03/12/2008

Juha Wuolijoki’s debut feature Christmas Story [+see also:
trailer
film profile], telling about Santa Claus’ childhood, is heading up for a simultaneous multi-territory release from Spain to China.

Territories where the film will have a theatrical release include Spain, mainland China, Serbia, Greece, Estonia, Norway, French Canada, Sweden, in addition to a DVD release in France (Pathe), Mexico and Blue-ray/DVD in Finland, as well as TV broadcast in a number of countries. The film was re-released by Sandrew Metronome on November 14 in Finland and is currently playing in the Top Ten.

According to sales agent Delphis Films, the Spanish distributor Flins & Piniculas is planning a 200 print release this month. In mainland China, Christmas Story will open on December 19 on around 180 screens in a dozen major provinces and cosmopolitan centres. It is one of three foreign language films set top open between now and January. “As a native Chinese, I am very impressed with the enthusiasm shown by our Chinese distributor in embracing a film about Santa Claus, “said Xiaojuan Zhou, President of Delphis Films and Executive Producer of the film. “It really shows to some degrees how much the Chinese market has opened up to Western cultures over the past two decades.”

The family film based on an original story by Marko Leino, Aku Louhimies, and Juha Wuolijoki, was sold to some 100 territories by the Montreal-based sales company, Including the US (Lightning Media).