responsible for their behaviour – a lawyer (THE WALKING DEAD’s Steven Yeun) and shafted homeowner (Samara Weaving) fight to confront the top executives who wronged them. A cheerfully ferocious middle finger salute to cutthroat corporate culture. Official Selection: SXSW 2017. Canadian Premiere.
M.F.A.
USA – Dir: Natalia Leite
After being sexually assaulted by a fellow classmate, an art student (Francesca Eastwood) becomes an avenging vigilante, refusing the vulnerability of victimization and exacting cold-blooded – and bloody – revenge. Official Selection SXSW 2017, Galway Film Fleadh 2017. Canadian Premiere.
MON MON MON MONSTERS
Taiwan – Dir: Giddens Ko
In a shabby Taipei neighborhood plagued by nocturnal killings, four teenage boys find trouble… and trouble finds them. A twisted coming-of-age film from the writer of MACHI ACTION and an impressive blend of genres, bouncing from comedy to horror in matters of seconds without ever making a mess. Official selection: Hong Kong International Film Festival 2017, Udine Far East Film Festival 2017, New York Asian Film Festival 2017. Canadian Premiere.
MUSEUM
Japan – Dir: Keishi Ohtomo
Fantasia favorite Keishi Ohtomo (the RUROUNI KENSHIN trilogy) is back with MUSEUM, based on Ryosuke Tomoe’s 2013 manga of the same name. It’s overworked cop vs. sadistic, frog-headed killer in this gruesome and deranged, horror-tinged thriller in the tradition of David Fincher’s SE7EN! Official Selection: Sitges 2016, Busan 2016. Canadian Premiere.
MY FRIEND DAHMER
USA – Dir: Marc Meyers
Ross Lynch stars in the haunting, sad, funny, and true story of Jeffrey Dahmer in high school, based on Derf Backderf’s critically acclaimed 2012 graphic novel of the same name and Meyers’s own 2014 Black List script. Also starring Anne Heche, Dallas Roberts, and Vincent Kartheiser. Official Selection: Tribeca 2017. Canadian Premiere.
NAPPING PRINCESSJapan – Dir: Kenji KamiyamaThe divide between teenage Kokone’s fanciful reveries and the real world is crumbling in NAPPING PRINCESS, a sleek Japanese anime that blends steampunk fantasy and plugged-in techno-thrillers. From acclaimed director Kenji Kamiyama (GHOST IN THE SHELL: SAC, CYBORG 009, and EDEN OF THE EAST). Canadian Premiere.
NIGHT OF THE VIRGIN
Spain – Dir: Roberto San Sebastián
The first time is often clumsy and awkward, but for Nico the virgin, it’s the beginning of an endless nightmare. An unmissable comedy/horror rollercoaster of blood and lust that features some of the most grotesquely imaginative grossouts we’ve seen in years. Official Selection: Fantaspoa 2017, FrightFest 2017. Canadian Premiere.
PORK PIE
New Zealand – Dir: Matt Murphy
A trio of young misfits in pursuit of lost love race the length of the country in a stolen Mini Cooper S. Avoiding the law and with nothing to lose, they become folk heroes and most wantewed criminals as they find themselves caught in the crosshairs of a media frenzy and escalating police operation. North American Premiere.
REPLACE
Germany/Canada – Dir: Norbert Keil
Afflicted with a dermatological disease, young and beautiful Kira discovers she can replace her skin with that of other girls. REPLACE is a visually sumptuous and grotesque horror/science-fiction creation, co-scripted by Richard Stanley and co-starring genre legend Barbara Crampton. Canadian Premiere.
RON GOOSSENS, LOW-BUDGET STUNTMAN
Netherlands – Dir: Steffen Haars and Flip Van der Kuil
A failed stunt makes Ron Goossens an overnight national celebrity in Holland, in the incendiary new comedy from the team who gave you the insane NEW KIDS films! Official Selection: Fantaspoa 2017, Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival 2017. North American Premiere.
SEQUENCE BREAK
USA – Dir: Graham Skipper
A loner’s budding romance is menaced by a mysterious arcade game that’s a portal to the cosmos in this masterful melding of retro ’80s horror nostalgia and Lovecraftian doom. The directorial debut of actor Graham Skipper (THE MIND’S EYE), SEQUENCE BREAK won Best Feature Film at the 2017 Chattanooga Film Festival. International Premiere.
SPLIT
South Korea – Dir: Choi Kook-hee
A fallen bowling champion (OLDBOY’s Yoo Ji-tae) attempts to team up with an autistic prodigy (POETRY’s David Lee) to rack big money with underground bowling gambles. Built like a genuine sports drama, SPLIT has way more to offer than the traditional competition story… but it will still make you cheer for the protagonists until the end credits! Official Selection: New York Asian Film Festival 2017. Canadian Premiere.
