Specialist distribution company 3388 Films has acquired the international rights to Vietnamese director and actor Tran Thanh’s latest hit Bunny!! We plan to roll out this title to over a dozen countries over the next few months.
Theatrical screenings will begin in Germany, Czech Republic and Slovakia on March 26th, followed by the US, Canada, UK, Norway and Poland the following day. France will join on March 28th, and Mongolia and Taiwan on May 22nd. Additional markets are still being confirmed, Variety has learned at Hong Kong Filmart.
This acquisition brings one of Asia’s most impressive recent commercial success stories to a global audience. “Bunny!!” grossed more than $16 million in Vietnam, making it the country’s top film of the year and ranking among the top five titles in Vietnam’s history. The result was yet another body of work that made Thanh a unique figure in Vietnamese cinema. All the films he has directed have exceeded VND300 billion ($11.5 million) locally, a feat not achieved by any other filmmaker in the market. The benchmark is particularly significant given that VND100 billion ($3.8 million) is widely considered a strong local performance. He currently accounts for five of the 10 highest-grossing films in this country’s box office history.
“Bunny!!” makes this achievement even more remarkable. Vietnamese multiplexes have ignored the customs of the Tet holiday season, which is traditionally filled with snacks. The film is a dark psychological thriller about a prominent relationship advice show host who finds his carefully maintained public image threatened by an encounter with a guest with a disturbing secret, and the conflict forces both characters to confront a devastating truth. In addition to Thanh, the cast includes Phao, Riley, Van My Phuong, Quoc Anh, Vinh Dam, Phap Kieu, Ali Hoang Duong, Quang Thanh, Thanh Lam, BB Tran, Dinh Ngoc Diep, Orange, Gilles Le, and Chris Phan.
For Thien A. Pham, founder of 3388 Films, the willingness to swim against the tide of the seasons was a key part of the film’s appeal. “Director Tran Thanh dares to take a risk,” Pham said, referring to the film’s release date during the Tet holiday, which is unusual. “‘Bunny!!’ is a dark romantic drama and a bit of a subtitle. However, it was a huge hit with the local audience, and the gamble paid off in a big way, proving that Tran Thanh has an extraordinary passion for his audience. At 3388 Films, we believe in taking risks and pushing the boundaries of the market, and we are excited to continue our fruitful collaboration with the producers to bring this film to audiences around the world.”
“Bunny!!” Produced by Trantern Town, Galaxy Studio, and HKFilm. The international release is being handled by 3388 Films, whose recent Vietnamese films include Mai, the first Vietnamese film to gross over $2 million in North America and Europe combined.
