Veteran Taiwanese producer Patrick Mao Huang has established Eyes Wide Open Productions, a film production company based in China. This venture kicks off with As The River Goes By, which is already a competitor in Busan’s New Currents category. Huang’s entry into China signifies a bold expansion in his accomplished career within international film production.
Huang has gained recognition through his Taiwan-based Flash Forward Entertainment, where he has produced several successful Southeast Asian films. Notably, his credits include Tiger Stripes, which won the Critics’ Week award at Cannes 2023, and Pierce, recognized as the best director at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in 2024.
With Eyes Wide Open, Huang intends to nurture emerging Chinese filmmakers and assist them in accessing international markets. The company is actively developing various Chinese-language projects, including Before The Summer Ends and An Excuse For Murder, both directed by Jing Conjia.
Huang emphasizes that international co-productions provide vital pathways for securing financing and expanding distribution opportunities. His ambition is to mentor and elevate new directors from Taiwan and China to the international scene. He has already initiated several projects aimed at enhancing the global visibility of Chinese cinema.
The film As The River Goes By, directed by Charles Hu, was filmed in Luohe, Henan province. It follows a young man who reconnects with childhood friends during a reunion. This reunion unearths the mystery surrounding his father’s long-standing disappearance. Developed during the pandemic, the film benefited from post-production assistance through Busan’s Asian Cinema Fund.
Huang’s creation of Eyes Wide Open Productions marks a significant and positive shift in the Chinese film industry. His commitment to fostering emerging talents and promoting international collaboration promises to shape the future landscape of global cinema.
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