Fortissimo Films has struck a deal with China’s Wanda Media to handle worldwide sales (excluding HK, Taiwan, SE-Asia) on current box office hit The Great Hypnotist.

Directed by Leste Chen, the film was released last weekend in China and has so far grossed an estimated $25m. Fortissimo will handle worldwide sales on the film, excluding Hong Kong, Taiwan and South-East Asia, which will handled by Wanda’s own distribution team.

The mystery thriller, representing a new direction in genre filmmaking in China, tells the story of a renowned therapist, skilled in hypnotherapy who meets a deeply troubled patient he is unable to help. Xu Zheng (Lost In Thailand) and Karen Mok head the cast. The film was produced by Tina Shi and Wanda’s James Li and executive produced by Xu Zheng and Wanda’s Gillian Zhao.

Taiwan-born director Leste Chen scored a hit last year with romantic comedy Say Yes!, and also previously directed hit horror The Heirloom before moving from Taiwan to Beijing.

Prior to its China release, The Great Hypnotist premiered as the closing film of last month’s Beijing International Film Festival. It will be screened at the Cannes Marché prior to further festival exposure.

The deal was negotiated by Fortissimo chairman Michael J. Werner and Beijing-based acquisitions and sales senior executive Winnie Lau together with Wanda Media vice president and head of distribution James Li and International Distribution director Celine Lin, along with Wanda Media CEO Jerry Ye and general manager Gillian Zhao.

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