Jia Zhangke Boards Sundance Title ‘Filipinana’ as Executive Producer, Unknown Pleasures Pictures Acquires Greater China Rights (EXCLUSIVE)

Chinese auteur Jia Zhangke has joined as executive producer on “Filipinana,” the Sundance-bound debut feature from Filipino filmmaker Rafael Manuel, ahead of its world premiere at the festival.

Magnify, the global sales arm of Magnolia Pictures, is handling international sales. The veteran Chinese helmer’s company, Unknown Pleasures Pictures, has also acquired distribution rights for mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

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Manuel’s feature marks an expansion of his 2020 Berlinale Silver Bear-winning short of the same name. The film follows Isabel, a new tee-girl at an elite Manila golf course and country club, as she navigates the hierarchies of her position while assisting club owner Dr. Palanca. As she uncovers darker truths beneath the club’s polished facade, Isabel discovers her attraction to Dr. Palanca stems from a disturbing shared past.

“I had the pleasure to know Rafael due to the Rolex Mentor & Protégé Arts Initiative. During the two years’ program, we spent time together in Beijing, exchanging ideas and discussing film. Our conversation always revolved around ‘Filipinana,'” Jia said. “I have witnessed Rafael’s passion and creativity for this film from the beginning, and in Manila, I also experienced its preparation and filming. We will soon see this film in cinemas, and we are going to hear a new voice of Asian cinema from the Philippines.”

The production features a cast of newcomers including Jorrybell Agoto, Carmen Castellanos, Teroy Guzman, Carlitos Siguion-Reyna, Isabel Sicat and Nour Houshmand. Xenia Patricia (“100 Nights of Hero”) serves as cinematographer.

“This film has taken some time to make as we’ve been quite patient and intentioned with seeking the right collaborators,” Manuel said. “It’s truly humbling to be able to count director Jia, a filmmaker who I respect deeply as an artist and as a person, as one of them.”

Film4 developed and co-financed the project. Producers are Jeremy Chua and Sam Chua Weishi of Potocol (“Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell”), Bradley Liew and Bianca Balbuena of Epicmedia Productions (“Viet and Nam”), BAFTA-winning producer Alex Polunin of Ossian International (“Lady”), Nadia Turincev and Omar El Kadi of Easy Riders, and Manuel through his banner Idle Eye.

In addition to director Jia Zhangke, other executive producers include Farhana Bhula of Film4, Jossette C. Atayde and Maria Sophia Atayde-Marudo of Nathan Studios, Anthony C. Isais and Grace Mariel M. Isais of Happy Infinite Productions, Sebastian Raeuber and Francine Raeuber.

Manuel, who splits his time between London, Amsterdam and Manila, has earned recognition on the festival circuit. His short “Filipinana” took the Silver Bear Jury Prize at the 70th Berlinale and earned a nomination for best British short at the 2020 British Independent Film Awards.

Austin Kennedy negotiated the deal on behalf of Magnify, with Casper Liang Jiayan representing Unknown Pleasures Pictures. Kennedy, director of global sales, and Phoebe Liebling, manager of global sales, will launch international sales for “Filipinana” at Sundance.

Unknown Pleasures Pictures has released Paola Cortellesi’s Italian film “There’s Still Tomorrow” and Charlie Chaplin’s classic “Gold Rush” in China. The upcoming slate includes Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value,” Kleber Mendonca Filho “The Secret Agent,” Fukada Koji’s “Love on Trial,” Miyake Sho’s “Two Seasons, Two Strangers” and Andrea Segre’s “The Great Ambition.”

Magnify represents a catalog of more than 100 titles. The company rebranded from Magnolia Pictures International in 2023 to focus on earlier-stage investments in bold filmmaking. Recent titles include “Erupcja,” “Barrio Triste,” “OBEX,” “The Delinquents,” “Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point” and “Happyend.”

Magnify’s upcoming slate includes Ulrike Ottinger’s “The Blood Countess,” starring Isabelle Huppert, which will world premiere at next month’s Berlin Film Festival.