SUPER DARK TIMES
USA – Dir: Kevin Phillips
An emotionally incinerating and strangely dream-like gaze into the shadowy crevices of teenage psychology, directed with vivid imagination, telling a powerful story about adolescence’s end and the darkening of innocence, friendship, loyalty… and murder. Official Selection: Rotterdam Film Festival 2017. Canadian Premiere.
THOUSAND CUTS
France – Dir: Eric Valette
From the maker of MALEFIQUE and ONE MISSED CALL comes a compelling story about wine, drugs, neighbors, neophobia, and politics, in which a hitman seeks a place to hide. Starring Tomer Sisley (SLEEPLESS NIGHT). Official Selection: Rotterdam Film Festival 2017. North American Premiere.
TOKYO IDOLS
UK/Canada/Japan – Dir: Kyoko Miyake
“Idols”, girl bands and their pop music, permeate every moment of Japanese life. TOKYO IDOLS peeks behind the curtains of this industry, explores a cultural phenomenon driven by an obsession with young female sexuality, and the growing disconnect between men and women in hyper-modern societies. Official Selection: Sundance 2017, Hot Docs 2017, DOXA 2017, Japan Cuts 2017. Québec Premiere.
TOM OF FINLAND
Finland – Dir: Dome Karukoski
Award-winning filmmaker Dome Karukoski (LAPLAND ODYSSEY) brings the life and work of one of the most influential and celebrated figures of twentieth century gay culture to the screen in this extraordinary story of revolution and acceptance through counter-cultural art. Official Selection: Goteborg Film Festival 2017, Edinburgh International Film Festival 2017, Tribeca 2017. Canadian Premiere.
VAMPIRE CLEANUP DEPARTMENT
Hong Kong – Dir: Yan Pak-Wing and Chiu Sin-Hang
A motley crew of misfits tackle the bloodthirsty hopping vampires descending on Hong Kong! Laughter, kung fu, horror, and insanity, with a gallery of HK icons! Official Selection: Udine Far East Film Festival 2017, Bucheon International Film Festival 2017. Canadian Premiere.
WHAT A WONDERFUL FAMILY! 2
Japan – Dir: Yoji Yamada
The Hirata family is back, and Grandpa is acting up again! This sequel reunites legendary director Yoji Yamada (of the TORA-SAN series) with the exceptional cast of the first film for another round of hilarious, multi-generational slapstick comedy! Official Selection: Beijing International Film Festival 2017, Shanghai International Film Festival 2017. Canadian Premiere.
WU KONG
China/Hong Kong – Dir: Derek Kwok
Award-winning director Derek Kwok (GALLANTS) reboots the famous Monkey King legend from the popular novel, with fresh vigour of epic proportions that you’ll love for 10,000 years. To be released during the same week in China and North America. Québec Premiere.
The full 2017 lineup will be announced on July 5, 2017. Stay tuned!
The Fantasia International Film Festival takes place in Montreal July 13 – August 2, 2017, once again returning to the mammoth Concordia Hall Cinema as its main base.
Review: Martial Arts Comedy, JAILBREAK (2017) Is The Break Fans Need
By 2013, French-born Chinese/Cambodian martial artist Jean-Paul Ly was well on his way into a fledgling career in stuntwork after moving to the U.K., although his primary trajectory aimed more toward becoming an actor. It’s a move that couldn’t have been more opportune for Ly whose own growth and progress ultimately found him in good straits with emerging talent out of Cambodia where then-screenwriter Jimmy Henderson and journeying up-and-comer Loy Te were already stirring some fruitful comradery of their own.
Thus, with the contribution of the work experience brought on by Henderson’s directorial debut, Hanuman, and the entrance of local actor and martial artist Dara Our, and the proverbial open swing of the door for culminating talent comes action comedy Jailbreak, an abiding and much more commercial opportunity for Cambodian cinema, and incidentally, production company, Kongchak Pictures and Puprom Entertainment. The concept itself arose in earlier teaser posters with a familiar look that would have anyone fond of Asian action cinema curious and especially in the wake of such regional hit movies out of distant neighboring Indonesia…say, any film directed by Gareth Huw Evans for that matter. For what it’s worth, it was certainly a step in the right direction.
