The Arab Cinema Center has published this year's “Golden 101”, its annual list of the 101 most influential figures in Arab cinema in its 22nd edition of Arab Cinema Magazine, which is being circulated at the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival and can be accessed on the Marché du Film website.
Celebrating individuals and institutions who have made the most significant impact on the Arab film industry over the past twelve months, this year's Golden 101 comprises of 13 directors, 16 producers, 14 actors, five crew members, 18 distributors from 12 institutions, 12 executives from 10 governmental cinema institutions, 11 executives from seven video-on-demand platforms, 11 representatives from seven festivals, and seven executives from film financing institutions.
Commenting on this year's Golden 101 list, Colin Brown, Mad Solutions' Managing Partner for International Operations said; “These are the artists, artisans, and power brokers who have distinguished themselves this past year – and the rest of the world should pay attention to them if...
Celebrating individuals and institutions who have made the most significant impact on the Arab film industry over the past twelve months, this year's Golden 101 comprises of 13 directors, 16 producers, 14 actors, five crew members, 18 distributors from 12 institutions, 12 executives from 10 governmental cinema institutions, 11 executives from seven video-on-demand platforms, 11 representatives from seven festivals, and seven executives from film financing institutions.
Commenting on this year's Golden 101 list, Colin Brown, Mad Solutions' Managing Partner for International Operations said; “These are the artists, artisans, and power brokers who have distinguished themselves this past year – and the rest of the world should pay attention to them if...
- 5/17/2024
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Mena distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment has acquired global distribution rights for Image Nation Abu Dhabi’s Saudi-Emirati family comedy Al Eid Eiden.
The film features Saudi star Fahad Al-Butairi alongside actress Emirati Meerra Al Midfa (The Monster) and Egyptian actor Shadi Alfons.
It follows a Saudi-Emirati family as they make the final preparations for a Eid getaway in Abu Dhabi. An unexpected turn of events on their day of travel changes things drastically for the parents, but not wanting to disappoint their three young children, they decide to go ahead as planned.
What ensues is a roller-coaster ride of comedic mishaps and misunderstandings as they hurtle through uncharted parenting territory, a theme park, and Eid gatherings with relatives. Through the chaos, they discover unity as a family.
Al Eid Eiden is set for a wide theatrical release across the UAE,...
The film features Saudi star Fahad Al-Butairi alongside actress Emirati Meerra Al Midfa (The Monster) and Egyptian actor Shadi Alfons.
It follows a Saudi-Emirati family as they make the final preparations for a Eid getaway in Abu Dhabi. An unexpected turn of events on their day of travel changes things drastically for the parents, but not wanting to disappoint their three young children, they decide to go ahead as planned.
What ensues is a roller-coaster ride of comedic mishaps and misunderstandings as they hurtle through uncharted parenting territory, a theme park, and Eid gatherings with relatives. Through the chaos, they discover unity as a family.
Al Eid Eiden is set for a wide theatrical release across the UAE,...
- 5/15/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Dubai-based Front Row Productions has acquired all rights to the story of Sally Hafez, the young woman who, in order to pay for her sister’s cancer treatment, walked into a Beirut bank and used a toy gun to take money from her savings account which had been locked due to Lebanon’s financial crisis.
Front Row Productions – which is a joint venture between prominent Mena region distribution companies Front Row Filmed Entertainment and Beirut-based Empire Entertainment – is planning to explore different aspects of the Hafez story “through feature films, TV series, docuseries and a podcast series.” They will look at “the various angles of Sally’s unique but relatable journey from a patriotic activist to a disenfranchised citizen taking it upon herself to be divisive,” the company said in a statement.
Starting in 2019, as the country fell into a deep economic crisis involving the downfall of its currency, Lebanon...
Front Row Productions – which is a joint venture between prominent Mena region distribution companies Front Row Filmed Entertainment and Beirut-based Empire Entertainment – is planning to explore different aspects of the Hafez story “through feature films, TV series, docuseries and a podcast series.” They will look at “the various angles of Sally’s unique but relatable journey from a patriotic activist to a disenfranchised citizen taking it upon herself to be divisive,” the company said in a statement.
Starting in 2019, as the country fell into a deep economic crisis involving the downfall of its currency, Lebanon...
- 4/4/2024
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Dubai-based Front Row Productions has acquired the rights to the life story of Sally Hafez, the Lebanese woman who stormed a bank to access her savings in September 2022 during Lebanon’s financial crisis, in which citizens were illegally restricted from drawing from their accounts due to an unofficial capital control imposed by Lebanese banks.
Hafez became an instant media figure following the raid, which she later explained had been conducted to access cash from her accounts to fund her sister’s cancer treatment.
Front Row has said it plans to explore different aspects of her story by creating a variety of media content through feature films, TV series, docu-series, and a podcast series by looking at the various angles of what they described as “Hafez’s unique but relatable journey from a patriotic activist to a disenfranchised citizen taking it upon herself to be divisive.”
Armed with her nephew’s...
Hafez became an instant media figure following the raid, which she later explained had been conducted to access cash from her accounts to fund her sister’s cancer treatment.
Front Row has said it plans to explore different aspects of her story by creating a variety of media content through feature films, TV series, docu-series, and a podcast series by looking at the various angles of what they described as “Hafez’s unique but relatable journey from a patriotic activist to a disenfranchised citizen taking it upon herself to be divisive.”
Armed with her nephew’s...
- 4/4/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
A planned international rerelease of Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles’ “City of God” will kick off from the Middle East and North Africa (Mena), marking the 2002 cult crime drama’s first theatrical outing in the region.
Prominent Dubai-based distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment has partnered with Paris-based distributor The Festival Agency – which in turn acquired the “City of God” rerelease rights from Wild Bunch – on what it said marks the beginning of many rereleases planned by Front Row going forward.
“The team behind Front Row is committed to rereleasing classics and cult films, especially in Saudi Arabia where these films were not screened theatrically,” Front Row said in a statement.
Saudi Arabia, which in 2018 removed its 35-year-old religion-related ban on moviegoing, is now the region’s top theatrical market.
“City of God,” which is based on real events and weaves together tales of a group of kids growing up between the...
Prominent Dubai-based distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment has partnered with Paris-based distributor The Festival Agency – which in turn acquired the “City of God” rerelease rights from Wild Bunch – on what it said marks the beginning of many rereleases planned by Front Row going forward.
“The team behind Front Row is committed to rereleasing classics and cult films, especially in Saudi Arabia where these films were not screened theatrically,” Front Row said in a statement.
Saudi Arabia, which in 2018 removed its 35-year-old religion-related ban on moviegoing, is now the region’s top theatrical market.
“City of God,” which is based on real events and weaves together tales of a group of kids growing up between the...
- 2/12/2024
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Middle East distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment is gearing up to theatrically release iconic Oscar-nominated Rio de Janeiro gangland drama City of God across the Gulf countries of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for the first time.
Co-directed by Brazilian directors Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund, the movie made waves back in 2002 for its realistic depiction of the rise of gang violence in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro with a young unprofessional cast.
At the time, Dubai-based Front Row originally released the film straight to DVD in the Gulf due to a variety of local restrictions but some two decades later it has set a theatrical re-release in a sign of how the region is opening up.
The planned February 22 Gulf launch coincides with the 21st anniversary of the movie’s 2003 theatrical release following its Out of Competition world premiere at Cannes in...
Co-directed by Brazilian directors Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund, the movie made waves back in 2002 for its realistic depiction of the rise of gang violence in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro with a young unprofessional cast.
At the time, Dubai-based Front Row originally released the film straight to DVD in the Gulf due to a variety of local restrictions but some two decades later it has set a theatrical re-release in a sign of how the region is opening up.
The planned February 22 Gulf launch coincides with the 21st anniversary of the movie’s 2003 theatrical release following its Out of Competition world premiere at Cannes in...
- 2/12/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Ali Kalthami’s feature debut received its premiere at Toronto.
Saudi thriller Mandoob has broken the local box office record for a homegrown title and beat Warner Bros tentpole Wonka to top the weekend box office.
The film took $1.58m from 114,000 admissions following its release across Ksa on December 14. This makes it the highest opening for a local title since Saudi Arabia ended a 35-year ban on operating cinemas in December 2017.
The record was previously held by wrestling comedy Sattar, which opened with 63,000 admissions in December 2022. Mandoob also scored the second biggest opening for an Arabic film in the territory,...
Saudi thriller Mandoob has broken the local box office record for a homegrown title and beat Warner Bros tentpole Wonka to top the weekend box office.
The film took $1.58m from 114,000 admissions following its release across Ksa on December 14. This makes it the highest opening for a local title since Saudi Arabia ended a 35-year ban on operating cinemas in December 2017.
