Warner Bros. will Managed the Southeast Asian theatrical release of the Philippine-produced drama “Under Parallel Skies.” The film will have its world premiere this weekend as part of the Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong.
Directed by Sigrid Bernardo, “Under a Parallel Sky” follows the story of a Thai bachelor, portrayed by local megastar Win Miatawin, who travels to Hong Kong in search of his missing mother. He meets a Filipino hotel owner, Janella Salvador, who helps him navigate love, heartbreak, and healing in a foreign city amidst differences of culture and identity.
Hong Kong has a large number of workers from the Philippines, many of whom work as domestic helpers or in the hospitality industry. Filmed in Hong Kong from June to July 2023, with support from the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the film depicts iconic local locations including Kowloon and Tai O.
Warner will release it in three countries in Southeast Asia: the Philippines starting April 17; Singapore from May; and Thailand as of May 9.
“When we watched the first cut with director Sigrid, we knew we had something special here. We thought this project was for the region,” said Richard Guan, CEO of production company 28 Squared Studios. Rico Gonzalez, director of distribution for Warner Bros. Philippines, saw the potential. regional and spread it more widely within the studio.
“There were some specific scenes in the movie that made me decide, yeah, I’m going to recommend this movie to my regional bosses,” Gonzalez said. “At Warner Bros., we believe in the power of stories. I really knew that from what I saw, even though it wasn’t the final cut of the movie.” But I knew there was something special about him.”
The film is believed to be the first mini-film of a Filipino film produced by Warner Bros for theatrical release. It is also the first production of the newly formed 28 Squared, which is co-produced with Two Infinity Entertainment in Hong Kong.
“At 28 Squared Studios, our mission is to support impactful stories in Southeast Asia. We believe we can continue to deliver on this mission as we bring this film to across the world,” said Christophe Cagaby, COO of 28 Squared Studios and co-executive producer of the film. “We showcase the talent in front of and behind the camera on the global stage.”