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Jia Zhangke’s Unknown Pleasures Pictures Acquires China Rights for Cannes Titles ‘Minotaur’ and ‘La Gradiva’
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Culture/The Apex Times/Jun 24, 3:55 AM EDT

Jia Zhangke’s Unknown Pleasures Pictures Acquires China Rights for Cannes Titles ‘Minotaur’ and ‘La Gradiva’

The Chinese distribution company founded by filmmaker Jia Zhangke and veteran distributor Tian Qi has secured China rights to two Cannes debuts, with international sales handled by Mk2 Films.

2 min readEditor-approved Apex article

Unknown Pleasures Pictures has acquired China distribution rights for two films that premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, according to an exclusive report from Deadline. The company will handle China rights for Minotaur and La Gradiva, both presented in the festival’s lineup and now entering the next phase of international and regional sales.

Deadline reports that Minotaur and La Gradiva are being sold internationally by Mk2 Films, the Paris-based arthouse specialist with which Jia Zhangke has a long working relationship. The acquisition expands Unknown Pleasures Pictures’ slate of festival titles for the Chinese market, following the films’ Cannes exposure.

Unknown Pleasures Pictures was founded by Jia Zhangke, a Chinese filmmaker, and Tian Qi, described in the report as a veteran distributor. The partnership links creative direction and distribution experience, with the company acting as a rights-holder and local distributor for projects coming through major international festivals.

The Deadline story frames the acquisitions as part of the market cycle that follows Cannes premieres, when films are packaged for additional territories and broadcasters and distributors weigh release strategies. With Mk2 Films managing international sales, Unknown Pleasures Pictures’ China rights give it the authority to plan how and when the titles will be released domestically.

The report does not specify release dates, marketing plans, or the exact China rollout format for Minotaur and La Gradiva. It also does not provide runtime details, cast information, or plot summaries in the material provided, meaning those elements are not covered here beyond the films’ Cannes premiere status and the distribution rights change.

For viewers and industry stakeholders, the next step is the confirmation of distribution timing and the filing or approval process associated with local exhibition, which typically follows rights acquisition for major international festival titles. Unknown Pleasures Pictures’ role as the China-rights holder indicates it will be responsible for coordinating the local release pathway once schedules and clearances are finalized.

Deadline’s report, dated June 24, 2026, positions the acquisitions as a new commercial chapter for both Cannes titles, with rights and distribution responsibilities now shifting toward territorial rollout after the festival window. The story centers on the transfer of China rights, while international sales remain under Mk2 Films’ management.

Why It Matters

  • Territorial rights acquisitions following Cannes shape how quickly international films reach Chinese audiences and through which local channels.
  • The deal assigns China distribution responsibility to Unknown Pleasures Pictures, while Mk2 Films continues to manage international territory sales.
  • The timing of release planning after a festival premiere can affect marketing windows and audience reach for art-house and festival-driven films.
  • Rights-holder announcements like this report which festival titles are being prioritized for domestic rollout in the Chinese market.

Sources

Key Facts

  • Unknown Pleasures Pictures acquired China rights to the Cannes 2026 titles Minotaur and La Gradiva.
  • The films premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, according to Deadline’s report.
  • Mk2 Films, based in Paris, is handling international sales for both titles.
  • Unknown Pleasures Pictures is founded by filmmaker Jia Zhangke and veteran distributor Tian Qi.
  • Deadline reports the acquisitions in an exclusive story dated June 24, 2026.