The record was previously held by wrestling comedy Sattar, which opened with 63,000 admissions in December 2022. Mandoob also scored the second biggest opening for an Arabic film in the territory,...
- 12/18/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Saudi director Ali Kalthami’s thriller Night Courier (Mandoob) has posted a record-breaking opening at home, generating 114,000 admissions for a $1.58 million gross to beat Warner Bros. blockbuster Wonka.
Front Row Arabia, the joint distribution label of Front Row Filmed Entertainment and local exhibitor muvi Cinemas, launched the title theatrically in all of Saudi Arabia’s 63 cinema theatres on 121 screens on December 14.
Wonka, which also opened in Saudi on December 14, drew roughly 38,000 spectators for a $616,000 gross to come in second, followed by Studio Ghibli’s The Boy And The Heron.
Night Courier is the latest production from rising content company Telfaz11, which is already riding high this year on the back of the success of its freestyle wrestling comedy Sattar.
The opening numbers for Night Courier trump those of Sattar, which previously held the opening record for a Saudi film. That film, which was also handled by Front Row Arabia, drew...
Front Row Arabia, the joint distribution label of Front Row Filmed Entertainment and local exhibitor muvi Cinemas, launched the title theatrically in all of Saudi Arabia’s 63 cinema theatres on 121 screens on December 14.
Wonka, which also opened in Saudi on December 14, drew roughly 38,000 spectators for a $616,000 gross to come in second, followed by Studio Ghibli’s The Boy And The Heron.
Night Courier is the latest production from rising content company Telfaz11, which is already riding high this year on the back of the success of its freestyle wrestling comedy Sattar.
The opening numbers for Night Courier trump those of Sattar, which previously held the opening record for a Saudi film. That film, which was also handled by Front Row Arabia, drew...
- 12/18/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Front Row Takes Mena Distribution for Saudi Drama ‘Norah’ in Competition at Red Sea Fest (Exclusive)
Dubai-based distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment has acquired Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region distribution rights to groundbreaking Saudi drama “Norah,” which world premiered in competition at the Red Sea Film Festival.
Directed by pioneering Saudi director Tawfik Alzaidi, making his feature film debut, “Norah” is set in 1990s Saudi Arabia, when conservatism was at its height and all forms of art and painting were banned for religion-related reasons.
The film’s titular character, played by Saudi newcomer Maria Bahrawi, is an illiterate orphaned young woman who lives in a remote village where she faces an arranged marriage in which she will be trapped and has a need for self expression. She intersects with an artist named Nader, played by Saudi star Yaqoub Alfarhan (“Rashash”), who has given up painting and moved to the village to be a schoolteacher. This chaste encounter unleashes in “Norah” a passion for art and,...
Directed by pioneering Saudi director Tawfik Alzaidi, making his feature film debut, “Norah” is set in 1990s Saudi Arabia, when conservatism was at its height and all forms of art and painting were banned for religion-related reasons.
The film’s titular character, played by Saudi newcomer Maria Bahrawi, is an illiterate orphaned young woman who lives in a remote village where she faces an arranged marriage in which she will be trapped and has a need for self expression. She intersects with an artist named Nader, played by Saudi star Yaqoub Alfarhan (“Rashash”), who has given up painting and moved to the village to be a schoolteacher. This chaste encounter unleashes in “Norah” a passion for art and,...
- 12/6/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
International producers can count on help from the U.S. embassy in Saudi Arabia to take advantage of an “extraordinary explosion” in culture and film, U.S Ambassador Michael Ratney told Variety during the third edition of the Red Sea Film Festival. He said the ambition and drive of the Saudi film industry was an opportunity for international talent.
“These last five years have seen just an extraordinary explosion in the cultural space, using film, arts of all sorts,” Ratney said. Coupled with what he dubbed “a defining characteristic of Saudi Arabia, which is extraordinary ambition,” the development of a domestic film industry keen to attract international film productions was creating opportunities not seen before.
“For us, as the U.S. Embassy, as the U.S. government, it presents opportunities. There are film industries all over the world — and here [at the festival] we have a lot of Americans from the U.S. film industry,...
“These last five years have seen just an extraordinary explosion in the cultural space, using film, arts of all sorts,” Ratney said. Coupled with what he dubbed “a defining characteristic of Saudi Arabia, which is extraordinary ambition,” the development of a domestic film industry keen to attract international film productions was creating opportunities not seen before.
“For us, as the U.S. Embassy, as the U.S. government, it presents opportunities. There are film industries all over the world — and here [at the festival] we have a lot of Americans from the U.S. film industry,...
- 12/5/2023
- by Nick Holdsworth
- Variety Film + TV
The moves comes as the leading Mena distributor ramps up activity.
Dubai-based distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment has promoted Nicolas Torloting, Carine Chaiban and Elie Touma to partners as the company increases activity in the region.
The trio joined in early 2019 as part of a revamp of the company, which is one of the leading distributors of independent and genre films in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena). Torloting is Front Row’s COO, with Chaiban heading post-theatrical sales and Touma leading acquisitions and theatrical distribution.
The company, founded by Gianluca Chakra in 2003, handles the release of more than 200 films per year,...
Dubai-based distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment has promoted Nicolas Torloting, Carine Chaiban and Elie Touma to partners as the company increases activity in the region.
The trio joined in early 2019 as part of a revamp of the company, which is one of the leading distributors of independent and genre films in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena). Torloting is Front Row’s COO, with Chaiban heading post-theatrical sales and Touma leading acquisitions and theatrical distribution.
The company, founded by Gianluca Chakra in 2003, handles the release of more than 200 films per year,...
- 12/4/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region indie distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment is promoting company execs Nicolas Torloting, Carine Chaiban and Elie Touma to partners as it ramps up operations.
The trio joined the company, headed by Gianluca Chakra, in early 2019 as part of an initial revamp. Torloting, a former Disney exec in the region, is currently Front Row’s COO, while Chaiban, who is an acquisitions and distribution expert, heads post-theatrical sales and Touma is in charge of acquisitions and theatrical distribution. The announcement was made during Saudi Arabia’s ongoing Red Sea Film Festival. Front Row recently scored big at the Saudi box office with the wrestling comedy “Sattar,” released by Front Row Arabia via its joint venture with leading local exhibitor Muvi Cinemas.
Amid the region’s rapidly evolving film distribution landscape, Front Row has grown to establish itself as one of the leading players in...
The trio joined the company, headed by Gianluca Chakra, in early 2019 as part of an initial revamp. Torloting, a former Disney exec in the region, is currently Front Row’s COO, while Chaiban, who is an acquisitions and distribution expert, heads post-theatrical sales and Touma is in charge of acquisitions and theatrical distribution. The announcement was made during Saudi Arabia’s ongoing Red Sea Film Festival. Front Row recently scored big at the Saudi box office with the wrestling comedy “Sattar,” released by Front Row Arabia via its joint venture with leading local exhibitor Muvi Cinemas.
Amid the region’s rapidly evolving film distribution landscape, Front Row has grown to establish itself as one of the leading players in...
- 12/4/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Pan Middle East and North African film distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment has promoted staffers Nicolas Torloting, Carine Chaiban and Elie Touma to partners.
The trio originally joined the Dubai-based company in early 2019 as part of a revamp.
Torloting is currently Front Row’s COO, while Chaiban heads post-theatrical sales and Touma is in charge of Acquisitions & Theatrical Distribution.
“It’s been and is an absolute joy to work with the guys who fully understand and support the Front Row vision and have been vital to the company’s expansion in both the distribution and production arena,” said Front Row founer and CEO Gianluca Chakra
Launched by Chakra, Front Row has successfully navigated the fast-changing Mena market over the past two decades to become one of the leading distributors in the region.
It was the first Mena distributor to premiere films day & date during the Covid pandemic and curate collections...
The trio originally joined the Dubai-based company in early 2019 as part of a revamp.
Torloting is currently Front Row’s COO, while Chaiban heads post-theatrical sales and Touma is in charge of Acquisitions & Theatrical Distribution.
“It’s been and is an absolute joy to work with the guys who fully understand and support the Front Row vision and have been vital to the company’s expansion in both the distribution and production arena,” said Front Row founer and CEO Gianluca Chakra
Launched by Chakra, Front Row has successfully navigated the fast-changing Mena market over the past two decades to become one of the leading distributors in the region.
It was the first Mena distributor to premiere films day & date during the Covid pandemic and curate collections...
- 12/4/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Untamed Talent, a management and production company led by former Mister Smith Entertainment executive Antone Saliba, is launching with the backing of Dubai-based Front Row Productions, a joint venture of leading Middle East distribution companies Front Row Filmed Entertainment and Empire Entertainment.
