HOYTS has partnered with newly established film distributor Pacific Lantern in a deal aimed at bringing more Chinese-language films to cinemas across Australia and New Zealand.
The partnership will launch with the Australian premiere of “Once Upon a Time in the Middle East” at HOYTS Melbourne Central, with Pacific Lantern set to work across the exhibitor’s cinema network on the distribution and theatrical release of Chinese-language titles.
The Melbourne premiere will be staged in partnership with the Victorian Chinese Community Association and include a special screening of the film in HOYTS APEX, alongside media interviews, speeches and other industry activity.
Pacific Lantern is an extension of Ruyi Film and marks the company’s move beyond China’s domestic production and exhibition business into international distribution.
The new operation will combine Ruyi Film’s content pipeline with HOYTS’ cinema network and local market expertise, with the companies positioning Pacific Lantern as a bridge between Chinese filmmakers and international audiences.
HOYTS Group CEO and president Damian Keogh said the partnership reflected the exhibitor’s push to broaden the range of films available to audiences across the region.
“We are proud to support Pacific Lantern and create opportunities for Chinese-language stories to reach a broader audience across Australia and New Zealand,” Keogh said.
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“Cinema has an important role to play bringing communities together and introducing audiences to new perspectives. Partnerships like this allow us to strengthen cultural connections while giving more people the opportunity to experience great films on the big screen.”
The deal gives Pacific Lantern access to a significant theatrical footprint. HOYTS operates more than 500 screens and 59,000 seats across Australia and New Zealand and describes itself as the region’s largest single-brand cinema exhibitor.
Pacific Lantern’s establishment also creates a more integrated pathway for Ruyi Film titles, extending from production and distribution through to theatrical exhibition.
The distributor plans to build relationships with cinemas, community organisations, media outlets and cultural institutions across Australia and New Zealand as it expands its slate and the international reach of Chinese-language films.