Ly also serves as action director and fight choreographer with Our, further setting the tone and atmosphere with a combined work ethic that lends the film its much-deserved action movie buzz next to some of its cast. Michael Hodgson wrote the script for Hanuman, and makes his return to the pen for Henderson’s newest action-packed outing which somewhat sees Ly in the fish-out-of-water role as a visiting French inspector from the Groupe d’intervention de la Gendarmerie nationale (GIGN), assigned to join a tactical police escort led by Dara to deliver sniveling, notorious criminal witness, Playboy, to Prei Klaa Prison to await trial. As the tale tells it, however, getting out won’t be as easy as getting in with Playboy now a moving target, leaving our heroes fighting their way through hordes of inmates intermittently freed from their cells while a deadly gang of female killers descend unto Prei Klaa to collect Playboy’s head.
Said gang, known as the Butterflies – a criminal network of femme fatales well-crafted in matters of killing and espionage – are led by the Madame herself, played by former AV star Céline Tran who spent a grand portion of recent years redefining herself as a film actress with a knack for screenfighting and camera readiness. Having had the chance to sample her blooming skillset with a number of folks in France’s stunt and independent film community, principally with a definitive mark left in the live-action portrayal of Doggybag vampire action horror comic book, Heartbreaker, Tran makes her own debut here as well, and to some avail as well. She is never not stunning, and she provenly has what it takes to segue onward as an actress and, despite limited screentime in the fight department, a feasible action performer that stunt players can work with.
Savin Philip, who appeared in ruthless fashion as the villain in Hanuman, reunites with Henderson in the role of Playboy, whose eagerness to stay out of jail now sees him on the business end of one attempt after another by the Madame to have him killed as soon as possible. Phillip delivers one of the film’s few, more stronger acting performances which also helps greatly in the film’s comedy standing; at least one moment will have you doing double-takes in which after he downs mouthfuls of meat during dinner with the Madame, you’ll be asking yourself just what that was he was wiping his mouth with. It’s an exaggeration that still works, thus bringing function to the character instead of camp.
The remainder of the film rests purely on the presentation of its stars to carry the tonal pivot between drama and comedy, often changing between French and English to balance out with the film’s bulk Khmer-speaking cast. It’s also a condition that allows for a few nifty surprises during the overall exposition and development as we meet Ly and Our in their respective roles. The acting is initally stiff in their first scene together but improves amply enough as the danger and peril intensifies with the action. Naturally the dialogue flows a bit better among certain cast members between langauges; actor Visal Sok co-stars the role of Pros, a local police Colonel who shares an extinuating friendship with Ly, speaking both French as well as Khmer.
Atomweight MMA fighter Tharoth Oum Sam brings sturdiness and charm to her role as the only female member of Dara’s squad. Showcasing a range that bodes excellently for key moments in scenes shared with a few of her co-stars, she also vindicates her debut emitting her own gravitas and acumen as a capable screenfighter on equal footing with her fellow co-stars. Dara Phang stands out as the team’s comedy fixture, Socheat, who serves as a member of Dara’s unit providing supplementary humor that doesn’t interfere with his usefulness when the fighting gets going.
Jailbreak does leave a bit to be desired in its balance between the film’s action and laughs. As a film with a part-comedy narrative, quite a few moments of hilarity work while others feel either dour or somewhat accidental; it’s almost worth considering in a way if a film like Jailbreak could carry itself as a more serious action thriller, and it probably could if Hodgson and Henderson chose to go that route. Save for other opinions on the handling here, if you’re laughing when those scenes arise then the film has otherwise done its job.
At best and with the biggest and most noticeable comparison to that of The Raid (2011), Jailbreak delivers solidly on what it promises in its first official trailer. Ly, next to acting, brings gumption to the position of action director for the film’s perpetual fight scenery. With Our, the two bring their own distinctive balance and flair to their screentime amid the action with Our shepherding Bokator to the world on camera, and Ly serving a mix of styles varying in Kickboxing and Hapkido among others. It helps that the principal cast along with several of the film’s key fight extras came trained and prepared aside from a number of up to 70 extras that required rehearsals for a number of the film’s fight scenes.
The first fight scene between Our and Phang is introductory and well done despite some of the tight cinematography. Ly’s first action entry occurs within the first half hour before things get massively serious. The shared choreography between Ly and Our is near-flawless, following a formula that strictly includes non-stop action, contact hits when needed, rapid fire succession in the fight beats, inclusive lensing, angling and editing that doesn’t interfere with the action in the way most uber-budgeted A-list productions would, and the rare, if ever, use of slow-motion for the slightly more dramatic moments – all of which are textbook in this day and age for hungry filmmakers with an instinct to learn how to shoot action.
