Bliss Media (熙颐影业) announced they have acquired a stake in Insiders, the international sales company which was formed just before the 2015 Cannes International Film Festival, alongside Wild Bunch and Cine France. Insiders is headed by Vincent Maraval, also CCO of Wild Bunch. With offices in Shanghai and Los Angeles, Bliss Media is a finance, production and distribution company in China whose interest in Insiders will extend their reach and allow them to distribute its films globally through the sales network.
Bliss Media is co-financing and co-producing and Insiders is selling the international rights to Pablo Larrain’s Jackie starring Academy Award® winner Natalie Portman and Michael Mann’s Enzo Ferrari, which Paramount Pictures acquired for the U.S. rights. The companies will now expand their involvement, in a move that will give Insiders more capital to attract and sell world class product.
Wei Han, managing director and CEO of Bliss Media said, “This furthers our goal of becoming a Chinese film company with the ability to distribute globally. Our interest in Insiders will strengthen the alliance of Bliss Media in the international film industry, as we seek cooperation and expansion in markets outside of China.”
As a result, Insiders will handle the international sales rights for films financed and produced by Bliss Media. This will include both English language as well as Chinese films, which will create an opportunity for more local productions to present themselves to international audiences through the company’s distribution channel.
CAA brokered the deal on behalf of Bliss Media and Insiders.
In addition to Enzo Ferrari and Jackie, in Berlin, Insiders will continue sales on Sean Penn’s Flag Day and Jeff Nichols Loving starring Joel Edgerton and Michael Shannon. Bliss Media China recently acquired the Chinese distribution rights to the Mel Gibson-directed Hacksaw Ridge.
About Bliss Media (熙颐影业)
With offices in Shanghai and Los Angeles, Bliss Media is a production and distribution company run by Wei Han. Backed by substantial capital from different investors in China, Bliss Media is tasked with creating opportunities for Chinese companies to directly participate in the investment, production and distribution progress of international films, connecting Chinese film industry with the international market.
Most recently they launched the YooZoo Bliss Film Fund (YZBFF), a partnership between YooZoo Pictures and Bliss Media. The $100 million equity fund is designed to finance ten international productions and Chinese co-productions in the coming five-years for the global marketplace. Creative Artists Agency (CAA) advised on the fund’s formation and represents the companies.