[2024.05.09] YONFAN ISSUES LEGAL LETTER TO TSUI HARK OVER SHANGHAI BLUES

Yonfan claims to still own the intellectual property rights to SHANGHAI BLUES' original story

The Tsui Hark directed SHANGHAI BLUES 2024 4K RESTORED VERSION has been selected for the 77th Cannes International Film Festival's "Cannes Classic" segment
courtesy of mingpao.com

Tsui Hark's SHANGHAI BLUES 2024 4K restored version was selected for the "Cannes Classics" segment of the 77th Cannes International Film Festival and held its world premiere at the film festival to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the film's release. A love story set in wartime Shanghai in the 1940s, SHANGHAI BLUES was the first film from the Tsui Hark and Shi Nansun founded Film Workshop in 1984. Tsui Hark both directed and produced, Chan Koon Chung and To Kwok Wai wrote, and Sylvia Chang (Cheung Ngai Ga), Kenny Bee (Chung Chun To) and Sally Yeh (Yip Sin Man) starred. James Wong Jim composed the film score, as well as the Yip Sin Man performed theme song NIGHT WIND.

The Cannes Film Festival will be held next week, and recently Tsui Hark and Shi Nansun's Film Workshop reportedly received a legal letter from director Yonfan, pointing out that the background, the story, and the progress of the characters of the film were all originally created ` by Yonfan. "In 1983, Tsui Hark and Shi Nansun were authorized to make it into a 35mm film with oral agreement but no contract". In addition to emphasizing the oral agreement made in 1983, Yonfan's letter also specifically stated that he still owns the intellectual property rights of the original story. "No reproduction. television series or other works of SHANGHAI BLUES (1984) shall be produced without the consent of the original creator."

Yonfon was contacted about this matter yesterday and reiterated, "Director Yonfan proposed that he owns the intellectual property rights of the original story of SHANGHAI BLUES, any reproduction, TV production or other related projects must have the consent of Director Yonfon." He also revealed that Shi Nansun has made contact through a third party. Yonfan previously responded to the Taiwan media through his office, saying that this legal letter has no special appeal and is not a lawsuit. "It just informs everyone through this international film festival platform that the original story of SHANGHAI BLUES belongs to Yonfan." Tsui Hark and Shi Nansun's Film Workshop responded, "We did receive a letter from director Yonfan to reiterate it, and we have nothing to add to to his statement." Reportedly the 4K restored version of SHANGHAI BLUES 2024 4K restored version's Cannes Film Festival premiere would be held as scheduled.