NEON has closed a deal for the North American rights to acclaimed Chinese Director Zhang Yimou’s One Second. The film, which was written by Zhang along with Zou Jingzhi and based on the novel by Yan Geling, stars Zhang Yi, Liu Haocun, and Fan Wei. The personal period drama has been selected as the Closing Night film at Toronto International Film Festival, where it will make its North American premiere.
One Second finds a rural Chinese village coming together to restore a destroyed film reel. Among them, an escaped prisoner, a young vagabond scheming to steal the reel away, and a projectionist known as Mr. Movie. The film was shot in and around the small Chinese town of Dunhuang, known for its evocative, sand dune-swathed landscape.
Jeff Deutchman negotiated the deal for NEON with Eva Diederix of Wild Bunch. Wild Bunch is handling international sales. One Second is a Huanxi Media Group Production and produced by William Kong, Ping Dong, Liwei Pang and Shaokun Xian. The film was released in China on November 27th.
Academy Award Winning Director Yimou is known for acclaimed works such as Raise the Red Lantern and Hero. He recently wrapped production on the crime drama Under the Light. Recent titles include thriller Impasse, which also stars Zhang Yi.
One Second joins Celine Sciamma’s Petite Maman as the second NEON title announced for this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
