Just over six years have passed since Saudi Arabia announced the lifting of its 35-year cinema ban as part of a strategy to open up the country and move its economy away from a reliance on oil.
In a sign that things were already bubbling prior to the Ministry of Culture’s official announcement in December 2017, the country’s Saudi Film Festival (Sff), taking place in the Eastern Province city of Dhahran, will mark its 10th anniversary from May 2 to 9.
The event grew out of under-the-radar screenings in the early 2000s at a local culture association of arthouse DVDs, subtitled into Arabic by an underground outfit.
“We were fighting to screen films in public,” recounts Sff’s founding director Ahmed Almulla, the artist and poet who spearheaded the screenings. “Things changed in the blink of eye. It’s a revolution, what’s happened in Saudi Arabia with art and culture.
In a sign that things were already bubbling prior to the Ministry of Culture’s official announcement in December 2017, the country’s Saudi Film Festival (Sff), taking place in the Eastern Province city of Dhahran, will mark its 10th anniversary from May 2 to 9.
The event grew out of under-the-radar screenings in the early 2000s at a local culture association of arthouse DVDs, subtitled into Arabic by an underground outfit.
“We were fighting to screen films in public,” recounts Sff’s founding director Ahmed Almulla, the artist and poet who spearheaded the screenings. “Things changed in the blink of eye. It’s a revolution, what’s happened in Saudi Arabia with art and culture.
- 4/23/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Aflamuna Connection, formerly known as Beirut Cinema Platform, has selected 14 feature film projects to participate in its eighth edition, which will be the first edition to be held under the new name Aflamuna (Our films).
Reflecting emerging Arab filmmaker voices, the 14 projects range between fiction, docu-fiction and documentaries, and feature 11 projects in development and three in post-production. The selected projects come from Sudan, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, Jordan, Palestine and Saudi Arabia.
Titles include Moondove, Lebanese filmmaker Karim Kassem’s docu-fiction about a female artist returning to a village outside Beirut after living abroad. Kassem’s documentary Octopus won...
Reflecting emerging Arab filmmaker voices, the 14 projects range between fiction, docu-fiction and documentaries, and feature 11 projects in development and three in post-production. The selected projects come from Sudan, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, Jordan, Palestine and Saudi Arabia.
Titles include Moondove, Lebanese filmmaker Karim Kassem’s docu-fiction about a female artist returning to a village outside Beirut after living abroad. Kassem’s documentary Octopus won...
- 3/22/2024
- ScreenDaily
The Red Sea International Film Festival Closing Night Gala was attended by Halle Berry, Nicolas Cage, Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Martin, Andrew Garfield, Henry Golding, Gwyneth Paltrow, Joel Kinnaman Jason Statham on December 07, 2023 in Jeddah.
The Festival Awards night will close with the Mena Premiere of Ferrari, the new biopic from Michael Mann and starring Adam Driver and Penelope Cruz. Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki’s most recent film The Boy and the Heron, will screen as the Public Closing Film.
In celebration of female voices in film, the Red Sea International Film Festival (RedSeaIFF) and Vanity Fair Europe hosted the 5th Women In Cinema Dinner event this evening, shining a light on the achievements of women both on and behind the camera who are helping shape the film industry and inspire a new generation of talent in Saudi Arabia, Africa, and India.
The event was held at the Shangri-La in Jeddah,...
The Festival Awards night will close with the Mena Premiere of Ferrari, the new biopic from Michael Mann and starring Adam Driver and Penelope Cruz. Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki’s most recent film The Boy and the Heron, will screen as the Public Closing Film.
In celebration of female voices in film, the Red Sea International Film Festival (RedSeaIFF) and Vanity Fair Europe hosted the 5th Women In Cinema Dinner event this evening, shining a light on the achievements of women both on and behind the camera who are helping shape the film industry and inspire a new generation of talent in Saudi Arabia, Africa, and India.
The event was held at the Shangri-La in Jeddah,...
- 12/7/2023
- by Robert Lang
- Deadline Film + TV
Saudi Arabia Launches First Cinema Guild Six Year After Lifting Of Ban
Saudi Arabia has launched its first official film industry guild six years after the lifting of its 35-year cinema ban in 2017. The initiative overseen by Minister of Culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan Al-Saud, was announced during the Red Sea International Film Festival. “Having a professional association is fundamental for the development of the sector,” inaugural board member and director Hana Al Omair told a conference discussing the objectives of the new body. She said the association’s key role would be to establish legislation for the sector as well as labor rights for cinema professionals. Al Omair was joined in the discussion by the association’s president, the artist and producer Mishal Al Mutairi; veteran acting star Abdulmohsen Al-Nimr; director Tawfik Alzaidi, whose first feature Norah world premiered at the festival on Tuesday evening as well as Alaa Faden,...
