Actualités

Norah star Yaqoub Alfarhan and Adwa Bader are to lead the cast of historical drama Dancing On Fire, directed by Saudi filmmaker Hana Al-Omair.

Based on bestselling Saudi novel Divers Of The Desert by Amal Al-Faran, the screenplay is co-written by Al-Omair and Soha Samir. It is produced by Transit Films International, an Egyptian production company now based in Amsterdam, whose award-winning credits include Amjad Abu Alala’s You Will Die At Twenty and Hala Elkoussy’s Cactus Flower.

Samir is also producer of the project and is at the Red Sea Souk - the industry platform that runs alongside...

Doha, Qatar-based pan-Arab content studio Katara Studios is developing a film about technology trailblazer Mohammed Al-Sharekh that will put a spotlight on his pivotal role in pioneering Arabic computing in the 1980s and making technology more accessible for Arabic speakers. Katara Studios describes the biopic project, unveiled in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as “an inspiring portrayal of a remarkable Arab figure, Mr. Mohamed Al Sharekh, the creator of Sakhr computers whose legacy continues to have an impact today.”

Sakhr is part of a four-picture slate that Katara is set to unveil at a showcase during the fourth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival in the second-largest Saudi city on Saturday afternoon. Described by the company as its “first-ever content roadshow,” the event is seen as underlining its mission of crafting “authentic and universally resonant stories.”

Hussein Fakhry, Katara’s chief commercial officer, tells THR that the script for the Sakhr movie is finished,...

Exclusive: Dubai-based global management and production company 75East has signed Egyptian director Karim Shaaban, who is currently in production on his new feature 6 Days in Cairo.

He is the latest signing in a growing roster of talent on the 75East books since its launch last December with a focus on Swana (Southwest Asia and North Africa), alongside the likes of Jordanian Oscar-nominee Bassel Ghandour (Theeb) and Egyptian Palme d’Or-nominee Abu Bakr Shawky (Yomeddine).

Shaaban most recently directed the short film I Don’t Care if the World Collapses, starring Egyptian superstar Salma Abu Deif as an ambitious advertizing producer whose path crosses an actor excited about landing his first role in a commercials shoot.

The short premiered this year at the Cleveland International Film Festival, followed by a US Oscar-qualifying festival tour including Palm Springs International ShortFest and Nashville Film Festival. The film was self-produced, written by Wael Hamdy,...

Prague-based sales company Filmotor has picked up international rights to US filmmaker Chris Gude’s Morichales ahead of its world premiere in Dok Leipzig’s Documentary Film International Competition this week.

Filmed over the course of 13 years, Morichales accompanies a fictional explorer as he describes his observations about gold mining in Venezuela and travels along the Orinoco River, from remote jungle mines to industrial zones, with his focus staying on the workers and their environment.

The film’s title refers to the Moriche palm tree which can be found throughout the Amazon and Orinoco Basins, with the thousands of red,...

Ever since The Buckingham Murders was announced, excitement has been high for the masterpiece, as Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ektaa R. Kapoor, and Hansal Mehta—come together, for the mystery, intrigue, and drama. We have got a real look into the mood, the story, and the performances with the intriguing trailer, which just dropped.

Directed by Hansal Mehta, The Buckingham Murders will be released exclusively in cinemas on September 13, 2024. Along with Kareena Kapoor Khan, the film features an exceptional ensemble cast that includes Ash Tandon, Ranveer Brar, and Keith Allen.

Kareena Kapoor Khan playing a tough cop on screen will be amazing if the trailer is anything to go by. Kareena embarks on a new journey as a producer with this film after completing 25 years in the industry. Moreover, The film is helmed by award-winning and critically acclaimed director Hansal Mehta, who has been applauded and loved by audiences for his...

Peter Farrelly’s ‘Balls Up’ With Mark Wahlberg & Paul Walter Heads To Queensland

Peter Farrelly’s Amazon MGM Studios and Skydance-backed action comedy Balls Up, starring Mark Wahlberg (The Family Plan) and Paul Walter Hauser (The Instigators), has set the Australian state of Queensland as its principal shooting location with cameras beginning to roll this month. Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney announced the shoot as good news for the state. “This production from Amazon MGM Studios and Skydance will generate an estimated $64.8M for the Queensland economy, employing approximately 250 local cast and crew, as well as utilising small businesses,” she said. Brad Carlson, EVP of Physical Production at Skydance, said the production had chosen Queensland for its “wide variety of urban and rural locations coupled with a robust incentive program and talented crew base.” The film follows two U.S. marketing executives who are fired for blowing a client sponsorship...

Exclusive: Saudi actor and rising star Mohammed Elshehri has signed to host the second season of Mbc’s reality-survival game show One Million Dollar Land (Ard Al Malyon).

The show is a spin-off of Million Dollar Island, from Netherlands game show stalwart Talpa Studios.

