Chinese tech giant leads $110.8m funding round into the service, as it seeks to ramp up production of original shows.
CHIME NEWS
Iflix unveils slate of five originals headed by Rise To Power
Slate also includes Malaysian romantic drama Ombak Rindu and two Indonesian co-productions, Kisah Tanah Jawa and Conversation With Ghosts.
Viu brews My Bubble Tea, renews The Bridge with HBO Asia
Pan-Asian streamer Viu has renewed The Bridge with HBO Asia for a second season, and is also producing Hallyu-Thai wave mash-up My Bubble Tea.
Japan’s Star Channel acquires HBO Asia’s Folklore, Food Lore
Deal marks first time that HBO Asia original series have been broadcast on the Japanese foreign movie channel.
Viu, Warner Bros collaborate on Pretty Little Liars remake
Directed by Emil Heradi, the Bahasa-language remake is being filmed entirely in Bali.
Netflix gears up to launch three Chinese-language originals
Taiwanese production Nowhere Man to start streaming in October, followed by Triad Princess, also from Taiwan, and Malaysia’s The Ghost Bride.
CHIME FEATURES
BEGINNERS GUIDE: INDIAN WEB SERIES [Part One]
First half of a guide to the many ways in which Indian drama series are being revolutionised by the streaming wars between Netflix, Amazon and a host of local platforms.
INTERVIEW: Gaurav Gandhi on why India is a key territory for Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video has so far launched half a dozen Indian originals across three languages and has a further 30 in development.
CHIME FESTIVALS
FESTIVALS: Uncle, Summer Knight triumph at Tokyo film festival
Frelle Petersen’s Uncle won the Tokyo Grand Prix Award at this year’s TIFF, while You Xing’s Summer Knight took best film in the Asian Future section.
FESTIVALS: Wet Season, The Fever win top awards in Pingyao
Maya Da-Rin’s The Fever won best film in the Roberto Rossellini awards, while Anthony Chen’s Wet Season won best film in the Fei Mu Awards.
FESTIVALS: Rom, Haifa Street win Busan’s New Currents Award
Vietnamese drama Rom, directed by Tran Thanh Huy, and Iraqi filmmaker Mohanad Hayal’s Haifa Street both won New Currents Awards at this year’s BIFF.
FESTIVALS: Korea’s Height Of The Wave wins special jury prize in Locarno
Special mentions went to The Science Of Fictions, directed by Indonesia’s Yosep Anggi Noen, and Maternal, from Italy’s Maura Delpero.