Saudi Arabia has launched its first official film industry guild six years after the lifting of its 35-year cinema ban in 2017. The initiative overseen by Minister of Culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan Al-Saud, was announced during the Red Sea International Film Festival. “Having a professional association is fundamental for the development of the sector,” inaugural board member and director Hana Al Omair told a conference discussing the objectives of the new body. She said the association’s key role would be to establish legislation for the sector as well as labor rights for cinema professionals. Al Omair was joined in the discussion by the association’s president, the artist and producer Mishal Al Mutairi; veteran acting star Abdulmohsen Al-Nimr; director Tawfik Alzaidi, whose first feature Norah world premiered at the festival on Tuesday evening as well as Alaa Faden,...
- 12/6/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Seven films backed by Fund have been submitted to the Academy Awards’ international feature category
One of the targets for the Red Sea Fund when it launched three years ago was to “be part of the Oscars somehow by 2027, according to fund manager Emad Eskander.
“But it happened this year – we have seven films shortlisted for the Oscars,” Eskander told a Red Sea panel session, to loud applause from the audience.
The seven Red Sea-backed films submitted in the international feature category are Kaouther Ben Hania’s Four Daughters, submitted by Tunisia, Mohamed Kordofani’s Goodbye Julia (Sudan), Ahmed Yassin Al Daradji...
One of the targets for the Red Sea Fund when it launched three years ago was to “be part of the Oscars somehow by 2027, according to fund manager Emad Eskander.
“But it happened this year – we have seven films shortlisted for the Oscars,” Eskander told a Red Sea panel session, to loud applause from the audience.
The seven Red Sea-backed films submitted in the international feature category are Kaouther Ben Hania’s Four Daughters, submitted by Tunisia, Mohamed Kordofani’s Goodbye Julia (Sudan), Ahmed Yassin Al Daradji...
- 12/6/2023
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
Baz Luhrmann will preside over the jury for the third edition of the festival
The Red Sea International Film Festival has revealed a starry line-up of juries and honorary awardees ahead of the launch of its third edition in Jeddah on Thursday.
The jury for the main feature film competition will comprise Suicide Squad star Joel Kinnaman, Bafta-nominated actor Freida Pinto, Egyptian Grand Hotel star Amina Khalil, and Spanish actor Paz Vega, known for Sex And Lucía and The Oa. As previously announced, Elvis director Baz Luhrmann will preside over the jury.
The festival in Saudi Arabia, which is set...
The Red Sea International Film Festival has revealed a starry line-up of juries and honorary awardees ahead of the launch of its third edition in Jeddah on Thursday.
The jury for the main feature film competition will comprise Suicide Squad star Joel Kinnaman, Bafta-nominated actor Freida Pinto, Egyptian Grand Hotel star Amina Khalil, and Spanish actor Paz Vega, known for Sex And Lucía and The Oa. As previously announced, Elvis director Baz Luhrmann will preside over the jury.
The festival in Saudi Arabia, which is set...
- 11/27/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Diane Kruger, Indian actor Ranveer Singh, Joel Kinnaman, Freida Pinto and Paz Vega are set to add star power to the third edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire, Knight of Cups), Vega (Sex and Lucía, The Oa), Kinnaman (Silent Night, For All Mankind, Suicide Squad) and Egypt’s Amina Khalil (Grand Hotel, Eugenie Nights) are joining the event’s main feature competition jury, which will be led by Baz Luhrmann.
The Red Sea: Shorts competition will be judged by jurors Hana Alomair, a Saudi writer, filmmaker and film critic behind Netflix series Whispers; French-Moroccan actor Assaad Bouab (Call My Agent, Whatever Lola Wants); and Turkish-German director, screenwriter and producer Fatih Akin (Head-On, In the Fade).
Organizers on Monday also unveiled that Singh, Kruger and Saudi actor and writer Abdullah Al-Sadhan will be honored at the fest.
“This year we are honoring Ranveer Singh,...
Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire, Knight of Cups), Vega (Sex and Lucía, The Oa), Kinnaman (Silent Night, For All Mankind, Suicide Squad) and Egypt’s Amina Khalil (Grand Hotel, Eugenie Nights) are joining the event’s main feature competition jury, which will be led by Baz Luhrmann.
The Red Sea: Shorts competition will be judged by jurors Hana Alomair, a Saudi writer, filmmaker and film critic behind Netflix series Whispers; French-Moroccan actor Assaad Bouab (Call My Agent, Whatever Lola Wants); and Turkish-German director, screenwriter and producer Fatih Akin (Head-On, In the Fade).
Organizers on Monday also unveiled that Singh, Kruger and Saudi actor and writer Abdullah Al-Sadhan will be honored at the fest.
“This year we are honoring Ranveer Singh,...
- 11/27/2023
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Diane Kruger, Bollywood star Ranveer Singh and Saudi actor-writer Abdullah Al-Sadhan are set to receive career honors at Saudi Arabia’s upcoming Red Sea International Film Festival, which has also announced its full jury roster.
Joining Baz Luhrmann, who is presiding over the main Red Sea jury, are Swedish-American actor Joel Kinnaman (“Suicide Squad”); Freida Pinto (“Slumdog Millionaire”); Egyptian actor Amina Khalil; (“Grand Hotel”) and Spain’s Paz Vega.
Meanwhile, Turkish-German director Fatih Akin, who directed Kruger in “In The Fade,” will be on the fest’s shorts competition jury alongside Saudi writer and film critic Hana Alomair, who is behind the Netflix Saudi Arabian original “Whispers,” and French-Moroccan actor Assad Bouab (“Call My Agent”).
Dubai-based Iraqi director Yasir Al-Yasiri’s “Hwjn” has been chosen as the opening film of Saudi Arabia’s upcoming Red Sea International Film Festival.
The fest’s third edition is set to kick off Nov.
Joining Baz Luhrmann, who is presiding over the main Red Sea jury, are Swedish-American actor Joel Kinnaman (“Suicide Squad”); Freida Pinto (“Slumdog Millionaire”); Egyptian actor Amina Khalil; (“Grand Hotel”) and Spain’s Paz Vega.
Meanwhile, Turkish-German director Fatih Akin, who directed Kruger in “In The Fade,” will be on the fest’s shorts competition jury alongside Saudi writer and film critic Hana Alomair, who is behind the Netflix Saudi Arabian original “Whispers,” and French-Moroccan actor Assad Bouab (“Call My Agent”).
Dubai-based Iraqi director Yasir Al-Yasiri’s “Hwjn” has been chosen as the opening film of Saudi Arabia’s upcoming Red Sea International Film Festival.
The fest’s third edition is set to kick off Nov.
- 11/27/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival has unveiled the juries and honorees of its third edition which kicks off on Thursday in the port city of Jeddah.
Baz Luhrmann, who was previously announced as the president of the jury for the main feature film competition, will be joined by Swedish-American Suicide Squad and For All Mankind actor Joel Kinnaman, Slumdog Millionaire Bafta nominee actor Freida Pinto, Egyptian Grand Hotel star Amina Khalil and Spanish actor Paz Vega.
The Red Sea: Shorts competition will be judged by leading Saudi writer, director and film critic Hana Alomair, French-Moroccan Call My Agent! star Assad Bouab and award-winning Turkish-German film director, screenwriter and producer Fatih Akin.
“We have a cohort of immense talent in this year’s jury, representing some of the leading creators of cinema from all corners of the world – and we are thrilled to...
Baz Luhrmann, who was previously announced as the president of the jury for the main feature film competition, will be joined by Swedish-American Suicide Squad and For All Mankind actor Joel Kinnaman, Slumdog Millionaire Bafta nominee actor Freida Pinto, Egyptian Grand Hotel star Amina Khalil and Spanish actor Paz Vega.
The Red Sea: Shorts competition will be judged by leading Saudi writer, director and film critic Hana Alomair, French-Moroccan Call My Agent! star Assad Bouab and award-winning Turkish-German film director, screenwriter and producer Fatih Akin.
“We have a cohort of immense talent in this year’s jury, representing some of the leading creators of cinema from all corners of the world – and we are thrilled to...
- 11/27/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Saudi Arabia is currently undergoing profound social change, following the progressive lifting of restrictions since the late 2010s. The film “Dancing on Fire,” currently in development, directed by Hana Al-Omair and produced by Soha Samir, who are both co-writers, highlights the joy and freedom of women in tribal communities in pre-oil Saudi Arabia.
