Fortissimo Acquires China’s ‘Escape From the 21st Century’

Amsterdam and Beijing-based film sales company Fortissimo Films has secured the licensing rights to “Escape From the 21st Century,” an upcoming Chinese sci-fi action film.

The story revolves around three friends who discover they have the unique ability to travel 20 years into the past or future with a sneeze. However, when they leap forward in time, they find the future far bleaker than they imagined and must shoulder the immense responsibility of saving the world. The narrative moves dynamically between the years 1999 and 2019, as well as the mysterious Planet K, which bears a striking resemblance to Earth.

Directed by Li Yang, known for his previous work on “Lee’s Future,” the film features a star-studded cast including Zhang Ruoyun from “Joy of Life,” Zhong Cuxi of “Youth” fame, and Song Yang known for his role in “Wrath of Silence.”

The production is helmed by Desen International and is slated for a commercial release in mainland China on August 3 through Enlight Pictures. Fortissimo Films will handle the film’s distribution rights in all other global markets, excluding mainland China.

If you’re curious to see a glimpse of the action, you can watch the trailer below.

Fortissimo Films had an eventful Cannes, where they introduced three new Chinese titles. These include the crime drama “Family at Large,” the sports film “Wild Punch,” and the animated feature “The Umbrella Family.”

In recent years, Fortissimo has been involved in the distribution of numerous Chinese films. Last year, they handled the groundbreaking animated film “Deep Sea” by Tian Xiaopeng. Other notable films include “The Yin-Yang Master,” and Larry Yang’s “Mountain Cry.”

Additionally, in late 2022, Fortissimo acquired the rights to “If You Are the One 3,” the Feng Xiaogang-directed continuation of the popular anti-romance drama series featuring Shu Qi and Ge You. They also picked up Xu Haofeng’s “100 Yards,” a film that has made appearances at the Shanghai, Toronto, and Rotterdam film festivals.