SPTI Expands Korean Slate

Sony Pictures Television
International (SPTI) has reached a long-term agreement to distribute a
selection of CJ Entertainment’s slate of Korean movies to broadcasters across Asia, outside of Japan, China
and Korea, starting with the hit action movie A Dirty Carnival.

The recent deal inked between
SPTI and CJ Entertainment follows last November’s distribution deal with CJ
Media to distribute its Korean drama series across most of Asia.

The first Korean film to be
distributed under the new deal is the action movie A Dirty Carnival, which was both a critical and box office hit in Korea
last year. The film stars Zo In-Sung (aka Jo In-Seong) as a ruthless debt
collector named Byung-doo whose life is further complicated with the appearance
of two childhood friends: an aspiring movie director who's trying to write a
script about the Korean underworld named Min-ho (Min Nam-gung), and his
childhood sweetheart Hyeon-ju (Lee Bo-yeong). A Dirty Carnival is also currently nominated in the Best Editor
category for the Asian Film Awards, which will be held in Hong Kong this month.

Ross Pollack, SPTI’s SVP of
distribution in Asia, commented: “We are very pleased with this new agreement
with CJ Entertainment, which expands our partnership with one of the largest
media and entertainment companies in Korea. The deal further strengthens our
position as the Asian Hollywood Studio, allowing us to bring our clients the
very best entertainment product, whether it be Hollywood blockbusters or the
latest Asian box office hits. The
deal, along with our newly opened office in Seoul, reinforces our commitment to
and investment in the Korean market. We look forward to our continued
collaboration with CJ Entertainment in one of the most vibrant regions in the
world.”