Netflix has unveiled the highlights of its Original Arabic-language content for the Middle East and North Africa in 2024, with shows coming out of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Kuwait and Jordan.
Fresh announcements included the second season of hit female-driven, Kuwaiti finance world drama The Exchange and a third season of unscripted show Dubai Bling, which Netflix promised would “delve deeper” into the lives of the existing characters and expand the “Dubai Bling family”.
Netflix also announced the arrival of Tunisia acting star Dhafer L’Abidine in the cast of the second season of Hend Sabry’s drama Finding Ola.
He joins Sabry in a cast also featuring Sawsan Badr, Hany Adel, Nada Moussa, Mahmoud El Leithy, Acel Ramzy, Omar Sherif, Yasmina El-Abd and Tarek el Ebiary.
In this new season, as the titular Ola’s business teeters on the edge of collapse, she discovers the need to reinvent herself and embarks...
Fresh announcements included the second season of hit female-driven, Kuwaiti finance world drama The Exchange and a third season of unscripted show Dubai Bling, which Netflix promised would “delve deeper” into the lives of the existing characters and expand the “Dubai Bling family”.
Netflix also announced the arrival of Tunisia acting star Dhafer L’Abidine in the cast of the second season of Hend Sabry’s drama Finding Ola.
He joins Sabry in a cast also featuring Sawsan Badr, Hany Adel, Nada Moussa, Mahmoud El Leithy, Acel Ramzy, Omar Sherif, Yasmina El-Abd and Tarek el Ebiary.
In this new season, as the titular Ola’s business teeters on the edge of collapse, she discovers the need to reinvent herself and embarks...
- 2/1/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
he Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea Iff) marked the closing of its third edition with a screening of Micheal Mann's Ferrari, a Red Sea International Film Financing project, and revealed the winners of its highly anticipated Yusr Awards. The festival also welcomed Hollywood icon Nicolas Cage, receiving a Red Sea Honoree award, and joining the 2023 Honoree line-up of Diane Kruger, Ranveer Singh, and Abdullah Al-Sadhan. Kristoffer Borgli's comedy horror Dream Scenario, starring Nicolas Cage, will screen as the Final Festival Gala on Saturday 9th December.
Two juries deliberated to finally select winners across 14 categories; led by Jury President Baz Luhrmann. Seventeen films in competition, as well as 23 shorts, were in the running for the coveted awards.
The festival this year celebrated its biggest year yet in terms of attendance – welcoming almost 6,000 accredited guests and selling more than 40,000 tickets across all screenings and In Conversations.
The Closing Ceremony...
Two juries deliberated to finally select winners across 14 categories; led by Jury President Baz Luhrmann. Seventeen films in competition, as well as 23 shorts, were in the running for the coveted awards.
The festival this year celebrated its biggest year yet in terms of attendance – welcoming almost 6,000 accredited guests and selling more than 40,000 tickets across all screenings and In Conversations.
The Closing Ceremony...
- 12/8/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Oscar winner Nicholas Cage received a Red Sea Honouree award
Zarrar Kahn’s Karachi-set thriller In Flames won the $100,000 Golden Yusr award for best feature film at the 2023 Red Sea International Film Festival, which announced its winners on Thursday evening (December 7).
A Canada-Pakistan co-production and Pakistan’s entry to the Oscars, In Flames is the story of a mother and daughter trying to survive after losing the family patriarch. It world premiered in Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight.
Indian production Dear Jassi, directed by Tarsem Singh, won the $30,000 Silver Yusr. Based on the true story of an Indian couple who fell foul of the class system,...
Zarrar Kahn’s Karachi-set thriller In Flames won the $100,000 Golden Yusr award for best feature film at the 2023 Red Sea International Film Festival, which announced its winners on Thursday evening (December 7).
A Canada-Pakistan co-production and Pakistan’s entry to the Oscars, In Flames is the story of a mother and daughter trying to survive after losing the family patriarch. It world premiered in Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight.
Indian production Dear Jassi, directed by Tarsem Singh, won the $30,000 Silver Yusr. Based on the true story of an Indian couple who fell foul of the class system,...
- 12/8/2023
- by Mona Sheded
- ScreenDaily
Stuart Ford’s AGC International has picked up world rights to two Arab-produced titles, Hwjn by Yasir Al-Yasiri and To My Son by Dhafer L’abidine, ahead of their debuts at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival.