The action isn’t in excess either as you’re still left wanting more between scenes. The increasing threat level helps as well with the most interesting fight scene occuring at the 45 minute mark. That’s when things start to get more bloody than predicted and will definitely have that obligatory ‘Raid’ vibe kicking in. The camerawork even goes a step further at one point, putting the viewer in the perspective of one of the film’s goons, again, doing little to nothing to harm or hinder the fight scene footage. Godefroy Ryckewaert, whose amazing work on both sides of the camera I’ve been following for up to four years now and includes collaborating with a number of international and local stunt performers on shortfilm favorites, namely Shadow Of 13, Céline Tran’s Bladed Minds with Kefi Abrikh, Hiro with Alex Van Duong and detective comedy favorite, Les Aventures De Tranh Et Nowak, served as the film’s director of photography.
Even more rewarding is chance to watch Ly (stunts – Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist, Marvel’s Doctor Strange) who finally gets his shining moment in a feature film fight scene with fellow UK actor and martial artist Law Plancel (stunts – Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Green Street 3: Underground) who also serves as assistant fight choreographer. Their most recent one-on-one in Colin Emerson’s 2015 short, Dead End, was an exemplary preamble to their performance in Jailbreak which doesn’t necessarily top it, but lives up to viewers’ expectations. Actor Siriwudd Sisowath plays Bolo, a prison alpha male who cuts a deal with the Madame’s cohorts to kill Playboy and eventually emerges as one of the film’s final villains. Joined opposite from Ly and in parallel with Our who fights opposite co-star Brus Long and Sam with Tran, the shared ensemble fight finale is a worthwhile treat for the film’s 90+ minute martial arts fanfare. The ending draws a bit more dour than preferred in its set-up for a sequel.
Not to be outdone by its local appeal, the commercial prospects for a film like Jailbreak have been a matter of time. It’s a considerable opinion to have held and deservedly so and fir this, the niche in support of filmmakers like Evans and even the Mo’ Brothers would be right to add Henderson to the mix. After Hanuman, Henderson and producer Loy Te were exactly what Cambodia’s talent pool needed to help echo what it was trying to achieve to broader markets and their stop in Hong Kong back in March was a major bookmark in that effort. Further criticisms pending aside, Cambodia now has something to show for itself on the world stage with Jailbreak, coupled with a keen director, a knowledgeable producer, and a powerhouse cast that, for all intents and purposes, ushers in a continuing stream of malleable film talent that will only evolve and strengthen the face of martial arts cinema as we know it.
Asian cinephiles and action fans alike would be wise not to miss this movie. With room for improvement and every bit of potential for success in martial arts films and cinema overall looking head, Jailbreak is 90 minutes of kickass action screentime well served!
XYZ Films Picks Up Cambodian Martial Arts Comedy, JAILBREAK
It was only a matter of time before we heard more from the happenings over at Kongchak Pictures who have been hitting the festival pavement this year for the new action comedy, Jailbreak. The film, directed by Jimmy Henderson and produced by Loy Te, made waves over at Hong Kong FilMart where it nabbed distribution in Korea following its local Cambodian release in January, and has since screened for attendees at the Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy in the past week.
The film stars martial arts exponents, actors Jean-Paul Ly, Dara Our and actress Tharothoum Sam, actor Savin Philip and debut feature film actress Céline Tran in the story of a tactical police escort unit who find themselves trapped inside a prison and forced to protect a notorious key witness from the deadly onslaught of inmates and the murderous Butterfly Gang who have descended from outside. Featuring action sequences choreographed by Ly with brilliant lensing by Godefroy Ryckewaert, the film has stood resonant among fans largely with its action sequences reflective of 2011 thriller, The Raid and its 2014 sequel, which best explains why it probably caught the attention of XYZ Films who have officially been announced as the key international sales reps and likely distributors for its U.S. release.
A due date remains pending while plans for a sequel continue to brew until validity with Henderson possibly back at the helm. Expect further trade news and official statements to confirm more details after this. (Source)
Cambodian Martial Arts Comedy, JAILBREAK, Gets Distribution In Korea
The Cambodia Film Commission took to Hong Kong FilMart last week to promote some of its nation’s moviegoing prospects. One of its most prolific titles, the action comedy Jailbreak, already has some positive reviews and reactions going for itself following its local release in January which makes a pretty useful case to embolden the film elsewhere.
Currently, that stake now lies in Korea where Korea Screen has landed the rights to the latest action-packed outing from Hanuman helmer Jimmy Henderson in a deal signed with Kongchak Pictures. Kongchak founder Loy Te produced the feature film which casts Dara Ours (Hanuman), Jean-Paul Ly (Doctor Strange) along with former AV star, actress Celine Tran, top ranked MMA fighter Tharoth Sam and actor Savin Philip for a story centered on a squad of tactical officers fighting to protect a key witness after escorting him to the very prison they now find themselves trapped in.