Front Row Productions will provide capital and strategic value to support Untamed Talent’s goals to innovate new business models covering the South West Asia and North Africa region, the fastest-growing entertainment market in the world. The focus will be not only on representing filmmakers from established Middle East industry hubs of Egypt and Saudi, it will also identify, develop and promote talent from traditionally underrepresented countries within the region such as Jordan, Morocco, Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey and Iran.
Untamed will work on a non-exclusive basis with all production and distribution parties in the region, as well as U.S. and international studios and streamers to maximize opportunities for its clients.
Front Row Productions will provide capital and strategic value to support Untamed Talent’s goals to innovate new business models covering the South West Asia and North Africa region, the fastest-growing entertainment market in the world. The focus will be not only on representing filmmakers from established Middle East industry hubs of Egypt and Saudi, it will also identify, develop and promote talent from traditionally underrepresented countries within the region such as Jordan, Morocco, Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey and Iran.
Untamed will work on a non-exclusive basis with all production and distribution parties in the region, as well as U.S. and international studios and streamers to maximize opportunities for its clients.
- 12/1/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
‘Hajjan’ director Abu Bakr Shawky and ‘Theeb’ producer’ Bassel Ghandour on initial clint roster.
Untamed Talent, a new management and production company led by former Mister Smith Entertainment executive Antone Saliba, has launched with the backing of Dubai-based Front Row Productions and unveiled its first roster of clients.
The firm will represent filmmakers from the established Middle East industry hubs of Egypt and Saudi as well as promoting talent from more underrepresented countries in South West Asia and North Africa such as Jordan, Morocco, Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Iran.
Front Row Productions, a joint venture of leading Middle East distribution...
Untamed Talent, a new management and production company led by former Mister Smith Entertainment executive Antone Saliba, has launched with the backing of Dubai-based Front Row Productions and unveiled its first roster of clients.
The firm will represent filmmakers from the established Middle East industry hubs of Egypt and Saudi as well as promoting talent from more underrepresented countries in South West Asia and North Africa such as Jordan, Morocco, Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Iran.
Front Row Productions, a joint venture of leading Middle East distribution...
- 12/1/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Former Mister Smith Entertainment exec Antone Saliba is spearheading a newly launched management and production company focused on the Middle East and the South West Asia and North Africa (Swana) region.
Untamed Entertainment, unveiled from the Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia, comes with backing from Dubai-based Front Row Productions, the joint venture between distribution companies Front Row Filmed Entertainment and Empire Entertainment.
Alongside representing filmmakers from the established Middle East industry hubs of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Untamed aims to identify, develop, and promote talent from traditionally underrepresented countries within the region, such as Jordan, Morocco, Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Iran. It plans to work on a non-exclusive basis with all production and distribution parties in the region, as well as U.S. and international studios and streamers.
The company’s opening roster of clients includes an impressive mix of critically acclaimed writers and directors, including Palme d...
Untamed Entertainment, unveiled from the Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia, comes with backing from Dubai-based Front Row Productions, the joint venture between distribution companies Front Row Filmed Entertainment and Empire Entertainment.
Alongside representing filmmakers from the established Middle East industry hubs of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Untamed aims to identify, develop, and promote talent from traditionally underrepresented countries within the region, such as Jordan, Morocco, Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Iran. It plans to work on a non-exclusive basis with all production and distribution parties in the region, as well as U.S. and international studios and streamers.
The company’s opening roster of clients includes an impressive mix of critically acclaimed writers and directors, including Palme d...
- 12/1/2023
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Former Mister Smith sales executive Antone Saliba has launched management and production company Untamed Talent, with the backing of Dubai-based Front Row Productions.
The latter company, which is a joint venture of leading Middle East distribution companies Front Row Filmed Entertainment and Empire Entertainment, will provide capital and strategic value for the new banner.
Saliba, who was a sales and acquisitions executive under David Garrett at Mister Smith, wants to create new content business models for the fast-growing entertainment sectors of the Swana region, covering Southwest Asia and North Africa.
As well as representing filmmakers from the established Mena industry hubs of Egypt and Saudi, the new company will also identify, develop, and promote talent from traditionally underrepresented countries within the region such as Jordan, Morocco, Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey and Iran.
The company will work on a non-exclusive basis with production and distribution parties in the region, as well as U.
The latter company, which is a joint venture of leading Middle East distribution companies Front Row Filmed Entertainment and Empire Entertainment, will provide capital and strategic value for the new banner.
Saliba, who was a sales and acquisitions executive under David Garrett at Mister Smith, wants to create new content business models for the fast-growing entertainment sectors of the Swana region, covering Southwest Asia and North Africa.
As well as representing filmmakers from the established Mena industry hubs of Egypt and Saudi, the new company will also identify, develop, and promote talent from traditionally underrepresented countries within the region such as Jordan, Morocco, Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey and Iran.
The company will work on a non-exclusive basis with production and distribution parties in the region, as well as U.
- 12/1/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Front Row Filmed Entertainment has acquired Middle East and North African (Mena) rights for Japanese animation maestro Hayao Miyazak’s The Boy And The Heron.
The Dubai-based company will release the Studio Ghibli title theatrically in the region on December 14.
The deal follows the feature’s international premiere as the opening film of the Toronto Film Festival on September 8.
The Mena deal was brokered by Studio Ghibli’s long-time sales agents Goodfellas.
Front Row has represented the entire Studio Ghibli library in the Mena for over two decades including classics such as the Academy Award winning Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle and Ponyo.
Front Row pioneered the animation space across the Mena by introducing the Studio Ghibli library on both theatrical and Home Video formats.
It has since successfully rolled out a string of Japanese films and TV series which include the Dragonball features and One Piece: Red which...
The Dubai-based company will release the Studio Ghibli title theatrically in the region on December 14.
The deal follows the feature’s international premiere as the opening film of the Toronto Film Festival on September 8.
The Mena deal was brokered by Studio Ghibli’s long-time sales agents Goodfellas.
Front Row has represented the entire Studio Ghibli library in the Mena for over two decades including classics such as the Academy Award winning Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle and Ponyo.
Front Row pioneered the animation space across the Mena by introducing the Studio Ghibli library on both theatrical and Home Video formats.
It has since successfully rolled out a string of Japanese films and TV series which include the Dragonball features and One Piece: Red which...
- 9/19/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
The Teacher, the feature debut of British-Palestinian director Farah Nabulsi that recently had it world premiere in Toronto, has been acquired by Front Row Filmed Entertainment for the Middle East and North Africa.
The deal marks the second collaboration between Nabulsi and Front Row, with the Dubai-based banner having distributed and globally sold her previous short film The Present to Netflix, prior to it landing an BAFTA award and an Oscar nomination.
Set and shot in the West Bank city of Nablus and staring Saleh Bakri (Alam, The Blue Caftan) and Imogen Poots (The Father, HBO’s I Know This Much Is True), The Teacher follows the story of a Palestinian school teacher as he struggles to reconcile his life-threatening commitment to political resistance with his emotional support for one of his students and the chance of a new romantic relationship with a British volunteer worker. Sawsan Asfari (Hany Abu-Assad...
The deal marks the second collaboration between Nabulsi and Front Row, with the Dubai-based banner having distributed and globally sold her previous short film The Present to Netflix, prior to it landing an BAFTA award and an Oscar nomination.
Set and shot in the West Bank city of Nablus and staring Saleh Bakri (Alam, The Blue Caftan) and Imogen Poots (The Father, HBO’s I Know This Much Is True), The Teacher follows the story of a Palestinian school teacher as he struggles to reconcile his life-threatening commitment to political resistance with his emotional support for one of his students and the chance of a new romantic relationship with a British volunteer worker. Sawsan Asfari (Hany Abu-Assad...
- 9/12/2023
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Dubai-based distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment has boarded Mena distribution of Palestinian drama The Teacher, which enjoyed a buzzy world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival over the weekend.
The acquisition marks the company’s second collaboration with British-Palestinian director Farah Nabulsi.
It previously distributed her Oscar-nominated and Bafta-winning short film The Present, selling it to streaming giant Netflix prior it buzzy 2021 awards season run.
The Teacher is produced by Sawsan Asfari (Huda’s Salon), Osama Bawardi and Nabulsi.
Saleh Bakri (The Blue Caftan) stars as a Palestinian school teacher, struggling to reconcile his life-threatening commitment to political resistance with his emotional support for one of his students and the chance of a new romantic relationship with a British volunteer worker, played by Imogen Poots.
The film was shot entirely in the West Bank in the city of Nablus.
The acquisition marks the company’s second collaboration with British-Palestinian director Farah Nabulsi.
It previously distributed her Oscar-nominated and Bafta-winning short film The Present, selling it to streaming giant Netflix prior it buzzy 2021 awards season run.
The Teacher is produced by Sawsan Asfari (Huda’s Salon), Osama Bawardi and Nabulsi.