AGC nabbed Hwjn, which opens Red Sea this evening, from Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Mbc Studios, and Vox Studios. To My Son was acquired from O3 Medya and L’Abidine’s Double A Productions.
Adapted from the best-selling Young Adult fantasy novel by Ibraheem Abbas, Hwjn combines Arabian folklore elements of fantasy, blended with modern themes. Set in modern-day Jeddah, Hwjn follows the story of a kind-hearted jinn as he discovers the truth about his royal lineage. Synopsis reads: Hwjn (Baraa Alem) sets off on an epic journey to reclaim his birthright, and while battling ancient evils to maintain the harmonious balance between his world and ours, falls in love with Sawsan (Nour Alkhadra), a young medical student.
AGC nabbed Hwjn, which opens Red Sea this evening, from Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Mbc Studios, and Vox Studios. To My Son was acquired from O3 Medya and L’Abidine’s Double A Productions.
Adapted from the best-selling Young Adult fantasy novel by Ibraheem Abbas, Hwjn combines Arabian folklore elements of fantasy, blended with modern themes. Set in modern-day Jeddah, Hwjn follows the story of a kind-hearted jinn as he discovers the truth about his royal lineage. Synopsis reads: Hwjn (Baraa Alem) sets off on an epic journey to reclaim his birthright, and while battling ancient evils to maintain the harmonious balance between his world and ours, falls in love with Sawsan (Nour Alkhadra), a young medical student.
- 11/30/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Maïwenn’s Jeanne du Barry, starring Johnny Depp, will have a special screening at the festival
The Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea Iff) has unveiled the line-up for its Competition and Arab Spectacular strands.
The festival will take place from November 30-December 9 in the port city of Jeddah under the theme ’Your Stories, Your Festival.’
Red Sea Iff’s line-up throws a spotlight on films made in the Mena region and includes 36 feature length and short films from Saudi Arabia, including documentaries and titles produced by the Red Sea Film Foundation.
The Competition strand includes 17 films from Asia,...
The Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea Iff) has unveiled the line-up for its Competition and Arab Spectacular strands.
The festival will take place from November 30-December 9 in the port city of Jeddah under the theme ’Your Stories, Your Festival.’
Red Sea Iff’s line-up throws a spotlight on films made in the Mena region and includes 36 feature length and short films from Saudi Arabia, including documentaries and titles produced by the Red Sea Film Foundation.
The Competition strand includes 17 films from Asia,...
- 11/6/2023
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
Maïwenn’s Jeanne du Barry, starring Johnny Depp, will have a special screening at the festival
The Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea Iff) has unveiled the line-up for its Competition and Arab Spectacular strands.
The festival, which takes place from November 30-December 9, will also give special screenings to Maïwenn’s historical romance Jeanne du Barry, starring Johnny Depp, which was supported by Red Sea’s financing arm and opened Cannes, and to Dhafer L’abidine’s Saudi-uae co-production To My Son, which world premieres at the festival.
Red Sea Iff’s line-up throws a spotlight on films made in...
The Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea Iff) has unveiled the line-up for its Competition and Arab Spectacular strands.
The festival, which takes place from November 30-December 9, will also give special screenings to Maïwenn’s historical romance Jeanne du Barry, starring Johnny Depp, which was supported by Red Sea’s financing arm and opened Cannes, and to Dhafer L’abidine’s Saudi-uae co-production To My Son, which world premieres at the festival.
Red Sea Iff’s line-up throws a spotlight on films made in...
- 11/6/2023
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
In our fifth edition of Arab Stars of Tomorrow, Screen International puts the spotlight on six emerging Middle Eastern and North African talents.
In our fifth edition of Arab Stars of Tomorrow, Screen International puts the spotlight on six emerging Middle Eastern and North African talents in the fields of acting and directing.
This year’s selection features Egyptian actress Bassant Ahmed, Kuwaiti filmmaker Maysaa Almumin, Emirati actor Khalifa Al-Jassem, Tunisian actress Zbeida Belhajamor, Saudi director Sara Mesfer and Sudanese actor Mustafa Shehata.
For the third year running, the edition has been organised in cooperation with the Cairo International Film Festival.
In our fifth edition of Arab Stars of Tomorrow, Screen International puts the spotlight on six emerging Middle Eastern and North African talents in the fields of acting and directing.