“This memo deal acts as a pre-agreement of the exclusive purchasing rights to distribute Jailbreak into Theatres, TVs, digital, and other platforms in Korea,” said Te. “We’re very excited as we’ve received a lot of interest for Jailbreak from foreign countries in the region but also from Europe and Americas. We’ve been approached by various distributors who previously handled films like The Raid from Indonesia, and Ong Bak from Thailand. So, it’s looking good so far, and we hope that Jailbreak will attract a similar attention for Cambodia as these titles did,”.
I don’t know about the rest of you reading this, but I’ve BEEN ready for this film. Stay tuned for further acquisition news!
H/T: Cambodia Film Commission
JAILBREAK: Hip-Hop Duo KmengKhmer Unleashes The Official Music Video For The Film’s OST
The campaign for director Jimmy Henderson’s latest martial arts action comedy inception, Jailbreak, is full speed ahead with just a few weeks left before its release in Cambodian cinemas, and even a mobile game en route! I humbly ask that we all keep the faith in this instance that this one gets the legitimate release overseas that it so deserves like with other Asian titles as of late because this film looks purely delightful and the most recent trailer for it sells the absolute goods!
Martial arts exponents, actors Dara Our and Jean-Paul Ly lead the charge with Ly servicing the action design for the film’s premise, telling of a tactical squad forced to fight its way out of a deadly and dangerous prison whilst protecting the very criminal witness they’ve escorted from the gang that wants his head. Phillip Savin and Sirivudh Sisowath also star along with fellow fighting talents Tharothoum Sam, Tara Vy and Laurent Plancel, and introducing debut film actress Cèline Tran seuging from the AV market to her first role in a major movie.
It’s a joy to observe and hopefully we will all see this through on the big screen or on DVD and Blu-Ray very soon without the challenges of piracy ruining it for the fans wishing to support this. The marketing is in full swing and as such, the film’s Khmer title track has landed the official music video featuring Koa Punleur and Chea Socheat, otherwise known as hip-hop duo, ក្មេងខ្មែរ – KmengKhmer, who also co-star in the film, with new action-packed footage no less – all brilliantly shot by the film’s exceptional DP and one of Film Combat Syndicate’s favorites, Godefroy Ryckewaert.
Have a looksy and a listen below, and don’t miss the trailer!
Cambodian Martial Arts Romp, JAILBREAK, Traps You Behind Enemy Lines In The Official Trailer!
The campaign is in full swing for director Jimmy Henderson’s new movie, Jailbreak. The most recent teaser offered a meaty whiff of the exciting action to come while the rewarding factor of this latest affair stems from the coming onslaught of screenfighting talent straight from Cambodia and abroad.
Lead actor Dara Our sure proved himself in this regard with Henderson’s Hanuman a few years ago, as has UK actor and martial artist Jean-Paul Ly following a number of action credits such as Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist, Scott Derrickson’s Doctor Strange and hit TV series, Cuckoo. Thus, challenging as it is to snag an opportunity to stand out more prominently in leading film roles past stunt performance, it always helps that there are filmmakers who recognize talent and potential when they see it. Jailbreak isn’t the first example of this and rest assured, it won’t be the last.
SYNOPSIS:
A group of Special Task Force Officers are sent to Koh Kla prison where they detain the country’s top criminals. What started as a simple escort mission will soon turn into chaos as the prisoners take over the prison grounds. Trapped in the building, our 4 heroes will have to get their way out for survival, or die trying.
Jailbreak, from Puprom Entertainment and Kongchak Pictures, is releasing on January 31 with more news hopefully to be expected beyond Cambodian screens. Joining in on the action with sequences choreographed by Ly are actors Savin Philip, Sirivudh Sisowath, martial arts exponents Tharoth Sam, Tara Vy and Law Plancel, and former AV star Cèline Tran making her feature film debut as the principle villain.
The official trailer arrived on Friday and you can now check it out in the player below, as well as a batch of exclusive stills just beneath!
View post on imgur.com
JAILBREAKING AND TRAILBLAZING: An Interview With Producer Loy Te
At the forefront of all this is producer Loy Te who was on hand for last week’s press conference in Cambodia to announce the film and its cast and agenda. Te’s schedule is a fully-loaded one as of late, though thankfully I was able to send Te some questions to help shed light on the film and other details about Cambodia’s newest prospect in the martial arts and action film genre.
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