Manga Entertainment have announced the UK DVD and Blu-Ray releases of 'Higanjima - Escape From Vampire Island' for the 4th October, 2010. Directed by Kim Tae-gyun ('Volcano High'), the film is a brand new live-action adaptation of Koji Matsumoto's best-selling supernatural horror manga.

Japanese director Satoshi Kon, the man behind critically acclaimed anime movies such as 'Perfect Blue' and 'Paprika', has died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 46. The sad news was first reported by various sources on Twitter, before being made official by an announcement on his office's website.

Planis have announced the Korean DVD release of 'Bestseller' for the 31st August, 2010. Helmed by first time director Lee Jung Ho, the film centres around a writer who is haunted by an unknown presence. The cast includes singer/actress Uhm Jung-hwa, Ryoo Seung-yong, Jo Jin-woong and Lee Do-kyeong.

The trailer has been released for 'Break Away', a new Korean drama directed by Lee Song-hee-il ('No Regret'). The film centres around three soldiers who choose to abandon their military posts, a decision they regret once they realise that the army's pursuit is utterly relentless.

Chinese actor Liu Ye will portray the young Mao Zedong in the upcoming Communist Party of China (CPC) anniversary film 'Jian Dang Wei Ye'. Directed by Han Sanping and Huang Jianxin, the film is designed to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the CPC and will feature an all-star cast.

The trailer has been released for 'The Love Of The Hawthorn Tree', a new drama from director Zhang Yimou. Based on a popular novel, the film centres around an innocent but repressed romance between a city girl with a condemned political background and a young man from a rural village.

Vicol Entertainment have announced the HK DVD release of 'The Underdog Knight' for the 26th August, 2010. Directed by Ding Sheng, the film is a stylish action drama that stars Liu Ye ('City Of Life And Death') as a bodyguard who discovers that his boss is planning to rob the National Art Museum.

Actress Yan Ni, the heroine in Zhang Yimou's 'A Simple Noodle Story', has joined the cast of Gordon Chan's upcoming sequel to 2008's 'Painted Skin'. Currently titled 'Wall Paintings', the film will once again be based on a chapter from Pu Songling's 17th-century novel 'Strange Stories From A Chinese Studio'.

Director Peter Chan's new movie, entitled 'Swordsmen' (AKA 'Wu Xia'), has now started shooting at Teng Chong, a small town in Yunnan province. The film is a reworking of Chang Cheh’s 1967 classic, 'One Armed Swordsman' and stars Donnie Yen and Takeshi Kaneshiro.

Comix Wave Films have announced the Japanese DVD and Blu-Ray releases of 'Planzet' for the 3rd September, 2010. Directed by Awazu Jun ('Negadon: The Monster From Mars'), the film is an ambitious sci-fi tale about war and family that utilises the latest advances in 3D computer animation.