Saleh Bakri (The Blue Caftan) stars as a Palestinian school teacher, struggling to reconcile his life-threatening commitment to political resistance with his emotional support for one of his students and the chance of a new romantic relationship with a British volunteer worker, played by Imogen Poots.
The film was shot entirely in the West Bank in the city of Nablus.
- 9/12/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
There was a shock at the top of the Saudi Arabian box office the first weekend of 2023.
Avatar: The Way of Water, in its third week of release and still a dominant force across the planet on its way to an overall haul in excess of $2.3 billion, was knocked off its perch by an unexpected assailant (and one wearing a multicolored luchador mask).
The new titleholder: Sattar, a Saudi Arabian family comedy about a depressed man who follows his dreams of becoming a freestyle wrestling champion. The film — which had bowed at the Red Sea Film Festival just a month earlier (and where, ironically, the subject of Saudi films not performing had been a talking point) — smashed box office records, earning $2.2 million over its first 12 days, instantly making it the highest-grossing Saudi movie of all time. Granted, the local film industry literally didn’t exist just a few years ago...
Avatar: The Way of Water, in its third week of release and still a dominant force across the planet on its way to an overall haul in excess of $2.3 billion, was knocked off its perch by an unexpected assailant (and one wearing a multicolored luchador mask).
The new titleholder: Sattar, a Saudi Arabian family comedy about a depressed man who follows his dreams of becoming a freestyle wrestling champion. The film — which had bowed at the Red Sea Film Festival just a month earlier (and where, ironically, the subject of Saudi films not performing had been a talking point) — smashed box office records, earning $2.2 million over its first 12 days, instantly making it the highest-grossing Saudi movie of all time. Granted, the local film industry literally didn’t exist just a few years ago...
- 8/1/2023
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Egyptian comedy “Beit El Ruby,” about social media’s disruptive impact on the life of a quirky family, has scored a strong opening weekend in Saudi Arabia, ousting “The Flash,” in its second frame, from the top spot.
The local farce led by Egyptian superstars Karim Abel Aziz and Kareem Mahmoud Abdel Aziz was released on June 22. It has scored roughly 73,000 admissions across Saudi Arabia, grossing more than $1.1 million in its first frame. “The Flash,” by contrast, garnered a combined total of 91,000 admissions in Saudi cinemas in its first two frames.
According to the film’s co-distributor Front Row Arabia, the “Beit El Ruby” bow marks the fifth highest opening for an Arabic film in Saudi, which is the Middle East’s top theatrical movie market.
In “Beit El Ruby,” a man named Ibrahim Al Ruby and his family suddenly decide to leave the bustling city where they live following...
The local farce led by Egyptian superstars Karim Abel Aziz and Kareem Mahmoud Abdel Aziz was released on June 22. It has scored roughly 73,000 admissions across Saudi Arabia, grossing more than $1.1 million in its first frame. “The Flash,” by contrast, garnered a combined total of 91,000 admissions in Saudi cinemas in its first two frames.
According to the film’s co-distributor Front Row Arabia, the “Beit El Ruby” bow marks the fifth highest opening for an Arabic film in Saudi, which is the Middle East’s top theatrical movie market.
In “Beit El Ruby,” a man named Ibrahim Al Ruby and his family suddenly decide to leave the bustling city where they live following...
- 6/27/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Sylvester Stallone has put into motion a reboot of the 1993 classic ‘Cliffhanger’, in which he will reprise his role of mountain climber and rescue ranger, Gabe Walker.
‘Angel Has Fallen’ and ‘Greenland’ filmmaker Ric Roman Waugh is set to direct the reboot from a script by Mark Bianculli, a writer-consulting producer on Amazon series ‘Hunters.’
“Growing up with the biggest action films of the ’80s and ’90s, working on many of them myself, Cliffhanger was by far one of my favourite spectacles,” said Waugh in a statement. “To be at the helm of the next chapter, scaling the Italian Alps with the legend himself, Sylvester Stallone, is a dream come true. It’s going to be a great challenge and blast taking this franchise to new heights, a responsibility I don’t take lightly.”
Neal H. Moritz’s Original Film, best known for the multi-billion-dollar ‘Fast and the Furious’ franchise,...
‘Angel Has Fallen’ and ‘Greenland’ filmmaker Ric Roman Waugh is set to direct the reboot from a script by Mark Bianculli, a writer-consulting producer on Amazon series ‘Hunters.’
“Growing up with the biggest action films of the ’80s and ’90s, working on many of them myself, Cliffhanger was by far one of my favourite spectacles,” said Waugh in a statement. “To be at the helm of the next chapter, scaling the Italian Alps with the legend himself, Sylvester Stallone, is a dream come true. It’s going to be a great challenge and blast taking this franchise to new heights, a responsibility I don’t take lightly.”
Neal H. Moritz’s Original Film, best known for the multi-billion-dollar ‘Fast and the Furious’ franchise,...
- 5/2/2023
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Sylvester Stallone is ready to scale new heights with a reboot of his 1993 action thriller, Cliffhanger.
Ric Roman Waugh, who helmed action movies Angel Has Fallen and Greenland, is set to direct the feature which will see Stallone reprise his role of mountain climber and rescue ranger, Gabe Walker. The reboot has a script by Mark Bianculli, a writer-consulting producer on Amazon series Hunters.
Neal H. Moritz’s Original Film, best known for the multi-billion-dollar The Fast and the Furious franchise, will produce with production and sales outfit Rocket Science as well Stallone and Braden Aftergood’s Balboa Productions. Rocket Science is launching sales during this month’s Cannes film market. CAA Media will represent North American and Chinese rights.
Written by Michael France with a rewrite by Stallone, Cliffhanger featured Stallone as Walker, a man haunted by a rescue gone wrong, who finds himself called up for a rescue with his former colleagues.
Ric Roman Waugh, who helmed action movies Angel Has Fallen and Greenland, is set to direct the feature which will see Stallone reprise his role of mountain climber and rescue ranger, Gabe Walker. The reboot has a script by Mark Bianculli, a writer-consulting producer on Amazon series Hunters.
Neal H. Moritz’s Original Film, best known for the multi-billion-dollar The Fast and the Furious franchise, will produce with production and sales outfit Rocket Science as well Stallone and Braden Aftergood’s Balboa Productions. Rocket Science is launching sales during this month’s Cannes film market. CAA Media will represent North American and Chinese rights.
Written by Michael France with a rewrite by Stallone, Cliffhanger featured Stallone as Walker, a man haunted by a rescue gone wrong, who finds himself called up for a rescue with his former colleagues.
- 5/1/2023
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Ric Roman Waugh to direct, Neal H. Moritz’s Original Film among producers.
Rocket Science is launching international sales in Cannes on a Cliffhanger reboot which will see Sylvester Stallone reprise his role from the 1993 action thriller and Ric Roman Waugh direct.
Neal H. Moritz’s Original Film (Fast X) will produce with Rocket Science and Stallone and Braden Aftergood’s Balboa Productions. Casting is currently underway for a lead to headline the ensemble cast.
Stallone starred in the original as Gabe Walker, a former search and rescue mountain climber who gets caught up with criminals searching for suitcases full...
Rocket Science is launching international sales in Cannes on a Cliffhanger reboot which will see Sylvester Stallone reprise his role from the 1993 action thriller and Ric Roman Waugh direct.
Neal H. Moritz’s Original Film (Fast X) will produce with Rocket Science and Stallone and Braden Aftergood’s Balboa Productions. Casting is currently underway for a lead to headline the ensemble cast.
Stallone starred in the original as Gabe Walker, a former search and rescue mountain climber who gets caught up with criminals searching for suitcases full...
- 5/1/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Hang on for some truly nail-biting news: Sylvester Stallone will reprise his role as Gabe Walker in a reboot of his 1993 mount-climbing thriller “Cliffhanger.” He’ll also produce. Taking over for director Renny Harlin is Ric Roman Waugh (the upcoming “Kandahar”). Neal H. Moritz’s Original Film will produce with Rocket Science and Stallone and Braden Aftergood’s Balboa Productions, and sales will launch in Cannes this month.
Stallone starred in the original film as Walker, a ranger in the Colorado Rockies suffering from trauma following a fatal accident who soon gets embroiled in a scheme involving a sinister former Military Intelligence officer who is after some missing Treasury money. Since the money was lost in the mountains, the bad guys turn to Walker to try and find it.
Also Read:
‘Robocop,’ ‘Legally Blonde’ and ‘Stargate’ Projects in Development as Amazon Studios Leverages MGM Titles
“Growing up with the biggest...
Stallone starred in the original film as Walker, a ranger in the Colorado Rockies suffering from trauma following a fatal accident who soon gets embroiled in a scheme involving a sinister former Military Intelligence officer who is after some missing Treasury money. Since the money was lost in the mountains, the bad guys turn to Walker to try and find it.