This year’s selection features Egyptian actress Bassant Ahmed, Kuwaiti filmmaker Maysaa Almumin, Emirati actor Khalifa Al-Jassem, Tunisian actress Zbeida Belhajamor, Saudi director Sara Mesfer and Sudanese actor Mustafa Shehata.
For the third year running, the edition has been organised in cooperation with the Cairo International Film Festival.
- 12/2/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
For the upcoming 43rd edition of the Cairo Film Festival, which is the grande dame of Arab film events, fest chief Mohamed Hefzy and his team have assembled a rich mix of top notch Arab and international titles, including the world premiere of Tunisian star Dhafer L’Abidine’s directorial debut “Ghodwa” and the Mena (Middle East and North Africa) premiere of “House of Gucci.”
They have also recruited high-caliber talents and industry personalities such as U.S. producer Lawrence Bender, Emir Kusturica, who is this year’s jury president, Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman, as well as Cannes topper Thierry Fremaux and Egyptian icon Nelly, who are being feted. Hefzy, who is also a prominent Egyptian producer, talked to Variety about how he’s been rebooting Cairo while braving the pandemic and contending with changes in the Arab film festival landscape. Excerpts from the conversation.
This is your fourth year heading Cairo.
They have also recruited high-caliber talents and industry personalities such as U.S. producer Lawrence Bender, Emir Kusturica, who is this year’s jury president, Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman, as well as Cannes topper Thierry Fremaux and Egyptian icon Nelly, who are being feted. Hefzy, who is also a prominent Egyptian producer, talked to Variety about how he’s been rebooting Cairo while braving the pandemic and contending with changes in the Arab film festival landscape. Excerpts from the conversation.
This is your fourth year heading Cairo.
- 11/26/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
The Middle East premiere of caustic Spanish comedy “Official Competition” will open the Cairo Film Festival, which has assembled a rich roster of international titles for its upcoming 43rd edition, to be held in person Nov. 26-Dec. 5.
Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat, who are co-directors of the colorful pic starring Penélope Cruz and Antonio Banderas — which turns on a billionaire businessman determined to bankroll a memorable movie — are expected, barring complications, to attend the regional launch of their Venice-premiering comedy.
Cairo, which is the grande dame of the Arab world’s cinema shindigs — and the only festival in the Middle East and North Africa region to be accorded category “A” status by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations in Paris (Fiapf) — has been subjected to some disruption lately caused by Saudi Arabia’s deep-pocketed Red Sea Festival.
The Red Sea Festival in May decided to move the dates for...
Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat, who are co-directors of the colorful pic starring Penélope Cruz and Antonio Banderas — which turns on a billionaire businessman determined to bankroll a memorable movie — are expected, barring complications, to attend the regional launch of their Venice-premiering comedy.
Cairo, which is the grande dame of the Arab world’s cinema shindigs — and the only festival in the Middle East and North Africa region to be accorded category “A” status by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations in Paris (Fiapf) — has been subjected to some disruption lately caused by Saudi Arabia’s deep-pocketed Red Sea Festival.
The Red Sea Festival in May decided to move the dates for...
- 11/8/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Red Sea International Film Fest Unveils Arab Spectacular
Titles from Rashid Masharawi, Dhafer L’Abidine and Joana Hadjithomas comprise the eight initial films selected under the Red Sea International Film Festival’s (RedSeaIFF) Arab Spectacular strand. The inaugural edition of the festival will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from December 6-15. Titles within the Arab Spectacular line-up include World Premiere of Recovery by Masharawi (Ticket to Jerusalem), L’Abidine’s feature debut directorial Ghodwa and Golden Bear nominee Memory Box (pictured) by Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige. Emmy-nominated director Jay Bulger and Karim Debbagh (Men In Black: International) also collaborate for Their Heads Are Green And Their Hands Are Blue. Films selected in this slate will cover Pan-Arab identity stories across Iraq, Palestine, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon and Morocco, while also exploring women in society.
HanWay Films Strikes Deals For Paul Schrader’s ‘Master Gardener’
HanWay Films has acquired international sales...
