KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Award-winning, production company renowned for Nota, 42nd Pictures Sdn Bhd, founded by Yasu and Bea Tanaka, has officially announced their agreement with Ivanhoe Pictures, a Hollywood company, for their film, TERBALIK / UPSIDE DOWN, a Malaysian feature film, today at FINAS Hulu Kelang – Pawagam Mini P.Ramlee. This deal has made Malaysian history as it signifies the first of its kind to achieve this feat. 

TERBALIK / UPSIDE DOWN is an original screenplay written by Yasu Tanaka, the director and writer of NOTA. The film NOTA nabbed the Best Screenplay award for Festival Film Malaysia 2016 (FFM28) while Maya Karin, playing the lead actress role, won the Best Actress award for Anugerah Skrin 2016.

Ivanhoe Pictures read the script of TERBALIK / UPSIDE DOWN during Hong Kong Asia Financing Forum (HAF) 2017 and has acquired the remake rights for it in 34 countries which includes North America, France, United Kingdom, China, South Korea, Spain, Latin America, India and Vietnam. The production of the remake movies based on TERBALIK / UPSIDE DOWN’s original screenplay will commence with United States of America in 2018.

Ivanhoe Pictures (an SK Global company) is a motion picture and television financing and production entity, which develops, produces, and acquires content for a global audience. Besides producing (with Fox International Productions) last year’s Korean hit movie THE WAILING, Ivanhoe is partnered with Beijing Hairun Pictures on CBA star Stephon Marbury biopic MY OTHER HOME, which premiered at the 2017 Shanghai International Film Festival and released in China on August 4. Ivanhoe is also currently in production on the motion picture adaptation of CRAZY RICH ASIANS, directed by Jon Chu, which will be released worldwide by Warner Bros. in early 2018. 

John Penotti, CEO and President of Ivanhoe Pictures, said, “We are delighted to be partnering with 42nd Pictures on their remake of TERBALIK / UPSIDE DOWN. We’ve just spent a year in Malaysia preparing and shooting our major motion picture “Crazy Rich Asians” and we had a terrific time in Malaysia.” 

“Yasu and Bea (Tanaka) have become friends and our business colleagues and with the remake of UPSIDE DOWN (TERBALIK), we’re going to get an opportunity to continue our work with our Malaysian partners,” stated John.

Although TERBALIK / UPSIDE DOWN has yet to be produced, 42nd Pictures affirms that the storyboard has already been set. The film has managed to garner the Aurora Media Producing Award, securing them SGD20, 000, during the South-East Asia Financing Forum (SAFF) 2016 held in Singapore. TERBALIK / UPSIDE DOWN has also made it into the shortlist for Hong Kong Asia Financing Forum (HAF) 2017 - being the only Malaysian project out of the 24 projects to be shortlisted this year.

TERBALIK / UPSIDE DOWN, a fully Malay-language movie, has a potential value of RM12 to 16 million with agreement from Ivanhoe Pictures. This movie is a horror thriller that depicts the story of an actor who gets trapped in an upside-down car wreckage in the jungle and is tortured by a group of sadistic boys. TERBALIK / UPSIDE DOWN will be produced by Bea Tanaka and directed by Yasu Tanaka, starring Bront Palarae. 

The event was graced by Dato' Azmir Saifuddin Muthalib, Deputy Director General of FINAS and Dato' Mahyidin Mustakim, CEO of Creative Content Association of Malaysia.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B6OTrI2x3cxHcXhndEtpczJmblU?usp=sharing

About 42nd Pictures Sdn Bhd
42nd Pictures Sdn Bhd, a Kuala Lumpur-based production company, founded by Bea and Yasu Tanaka, is the creator of an array of content which comprises of feature films, TV Series, Animation and many more which are of international quality for the global market. One of its most notable productions include NOTA which featured reputable Malaysian actors and actresses such as Maya Karin, Hans Isaac, Ramli Hassan, and Japanese actress Rin Izumi.

About National Film Development Corporation (FINAS)
The National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS), established in 1981, was developed with a vision to be the catalyst for the national film industry to the world. In 2012, the Cabinet agreed with the proposal of combining FINAS with the Filem Negara Malaysia (FNM), which was spearheaded by FINAS, to incorporate new functions to disseminate information on policies, programs and achievements of the government through the production of film and record events coverage for archive purposes. This led to the collaboration of FINAS and the Filem Negara Malaysia (FNM) on January 1, 2013. 

About Ivanhoe Pictures
International financier Robert Friedland and producer John Penotti formed Ivanhoe Pictures in late 2013. As part of this launch, Friedland acquired Penotti’s long-standing company, GreeneStreet Films, which had produced more than 30 distinguished independent features. Since then, Ivanhoe has been financing and producing films throughout Asia, focusing on China, Korea and India. An active slate in various stages of production includes numerous co-productions with Jason Blum’s Blumhouse Productions (in India and Korea) and with Fox International Productions.

SOURCE : Global Creative Media Agency (GCMA)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name : Samentha James
PR & Communications Executive at
Global Creative Media Agency (GCMA)
Tel : 03 7733 4262 / 017 518 7186
Email: samentha.james@gcma.tv

--BERNAMA