Also Read:
‘Robocop,’ ‘Legally Blonde’ and ‘Stargate’ Projects in Development as Amazon Studios Leverages MGM Titles
“Growing up with the biggest...
- 5/1/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Sylvester Stallone (Tulsa King) is set to return for a sequel to the 1993 action thriller Cliffhanger, which Ric Roman Waugh (Angel Has Fallen) will direct from a script by Mark Bianculli (Hunters).
Neal H. Moritz’s Original Film (Fast & Furious franchise) will produce with Rocket Science, as well as Stallone and Braden Aftergood’s Balboa Productions. Casting for other roles is currently underway.
While no details as to the plot of the sequel have been divulged, Stallone will reprise his character of Ranger Gabriel “Gabe” Walker, from the original film directed by Renny Harlin. The TriStar Pictures title, which premiered in Cannes and grossed over $255M worldwide, watched as Walker looked to help rescue a band of stranded hikers, only to discover that they were in fact a gang of violent criminals looking to recover their missing $100M following a plane crash.
Michael France and Stallone co-wrote the script for the original film,...
Neal H. Moritz’s Original Film (Fast & Furious franchise) will produce with Rocket Science, as well as Stallone and Braden Aftergood’s Balboa Productions. Casting for other roles is currently underway.
While no details as to the plot of the sequel have been divulged, Stallone will reprise his character of Ranger Gabriel “Gabe” Walker, from the original film directed by Renny Harlin. The TriStar Pictures title, which premiered in Cannes and grossed over $255M worldwide, watched as Walker looked to help rescue a band of stranded hikers, only to discover that they were in fact a gang of violent criminals looking to recover their missing $100M following a plane crash.
Michael France and Stallone co-wrote the script for the original film,...
- 5/1/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Saudi Arabian family comedy Sattar, set against the world of freestyle wrestling, has continued its record-breaking run at home to become one of the top five highest-grossing movies in the territory ever.
Since its release on December 29, the film has sold 723,000 tickets for a box office gross of $9.2M to date.
Distributor Front Row Arabia said that the film now sits in the fifth slot in Saudi Arabia’s historic box office charts after Top Gun: Maverick ($22.6M), Spider-Man: No Way Home ($17.4M) and two Egyptian films, Bahebek ($15.7M) and Waafet Regala ($15.6M).
The success comes just five years after the lifting of Saudi Arabia’s 35-year cinema ban at the end of 2017, and bodes well for the country’s burgeoning local filmmaking scene.
Kuwaiti filmmaker Abdullah Al Arak directs a cast led by stars popular Saudi actor and stand-up comedian Ibrahim Al Hajjaj, best known for the hit action...
Since its release on December 29, the film has sold 723,000 tickets for a box office gross of $9.2M to date.
Distributor Front Row Arabia said that the film now sits in the fifth slot in Saudi Arabia’s historic box office charts after Top Gun: Maverick ($22.6M), Spider-Man: No Way Home ($17.4M) and two Egyptian films, Bahebek ($15.7M) and Waafet Regala ($15.6M).
The success comes just five years after the lifting of Saudi Arabia’s 35-year cinema ban at the end of 2017, and bodes well for the country’s burgeoning local filmmaking scene.
Kuwaiti filmmaker Abdullah Al Arak directs a cast led by stars popular Saudi actor and stand-up comedian Ibrahim Al Hajjaj, best known for the hit action...
- 3/2/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Saudi feelgood comedy-drama Sattar, which has enjoyed a record-breaking theatrical run at home, will hit U.K. cinemas next month in a release spearheaded by Mena region distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment.
Sattar, which is set in the world of freestyle wrestling, will be only the second Saudi Arabian film to be released theatrically in the U.K. after Haifa al-Mansour’s ground-breaking 2012 international breakout Wadjda.
The film will launch on around 10 U.K. screens in London and other major U.K. cities, including Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Leeds, on February 10.
Front Row, which has struck a direct distribution, revenue-sharing deal with Odeon Cinemas, is aiming to catch the wave of the film’s success in Saudi Arabia.
The target audience is Saudi Arabian and Gulf citizens living in the U.K. but Front Row expects it to appeal to a wider Arabic-speaking audience as well as local spectators without Mena ties.
Sattar, which is set in the world of freestyle wrestling, will be only the second Saudi Arabian film to be released theatrically in the U.K. after Haifa al-Mansour’s ground-breaking 2012 international breakout Wadjda.
The film will launch on around 10 U.K. screens in London and other major U.K. cities, including Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Leeds, on February 10.
Front Row, which has struck a direct distribution, revenue-sharing deal with Odeon Cinemas, is aiming to catch the wave of the film’s success in Saudi Arabia.
The target audience is Saudi Arabian and Gulf citizens living in the U.K. but Front Row expects it to appeal to a wider Arabic-speaking audience as well as local spectators without Mena ties.
- 1/25/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Saudi wrestling comedy “Sattar” is scoring record-breaking results at the home box office where the satiric actioner has obtained over 159,000 admissions and grossed 2.2 million since its Dec. 29 release.
The film has become the highest grossing local title since Saudi Arabia revoked a 35-year ban on the operation of commercial movie theaters in Dec. 2017.
Directed by Kuwaiti’s Abdullah Al Arak, “Sattar,” which launched positively in early December from the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah, has now rapidly bested the the 151,000 admissions pulled by Saudi Arabia’s previous record holder for a local title, “Born a King,” through its entire run. Released in 2020, “Born a King” is an inspirational biopic of Saudi King Faisal, set against the backdrop of his diplomatic mission as a young prince in London in 1919 at the tender age of 13 to plead for non-intervention in Arabia.
By contrast, “Sattar” stars Saudi actor and stand-up comedian Ibrahim Al Hajjaj...
The film has become the highest grossing local title since Saudi Arabia revoked a 35-year ban on the operation of commercial movie theaters in Dec. 2017.
Directed by Kuwaiti’s Abdullah Al Arak, “Sattar,” which launched positively in early December from the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah, has now rapidly bested the the 151,000 admissions pulled by Saudi Arabia’s previous record holder for a local title, “Born a King,” through its entire run. Released in 2020, “Born a King” is an inspirational biopic of Saudi King Faisal, set against the backdrop of his diplomatic mission as a young prince in London in 1919 at the tender age of 13 to plead for non-intervention in Arabia.
By contrast, “Sattar” stars Saudi actor and stand-up comedian Ibrahim Al Hajjaj...
- 1/9/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Saudi Arabian family comedy Sattar, about a depressed man who decides to pursue his dreams of becoming a freestyle wrestling champion, has set a new box office record for a local film at home.
The film has drawn 159,000 spectators for a gross of 2.2m over the course of its first 12 days on release to become the highest-grossing local film of all time in the territory, according to distributor Front Row Arabia, the joint distribution label between pan-Arab distributor Front Row Filmed and local exhibitor Muvi Cinema.
The distributor said that in its opening weekend, Sattar took the top slot from James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water, then on its third week of release, outpacing the blockbuster by more than 40 in terms of admissions and 32 in gross.
Front Row Arabia said that strong word of mouth meant the film title dropped just 11 on the second weekend, in spite of widespread thunderstorms across the country,...
The film has drawn 159,000 spectators for a gross of 2.2m over the course of its first 12 days on release to become the highest-grossing local film of all time in the territory, according to distributor Front Row Arabia, the joint distribution label between pan-Arab distributor Front Row Filmed and local exhibitor Muvi Cinema.
The distributor said that in its opening weekend, Sattar took the top slot from James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water, then on its third week of release, outpacing the blockbuster by more than 40 in terms of admissions and 32 in gross.
Front Row Arabia said that strong word of mouth meant the film title dropped just 11 on the second weekend, in spite of widespread thunderstorms across the country,...
- 1/9/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s been another challenging year in the world of content creation and the climate has arguably demanded more gumption and savviness from its leaders than ever before. With the business increasingly looking beyond U.S. shores for revenues and opportunities for growth, Deadline’s International Disruptors column continues to highlight some of the key executives and companies shaking up the offshore marketplace. These are the leaders who are thriving in the midst of the tidal changes so take a look back at 2022’s standouts below.
Arik Kneller
Founder of Israeli talent agency The Kneller Agency, Arik Kneller represents more than 250 clients across television, film, theatre and advertising with clients including two-time Oscar nominee and co-creator/director of HBO Series Our Boys Joseph Cedar, Fauda writer and Our Boys co-creator Noah Stollman and Shtisel writers and co-creators Ori Elon and Yehonatan Indursky. When founding the company more than 25 years ago,...
Arik Kneller
Founder of Israeli talent agency The Kneller Agency, Arik Kneller represents more than 250 clients across television, film, theatre and advertising with clients including two-time Oscar nominee and co-creator/director of HBO Series Our Boys Joseph Cedar, Fauda writer and Our Boys co-creator Noah Stollman and Shtisel writers and co-creators Ori Elon and Yehonatan Indursky. When founding the company more than 25 years ago,...
