Un Certain Regard Winner at Cannes 2024, Guan Hu’s BLACK DOG Kicks Off Limited Run in LA

BLACK DOG, the latest film from decorated writer and director Guan Hu, kicks off its limited North American theatrical run in Los Angeles on November 22. The film is a strong awards contender this season, with filmmaker Guan Hu already nominated for Best Director at the 2024 Gotham Awards and additional FYC and Festival screenings coming up. See it in Los Angeles Friday, November 22 through Thursday, November 28 at the Laemmle NoHo 7. There will also be North American screenings in Cleveland, OH, New Paltz, NY, Anchorage, AK and Billings, MT through November ahead of TVOD & EST release in February 2025.

BLACK DOG takes place on the edge of the Gobi Desert in Northwest China, as Lang (Eddie Peng) returns to his hometown after being released from jail. While working for the local dog patrol team, led by Uncle Yao (Jia Zhang-Ke), that is clearing the town of stray dogs before the Beijing Olympics, he strikes up an unlikely connection with a black dog (Xiaoxin) and the two lonely outcasts find purpose in each other. The film had its World Premiere at Cannes Film Festival 2024, where it won the Un Certain Regard Award and Palm Dog Grand Jury Prize.

Director Guan Hu

Over the past thirty years, Guan Hu has directed numerous award-winning films—COW (Best Adapted Screenplay Winner at Golden Horse Film Awards 2009); THE CHEF, THE ACTOR, THE SCOUNDREL (Best Director Winner at Beijing College Student Film Festival 2013); MR. SIX (Best Director Winner at China Film Director’s Guild Awards 2016, Best Director Winner at Huading Awards 2016, Best Writing Winner at Golden Rooster Awards 2017)—and blockbusters—MY PEOPLE, MY COUNTRY; THE EIGHT HUNDRED; and THE SACRIFICE. He co-founded production, distribution, and management company The Seventh Art Pictures with producer and actress Liang Jing in 2016.

Distributed by The Forge

North American rights for BLACK DOG were acquired along with RESYNATOR by international film distributor The Forge in July. Established in 2019 by independent film veteran Mark Mathias Sayre, The Forge is an international sales agency and distributor of compelling films and documentaries. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

A very special thanks to Henry Eshelman and Saeli Eshelman at Platform Media Group (PMG)