Elshehri’s return for the second season follows news last week that the Middle East and the Netherlands versions of the show will be produced at Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning audiovisual production hub Neom.

The Arabic version of the TV show is being executive produced by Dubai-based TV company Blue Engine Studios for Mbc.

The contestants in the new shows will face the ultimate test of endurance as they navigate the challenges of desert life.

“I am honored to continue to be part of the One Million Dollar Land family for his exciting second season. I am hopeful we will keep viewers...

Rajkummar Rao, who has been part of four films directed by Hansal Mehta ‘Shahid’, ‘CityLights’, ‘Aligarh’, and ‘Omerta’ — on Monday wished the filmmaker on his 56th birthday.

Taking to Instagram Stories, Rajkummar shared a candid picture with Hansal, and penned a warm birthday note: “Happy birthday my dear Hansal Mehta sir. Love you sir. Have a great year.”

Rajkummar’s wife and actress Patralekhaa also took to the Stories section and said: “Happy birthday dearest Hansal Mehta sir…love you… keep shining.”

Patralekhaa was part of ‘CityLights’ alongside her husband.

Hansal last directed the crime thriller ‘The Buckingham Murders’ starring Kareena Kapoor Khan.

He is the producer of the upcoming film ‘Dedh Bigha Zameen’.

Actor Mohammed Elshehri belongs to a generation of emerging Saudi talents who first cut their teeth on YouTube and are now making their names in film and TV.

The rising star will be master of ceremonies at the upcoming Saudi Film Festival in the Eastern Province city of Dhahran, which will be celebrating its 10th edition from from May 2 to 9.

Elshehri is just coming off the third season of the hit Mbc Ramadan comedy TV series Road Trip (Sekket Safar).

The show follows the daily adventures and mishaps of three brothers trying to keep the family businesses of an inn, gas station and grocery store afloat, following the death of their father who appears to them as a ghost whenever they make a mistake.

Elshehri’s master of ceremonies role takes him back an earlier time in his career, as a TV and event presenter.

This work grew out of YouTube show Trailer,...

Berlinale Forum entry “Shahid,” the debut feature of Iranian-German filmmaker Narges Kalhor, has been picked up by Prague-based doc specialist Filmotor ahead of its premiere at Swiss documentary festival Visions du Réel, where it is competing in the more experimental Burning Lights section.

Described by Kalhor as a collective work between herself and other artists, including a costume artist and a painter from Iran, a German music composer and a choreographer from Berlin, “Shahid” shifts playfully between genres, challenging conventional filmmaking rules.

Set in present-day Germany, where Kalhor emigrated as a political refugee in 2009, the film focuses on her desire to officially remove the first part of her surname, “Shahid,” which means “martyr” in Farsi and was inherited from her great-grandfather, in an act of feminist resistance to patriarchal structures.

During this process, the actor who plays Kalhor travels back in time and meets her great-grandfather, but she also uncovers...

When Nikhil Chinapa Opened Up About His Roadies Remuneration – Here’s What He Said! (Photo Credit – Instagram)

MTV host Nikhil Chinapa is one of India’s most popular DJs and hosts. He had been associated with MTV’s Roadies and Splitsvilla over the years, and one must wonder how much he earned from his appearances on the reality show Roadies. Nikhil once revealed his remuneration for the series, and his answer was hilarious.

The celebrated DJ was born in Bangalore and did architecture at Bms College of Engineering. He did gigs as a DJ at parties from his college days to earn his pocket money. In 1999, he won the MTV VJ Hunt, and thus, his journey with MTV started. He also hosted other shows like India’s Got Talent 2 alongside Ayushmann Khurrana and several shows on MTV. He has been playing the role of a gang leader in reality shows for some time.

Exclusive: Amazon has acquired world rights for Beirut-set dramedy series Self Modulation from producers Falcon Films and Arna Media, in its first ever Arabic TV series acquisition.

The series is the first project in a multi-show deal partly financed by Arna Media, which plans to invest in two projects annually with Falcon Films.

It is produced by Sobhi Sannan, Rami Sannan and Raed Sannan for Dubai and Beirut-based Falcon Films and Nadezda Motina and Aram Hovhannisyan for Moscow-based Arna Media. The ten-part, 50-minute episode series will air in Q2 2024.

The show follows Ahmad, a Syrian man living illegally in Lebanon whose life takes a dramatic turn after witnessing a tragic event. As he navigates his way through a job at a suicide hotline centre, Ahmad’s dreams of fame and recognition lead him down a path of deception and destruction.

The cast features Maxim Khalil, Carole El Hajj, Foad Yammine, Natasha Choufani, Leen Gherra and Abbas Al Nouri.

The series is written by Foad Yammine, Rami Awad and director Mayar Al Nouri, who makes his television directing debut.