Al-Omair says: “I was immediately attracted to the story, the minute I learned that Saudi women were dancing and singing with men in public in the 1920s, because that was rooted in Saudi culture.”
The project received the 75,000 Mbc Academy/Shahid prize, in return for acquisition of distribution rights in the Arab region, during the Red Sea Souk Awards.
Zeinab Abu Alsamh, general manager of Mbc Studios-Ksa, commented: “’Dancing on Fire’ is a film that has a distinctive Saudi narrative reflecting a strong authentic female vision. It’s a film that couldn’t have been made at a better time.
Al-Omair says: “I was immediately attracted to the story, the minute I learned that Saudi women were dancing and singing with men in public in the 1920s, because that was rooted in Saudi culture.”
The project received the 75,000 Mbc Academy/Shahid prize, in return for acquisition of distribution rights in the Arab region, during the Red Sea Souk Awards.
Zeinab Abu Alsamh, general manager of Mbc Studios-Ksa, commented: “’Dancing on Fire’ is a film that has a distinctive Saudi narrative reflecting a strong authentic female vision. It’s a film that couldn’t have been made at a better time.
- 12/9/2022
- by Martin Dale
- Variety Film + TV
A total of 830,000 in cash prizes and 126,000 in-kind prizes were awarded to Saudi, Arab and African projects in the development and work-in-progress stages, during the award ceremony of the second edition of the Red Sea Souk, held during the Red Sea Film Festival.
Top winners included the Saudi comedy drama “Scapegoat,” in development, directed by Feras Almusharrie, produced by Razan Alsoghayer and written by Taqwa Ali, which won the 100,000 Red Sea Souk Production Award for a Saudi Lodge Project and also the Cinewaves Films award in the form of a 50,000 minimum guarantee for acquisition of Arab World distribution rights.
Egyptian drama “Aisha Can’t Fly Away Anymore,” in development, the debut feature by Orad Mostafa and produced by Sawsan Yusuf, won the 100,000 Red Sea Souk Production Award for an Arab Lodge Project.
Ghanaian-French coming-of-age drama “Vagabonds,” in rough-cut, by Ghanaian-American writer/director Amartei Armar and produced by Sébastien Hussenot and Yemoh Ike,...
Top winners included the Saudi comedy drama “Scapegoat,” in development, directed by Feras Almusharrie, produced by Razan Alsoghayer and written by Taqwa Ali, which won the 100,000 Red Sea Souk Production Award for a Saudi Lodge Project and also the Cinewaves Films award in the form of a 50,000 minimum guarantee for acquisition of Arab World distribution rights.
Egyptian drama “Aisha Can’t Fly Away Anymore,” in development, the debut feature by Orad Mostafa and produced by Sawsan Yusuf, won the 100,000 Red Sea Souk Production Award for an Arab Lodge Project.
Ghanaian-French coming-of-age drama “Vagabonds,” in rough-cut, by Ghanaian-American writer/director Amartei Armar and produced by Sébastien Hussenot and Yemoh Ike,...
- 12/6/2022
- by Martin Dale
- Variety Film + TV
Prizes for ‘A Trip To Jerusalem’, ‘Aisha Can’t Fly Away Any More’.
Saudi dark comedy Scapegoat won two prizes including the Lodge 100,000 Saudi project award, at the Red Sea Souk prize ceremony this evening (December 6) at Red Sea International Film Festival.
Currently in development, the Saudi-Netherlands co-production is written by Bahraini filmmaker Taqwa Ali. Razan Alsoghayer produces for her Fusfus Productions, and the film will be directed by Feras Almusharrie, both from Saudi Arabia.
Scroll down for the full list of Souk winners
It follows a woman who returns to her superstitious village 15 years after being expelled as a child for supposedly being cursed.
Saudi dark comedy Scapegoat won two prizes including the Lodge 100,000 Saudi project award, at the Red Sea Souk prize ceremony this evening (December 6) at Red Sea International Film Festival.
Currently in development, the Saudi-Netherlands co-production is written by Bahraini filmmaker Taqwa Ali. Razan Alsoghayer produces for her Fusfus Productions, and the film will be directed by Feras Almusharrie, both from Saudi Arabia.
