North American Release for Jhett Tolentino’s ‘Asian Persuasion’ Rom-Com Set Despite AFM Sales

The romantic comedy “Asian Persuasion,” marking the directorial debut of three-time Tony Award and Grammy-winning producer Jhett Tolentino, has secured its North American distribution and will be launched at the upcoming American Film Market.

Scatena & Rosner Films, based in Hawaii, has obtained the worldwide rights to the film. The narrative centers on an endearing underachiever who devises a wild plan to evade paying alimony to his ex-wife, a fashion executive.

For the North American market, Scatena & Rosner Films plans to release the film in Spring 2025. Rights licensing for other territories will commence at the AFM in Las Vegas, which runs from November 5 to 10.

Mike Ang penned the screenplay, which features a talented ensemble cast including Dante Basco from “Hook,” KC Concepcion of “Boy Golden: Shoot to Kill,” Kevin Kreider from “Bling Empire,” and Paolo Montalban from “Cinderella.”

Produced under the Jhett Tolentino Productions banner, “Asian Persuasion” includes Tolentino and screenwriter Ang as producers. The cinematography is handled by Andrea Walter, known for “The Fabulous Filipino Brothers” and “Empty by Design,” while Dedalus Moving Pictures’ Sheena Alexis oversees production and costume design. The score is composed by Eunike Tanzil, and Bess Fifer manages casting.

Tolentino has an extensive background in theater, having produced 19 stage productions on and off Broadway, such as “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” with Sigourney Weaver and “A Raisin in the Sun” featuring Denzel Washington.

His music production credits include overseeing the cast album for “The Color Purple,” which starred Cynthia Erivo, Jennifer Hudson, and Danielle Brooks. In film, he produced “Life Is What You Make It” in 2017 and Isabel Sandoval’s “Lingua Franca,” which debuted at the Venice Film Festival in 2019.

Zach Stampone, VP of distribution at Scatena & Rosner Films, expressed excitement about bringing “Asian Persuasion” to global audiences. “The film’s clever, relatable plot, along with its talented cast and crew from 21 Asian nations, makes it a standout romantic comedy for 2025 and beyond,” he noted. He also highlighted Tolentino’s knack for telling authentic stories that resonate with viewers.

Scatena & Rosner Films specializes in film production, financing, distribution, sales, and product placement, led by Gato Scatena and Jordan Rosner. Their film sales lineup includes titles like Luke Sparke’s “Fight for Your Life” and Patrick Gilles’ “I’m Charlie Walker.”