China Venture Films and Yunnan Minority Film Studio will cooperate on the production of Distance Runners, a film about a Chinese ultramarathon runner attempting a 100-mile run through Shangri-la, according to a report in The Hollywood Reporter

Producer Jay Rothstein of China Venture Films confirmed to the publication that the film will be directed by David Ren – who was born in Shanghai and grew up in New York City. Ren directed the 2007 film Shanghai Kiss

"I wanted someone bilingual, experienced and who understands both cultures," Rothstein told Hollywood Reporter. "I also wanted someone I felt had his heart and soul in the film. David's very passionate."

Ren will be joined on the film project – one of the first co-productions by foreign and Chinese studios in Yunnan – by cinematographer Jeffrey Chu. Although lead roles have yet to be filled, a supporting cast is already taking shape, with Eugenia Yuan (Memoirs of a Geisha, Cheng Pei Pei and Chinese screen veteran Ge You （葛优 – see image）signing on to join the cast. The movie script was written by Richard Trombly and is currently being updated by Rothstein.

China Venture Films' first China production, "Milk and Fashion", which stars Rothstein's son, Kyle Rothstein is set to be distributed throughout China in June.

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Tags: Cheng Pei, China Venture Films, David Ren, Eugenia Yuan, Ge You, Jay Rothstein, Jeffrey Chu, Kyle Rothstein, Milk and Fashion, Shanghai Kiss, Yunnan Minority Film Studio