French Distributor Malavida Unveils Ambitious 2027 Lineup and Wang Chao Retrospective at Lyon’s MIFC

LYON, France — French independent distributor Malavida has made waves at this year’s International Classic Film Market (MIFC) in Lyon by acquiring the French theatrical rights to acclaimed Chinese filmmaker Wang Chao’s 2022 drama “A Woman.” The film, which captured the prestigious screenplay prize at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, has notably never received a proper theatrical release in France since its completion. The announcement comes as part of a broader, ambitious slate of acquisitions and restorations unveiled by Malavida, highlighting the company’s ongoing mission to unearth and reintroduce forgotten cinematic gems to contemporary audiences.

In addition to securing “A Woman,” Malavida is preparing a comprehensive, wide-ranging retrospective dedicated to Wang Chao’s body of work, slated to launch in French cinemas on March 24, 2027. The retrospective will also feature three of the director’s earlier, seminal titles: “The Orphan of Anyang” (2001), “Day and Night” (2004), and “Luxury Car” (2006). As part of this extensive showcase, Malavida plans to undertake a brand-new restoration of “The Orphan of Anyang” and hopes to bring the filmmaker himself to France to present his work to audiences during the spring event. While a standalone theatrical release is currently being actively considered for “A Woman,” the broader retrospective will provide a long-overdue framework for French moviegoers to re-engage with a vital contemporary voice from East Asia.

For Malavida co-founder Anne-Laure Brénot, these strategic acquisitions represent a vital opportunity to bring back into the cultural conversation a filmmaker whose powerful work has become increasingly difficult for international audiences to access over the years.

“It’s a discovery, an incursion, into China with an extraordinary dissident filmmaker who has somewhat fallen into oblivion because the movies he made during the 2010s weren’t released internationally,” Brénot explained in an interview with Variety. “His last film, even though it won prizes, was never released [outside of China]. It really felt like the right moment to rediscover Wang Chao’s work.”

Wang’s artistic journey has often placed him at the margins of commercial distribution despite critical acclaim on the global festival circuit, making Malavida’s retrospective a significant milestone in preserving and championing independent Chinese cinema.

Expanding the Classic Slate with Dino Risi and Michael Radford

Wang Chao is not the only master filmmaker receiving the royal treatment from Malavida. The distributor is also expanding its upcoming theatrical slate with three classic titles by legendary Italian comedy-drama auteur Dino Risi: “The Easy Life” (1962), which screened prominently at this year’s Lumière Film Festival; “The Monsters” (1963); and “Tolgo il disturbo” (1990), a late-career gem better known to French audiences under the title “Valse d’amour.”

Starring an iconic cross-generational pairing of Vittorio Gassman and Elliott Gould, “Tolgo il disturbo” has never previously enjoyed a theatrical re-release in France. These three classic titles will form the cornerstone of a dedicated Dino Risi retrospective scheduled to hit French screens in the summer of 2027, continuing Malavida’s commitment to celebrating the rich tapestry of European cinematic history.

Further underscoring their dedication to high-profile restorations and repertory cinema, Malavida is presenting a newly restored 4K digital version of Michael Radford’s dystopian masterwork “1984” in Lyon. Screening as part of the festival’s prestigious Lumière Classics program, this marks the film’s first theatrical appearance in France since its original 1984 release. The painstaking restoration work was personally supervised by Academy Award-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins, who originally lensed the cinematic adaptation of George Orwell’s timeless novel.

Celebrating 20 Years with Philippe Katerine and Rediscovered European Treasures

As Malavida celebrates its landmark 20th anniversary, the distributor is also looking back at its own corporate history by revisiting its very first release. The company is preparing a brand-new French-language version of Soviet animator Fyodor Khitruk’s beloved 1969 short film program “Winnie and His Friends,” featuring narration and musical performances by celebrated French artist Philippe Katerine. Set for release on February 25, 2027, the program will also be made available in a French-subtitled version and has already earned the official backing of the young audiences group within AFCAE, the French association of arthouse cinemas.

This upcoming collaboration deepens a longstanding creative relationship between Katerine and Malavida. Katerine’s unconventional directorial debut, “Peau de cochon,” was the very first film Malavida ever distributed back in 2005, and the company is now proudly bringing that film back to theaters for its anniversary year.

Reflecting on the early days of the company and the evolution of its most famous collaborator, Brénot recalled the hurdles they faced two decades ago.

“At the time, it was very complicated. Philippe wasn’t as known as today. He was just making music and wasn’t the superstar he later became,” Brénot recalled. “The press was excited about the film, but its theatrical release was not a success. We’re very happy to bring it back for Malavida’s 20th anniversary.”

Because the film was originally distributed exclusively on video formats, this upcoming theatrical run will provide “Peau de cochon”—a deeply personal work blending dark humor, fantasy, and raw introspection—with its very first official DCP (Digital Cinema Package) release. Malavida previously partnered with Katerine on a French-language version of Soviet animated shorts by Eduard Nazarov, cementing a playful and enduring artistic partnership.

Malavida’s bustling 2027 release calendar also reserves space for Konrad Wolf’s powerful East German feature “I Was Nineteen,” scheduled for an April 21 release. Brénot recounted how the distributor originally discovered the 1968 film during a retrospective at the previous year’s Lumière Festival, describing the encounter as an extraordinarily powerful emotional experience that immediately compelled them to secure the French rights.

Another major archival rediscovery slated for the upcoming year is Jean-Henri Meunier’s 1979 feature “La Bande du Rex.” This rock-infused cult classic stars legendary French singer Jacques Higelin as Franckie Mégalo, a rebellious film projectionist navigating a changing cultural landscape. Featuring an original musical score composed by Higelin himself, the film is set for an eagerly anticipated theatrical re-release in May, pairing the magic of classic rock with the romance of celluloid projection.

The announcements were made against the backdrop of the International Classic Film Market, which runs alongside Lyon’s renowned Lumière Film Festival.