- 12/31/2022
- by Diana Lodderhose
- Deadline Film + TV
Dubai-based distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment has acquired all Mena rights for the Saudi Arabian drama Within Sand, which was the Jury Prize winner at the second Red Sea International Film Festival earlier this month.
Front Row will release the film theatrically in Saudi Arabia in the first quarter of 2023 under the Front Row Arabia label, its joint venture with leading local exhibitor Muvi Cinemas.
The sumptuously shot, desert epic revolves around a young tobacco merchant who breaks away from his trading convoy to get home quickly to his village, where his wife is about to have their first child.
Travelling alone, he’s ambushed by thieves who leave him for dead. His journey becomes a quest to survive in the wilderness with the added threat of a wolf dogging his footsteps.
The drama is Saudi filmmaker Moe Alatawi’s debut feature and features an all-Saudi cast led by Ra’ed Alshammari,...
Front Row will release the film theatrically in Saudi Arabia in the first quarter of 2023 under the Front Row Arabia label, its joint venture with leading local exhibitor Muvi Cinemas.
The sumptuously shot, desert epic revolves around a young tobacco merchant who breaks away from his trading convoy to get home quickly to his village, where his wife is about to have their first child.
Travelling alone, he’s ambushed by thieves who leave him for dead. His journey becomes a quest to survive in the wilderness with the added threat of a wolf dogging his footsteps.
The drama is Saudi filmmaker Moe Alatawi’s debut feature and features an all-Saudi cast led by Ra’ed Alshammari,...
- 12/21/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Front Row Filmed Entertainment, the Dubai-based distributor, has secured all Middle East and North African rights to Saudi Arabian feature Within Sand.
The feature from director Moe Alatawi recently had its world premiere at Saudi’s Red Sea Film Festival, where it won the jury prize, and marks the second Saudi film Front Row is distributing from the festival — which ran Dec. 1-10 — after recently picking up Abdullah Al Arak’s Sattar, produced by local powerhouse Telfaz11. Within Sand also marks the first Saudi film to be shot in Neom, the much-hyped mega-city currently being constructed in the northwest of the country.
Backed by the Saudi Film Commission, Neom- and Riyadh-based production company Alsarid Films, Within Sand tells the story of Snam, a 23-year-old tobacco merchant who breaks away from his trading convoy in order to get home quickly to his village, where...
Front Row Filmed Entertainment, the Dubai-based distributor, has secured all Middle East and North African rights to Saudi Arabian feature Within Sand.
The feature from director Moe Alatawi recently had its world premiere at Saudi’s Red Sea Film Festival, where it won the jury prize, and marks the second Saudi film Front Row is distributing from the festival — which ran Dec. 1-10 — after recently picking up Abdullah Al Arak’s Sattar, produced by local powerhouse Telfaz11. Within Sand also marks the first Saudi film to be shot in Neom, the much-hyped mega-city currently being constructed in the northwest of the country.
Backed by the Saudi Film Commission, Neom- and Riyadh-based production company Alsarid Films, Within Sand tells the story of Snam, a 23-year-old tobacco merchant who breaks away from his trading convoy in order to get home quickly to his village, where...
- 12/21/2022
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
All eyes are on Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning film industry as the second edition of its Red Sea International Film Festival continues to unfold this week in the port city of Jeddah, running from December 1 to 10.
The event has been playing host to an eye-popping roster of international, regional and local stars and filmmakers over the weekend, topped by the likes of Oliver Stone, Sharon Stone, Spike Lee, Guy Richie and Andrew Dominik.
The main endgame in the backdrop is to put the spotlight on the country’s film and TV sector, which has been expanding at pace, following the lifting of the country’s 35-year cinema ban at the end of 2017 as part of a larger strategy to open up the country’s economy and society.
In the space of five years, the country has built 580 screens, launched two major shooting locations in AlUla and Neom, and is steadily...
The event has been playing host to an eye-popping roster of international, regional and local stars and filmmakers over the weekend, topped by the likes of Oliver Stone, Sharon Stone, Spike Lee, Guy Richie and Andrew Dominik.
The main endgame in the backdrop is to put the spotlight on the country’s film and TV sector, which has been expanding at pace, following the lifting of the country’s 35-year cinema ban at the end of 2017 as part of a larger strategy to open up the country’s economy and society.
In the space of five years, the country has built 580 screens, launched two major shooting locations in AlUla and Neom, and is steadily...
- 12/5/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Mena-based distributor and producer Front Row Filmed Entertainment has acquired Mena rights for British-Palestinian filmmaker Basil Khalil’s feature debut A Gaza Weekend, ahead of its regional premiere at the Red International Film Festival this December.
The acquisition marks the third collaboration between Khalil and Front Row, as the company previously distributed his 2015 Academy Award and Palme d’Or-nominated short Ave Maria, which debuted in Cannes in 2015 and has also recently boarded Nour Shams, a short film by Saudi filmmaker Faiza Ambah and produced by Khalil.
International sales on the film, which world premiered in Toronto in September, are handled by London-based sales and production company Protagonist Pictures. The feature is produced by U.K.-Emirati producer Amina Dasmal and executive produced by Robin C. Fox.
The comedy-drama is set in a world where Israel is sealed off after a deadly virus outbreak and Gaza has become the safest place in the region.
The acquisition marks the third collaboration between Khalil and Front Row, as the company previously distributed his 2015 Academy Award and Palme d’Or-nominated short Ave Maria, which debuted in Cannes in 2015 and has also recently boarded Nour Shams, a short film by Saudi filmmaker Faiza Ambah and produced by Khalil.
International sales on the film, which world premiered in Toronto in September, are handled by London-based sales and production company Protagonist Pictures. The feature is produced by U.K.-Emirati producer Amina Dasmal and executive produced by Robin C. Fox.
The comedy-drama is set in a world where Israel is sealed off after a deadly virus outbreak and Gaza has become the safest place in the region.
- 11/29/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Dubai-based distributor and producer Front Row Filmed Entertainment has acquired Middle East and North Africa (Mena) rights to British-Palestinian filmmaker Basil Khalil’s action-packed drama “A Gaza Weekend” ahead of its regional premiere at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival.
Front Row, which is a prominent distributor of indie films in Mena region, picked up “Gaza Weekend” from London-based sales and production outfit Protagonist Pictures after it premiered positively at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.
Made by British-Emirati producer Amina Dasmal and Robin C. Fox, who executive produced, “Gaza Weekend” is set in a world where Israel is sealed off after a deadly virus outbreak and Gaza has become the safest spot in the region. British journalist (Stephen Mangan) and his Israeli girlfriend (Mouna Hawa) find themselves stuck on the wrong side of the border, needing the help of two Palestinian street merchants who promise them a...
Front Row, which is a prominent distributor of indie films in Mena region, picked up “Gaza Weekend” from London-based sales and production outfit Protagonist Pictures after it premiered positively at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.
Made by British-Emirati producer Amina Dasmal and Robin C. Fox, who executive produced, “Gaza Weekend” is set in a world where Israel is sealed off after a deadly virus outbreak and Gaza has become the safest spot in the region. British journalist (Stephen Mangan) and his Israeli girlfriend (Mouna Hawa) find themselves stuck on the wrong side of the border, needing the help of two Palestinian street merchants who promise them a...
- 11/29/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Dubai-based Front Row Filmed Entertainment has acquired all Middle East and North Africa rights to Oman-set drama “The Falconer,” co-directed by Adam Sjöberg and Seanne Winslow. The movie has been billed as the first international feature film shot entirely in the sultanate.
“Falconer” is a tale of two teenagers from different worlds, one a local villager named Tariq, the other a white Westerner named Cai, who are best friends. Together, they steal and sell zoo animals to raise money for the local boy’s sister to pay for a divorce from an abusive marriage.
Pic is produced by the directors and David Jacobson (“The Butler”) who sold the film directly to Front Row. Shot in both English and Arabic and starring newcomers Rami Zahar, Rupert Fennessy, and Noor Al Huda, “Falconer” had its world premiere at the Heartland International Film festival in Indianapolis, where it won the “Best Premiere” award.
“Falconer” is a tale of two teenagers from different worlds, one a local villager named Tariq, the other a white Westerner named Cai, who are best friends. Together, they steal and sell zoo animals to raise money for the local boy’s sister to pay for a divorce from an abusive marriage.
Pic is produced by the directors and David Jacobson (“The Butler”) who sold the film directly to Front Row. Shot in both English and Arabic and starring newcomers Rami Zahar, Rupert Fennessy, and Noor Al Huda, “Falconer” had its world premiere at the Heartland International Film festival in Indianapolis, where it won the “Best Premiere” award.