“I am thrilled to collaborate with Nadezda Motina on this extraordinary project. When I introduced the concept to Arna Media, they were captivated by its originality, particularly as no similar project has been undertaken, especially within the Middle East region,” said Falcon Films Managing Director Rami Sannan.

“We are eagerly anticipating the imminent release of the series on Amazon and are eager to hear the audience’s response. From the outset, our goal has been to showcase our capability to produce content with global appeal, reaching audiences beyond the Middle East.”

Arna Media President Motina said the project had been born out of long-standing professional relationship with Sannan.

“When I decided to invest in a series for the Middle East market, I could not think of a better partner. I was sure he could create a unique product which will appeal to local and global players. When you see it, you may think this is A24 in Middle East,” said Arna Media President Nadezda Motina.

Falcon Films is an independent production and distribution company working across the Middle East.

To date it has produced more than 15 local films and five series, including for Downtown, which played on Jawwy Stc; 8 Days for Mbc Shahid, and The Chamber, which debuted on Starzplay Arabia.

On the theatrical front, the company is gearing up for the summer releases of Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1 & 2 and A Weekend In Taipei, produced by Luc Besson.

Rajkummar Rao Starrer Shahid Is Now Available To Stream On Ott ( Photo Credit – IMDb )

Rajkummar Rao is a beloved actor known for his versatile filmography. Throughout his career, Rao has been a part of many critically and commercially acclaimed films, but some films have a special place. Hansal Mehta’s association with him for the movie Shahid is golden, but the film has been considered the most underrated one. After 12 years of its initial release, the movie was finally released on Ott, but there is a catch.

Hansal Mehta‘s 2012 film Shahid is based on the life of Shahid Azmi, a lawyer and human rights activist. Rajkummar Rao plays the lead, and the film also stars Tigmanshu Dhulia, Kay Kay Menon, Prabhleen Sandhu, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, and Prabal Punjabi. The filmmaker recently revealed that the film is now available on streaming platforms.

The 2012 picture proved to be an essential turning point in his career.

Indian actor Vipin Sharma is earning global acclaim for playing a trans character in Dev Patel’s feature directorial debut “Monkey Man.”

Sharma plays Alpha, the leader of a trans community known in India as hijras, who is instrumental in providing a new lease on life to Patel’s character when he’s down and out in “Monkey Man.”

Aamir Khan’s “Taare Zameen Par” (2007) was Sharma’s breakthrough role, and since then he has won plaudits for “Paan Singh Tomar,” “Gangs of Wasseypur” and “Shahid” (all 2012), “Raanjhanaa” (2013), “Raman Raghav 2.0” (2016), “Paatal Lok” (2020) and “Dear Jassi” (2023).

When director Anthony Maras offered Sharma a role in “Hotel Mumbai” (2018), starring Patel, the actor accepted. “He said, ‘It’s not a very big part, but it’s a very interesting part.’ I immediately took it because it was going to make me meet Dev who I really wanted to meet,” Sharma tells Variety.

Winners have been announced at the 74th Berlin Film Festival, with Dahomey by French-Senegalese filmmaker Mati Diop scooping the coveted Golden Bear for best film. Scroll down for the full list of winners, which were revealed Saturday evening at the Berlinale Palast.

The doc borrows its name from the former West African kingdom of Dahomey, located in the south of today’s Republic of Benin. It was founded in the 17th century by King Houegbadja. Under his reign and that of his descendants — a three-century dynasty — the kingdom was a considerable regional power, with a highly structured local economy, a centralized administration, a system of taxes, and a powerful army, including the famous Amazon women (Agodjié).

Diop’s doc opens in November 2021 as twenty-six royal treasures from the former Kingdom are about to leave Paris to return to their country of origin. Along with thousands of others, these artifacts were...

The writer of movies like ‘Aligarh’, ‘Shahid’, among others, Apurva Asrani on Thursday clarified a rumour which addressed veteran actor Asrani as his father, and said if his dad had been a well known actor, his struggles would have been much less.

The filmmaker served as the editor of the 1998 crime film ‘Satya’ directed by Ram Gopal Varma. It stars Urmila Matondkar, Jd Chakravarthy and Manoj Bajpayee in the lead roles.

Apurva is also the editor of movies like ‘Om Jai Jagadish’, ‘Mukhbiir’ and ‘CityLights’.

Taking to Instagram, Apurva, who has a fanbase of 41.6K followers, shared a still of a video, which shows a collage featuring Asrani as father, and Apurva as son.

Along with the photo, he wrote: “No, that’s Not my father. That’s veteran actor Asrani. My dad was a flight purser with Air India and had nothing to do with the movie industry. I wonder though,...

The film will be the feature debut of Jeddah-born filmmaker Amaal Youssif.

Jeddah’s Red Sea International Film Festival (Rsiff) crowned a hometown heroine at its Souk industry awards, with local filmmaker Amaal Youssif taking three prizes for her feature debut By Hasnaa’s Side.