Titles from Rashid Masharawi, Dhafer L’Abidine and Joana Hadjithomas comprise the eight initial films selected under the Red Sea International Film Festival’s (RedSeaIFF) Arab Spectacular strand. The inaugural edition of the festival will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from December 6-15. Titles within the Arab Spectacular line-up include World Premiere of Recovery by Masharawi (Ticket to Jerusalem), L’Abidine’s feature debut directorial Ghodwa and Golden Bear nominee Memory Box (pictured) by Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige. Emmy-nominated director Jay Bulger and Karim Debbagh (Men In Black: International) also collaborate for Their Heads Are Green And Their Hands Are Blue. Films selected in this slate will cover Pan-Arab identity stories across Iraq, Palestine, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon and Morocco, while also exploring women in society.
HanWay Films Strikes Deals For Paul Schrader’s ‘Master Gardener’
HanWay Films has acquired international sales...
- 11/2/2021
- by Anuj Radia
- Deadline Film + TV
Acquisitions include upcoming films Yousry Nasrallah, Muayad Alayan and Mohamed ben Attia.
Cairo-based film company Mad Solutions has unveiled an acquisition slate of more than 50 Arabic-language titles from 13 different territories that it plans to get into festivals and cinemas across the Middle East and North Africa in 2021 and 2022.
“During the pandemic, we used the opportunity to discuss the objectives and goals for Arab films, to strengthen links with the public, and to be a part of projects from the beginning, developing the films together,” said company co-heads Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab. “We feel that there is a bright future...
Cairo-based film company Mad Solutions has unveiled an acquisition slate of more than 50 Arabic-language titles from 13 different territories that it plans to get into festivals and cinemas across the Middle East and North Africa in 2021 and 2022.
“During the pandemic, we used the opportunity to discuss the objectives and goals for Arab films, to strengthen links with the public, and to be a part of projects from the beginning, developing the films together,” said company co-heads Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab. “We feel that there is a bright future...
- 5/28/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
L’Abidine’s recent acting credits have included The Eddy and Arabic horror movie Bloodline.
Tunisian acting star Dhafer L’Abidine is making his directorial debut with father and son drama Ghodwa, which he also produces and stars in.
The storyline revolves around an estranged father and son who are brought together after the older man falls ill. With time running out, a series of unexpected events reverse their traditional roles. The title Ghodwa translates as “tomorrow’ in English.
The production began shooting in Tunis last week.
“I always wanted to direct, but I wanted to find the right story. Ghodwa...
Tunisian acting star Dhafer L’Abidine is making his directorial debut with father and son drama Ghodwa, which he also produces and stars in.
The storyline revolves around an estranged father and son who are brought together after the older man falls ill. With time running out, a series of unexpected events reverse their traditional roles. The title Ghodwa translates as “tomorrow’ in English.
The production began shooting in Tunis last week.
“I always wanted to direct, but I wanted to find the right story. Ghodwa...
- 3/22/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Nelly Karim and Dhafer L’Abidine star in groundbreaking genre picture by Rami Yasin.
Groundbreaking Arabic-language vampire feature Bloodline has secured a Halloween launch on Shahid VIP, the rising Mena region streaming platform which has seen subscriber numbers surge since a revamp by parent company Mbc Group earlier this year.
The feature, which will launch on Shahid on October 30, brings together some of the Arab world’s hottest directing, acting and producing talent.
It marks the feature debut of respected UAE-based producer and director Rami Yasin, whose producing credits include Sea Shadow, Rattle The Cage and The Worthy. His short film...
Groundbreaking Arabic-language vampire feature Bloodline has secured a Halloween launch on Shahid VIP, the rising Mena region streaming platform which has seen subscriber numbers surge since a revamp by parent company Mbc Group earlier this year.
The feature, which will launch on Shahid on October 30, brings together some of the Arab world’s hottest directing, acting and producing talent.
It marks the feature debut of respected UAE-based producer and director Rami Yasin, whose producing credits include Sea Shadow, Rattle The Cage and The Worthy. His short film...
- 10/26/2020
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Jane Spencer
Just over three years ago, I interviewed Jane Spencer about her film The Ninth Cloud. That film will enjoy a special screening in London, where it's set, on the12th of February, and Jane is working on a new film, South Of Hope Street. She took time out from her busy schedule to catch up and discuss her current projects.
"It's a science fiction piece. It also has a female lead. I'd compare it to a film like Alphaville," she says of South Of Hope Street. "Michael [Madsen] has a cameo role in it as a kind of hippy character, and that's funny for him. Also we have Hilmir Snær Guðnason, who was in a film called 101 Rejkjavik a while back, and he's brilliant. And an Arab actor named Zafer El-Abedin who plays an immigrant in the film, he's wonderful also. Tanna Frederick is my lead actress. She's...
