Exclusive European Release of Chinese WWII Epic "Dongji Rescue" Confirmed

Trinity CineAsia, in collaboration with Seventh Art Pictures, has secured the exclusive distribution rights in Europe for the $80M Chinese WWII action thriller "Dongji Rescue". The movie was co-helmed by Cannes award-winning filmmaker, Guan Hu, known for "Black Dog", and "The Eight Hundred". The film premieres in the U.K. and Ireland on August 22nd, and across other European destinations on August 29th. The China release date is slated for August 8th.

"Dongji Rescue" is based on the Lisbon Maru incident that happened in October 1942, where a US submarine mistakenly torpedoed a ship carrying about 1,800 British POWs from Hong Kong. The Chinese fishermen of Dongji Island rescued over 800 survivors, making it one of the war’s biggest naval tragedies involving British troops.

The film boasts a blend of Chinese and British talent including Zhu Yilong, Wu Lei, Ni Ni, and newcomer William Franklyn-Miller. The storyline pivots on fishing siblings Abi (Zhu) and Adang (Wu) who discover a British medic (Franklyn-Miller) at sea, sparking a precarious chase with the Japanese occupiers.

Producing the feature was technically challenging given that underwater scenes make up over 40% of its duration. The film, shot in Imax format, used advanced robotics for underwater filming, requiring actors to give extensive breath-holding performances. To maintain authenticity, full-scale ship replicas and authentic village sets were constructed on site at Dongji Island.

Reflecting on the European distribution deal, Cedric Behrel, Executive Director of Trinity CineAsia, hailed Guan Hu as a remarkable filmmaker whose success is evident from his Cannes victory for "Black Dog" and more than $400 million box office collection.

Jing Liang from Seventh Art Pictures described the U.K. and European release of "Dongji Rescue" as a crucial milestone for international film distribution. A London premiere is scheduled for August 15th, commemorating the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, with the hope that key cast and filmmakers will grace the event.

The latest deal marks Trinity CineAsia's third collaboration with Seventh Art Pictures, following "Black Dog" and "The Eight Hundred".