The Arabic-language Saudi drama won one of four production awards for Red Sea Lodge projects, worth $50,000 each; the award for a Saudi project in development, production or post-production, worth $75,000; and was the Saudi winner of the Arab Cinema Center prize, giving it a place at International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR)’s Producers Lab.

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Filming is set to begin in spring 2024.

Dubai-based Front Row Productions has boarded Zaid Abu Hamdan’s Boomah, an upcoming Arab crime thriller starring Jordanian actress Rakeen Saad.

Front Row has joined forces with burgeoning Jordanian outfit Bounce Productions to make the feature, which is described as a “raw and unfiltered crime-thriller set in one of Jordan’s roughest cities”. The film is scheduled to start shooting in spring 2024 with a release to follow by early 2025.

Saad, who stars in Netflix hit AlRawabi School For Girls and Mbc Shahid’s The Giza Killer, will play the lead role of Boomah.

Saudi Arabian media giant Mbc Group has announced its intention to float a 10% stake in an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Saudi Exchange, known as Tadawul, in the coming months.

The announcement follows a decision on Tuesday by Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority to allow Mbc to float 33.25 million shares, which is equivalent to 10% of the company’s share capital. The approval is valid for six months.

Founded 30 years ago, the Mbc Group operated for many years out of the United Arab Emirates but officially moved its headquarters to Riyadh in 2022 in the wake of Saudi Arabia’s opening up under its 2030 Vision plan, aimed at moving the economy away from a reliance on oil.

Mbc Group Chairman Waleed Al Ibrahim said the funds raised by the IPO would be invested in further expanding the company, with a focus on its streaming platform Shahid, and extending its reach...

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia | October 20, 2023: Mbc Anime – a strategic initiative by Mbc Group and Tokyopop dedicated to the licensing, promotion, and production of anime content in the region – announces investments in two original anime productions scheduled to debut in Japan and worldwide this month. They are “Kami.App” (カミエラビ) and “Protocol: Rain” (僕らの雨いろプロトコル).

The shows, which are from Fuji TV and TV Asahi, will stream exclusively on Shahid, the world’s leading Arabic-streaming platform by Mbc Group. In order to cater to current and future anime enthusiasts in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena), Mbc Anime is also now part of the production committees of both Japanese broadcasters.

Streaming this week as a simulcast on Shahid, “Kami.App” is a battle-royale twisted action story where high school student Goro is pitted against rivals in a bid to become the ultimate kami, wielding the power to manipulate the...

Mbc Group produced the feature, which will be released by Empire Entertainment.

Arabic-language musical Sukkar is being readied for a theatrical release across the Middle East and North Africa, marking the first such feature in the region.

The film is produced by leading Mena company Mbc Group, with a story inspired by epistolary novel Daddy-Long-Legs by US writer Jean Webster. Mbc has labelled Sukkar the first-ever Arabic-language musical of its kind.

It is directed by Egypt’s Tamer Mahdy, known for his work on music videos and commercials, and was conceived by Heba Mashari Hamada, a Kuwaiti writer on TV...

Film editor and writer Apurva Asrani, who is known for stitching together some of the milestone films of Hindi cinema like ‘Satya’, ‘Shahid’ and has written the poignant biopic ‘Aligarh’, is reflecting back on his journey of almost 3 decades in the cinema.

Apurva, who has now permanently shifted his base to Goa and works from there, shared several throwback pictures in which he can be seen on the sets as a young guy filled with dreams in his eyes and dedication towards his work.

Talking about how the film industry has seen monumental change ever since he started his journey, Apurva penned a long note in the caption. He wrote, “It all began in 1995. So many good people in these pictures have moved on, the industry has changed, film has moved to digital, TV has moved to Ott, newer stories, newer talents have replaced the old. I am filled with gratitude that almost 30 years in,...

Mumbai, July 14 (Ians) As top celebrities and entrepreneurs in India’s financial capital shared their latest health scare on social media — a mysterious and severe stomach infection, heath experts on Friday confirmed that there is a surge in instances of abdominal pain caused by infections, resulting in cases of diarrhoea or dysentery, in Mumbai.

First, film-maker Hansal Mehta, suffering from a terrible stomach infection, pointed fingers at the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (Bmc) and the government for not providing safe drinking water to the citizens.

Later, Snapdeal Co-founder and CEO Kunal Bahl joined him, saying: “I got the same severe infection last week after a trip to Mumbai and have been reeling under it”.

“It doesn’t seem to be getting fixed even after a full course of antibiotics. Probably the worst stomach infection I have ever gotten in my life,” Bahl said in a tweet.

Mehta, in his earlier tweet,...

Mumbai, June 26 (Ians) Hansal Mehta, the director of the recently released streaming series ‘Scoop’, has signed a multi-year series partnership with streaming platform Netflix. As a part of the collaboration, Hansal will create multiple series for the streamer in the coming years.

