Their addition sets pic as a rare Brazil-Japan-Hong Kong co-production that also involves Brazilian shingle Gullane Filmes and Hong Kong filmmaking co-op Xstream.

Pic is Yu’s first outreach into the genre filmmaking sphere. It sets father and son immigrant gangsters against each other and against the Sao Paulo mafia before shifting to the Amazon for the denouement.

“I’ve integrated some classic elements of Asian genre films, such as a sword fight, into this story of the end of a video piracy empire,” Yu told Variety. “As foreigners, the characters are incredibly fragile, and from different generations we see one clinging on to power and the other more of an idealist.”

Production design is by Cassio Amarante, whose credits include “Central Station” and “The Year My Parents Went on Vacation.” Additional producer credit goes to Francois da Silva, former head of Directors’ Fortnight.

Yu wrapped “Plastic City” just days before getting on the plane for Cannes and expects to deliver the pic in early 2009.

“It is a genre film, but with big arthouse elements so we’ll be looking for a festival appearance to help position the commercial release,” said producer Fabiano Gullane.

Producers are looking to appoint a sales agent to handle world outside the producer territories. Bitters End has Japan and Korea, Sundream South East Asia and Gullane Brazil.

John Hopewell contributed to this report

Comments (0)