- 11/24/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Egyptian-American director Dina Amer’s politically sensitive drama “You Resemble Me,” the story of Hasna Aït Boulahcen who in 2015 was wrongly believed to be Europe’s first female suicide bomber, is getting a Middle East release via Front Row Filmed Entertainment.
Amer’s feature debut, which world premiered positively at the 2021 Venice Film Festival, is a deeply researched character study of the fragile young Muslim woman who became linked to the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris even though she didn’t participate in them. Aït Boulahcen died during an anti-terrorism raid alongside her cousin Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who was one of the ringleaders of the coordinated assaults that killed 130 people in the French capital, including 90 at the Bataclan theater.
Executive-produced by Spike Lee, Spike Jonze, Alma Har’el, and Riz Ahmed, “You Resemble Me” world premiered last year from the Venice Film Festival’s Venice Days section. Pic’s Middle East festival...
Amer’s feature debut, which world premiered positively at the 2021 Venice Film Festival, is a deeply researched character study of the fragile young Muslim woman who became linked to the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris even though she didn’t participate in them. Aït Boulahcen died during an anti-terrorism raid alongside her cousin Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who was one of the ringleaders of the coordinated assaults that killed 130 people in the French capital, including 90 at the Bataclan theater.
Executive-produced by Spike Lee, Spike Jonze, Alma Har’el, and Riz Ahmed, “You Resemble Me” world premiered last year from the Venice Film Festival’s Venice Days section. Pic’s Middle East festival...
- 9/19/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Dubai-based producer and distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment has acquired pan-Middle East and North Africa rights to Sundance 2022 titles Warsha and Sirens.
Directed by Lebanese-Syrian filmmaker Dania Bdeir, Warsha won Sundance’s Short Film Jury Award in the world cinema section..
Male belly dancer Mohammad Khansa plays a migrant working as a construction worker in Beirut, who finds a safe place to live out his secret passion on the top of one of the city’s tallest and most notoriously dangerous cranes.
Since its Sundance win, the film has played at more than 80 festivals and clinched a raft of awards.
Moroccan-u.S.filmmaker Rita Baghdadi’s documentary feature Sirens follows the electric guitar-playing co-founders of the Middle East’s first all-female metal band. Following its Sundance debut, the documentary also went on to play at a raft of international festivals.
Front Row said the acquisitions demonstrated the company’s commitment...
Directed by Lebanese-Syrian filmmaker Dania Bdeir, Warsha won Sundance’s Short Film Jury Award in the world cinema section..
Male belly dancer Mohammad Khansa plays a migrant working as a construction worker in Beirut, who finds a safe place to live out his secret passion on the top of one of the city’s tallest and most notoriously dangerous cranes.
Since its Sundance win, the film has played at more than 80 festivals and clinched a raft of awards.
Moroccan-u.S.filmmaker Rita Baghdadi’s documentary feature Sirens follows the electric guitar-playing co-founders of the Middle East’s first all-female metal band. Following its Sundance debut, the documentary also went on to play at a raft of international festivals.
Front Row said the acquisitions demonstrated the company’s commitment...
- 8/2/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Dubai-based Middle East distributor and producer Front Row Filmed Entertainment, which scored a major hit earlier this year with its local remake of Perfect Strangers for Netflix, has acquired the regional rights to two Sundance-bowing and gender-defying Arab films.
Sirens, exec produced by Maya Rudolph and Natasha Lyonne and directed by Moroccan-American filmmaker Rita Baghdadi, follows the story of Lilas and Shery, the co-founders and guitarists of the Middle-East’s first all-female metal band as they wrestle with friendship, sexuality and destruction in their pursuit of becoming Thrash metal rock stars.
The feature doc has played in over 40 festivals internationally so far in addition to Sundance, winning several awards along the way including the one in a million documentary award at the Sun Valley Film Festival, the special jury award for courage in filmmaking at the Florida Film Festival and the mermaid award...
Dubai-based Middle East distributor and producer Front Row Filmed Entertainment, which scored a major hit earlier this year with its local remake of Perfect Strangers for Netflix, has acquired the regional rights to two Sundance-bowing and gender-defying Arab films.
Sirens, exec produced by Maya Rudolph and Natasha Lyonne and directed by Moroccan-American filmmaker Rita Baghdadi, follows the story of Lilas and Shery, the co-founders and guitarists of the Middle-East’s first all-female metal band as they wrestle with friendship, sexuality and destruction in their pursuit of becoming Thrash metal rock stars.
The feature doc has played in over 40 festivals internationally so far in addition to Sundance, winning several awards along the way including the one in a million documentary award at the Sun Valley Film Festival, the special jury award for courage in filmmaking at the Florida Film Festival and the mermaid award...
- 8/2/2022
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Middle East and North Africa distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment has snapped up regional distribution rights for Saudi action picture Route 10, starring rising local talents Fatima AlBanawi and Baraa Alem.
The company is planning a wide theatrical launch in Saudi Arabia on July 28 via Front Row Arabia, its joint venture with the territory’s biggest home-grown exhibitor Muvi Cinemas.
The partners launched the label in early 2021 in response to the growing Saudi demand for feature film content for theatrical release in the wake of the territory’s lifting of its 35-year cinema ban at the end of 2017.
Front Row will also release the title in other Mena territories at the same time.
The film is among a growing body of Saudi feature productions to come to fruition over the last 12 months, as a local film industry begins to take root.
The Saudi box office, which is tipped to top an...
The company is planning a wide theatrical launch in Saudi Arabia on July 28 via Front Row Arabia, its joint venture with the territory’s biggest home-grown exhibitor Muvi Cinemas.
The partners launched the label in early 2021 in response to the growing Saudi demand for feature film content for theatrical release in the wake of the territory’s lifting of its 35-year cinema ban at the end of 2017.
Front Row will also release the title in other Mena territories at the same time.
The film is among a growing body of Saudi feature productions to come to fruition over the last 12 months, as a local film industry begins to take root.
The Saudi box office, which is tipped to top an...
- 6/28/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Dubai-based distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment has acquired all rights to upcoming high-octane Saudi thriller “Route 10,” starring rising local stars Fatima Al Banawi (“Al Shak”) and Baraa Alem (“The Book of Sun”).
A wide pan-regional release has been planned for July 28 via Front Row Arabia, the company’s joint-venture with leading Saudi exhibitor Muvi Cinemas.
Directed by Lebanon’s Omar Naim, best known for sci-fi drama “The Final Cut,” which starred Robin Williams and Mira Sorvino, “Route 10” is about two siblings named Maryam and Nasser who set out on a road trip through the desert from Riyadh to Abu Dhabi to attend their father’s wedding. In the desert, they are chased by an angry stranger in what turns out to be a frantic fight for their lives.
Fatima Al Banawi, who plays Maryam, is a Saudi multi-hyphenate whose first acting role in Mahmoud Sabbagh’s groundbreaking 2016 comedy “Barakah Meets...
A wide pan-regional release has been planned for July 28 via Front Row Arabia, the company’s joint-venture with leading Saudi exhibitor Muvi Cinemas.
Directed by Lebanon’s Omar Naim, best known for sci-fi drama “The Final Cut,” which starred Robin Williams and Mira Sorvino, “Route 10” is about two siblings named Maryam and Nasser who set out on a road trip through the desert from Riyadh to Abu Dhabi to attend their father’s wedding. In the desert, they are chased by an angry stranger in what turns out to be a frantic fight for their lives.
Fatima Al Banawi, who plays Maryam, is a Saudi multi-hyphenate whose first acting role in Mahmoud Sabbagh’s groundbreaking 2016 comedy “Barakah Meets...
- 6/28/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Fast-rising Middle East distribution and production banner Front Row Filmed Entertainment, which scored a hit earlier this year with its first original production, Netflix’s Arabic-language remake of Perfect Strangers, is making a push into Saudi content, having acquired distribution rights to local thriller Route 10.
Described by the producers as a “pulse pounding chase thriller” starring Fatima AlBanawi (Al Shak), Baraa Alem (The Book of Sun) and directed by Omar Naim, the film is now set for a wide theatrical release in Saudi Arabia and Front Row’s other territories across the Middle East and North Africa via Front Row Arabia, a joint venture the company established with Saudi exhibitor Muvi Cinemas. Front Row, which has a first-look deal with Netflix for its own productions, will also assist with the sale of Route 10 outside the region.
Produced by Image Nation Abu Dhabi in...
Fast-rising Middle East distribution and production banner Front Row Filmed Entertainment, which scored a hit earlier this year with its first original production, Netflix’s Arabic-language remake of Perfect Strangers, is making a push into Saudi content, having acquired distribution rights to local thriller Route 10.