‘Scoop’, which is inspired by crime reporter Jigna Vora’s book ‘Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison’, has been called a genre-defining series.

Talking about the partnership, Hansal Mehta said: “As a filmmaker, the idea of creating diverse and dynamic stories constantly keeps me on my toes. What excites me about this partnership with Netflix, which is home to some of the finest talent, is the potential for my work to reach viewers across the world. As was the case with ‘Scoop’, Netflix is engaged in the creative process right from scripting, all the way to marketing and distribution which is critical for the success of any creative collaboration.

Netflix has revealed a multi-year series partnership with Indian filmmaker Hansal Mehta.

Mehta’s hard hitting crime drama series “Scoop,” his maiden venture for Netflix, bowed earlier this month and was a major success for the service. Inspired by crime reporter Jigna Vora’s book “Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison” and starring Karishma Tanna as crime reporter Jagruti Pathak, the series is set up as the first season of a franchise.

Taking this successful collaboration forward, Mehra will create multiple series for Netflix over the next few years.

Mehta’s film credits include “Shahid” which bowed at Toronto and won him best director at India’s National Film Awards; “Aligarh” (2015) that debuted at Busan and won at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards; and “Faraaz” (2022) that premiered at the BFI London Film Festival. His series “Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story” (2020) was a smash hit for streamer SonyLIV.

Netflix has unveiled the first trailer for hard hitting crime drama series “Scoop” from acclaimed filmmaker Hansal Mehta (“Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story”).

Based on journalist Jigna Vora’s 2019 memoir “Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison,” the series is created by Mehta and Mrunmayee Lagoo Waikul (“Thappad”). The book recounts how renowned journalist Jyotirmoy Dey was murdered by members of the Chhota Rajan gang in 2011. A few months later, fellow journalist and crime reporter Vora was arrested in connection with the murder.

“Scoop” marks Mehta and Netflix’s maiden partnership and the series is set up as the first season of a franchise. Mehta has directed all six episodes of the first season.

The series follows Jagruti Pathak, a headline-writing journalist who is caught between the nexus of the police, the underworld and the media. “It explores that nexus through a personal story,” Mehta told Variety.

“The...

Having been a part of prestigious projects, Apeksha Porwal has worked across mediums – stage, films and Ott. This stark beauty rose to fame from her character in her debut web series ‘Undekhi’. In a span of two years, she bagged her first international project and has received praises from a global audience.

Apeksha is humbled by the love and adulation she has been receiving, “To be the Indian lead in an Arabic series, an extremely rich cinema with some beautiful stories that has as such largely been untapped by Indian actors is an honour and responsibility in itself. I play an Indian princess. The look and feel of my character is truly authentic to Indian culture. I’m honoured to be able to represent that to a whole new audience in the Middle East and am glad to have gotten the chance to experience Arabic cinema and Arabic culture.”

She...

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta, who has directed ‘Shahid, ‘Aligarh and the runaway hit streaming series ‘Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story, is quite active on social media these days.

After sharing a video with celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor on the latters birthday, the director on Wednesday walked down memory lane as he shared throwback pictures from the sets of his first film ‘Jayate.

In the pictures, Hansal can be seen briefing his actors and being consumed by creative and technical processes. What makes the photos interesting is the classic 1990s rendering of the photos and Hansal sporting a beard and a moustache.

Taking to his Instagram, the director shared an array of pictures as he wrote in the caption, “Again centuries ago from the sets of my first film…Jayate”.

However, Hansal has only one regret and it’s about the habit of smoking which he picked up during his mid...

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta, who is known for directing ‘Aligarh’, ‘Shahid’ and the hit streaming series ‘Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story’, recently took to his Instagram and shared a post featuring celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor.

Hansal has directed the landmark Indian cooking show ‘Khana Khazana’ which featured the iconic chef simplifying the method of cooking for the masses back in the 1990s, and the ladies went gaga over the show more so, the memorable line by Sanjeev, “Bilkul wahi swad, jo mujhe bahut pasand hai (the same taste that I like)”.

On the occasion of Sanjeev’s birthday, Hansal uploaded a clip on his Instagram from a dinner meet-up at the chef’s place where the two men could be seen gorging on a delicacy and saying, “Bilkul wahi swad, jo mujhe bahut pasand hai”.

‘Khana Khazana’ is the show which changed the landscape of Indian television as it introduced...

On World Theatre Day, it is worth celebrating the countless actors who honed their craft on stage before making their mark in the world of cinema. From the likes of Manoj Bajpayee, and Pankaj Tripathi to Sunny Hinduja. There are several exceptional actors who began their careers in theatre before transitioning to the big screen. These actors are a testament to the fact that theatre provides a solid foundation for any actor looking to develop their skills and build a successful career in the performing arts. Their performances continue to inspire audiences and serve as a reminder of the power and magic of live theatre.

