HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 17 October 2023 - The 36th Tokyo International Film Festival ("TIFF 2023") will open on October 23. The organizers previously announced that Chinese director Gu Xiaogang has garnered the "2023 Kurosawa Akira Award", and Chinese actress Zhao Tao will serve as a fellow juror under the International Competition Jury section. Several Chinese films, including "Dwelling by the West Lake" (草木人間), "Snow Leopard" (雪豹), "A Long Shot" (老槍) and "Fly Me to the Moon" (但願人長久), have been shortlisted, reflecting the significant presence of Chinese-language films and filmmakers at this year's festival. Alibaba Pictures Group Limited ("Alibaba Pictures" or the "Company", HKEX: 1060), a leading Internet film and television company in China under the Alibaba Digital Media and Entertainment Group, not only boasts robust production capabilities but also excels in film promotion. The Company has effectively supported the promotion of numerous Japanese films, achieving remarkable success in the Chinese film market. In addition to the competition films, the Chinese Film Week hosted by TIFF 2023 has also generated great anticipation among film fans. It is worth noting that films such as "Lost in the Stars" (消失的她), "Chang An" (長安三萬里), and "One and Only" (熱烈) have achieved both significant box office revenue and positive word-of-mouth in China this year, with Alibaba Pictures involved in their production. The film "All Ears" (不虛此行), invested by Alibaba Pictures, has also been shortlisted under the World Focus section of TIFF 2023. Japanese films have had a significant impact on the Chinese film market this year, with animated films such as "Suzume" (鈴芽之旅), "Slam Dunk" (男兒當入樽), "Castle in the Sky" (天空之城) and "Doraemon: Stand by Me 2" (哆啦A夢：伴我同行2), all surpassing RMB100 million in box office revenue. Thanks to the copyright acquisition efforts by Road Pictures and the marketing promotion by Alibaba Pictures, "Suzume" broke the first-day box office record for animated films in China and ultimately grossed over RMB800 million in box office revenue, becoming the highest-grossing romantic film of the year. It also surpassed the previous box office record of a Japanese film in China, held by Makoto Shinkai's "Your Name" (RMB575 million). During the release of "Suzume", Alibaba Digital Media and Entertainment Group's first hyper-real virtual idol, "Leah" cosplayed as the female protagonist Iwahoru Suzume (岩戶鈴芽) and engaged in a captivating cross-dimensional collaboration with the film. This collaboration sparked discussions among netizens both domestically and internationally and serves as a successful example of Alibaba Pictures breaking barriers and promoting films through innovative marketing within its entertainment ecosystem. Previously, Alibaba Pictures has been involved in the marketing and promotion of numerous classic overseas films with diverse themes. As early as 2017, Alibaba Pictures strategically collaborated with Amblin Entertainment on "A Dog's Purpose" (為了與你相遇, breaking the box office record for pet-themed films in the Chinese film market. In 2019, the film "Green Book" (綠簿旅友) won three major awards at the Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor. Alibaba Pictures, as an investor in the film, became the first Internet film and television company globally to produce an Oscar-winning Best Picture. As a co-producer of the film, Alibaba Pictures accurately predicted the market value of this film. After "Green Book" won the awards, Alibaba Pictures immediately introduced it to the Chinese market. The deep friendship between the two main characters in the film transcending cultural differences touched many Chinese audiences. Thanks to Alibaba Pictures' marketing and distribution capabilities, "Green Book" became a dark horse, grossing RMB478 million at the box office in China and receiving a high rating of 8.9 on Douban. In the same year, "Capernaum" (星仔打官司) a Lebanese art film introduced by China Film Group, received a tailored marketing strategy from Alibaba Pictures and Road Pictures to highlight emotional resonance. It targeted the Chinese audience's interest in the topic of the original family and relied on high-quality preview screenings to generate word-of-mouth. It also leveraged platforms like Douyin (TikTok) to generate buzz and discussion around the film. Through measures such as strategic scheduling, precise targeted screenings, and controlling the pace of marketing and...