Yi Zhou’s Into the Sun Entertainment & Italy’s Augustus Group Join Forces On Colors of the Sun Ventures

EXCLUSIVE: L.A.-based Into the Sun Entertainment and Italy’s Augustus Group have announced a new banner called Colors of the Sun Ventures.

Focused on film production and restoration, the initiative will see the partners combine their strengths and networks to provide financial solutions for filmmakers and producers in the film and TV industries across Europe.

There will be a particular focus on Italy, France, Albania and Spain as well as Morocco, but the new venture’s activities will not be limited to these countries.

The partners say their aim is to foster growth and cooperation for European entities with Hollywood and Asian cinema by offering financial and production solutions with production incentives as well as post-production, and restoration facilities in these countries.

L.A.-based Into the Sun Entertainment and its Rome-based subsidiary Into the Sun Films, were launched by China-born, Italy-raised writer, director and producer Yi Zhou in 2021.

Augustus Group has a track record in film finance and post-production and is also the parent of renovation specialist Augustus Color.

“Our mission with this joint venture is to create an ecosystem for film production that supports both the artistic and economic aspects of filmmaking,” said Zhou.

“By combining our resources and financial expertise with Augustus Group, we are setting the stage for a new era of filmmaking in Europe,” she continued. “As a Chinese who grew up in Europe, I am honored to be able to bring more productions to this region and highlight and preserve its cinema industry. This initiative represents a significant commitment to the artistic heritage of Europe, ensuring its stories continue to captivate audiences globally.”

The joint venture will focus on service offerings from the initial stages of development and production to post-production and restoration, ensuring films not only reach completion but are given a new lease on life through state-of-the-art restoration techniques.

It will also work with new talent via Into the Sun Entertainment’s First Timer Fund, which it launched last year to provide fellowship, production facilities and resources to selected emerging filmmakers.

“Augustus Group is thrilled to partner with Into the Sun Banner on this new venture,” commented Augusto Pelliccia, CEO of Augustus Group. “We believe that by providing facilities and incentives, we can significantly impact the global film landscape, starting with these five dynamic countries.”