Let’s take a look at a few actors who started their journey with theatre and continue to shine at the films

Manoj Bajpayee

Manoj Bajpayee is a critically acclaimed actor who started his career in theatre. During his time at the National School of Drama,...

After “Mulk” (2018), “Article 15” (2019), “Thappad” (2020) and “Anek” (2022), filmmaker Anubhav Sinha is back with “Bheed,” another hard-hitting film that shines a light on the fabric of Indian society.

The film is set during the 2020 Indian pandemic lockdown and tells the poignant story of migrant workers stranded without basic necessities while trying to go home to their villages. Shot in black and white, it is deliberately evocative of the 1947 partition of the Indian subcontinent into India and Pakistan when people were uprooted from their homes in the largest migration in history.

“When the pandemic hit, people were seeking help on Twitter. Everybody had different strengths so we were helping each other and, and I really got sucked into it. And that was the time when I felt that this film had to be made, this period of time has to be recorded, and I didn’t want it to be just a Coronavirus film,...

Dubai-based CEO Sam Barnett leads the Middle East’s largest broadcaster Mbc as it turbocharges its Shahid streaming service through a scripted content drive, and gives Netflix a run for its money.

Shortly before the holy month of Ramadan, which is marathon TV time in the Arab world, Barnett spoke to Variety about the still crucial relevance of Ramadan season in luring eyeballs, Mbc’s need to offer “interesting new types of content” outside of the holy period, and why the company remains resolutely pan-Arab while riding the wave of Saudi’s production boom.

There is a perception that Mbc is becoming more “Saudi-centric” since it now plays an important role in Saudi’s drive to become a major content producer. Can you talk to me about how this shift is playing out in your overall production strategy?

Mbc has always played a major role in the media in the Kingdom,...

Mumbai, Feb 5 (Ians) Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, who is known for films like ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, ‘Gulaal’, ‘Ugly’ and several others, recently revealed that his friend and director Sudhir Mishra is very conscious about his health.

The filmmaker was talking to YouTuber Samdish Bhatia about his friend circle and the people he is close to.

The filmmaker said: “Sudhir ji hypochondriac hain. Wo abhi bhi mask laga ke baithate hain, kabhi kabhi toh 4 mask laga ke baithate hain. Aap ke saath baithenge toh bahut door baithenge.”

When asked what is it that they generally talk about, Anurag said: “We talk about everything under the sun but yes majority of the conversations are around food.”

He then shared that ‘Shahid’ director Hansal Mehta is a very good cook. While people majorly know Hansal as the director of ‘Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story’, he is also the one who directed the Indian...

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, who is known for films like ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, ‘Gulaal’, ‘Ugly’ and several others, recently revealed that his friend and director Sudhir Mishra is very conscious about his health. The filmmaker was talking to YouTuber Samdish Bhatia about his friend circle and the people he is close to.

The filmmaker said: “Sudhir ji hypochondriac hain. Wo abhi bhi mask laga ke baithate hain, kabhi kabhi toh 4 mask laga ke baithate hain. Aap ke saath baithenge toh bahut door baithenge.”

When asked what is it that they generally talk about, Anurag said: “We talk about everything under the sun but yes majority of the conversations are around food.”

He then shared that ‘Shahid’ director Hansal Mehta is a very good cook. While people majorly know Hansal as the director of ‘Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story’, he is also the one who directed the Indian cooking show ‘Khana...

Faraaz

Directed by Hansal Mehta

Compared with Hansal Mehta’s other two films on global terrorism, Shahid and Omerta, Faraaz is a mellower more lenient and forgiving work. It is predominantly a discourse on true Islam and its subversion by terrorists as embodied in the two main characters Faraaz(Zahan kapoor) and Nibras(Aditya Rawal).

The dialogues between the two are sharp and relevant. Most importantly these dialogues never overstay their welcome, hence the film, though largely confined to a café held hostage by a bunch of misguided youngsters, never gets verbose. Instead Hansal Mehta brings in a sense of reined-in anxiety.

The agony of those outside the sealed café, whether the government officials or parents of the hostages(Juhi Babbar Soni, Amir Ali are both superb , though the former has a far more dramatic scope than the latter) is given as much priority as the terrorized hostages inside the café.

US producer previously helped develop ‘Mad Men’ and ‘Breaking Bad’.

Former Amazon Studios executive Christina Wayne has been appointed managing director of Mbc Studios, the production arm of top Middle East broadcaster Mbc Group.

The US producer replaces Peter Smith, a former president of NBCUniversal International, who is stepping down after four years but will remain with the group in an advisory role.

During his tenure, Smith spearheaded major growth in Mbc’s production activity with titles such as Rashash, Rise of the Witches, and Devil’s Promise. The latter is a series created by Tony Jordan, the UK creator of Life Of Mars,...

Ten-part adventure-fantasy series is made by Mbc Studios.

Mbc Studios, the production arm of leading Saudi media company Mbc Group, has begun filming Rise Of The Witches – the biggest ever TV series to be made in the country.