Scroll down for the full list of Souk winners
It follows a woman who returns to her superstitious village 15 years after being expelled as a child for supposedly being cursed.
- 12/6/2022
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Almulla has played an important part in the development of the local industry.
Trying to conduct an interview with Ahmed Almulla in the bustling Red Sea Souk at Rsiff can prove challenging. Every few minutes, an aspiring filmmaker or an industry professional approaches the published poet and Saudi Film Festival director to greet him and pay their respects.
It is not surprising as Almulla has been an important part of the cinematic movement that eventually led to movie theatres reopening in 2018 and the creation of a film industry in a country where, not too long ago, the entertainment medium was...
Trying to conduct an interview with Ahmed Almulla in the bustling Red Sea Souk at Rsiff can prove challenging. Every few minutes, an aspiring filmmaker or an industry professional approaches the published poet and Saudi Film Festival director to greet him and pay their respects.
It is not surprising as Almulla has been an important part of the cinematic movement that eventually led to movie theatres reopening in 2018 and the creation of a film industry in a country where, not too long ago, the entertainment medium was...
- 12/6/2022
- by E. Nina Rothe
- ScreenDaily
Back for its third year, the Red Sea Lodge brought together 11 feature film projects for a 10-month intensive program in cooperation with TorinoFilmLab. This Saturday, the teams pitched their projects at the Red Sea Souk, the Red Sea Film Festival’s market.
The Red Sea Lodge elects projects for creative and professional mentorship, development and industry opportunities. The initiative is focused on Saudi and Arab projects, and is key to the festival’s mission to support and develop emerging local talent. This year, seven Saudi projects are joined by four projects from Algeria, Egypt and Lebanon. They are “Aisha Can’t Fly Away Anymore,” “A Last Argument Against Youth,” “A Quarter to Thursday in Algiers,” “Bubblegum Brigades,” “Dancing on Fire,” “Dogmas,” “Scapegoat,” “Tahweedah,” “The Settlement,” “Yajuj” and “You Were the Poet and I Thought I Existed.”
Alongside script development sessions, the Lodge features a producers’ coaching program and sessions on professional development,...
The Red Sea Lodge elects projects for creative and professional mentorship, development and industry opportunities. The initiative is focused on Saudi and Arab projects, and is key to the festival’s mission to support and develop emerging local talent. This year, seven Saudi projects are joined by four projects from Algeria, Egypt and Lebanon. They are “Aisha Can’t Fly Away Anymore,” “A Last Argument Against Youth,” “A Quarter to Thursday in Algiers,” “Bubblegum Brigades,” “Dancing on Fire,” “Dogmas,” “Scapegoat,” “Tahweedah,” “The Settlement,” “Yajuj” and “You Were the Poet and I Thought I Existed.”
Alongside script development sessions, the Lodge features a producers’ coaching program and sessions on professional development,...
- 12/5/2022
- by Rafa Sales Ross
- Variety Film + TV
Just days before the curtain rises on the second edition of the Red Sea Film Festival, which takes place Dec. 1 – 10 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Saudi filmmakers were out in force this week at the Cairo Film Festival, where they sought to highlight the rapid strides being taken by their country’s burgeoning screen industry.
Abduljalil Al-Nasser, general manager of sector development and investment at the Saudi Film Commission, praised the combination of public support and private equity pouring into the industry during a panel moderated by film critic Jay Weissberg. “There is now a serious commitment to make the film industry in Saudi Arabia happen,” he said.
Characterizing the rapid growth as “unprecedented even around the world” and pointing to seismic shifts in everything from talent development and production to distribution and exhibition, Al-Nasser added: “What Saudi filmmakers have been trying to do over many years, and they’ve been...
Abduljalil Al-Nasser, general manager of sector development and investment at the Saudi Film Commission, praised the combination of public support and private equity pouring into the industry during a panel moderated by film critic Jay Weissberg. “There is now a serious commitment to make the film industry in Saudi Arabia happen,” he said.
Characterizing the rapid growth as “unprecedented even around the world” and pointing to seismic shifts in everything from talent development and production to distribution and exhibition, Al-Nasser added: “What Saudi filmmakers have been trying to do over many years, and they’ve been...
- 11/21/2022
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
The second edition of the industry platform also includes a Work-In-Progress showcase.
Projects from US filmmaker Lotfy Nathan and Italian-Iraqi director Haider Rashid are among the 23 titles selected for the project market of the Red Sea Souk, the industry platform of the Red Sea International Film Festival.
