1680 N. Vine St., Suite 906, Hollywood, CA 90028| P: 323-465-8885 | F: 323-465-8886 |
info@formosathemovie.com | www.formosathemovie.com
For Immediate Release:
SCREEN MEDIA FILMS PICKS UP “FORMOSA BETRAYED” HOLLYWOOD, CA – October 23, 2009 – Screen Media Films has picked up worldwide rights to Formosa Betrayed, a political thriller set in the 1980s, which made its international debut at the Montreal World Film Festival.
Formosa Betrayed is the initial project for Formosa Films, a newly formed production company created by actor/writer/producer Will Tiao. Adam Kane (Heroes, Pushing Daisies, Mercy) directs his feature debut.
Story is inspired by actual events. An FBI Agent investigates the murder of an Asian professor at a small college. Agent follows the fleeing killers to Taiwan, where he finds himself on a collision course with the FBI, the State Department, the Chinese Mafia, and the Government of the Republic of China.
James Van Der Beek plays the FBI Agent and Wendy Crewson plays a US diplomat in Taiwan. John Heard, Tzi Ma, Will Tiao, Leslie Hope, and Kenneth Tsang round out supporting cast.
Tiao, a former international economist with the Clinton and Bush Administrations, raised the funds for the $8 million project from private equity based on concept, and has nearly 300 investors in the project. Investment bank Berthel Fisher Financial Services provided completion funds.
Formosa Betrayed recently screened for Members of Congress in Washington DC, which was highly attended due to heightened interest in US-Taiwan-China relations. Film also recently won Best Picture and Best Actor for Van Der Beek at the San Diego Film Festival, and Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival.
In addition to Montreal, San Diego, Washington DC and Philadelphia, Formosa Betrayed has also screened at Hollywood Film Festival, New York Asian American Film Festival, DC APA Film Festival, and will be screening at the Sao Paulo International Film Festival and St. Louis International Film Festival.
Formosa Betrayed is to be released in theaters in February 2010 in 15-20 North American cities.
Screen Media will rep worldwide rights and begin selling territories at the European Film Market in February 2010. Deal was brokered by Ben Weiss at Paradigm and Kevin Mills of Kaye & Mills LLP. In addition, Formosa Films and Berthel Fisher have announced the creation of a new $20 million fund, focused on television and film production. Formosa Films is already in prep on two film projects starting in Spring 2010 – JUVY, about juvenile delinquents, with Kane to direct and Tiao to produce, and THE DOORMAN about the underground goings-on of the Plaza Hotel, with Abel Ferrara to direct and Tiao to produce.
Contact:
Formosa Films
Evita Huang
info@formosathemovie.com
1680 Vine St., Suite 906
Hollywood, CA 90028
(323) 465-8885
October 8, 2009
Selected Formosa Betrayed Media Coverage
October 8, 2009
Variety – "’Moon’ Shines on Hollywood Festival"
October 8, 2009
Screen Daily – “HFF Announces Line-Up, Hollywood Movie Awards Nominees”
October 5, 2009
ABC Radio Australia – “New movies addresses Taiwan’s turbulent past”
October 1, 2009
Express Night Out – “Moving Pictures: Asian Pacific American Film Festival Offers Something for Everyone”
September 27, 2009
NBC San Diego – “Bang For Your Viewing Buck”
September 27, 2009
NBC San Diego – “Varsity Blues to Global Blues”