The 10-part adventure-fantasy series is being shot on purpose-built sets at Neom, a 500bn megacity that is under construction in the northwest province of Tabuk, and holds the largest ever budget for special effects for a Saudi production, according to Mbc.

The series will feature a predominantly Saudi cast, led by local stars Ida AlKusay and Sumaya Rida, and tells the story...

Production

Mbc Studios, the in-house premium content production arm of Mbc Group, has commenced production on fantasy-adventure “Rise of the Witches”, the biggest series to be ever produced with a homegrown Saudi cast, and holds the largest ever budget for special effects for a Saudi production. Supported by Neom, the series is being filmed on three purpose-built studio sets, including Saudi Arabia’s biggest purpose-built backlots to date.

Based on the best-selling Saudi mythology books by Osamah Almuslim, the series, set in ancient Arabia, tells the story of an epic war between two rival witch covens, led by Afsaar and Da’ja’a.

Growing up in a world dominated by male magicians who want to prevent women from having any access to magical powers, both witches secretly learn the arts and go on to form their own groups in order to protect themselves and gain power.

The predominantly Saudi cast...

Mbc Studios, the high-end production arm of Saudi media and entertainment giant Mbc Group, has announced shooting is underway on the fantasy-adventure Rise Of The Witches, its biggest show to date featuring a local cast and crew.

The production is currently filming on the site of Neom, the burgeoning smart city in the northeast of the country. The site, which is at the heart of the Saudi strategy to become a major film and TV production hub, previously hosted the big-budget Desert Warrior.

Mbc Studios said Neom was supporting the production and had constructed three purpose-built sets for the production, which also has the biggest special effects budget for a Saudi production to date.

The series is based on the best-selling Saudi mythology books by Osamah Almuslim. Set in ancient Arabia, it tells the story of an epic war between two rival witch covens.

Growing up in a world dominated...

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Mbc Studios, the production arm of the Saudi-owned free-to-air satellite network giant Mbc, has unveiled what it claims to be the “biggest TV series” ever to be shot in the country.

Rise of the Witches, a 10-part fantasy-adventure series based on the bestselling books by Saudi author Osamah Al Muslim, is now in production at Neom, the name of the coastal area in the north east of the country due to be home to a much-hyped 500 billion megacity, using three purpose-built studio sets, including Saudi Arabia’s biggest purpose built backlot. Mbc Studios recently shot the feature Desert Warrior — starring Anthony Mackie and understood to be the most expensive film made in Saudi Arabia — at Neom, one of two major Hollywood titles it’s producing alongside the Gerard Butler action-thriller Kandahar.

According to Mbc, the series is the biggest series ever produced with a homegrown Saudi cast,...

Exclusive: In May, we revealed Indian studio Applause Entertainment was deep in development on a big-budget drama series about independence hero Mahatma Gandhi, and the studio has now turned to a pair of familiar faces to supercharge the project.

Hansal Mehta, who helmed Applause’s SonyLIV drama Scam 1992, has been named director and showrunner of Gandhi (working title) and Siddhartha Basu, who worked with Applause CEO Sameer Nair on the first seasons of India’s version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (titled Kaun Banega Crorepat), has joined as historical consultant, factual advisor and creative consultant.

Gandhi will be period drama set during the Indian Independence struggle and is billed as epic in scale, with multiple characters and locations from the Mahatma’s life featured. It is being adapted from historian and author Ramachandra Guha’s books Gandhi Before India and Gandhi — The Years That Changed the World...

Dubai-based Mbc Group’s Shahid VIP streaming service has forged a partnership with Arabic animation studio Barajoun Entertainment to co-produce five local-language animation features over the next three years.

These Arabic animation pics will stream exclusively on Shahid VIP as Shahid originals.

Details on the animation projects in the pipeline are being kept under wraps, but the companies revealed that their first collaboration is based on a science-fiction novel and will feature the voice of an unspecified A-list Arab actor. This initial title in the slate is expected to launch on Shahid VIP in July.

Dubai-based Barajoun Entertainment is headed by banker-turned-producer Ayman Jamal, who set up the company in 2011 as the Mena region’s first bona-fide animation studio. Jamal shepherded the 2015 “Bilal” (pictured) film, inspired by the real-life story of Bilal Ibn Rabah, an African slave who became one of the early followers of the Prophet Muhammad. “Bilal” marks...

After producing renowned and critically acclaimed films like ‘Tanu Weds Manu’, ‘Shahid’, ‘Aligarh’, ‘Madaari’, ‘Judgemental Hai Kya’, ‘Omerta’, and ‘Thalaivi’, producer Shailesh R Singh is all set to present his next film ‘Setu’. Directed by Vishal Chaturvedi, Setu will be an edge-of-the-seat, thrilling courtroom drama around sanctioning of the Samudram project in 2004 and the […]...