The project market is split into two sections: 12 projects in the market alone, with a further 11 market projects that have been developed in the Red Sea Lodge throughout the year, in workshops in partnership with the TorinoFilmLab.
Scroll down for the full list of projects
All market projects will compete for three cash prizes,...
Projects from US filmmaker Lotfy Nathan and Italian-Iraqi director Haider Rashid are among the 23 titles selected for the project market of the Red Sea Souk, the industry platform of the Red Sea International Film Festival.
The project market is split into two sections: 12 projects in the market alone, with a further 11 market projects that have been developed in the Red Sea Lodge throughout the year, in workshops in partnership with the TorinoFilmLab.
Scroll down for the full list of projects
All market projects will compete for three cash prizes,...
- 10/27/2022
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
The second edition of the industry platform also includes a Work-In-Progress showcase.
Projects from US filmmaker Lofty Nathan and Italian-Iraqi director Haider Rashid are among the 23 titles selected for the project market of the Red Sea Souk, the industry platform of the Red Sea International Film Festival.
The project market is split into two sections: 12 projects in the market alone, with a further 11 market projects that have been developed in the Red Sea Lodge throughout the year, in workshops in partnership with the TorinoFilmLab.
Scroll down for the full list of projects
All market projects will compete for three cash prizes,...
Projects from US filmmaker Lofty Nathan and Italian-Iraqi director Haider Rashid are among the 23 titles selected for the project market of the Red Sea Souk, the industry platform of the Red Sea International Film Festival.
The project market is split into two sections: 12 projects in the market alone, with a further 11 market projects that have been developed in the Red Sea Lodge throughout the year, in workshops in partnership with the TorinoFilmLab.
Scroll down for the full list of projects
All market projects will compete for three cash prizes,...
- 10/27/2022
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Netflix has previewed a selection of upcoming films and shows aimed at the Arab world and hailing from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Egypt, and Jordan.
The global platform has been steadily making inroads into the Middle East and North Africa since 2015, in the face of fierce competition from local players such as Mbc’s Shahid VIP and Starzplay.
The new productions, mainly due to launch in 2023, include Saudi Arabian feature Alkhallat+, a satirical suspense film based on the hit online show Alkhallat, which was first released in 2017 and received more than 1.5 billion views across YouTube and social media.
The feature is one of the first productions to come down the pipeline under an eight-picture deal with burgeoning Saudi Arabian studio Telfaz11, signed in November 2020.
“The film will feature four exciting comeback stories of social deception and trickery in four unlikely places, bringing the best of this beloved Saudi show to life,...
The global platform has been steadily making inroads into the Middle East and North Africa since 2015, in the face of fierce competition from local players such as Mbc’s Shahid VIP and Starzplay.
The new productions, mainly due to launch in 2023, include Saudi Arabian feature Alkhallat+, a satirical suspense film based on the hit online show Alkhallat, which was first released in 2017 and received more than 1.5 billion views across YouTube and social media.
The feature is one of the first productions to come down the pipeline under an eight-picture deal with burgeoning Saudi Arabian studio Telfaz11, signed in November 2020.
“The film will feature four exciting comeback stories of social deception and trickery in four unlikely places, bringing the best of this beloved Saudi show to life,...
- 10/6/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Arab Stars of Tomorrow spotlights six talents from the Middle East and North Africa who are making their mark on the global stage.
In our fourth edition of Arab Stars of Tomorrow, Screen International celebrates six of the most exciting talents to emerge this year from the Middle East and North Africa. Egyptian director Sameh Alaa, Palestinian-Jordanian actress Tara Abboud, Saudi director Hana Al Omair, Lebanese actress Stephanie Atala, Moroccan actor Brice Bexter El Glaoui and Algerian actor Mehdi Ramdani are the breakout names of 2020.
Click on the links below to read the profiles of this year’s stars, and...
In our fourth edition of Arab Stars of Tomorrow, Screen International celebrates six of the most exciting talents to emerge this year from the Middle East and North Africa. Egyptian director Sameh Alaa, Palestinian-Jordanian actress Tara Abboud, Saudi director Hana Al Omair, Lebanese actress Stephanie Atala, Moroccan actor Brice Bexter El Glaoui and Algerian actor Mehdi Ramdani are the breakout names of 2020.
Click on the links below to read the profiles of this year’s stars, and...
- 12/8/2020
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
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