WELL GO USA ACQUIRES NORTH AMERICAN RIGHTS TO IP MAN MARTIAL ARTS MOVIE FRANCHISE

Posted on | April 26, 2010 | No Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RICHARDSON, TX. (April 26, 2010) — Well Go USA announced today that it has acquired North American rights to IP MAN and IP MAN 2. Both films are directed by Wilson Yip and star Donnie Yen with action choreography by Sammo Hung. The films team-up Yip, Yen, and Hung who previously worked together on Kill Zone. Yip and Yen also worked together on Flash Point and Dragon Tiger Gate. Donnie Yen is currently Hong Kong’s biggest action star gaining international recognition as the most diverse martial artist in the world.

IP MAN is a biopic based on the life of Ip Man, a grandmaster of the martial art Wing Chun, and the first person to teach Wing Chun openly. He was also teacher and mentor to widely influential and acclaimed martial artist and filmmaker Bruce Lee.

“IP MAN is an amazing story and the film has had such a phenomenal response overseas from critics and audiences alike that I am so proud to be able to bring it to the American audience,” said Well Go President of Home Entertainment, Doris Pfardrescher. “This acquisition is a big move forward for Well Go USA especially as the popularity of Asian cinema continues to grow in North America.”

Released theatrically in Asia in December 2008, IP MAN is considered to be one of the greatest martial arts movies of the past decade. Grossing over $21 million in Asia box office, the critically-acclaimed film has been nominated for numerous awards including an unprecedented 12 Hong Kong Film Award nominations, winning Best Film and Best Action Choreography. IP MAN premiered in North America at the 2009 New York Asian Film Festival and was the opening feature at 2009 Fantasia International Film Festival. IP MAN 2 will have its much-anticipated theatrical release in Asia on April 29, 2010 and its North American premiere at the 2010 New York Asian Film Festival in June.

“No one ever imagined that IP MAN would be such a huge sensation. The box office in Hong Kong has exceeded over HK$25 million and in China over ¥100 million. It also made quite a stir in other parts of South East Asia. We have successfully turned a Wing Chun master into a national hero,” says Raymond Wong, producer of IP MAN and IP MAN 2. “The box office success and public praise of IP MAN did not only create a public longing for the sequel, it also inspired the production team to work together again. For IP MAN 2, we have put in more resources, added stronger cast, developed a more enriching storyline and created action sequences even more stunning than the first production. We hope that IP MAN 2 will be an even bigger hit than the first IP MAN.”

IP MAN is set to release on DVD July 27, 2010.Well Go plans on a releasing IP MAN 2 theatrically in early 2011.

About Well Go USA, Inc.

WELL GO USA, INC. (www.wellgousa.com) specializes in the acquisition and distribution of entertainment programs in the video, television and digital market throughout North American and South East Asia. Since 1993, Well Go has acquired and released hundreds of films and programs across all genres and continues to be a leader in film distribution by offering diversified and unique programs in a variety of formats.

About Mandarin Films Ltd.

MANDARIN FILMS LIMITED was founded in 1991. The company, since the beginning, has focused on the production and distribution of Hong Kong films and to date has produced over 90 films. Its inaugural film, ‘All’s Well Ends Well’, took a record box office of HK$48 million and became a classic of the family situation comedy genre. As Mandarin Group’s productions continue to achieve lucrative box office earnings, the company has also continuously collaborated with distinguished Hong Kong film directors – productions include ‘The Bride With White Hair’ and ‘The Phantom Lover’ with Ronny Yu; ‘The Chinese Feast’, ‘Tristar’ and ‘Seven Swords’ with Tsui Hark; ‘Eighteen Springs’ with Ann Hui; ‘All’s Well Ends Well Too’ with Clifton Ko Chi-Sum and ‘Dry Wood Fierce Fire’ with Wilson Yip. ‘Ip Man’ directed by Wilson Yip, Best Film winner at the 28th Annual Hong Kong Film Awards, and breakout hit of 2009.

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