Beijing-based Enlight Pictures has unveiled a slate of eight pictures, around three of which will be directed or produced by Hong Kong filmmaker Gordon Chan who has joined the company as chief consultant.

Chan’s appointment comes as Enlight begins to ramp up production rather than focusing mainly on handling the mainland distribution of Hong Kong projects as it has in the past.

The Hong Kong filmmaker, who directed last year’s hit fantasy Painted Skin, will first direct $14.64m (RMB100m) fantasy period drama Liao Zhai for Enlight. He will also serve as producer on action title Chen Zhen, about the eponymous folk hero, which will be directed by Andrew Lau and star Donnie Yen.

Chan will also develop a franchise based on Chinese martial arts novel Four Famous Detectives, and direct the first film in the series in 2010.

Enlight is also working with Hong Kong director Dante Lam on $8.78m action film Arrow and will co-produce a sequel to Chinese New Year hit comedy All’s Well That Ends Well with Hong Kong’s Mandarin Films. Enlight is also teaming with Hong Kong’s Universe Film on Benny Chan’s sci-fi action film City Under Siege which is currently in production.

On the distribution side, Enlight’s slate includes animated feature, Astro Boy, produced by Imagi International Holdings and sold by Summit Entertainment. Enlight will release the film day-and-date with its global release on Oct 23.

Enlight will also release Chinese-language animated feature Magic Soldier In China on Oct 1 during the Chinese National Day holidays.

Meanwhile, Enlight Picture’s holding company Enlight Media also announced that the company has received a $29.28m (RMB200m) loan from Bank of Beijing. This is in addition to a $14.6m loan received from the bank last year.  

The new loan will be used solely by Enlight Pictures for film investment and production, according to Enlight Pictures CEO Zhang Zhao.

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