Irish film Under The Dancing Stars among record breaking Chinese deals

The Associated Press are reporting that Chinese and foreign film producers, companies and investment firms signed movie cooperation deals worth 13.8 billion RMB ($2.23 billion) today at the Beijing International Film Festival. One of the 36 deals signed is for a new Irish/Chinese co-production Under The Dancing Stars.

The film is a love story set in Ireland and Inner Mongolia, and sees a young Chinese girl travel to Ireland to pursue her love of Irish dancing. The film is a co-production between Box Promotions and Zanzibar Films here in Ireland, and Heshan Media in China.

The biggest announcement surrounded the establishment of a studio by former Disney executive Dick Cook, with China’s CITIC Guoan pledging a $150 million investment to the creation of Dick Cook Studios.

According to organisers there were 36 deals signed at the Beijing Film Market, up from 32 last year.

Village Roadshow and Beijing Hairun Pictures signed a deal to co-produce five feature films, with other co-productions including animation The Beast, between China and New Zealand; and Girl of Ashima, based on a Chinese folk tale, between China and Australia.

Other deals included a fund to help young aspiring filmmakers, and money towards the building cinemas and a theme park.