Wang Chao's "One Woman" by French Malavida, set in 2027

LYON, France – French distributor Malavida has picked up Wang Chao's "One Woman," the Chinese filmmaker's 2022 drama, which won a screenplay prize at San Sebastián but was never released in France. Malavida is also preparing a larger retrospective of his work for spring 2027. These acquisitions were announced during the Lyon Classic International Fair […]

The French distributor also unveiled Dino Risi's retrospective, the Roger Deakins-helmed remake of 1984, and Philippe Catherine's screening at the Lyon Classic Film Market.

LYON, France – French distributor Malavida has picked up Wang Chao's "One Woman," the Chinese filmmaker's 2022 drama that won a screenplay prize at San Sebastián but was never released in France. Malavida is also preparing a larger retrospective of his work for spring 2027.

The acquisitions, announced at the Lyon International Classics Film Market (MIFC), also include three of Wang's previous titles — Anyang's Orphan (2001), Day and Night (2004) and Luxury Car (2006) — with plans to bring Anyang's Orphan back and a planned March 2 release. Dibs, Trump ties and everything else we learned Skydance for a complete international reorganization. Kevin McLellan will not lead the key group

A separate screening is planned for "One Woman". Popular in Variety

For Malavida co-founder Ann Laure Barneul, the acquisitions are an opportunity to bring back filmmaking that has become harder to see.

It's a discovery, a foray into China with an extraordinary contrarian filmmaker who's been somewhat forgotten, he told Variety, because the films he made in the 2010s weren't released internationally. It really seemed like the perfect moment to rediscover Wang Chao's work.

The company is also adding three Dino Risi titles to its theater portfolio: "The Easy Life" (1962), shown at this year's Lumiere Film Festival, "Monsters" (1963) and "Tolgo il disturbo" (1990), known in France as "Valse d'amour". The latter, starring Vittorio Gusman and Elliott Gould, was never re-released in France. The three films will be part of a Risi retrospective planned for summer 2027.

Malavida is also showing a newly restored 4K digital version of Michael Radford's "1984" as part of the Festival Lumière Classics program in Lyon – its first French screening since its original release in 1984. The restoration was overseen by Oscar-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins, who shot the original film.

The distributor is also preparing a new French-language version of Soviet animator Fyodor Kitruk's 1969 "Winnie and Friends," narrated and sung by French musician and actor Philippe Catherine. Set for release on February 25, 2027, the program will also be available in a French subtitled version and has received the support of the French Art Cinema Association AFCAE. Young Audiences Group

This collaboration continues the long relationship between Catherine and Malavida, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. His directorial debut "Peau de cochon" was the company's first ever release in 2005 and is now being returned to theaters.

"Back then, things were very complicated. Philippe wasn't as well known as he is today. He was just making music and wasn't the superstar he later became," Berneul recalls. The press was excited about the film, but it was not a successful theatrical release. We are very happy to bring it back for Malavida's 20th anniversary.

An unconventional and deeply personal work that blends humor and fantasy, the film will receive its first DCP release, having originally been distributed on video. Malavida also previously worked with Catherine on the French version of the Soviet animated short by Edward Nazarov.

The distributor's 2027 slate also includes Konrad Wolff's "I Was Nineteen," scheduled for April 21. Malavida discovered the East German filmmaker's 1968 film during a retrospective at last year's Lumiere festival, an encounter Berneul described as an incredibly emotional and powerful experience for the French distribution.

Another rediscovery is Jean-Henri Meunier's 1979 "La Bande du Rex," a stoner film starring French singer Jacques Higlin as Frankie Megalo. The film's rogue projector, with an original score composed by Higlin, is slated for re-release in May.

MIFC runs alongside the Lumiere Lyon Film Festival until October 16.