Described by the producers as a “pulse pounding chase thriller” starring Fatima AlBanawi (Al Shak), Baraa Alem (The Book of Sun) and directed by Omar Naim, the film is now set for a wide theatrical release in Saudi Arabia and Front Row’s other territories across the Middle East and North Africa via Front Row Arabia, a joint venture the company established with Saudi exhibitor Muvi Cinemas. Front Row, which has a first-look deal with Netflix for its own productions, will also assist with the sale of Route 10 outside the region.
Produced by Image Nation Abu Dhabi in...
- 6/28/2022
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Front Row has been pushing into production with first titles including Perfect Strangers and Intouchables remakes.
Dubai-based Front Row Filmed Entertainment has boarded Moroccan director Hicham Ayouch’s upcoming satirical comedy Abdelinho as a producer as well as taken Mena rights for the film.
The pan-Arab distribution and production company joins Ayouch, who also produces under the banner of Président Productions, and co-producers Canal + International, Chadi Abdo’s Paris-based Hecat Studio (The Cave) and Moroccan companies FreeMonkeyz and Sihamou Productions.
Front Row has enjoyed a high-profile six months as its expansion into developing and producing Arabic content, which began in...
Dubai-based Front Row Filmed Entertainment has boarded Moroccan director Hicham Ayouch’s upcoming satirical comedy Abdelinho as a producer as well as taken Mena rights for the film.
The pan-Arab distribution and production company joins Ayouch, who also produces under the banner of Président Productions, and co-producers Canal + International, Chadi Abdo’s Paris-based Hecat Studio (The Cave) and Moroccan companies FreeMonkeyz and Sihamou Productions.
Front Row has enjoyed a high-profile six months as its expansion into developing and producing Arabic content, which began in...
- 5/10/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Middle East-based distributor and producer Front Row Filmed Entertainment has joined the team of producers on satirical coming-of-age comedy feature Abdelinho. Front Row will also represent all Mena rights. International sales are with Urban Sales.
The Arab-language feature stars Ali Suliman and is currently in post-production with a view to being ready by the end of the year.
Produced and directed by Hicham Ayouch (Fevers), and co-produced by Canal+ International, Chadi Abdo’s Hecat (The Cave), FreeMonkeyz and Sihamou Productions, the story follows the titular young Moroccan who’s fascinated by everything having to do with Brazil, to the point where he speaks the language fluently, dances the samba regularly and is head-over-heels in love with Maria, a telenovelas heroine. However, his world is turned upside down when an ultra-conservative televangelist arrives.
Front Row is boarding the project as it...
The Arab-language feature stars Ali Suliman and is currently in post-production with a view to being ready by the end of the year.
Produced and directed by Hicham Ayouch (Fevers), and co-produced by Canal+ International, Chadi Abdo’s Hecat (The Cave), FreeMonkeyz and Sihamou Productions, the story follows the titular young Moroccan who’s fascinated by everything having to do with Brazil, to the point where he speaks the language fluently, dances the samba regularly and is head-over-heels in love with Maria, a telenovelas heroine. However, his world is turned upside down when an ultra-conservative televangelist arrives.
Front Row is boarding the project as it...
- 5/10/2022
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Dubai-based distribution and production outfit Front Row Filmed Entertainment has boarded Arab-language comedy “Abdelinho,” directed by Morocco’s Hicham Ayouch and toplined by Ali Suliman (“Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”).
The move comes as Front Row, which is a prominent Mena region indie distributor, ramps up its production side following its Arabic adaptation of Italian dramedy “Perfect Strangers” that it produced in tandem with Egypt’s Film Clinic. The redo was recently acquired by Netflix and is being touted as a local hit.
“Abdelinho” is a coming-of-age-comedy set in a small town in Morocco. It’s centered around its titular character, a gentle-spirited dreamer who has a strong fascination with Brazil. Accordingly, Abdelinho speaks Portuguese and dances the samba.
His life is turned upside-down by the arrival of a televangelist played by Suliman, the prominent Palestinian thesp who broke out in Hany Abu Assad’s Oscar-nominated 2005 film “Paradise Now” and...
The move comes as Front Row, which is a prominent Mena region indie distributor, ramps up its production side following its Arabic adaptation of Italian dramedy “Perfect Strangers” that it produced in tandem with Egypt’s Film Clinic. The redo was recently acquired by Netflix and is being touted as a local hit.
“Abdelinho” is a coming-of-age-comedy set in a small town in Morocco. It’s centered around its titular character, a gentle-spirited dreamer who has a strong fascination with Brazil. Accordingly, Abdelinho speaks Portuguese and dances the samba.
His life is turned upside-down by the arrival of a televangelist played by Suliman, the prominent Palestinian thesp who broke out in Hany Abu Assad’s Oscar-nominated 2005 film “Paradise Now” and...
- 5/10/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Dubai-based independent film distributor and producer Front Row Filmed Entertainment has acquired global rights – excluding theatrical, which is limited to the Mena region – for Lebanese drama “Death of a Virgin and the Sin of Not Living” that launched last year from Berlin’s Panorama section.
Produced by Beirut-based Bee On Set Productions, “Death of a Virgin” marks director George Peter Barbari’s feature debut. It stars newcomers Etienne Assal, Adnan Khabbaz, Jean-Paul Franjieh and Elie Dankoura Saad. Set in Batroun, one of Lebanon’s most famous coastal cities, pic follows a group of troubled teens who are taking their friend Etienne (Assal) to a sex worker in an attempt to make him lose his virginity.
Variety in its review called the film “an impressive debut” that “burrows inside until you find yourself flooded by the fragility of life, with all its beauty and sorrow.”
Since launching from Berlin, “Death of...
Produced by Beirut-based Bee On Set Productions, “Death of a Virgin” marks director George Peter Barbari’s feature debut. It stars newcomers Etienne Assal, Adnan Khabbaz, Jean-Paul Franjieh and Elie Dankoura Saad. Set in Batroun, one of Lebanon’s most famous coastal cities, pic follows a group of troubled teens who are taking their friend Etienne (Assal) to a sex worker in an attempt to make him lose his virginity.
Variety in its review called the film “an impressive debut” that “burrows inside until you find yourself flooded by the fragility of life, with all its beauty and sorrow.”
Since launching from Berlin, “Death of...
- 2/16/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Welcome to Deadline’s International Disruptors, a feature where we shine a spotlight on key executives and companies outside of the U.S. shaking up the offshore marketplace. This week, we’re talking to Gianluca Chakra, founder and managing director of pan-Arab distribution outfit Front Row Filmed Entertainment. The company, which was founded from humble beginnings in 2003, is now one of the most prominent companies in the Middle East and recently launched its first production with Netflix, Perfect Strangers.
It’s been an auspicious start to the year for Gianluca Chakra’s pan-Arab outfit Front Row Filmed Entertainment. The company, which has long been at the forefront of distributing top-shelf independent cinema to the Middle East region, kicked off 2022 with its first production Perfect Strangers, the latest international remake of 2016 Italian hit Perfetti Sconosciuti. Netflix boarded the project last year after signing a first-look deal with Front Row, marking the...
It’s been an auspicious start to the year for Gianluca Chakra’s pan-Arab outfit Front Row Filmed Entertainment. The company, which has long been at the forefront of distributing top-shelf independent cinema to the Middle East region, kicked off 2022 with its first production Perfect Strangers, the latest international remake of 2016 Italian hit Perfetti Sconosciuti. Netflix boarded the project last year after signing a first-look deal with Front Row, marking the...
- 2/9/2022
- by Diana Lodderhose
- Deadline Film + TV
The United Arab Emirates has announced the addition of a new over-21 age classification to its motion picture rating system that could become a milestone in moving the needle against censorship across West Asia.
The new rating will allow uncut versions of international movies to be shown in UAE cinemas, though details remain vague.
The UAE’s Media Regulatory Office made the announcement Monday on Twitter, specifying that the new rating for films classified for audiences aged over 21 will allow the international — meaning uncut — version of movies to be shown in cinemas “with an emphasis on the strict following of age classification standards for audience entry.”
Currently across a large portion of the region, which is also known as the Middle East, movies concerning or containing sex, homosexuality and religious issues are routinely cut to comply with censorship due to cultural constraints, or banned outright.
Recent examples of Hollywood films...
The new rating will allow uncut versions of international movies to be shown in UAE cinemas, though details remain vague.
The UAE’s Media Regulatory Office made the announcement Monday on Twitter, specifying that the new rating for films classified for audiences aged over 21 will allow the international — meaning uncut — version of movies to be shown in cinemas “with an emphasis on the strict following of age classification standards for audience entry.”
Currently across a large portion of the region, which is also known as the Middle East, movies concerning or containing sex, homosexuality and religious issues are routinely cut to comply with censorship due to cultural constraints, or banned outright.
Recent examples of Hollywood films...
- 12/20/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
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