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Arclight Films Opens Beijing Office with Elliot Tong at the Helm

Arclight Films, one of the world's leading independent film sales companies with offices in Los Angeles, Sydney, Hong Kong and Toronto, announces the opening of its Beijing office.

“We are fully committed to expanding our operations in China to meet the industry’s increasing needs and demands in the region,” said Gary Hamilton, Managing Director of Arclight Films. “Our library of Asian films under the Easternlight label is already the largest of any non Asian-based independent film sales company and is growing at an exponential rate. We are fortunate to have engaged Elliot Tong to run the new Beijing office.”

Arclight Films was responsible for the highest grossing Australian film in the history of Chinese cinema, BAIT 3D earning $30M (US) in 2012 and have represented extremely high profile films like THE ASSASSINS starring Chow Yun Fat, DANGEROUS LIAISONS starring Zhang Ziyi, Cecilia Cheung and Jang Dong Gun, BADGES OF FURY starring Jet Li and SPECIAL ID starring Donnie Yen – to be released soon.

The company is also representing OUTCAST starring Nicholas Cage and Hayden Christensen, which is currently in preproduction. Gary Hamilton and Ying Ye, Managing Director of Easternlight, are also attached to the project as producers.

The Beijing office of Arclight Films will be headed-up by Elliot Tong, an award-winning producer and former head of international distribution, known for his innovative ideas and ability to develop and execute breakthrough strategies. Tong is a graduate of both the NYU Film School and Beijing Film Academy and has worked extensively with all of China’s biggest names in film from Jackie Chan, to Stanley Tong, Stephen Chow and Andy Lau. He was instrumental in the success of a number of Chinese productions and co-productions including LEGEND OF A RABBIT, China’s first 3D Stereoscopic Animated Feature which was distributed to over 80 territories worldwide and won 5 top film awards in China for Best Animated Feature.

Also known for having his finger on the pulse of technology, Tong was commissioned by Shanghai Expo 2010 to produce a groundbreaking Oil Pavilion 4D motion-ride film OIL DREAM for the national oil companies Petro China, Sinopec and CNOOC. The film premiered on May 2010 and was one of the highest attended and acclaimed films in the Shanghai Expo, with an audience-queue record of over 9 hours.

“Chinese films from Hong Kong have long been a special favorite among many buyers in the region, but we have witnessed enormous growth in artistic and commercial quality films coming from the Mainland in recent years,” said Tong. “Arclight Films has been riding on the forefront of bringing these great films to international audiences as well as having real knowledge of how to coproduce with China. I am so thrilled to come aboard the Arclight Films team at such an exciting time.”

The Beijing office of Arclight and Easternlight Films will focus on sales rights for China and all Asian territories, new film acquisitions, television sales, and will act as a liaison between Chinese films, productions and co-productions by assisting in their development and helping mold them into high-value commercial vehicles.

About Arclight Films
Arclight Films is one of the world’s leading international sales companies for theatrical, television and home video. Arclight Films has sold over 200 motion pictures including the 2004 Best Picture Oscar® winner CRASH and international successes such as LORD OF WAR and BANK JOB. Some of the latest additions to the Arclight Films’ slate includes two 2013 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) official selections: Special Presentation MYSTERY ROAD with Aaron Pederson, Hugo Weaving and Ryan Kwanten and Discovery Selection AROUND THE BLOCK starring Christina Ricci. Titles currently in production include LEFT BEHIND starring Nicholas Cage and PRESDESTINATION starring Ethan Hawke.

Arclight Films additionally encompasses subsidiary labels Darclight Films and Easternlight.

Darclight Films is the edgy genre-driven division of the company whose films includes worldwide horror and thriller sensations: 3D shark action-thriller BAIT which has become the highest grossing Australian film in the history of Chinese cinema and global horror phenomenon WOLF CREEK (2005) with WOLF CREEK 2 making it’s world premiere at this year’s Venice Film Festival.

Easternlight is a specialty arm showcasing Asian cinema, with the largest library of any non Asian-headquartered film sales company and has recently represented such films as international hit FORBIDDEN KINGOM starring Jackie Chan, THE LOST BLADESMAN, BADGES OF FURY starring Jet Li and Donnie Yen’s upcoming blockbuster action film SPECIAL ID. OUTCAST starring Nicholas Cage and Hayden Christensen is currently in pre-production.