BBC Studios and Dubai-based Mbc Studios have teamed on the first Arabic-language adaptation of “The Office.”

Titled “Al Maktab,” the Arabic redo of the groundbreaking BAFTA and Golden Globe award-winning British comedy series will be set in Saudi Arabia.

Egypt’s Hisham Fathi (“Ending So Gently”) will direct with Italy’s Alessandro Martella serving a director of photography and Ryad-based Aflam Productions’ Shadi Mcdad handling line producer duties.

Cameras are set to roll in June on this Mbc Studios original on which the BBC Studios international production team, who have licensed the format, will also have input.

The plan is for the twenty-episode show to air on Mbc’s linear TV channels, and stream on its Shahid VIP streaming platform later this year.

In the Saudi adaptation, “Al Maktab” is set in a courier services company, with the main character played by Saleh Abuamrh (“The Fates Hotel”) who plays Malik Al-Tuwaifi,...

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta, who is known for directing ‘Shahid’, ‘Aligarh’ and ‘Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story’, recently tied the knot with his longtime partner of 17 years, Safeena Husain, in an intimate ceremony in San Francisco, California. The filmmaker took to his Instagram to share an array of pictures from the simple and heartwarming […]...

Netflix may not have been at the MipTV market in Cannes in any substantial way this year, but the service was certainly front and center in a keynote by HBO Max International boss Johannes Larcher.

In a bold presentation, Larcher pointed to his competitor’s international might as a motivating factor for HBO Max’s own growth outside the U.S. In a number of slides dedicated solely to Netflix, the former Hulu exec highlighted the projected growth in Netflix’s international subscribers from 2021 to 2026 (147 subscribers in 2021 to an estimated 266 subscribers by 2026).

“Netflix is clearly reaching saturation in the domestic market. Where will growth come from? Only one place: outside the U.S.,” said Larcher, who was citing analyst estimates.

He also pointed out the streamer’s aggressive content spend, which he expects to grow from 12 billion in 2021 to 21 billion by 2026.

“9 billion additional programming dollars buys a lot of content,...

Prominent Dubai-based satellite pay-tv and streaming service Orbit Showtime Network (Osn) is launching Osn Plus, a new premium streaming service that replaces its streaming app and marks Osn’s full-fledged entry into the Mena region’s increasingly crowded SVOD landscape.

The move comes after Osn in January re-upped its long-term exclusive partnership with HBO, and expanded its rapport with NBCU to include more premium content from Peacock and Sky Studios. The company also has new deals for premium shows in place with Endeavor Content and All3Media, supplementing existing partnerships with Paramount, Warner Media, Sony, Discovery, MGM and Lionsgate.

However, Osn recently lost the SVOD leverage it had under its exclusive deal with Disney, which will be launching Disney Plus in the region this summer and has rescinded the SVOD aspect of that arrangement.

Osn Plus is being headed by Nick Forward, the former chief content officer at Australian streamer Stan.

Producer Guneet Monga, who is known for films like ‘The Lunchbox’. ‘Peddlers’, ‘Shahid’ and ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, has praised actress Sanya Malhotra calling her one of the finest actors of her generation. The producer opines that the ‘Dangal’ actress’ ability to internalize her characters and become a different person altogether for her portrayals is what […]...

Further expanding its global reach, MGM International Television Productions has signed a multi-year deal with Mbc Group, a leading media company in West Asia and Northern Africa, to develop and co-produce premium original series.

Mbc Group will air these series exclusively on Mbc’s Shahid VIP streaming service, with MGM handling co-production and distribution for the rest of the world. The two companies already have a well-established relationship and recently partnered on MGM’s anticipated shows “Last Light” and “Billy the Kid,” which will air on Mbc.

“Mbc Group is uniquely positioned to tell stories that will combine regional focus with global interest,” said Sheikh Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim, chairman of Mbc Group. The exec said the deal marks “a major step forward in diversifying the group and building on its current strengths.”

Sam Barnett, Mbc Group’s CEO, noted that the partnership marks the banner’s “first big...

NBCUniversal Formats has partnered with Dubai and Cairo-based production company S Productions on the first international adaptation of comedy drama series “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce,” which will air on prominent Dubai-based broadcaster Mbc.

The Arabic-language redo, retitled “45 Rules of Divorce,” is being produced by S Productions in association with Universal Studio Group for both Mbc’s MBC4 channel and its Shahid streaming platform.

The Arabic “Divorce” adaptation stars Egyptian actress Injy Al Moqaddem (“Al Me’adeya”) as Farida Al-Shazly, a successful marriage self-help writer, who goes through a divorce and delicately handles every element of it. In the process, Farida finds herself and falls in love with her newly single life, her friends and her freedom.

Though Islam allows divorce, it is discouraged because when it’s initiated by women, they often face poverty as a consequence of losing all assets. Yet across the Arab world, divorces are on the rise,...