Just over three years ago, I interviewed Jane Spencer about her film The Ninth Cloud. That film will enjoy a special screening in London, where it's set, on the12th of February, and Jane is working on a new film, South Of Hope Street. She took time out from her busy schedule to catch up and discuss her current projects.
"It's a science fiction piece. It also has a female lead. I'd compare it to a film like Alphaville," she says of South Of Hope Street. "Michael [Madsen] has a cameo role in it as a kind of hippy character, and that's funny for him. Also we have Hilmir Snær Guðnason, who was in a film called 101 Rejkjavik a while back, and he's brilliant. And an Arab actor named Zafer El-Abedin who plays an immigrant in the film, he's wonderful also. Tanna Frederick is my lead actress. She's...
- 1/29/2018
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
*spoiler alert.
Director: Patrick Dinhut.
Writer: Frank H. Woodward.
Cast: Velizar Binev, Sarah Brown and Andy Clemence.
Very rarely will one of SyFy’s Saturday night products truly entertain. The tale developed in Black Forest is an ominous one. Also, this film stitches in a bit of Guillermo del Toro’s style as well. Both films like to have most of the action take place at night and include that doubtful deunouemont.
Also, writer Frank Woodward certainly knows his lore about faeries (not fairies) and expands on it. The difference is not just in the spelling, but also in what they represent. While most people associate the Fae with Celtic tradition, namely in the UK, they are also known far and wide to include the Germanic world. After Woodward’s work in the extras found in the “Masters of Horror” DVD releases, he demonstrates how much he has learned.
Even...
Director: Patrick Dinhut.
Writer: Frank H. Woodward.
Cast: Velizar Binev, Sarah Brown and Andy Clemence.
Very rarely will one of SyFy’s Saturday night products truly entertain. The tale developed in Black Forest is an ominous one. Also, this film stitches in a bit of Guillermo del Toro’s style as well. Both films like to have most of the action take place at night and include that doubtful deunouemont.
Also, writer Frank Woodward certainly knows his lore about faeries (not fairies) and expands on it. The difference is not just in the spelling, but also in what they represent. While most people associate the Fae with Celtic tradition, namely in the UK, they are also known far and wide to include the Germanic world. After Woodward’s work in the extras found in the “Masters of Horror” DVD releases, he demonstrates how much he has learned.
Even...
- 3/7/2012
- by noreply@blogger.com (Ed Sum)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
Gemma Atkinson has joined the cast of 'Casualty'. The former 'Hollyoaks' actress will take on the role of glamorous paramedic Tamzin, who generates plenty of attention from the male staff in Accident and Emergency, in a bid to spice up the long-running medical drama. 'Sex and the City 2' star Dhafer L'Abidine has also joined the show as competitive ambulance worker Omar. Producer Oliver Kent said: "Tamzin is going to bring a touch of glamour to the paramedic team and set some hearts racing in the emergency department while Omar's melting roadside manner is going to raise the temperature of Holby's female...
- 5/17/2011
- Virgin Media - TV
Ex-Hollyoaks actress Gemma Atkinson is joining Casualty as a new paramedic. The actress - best known for her role as Lisa Hunter in the Channel 4 soap - will play Tamzin alongside second new recruit Omar, who will be played by Sex and the City 2's Dhafer L'Abidine. With Tamzin tipped to cause a stir among males at the hospital, Atkinson said of her new role: "I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the show and really looking forward to getting to know all the cast and crew. "I used to watch it as a child so to be involved is fantastic."
Pictured: Dhafer L'Abidine and Gemma Atkinson. Atkinson previously claimed that she had turned down an offer to return to (more)...
Pictured: Dhafer L'Abidine and Gemma Atkinson. Atkinson previously claimed that she had turned down an offer to return to (more)...
- 5/17/2011
- by By Ryan Love
- Digital Spy
Gemma Atkinson has joined the cast of 'Casualty'. The former 'Hollyoaks' actress will take on the role of glamorous paramedic Tamzin, who generates plenty of attention from the male staff in Accident and Emergency, in a bid to spice up the long-running medical drama. 'Sex and the City 2' star Dhafer L'Abidine has also joined the show as competitive ambulance worker Omar. Producer Oliver Kent said: "Tamzin is going to bring a touch of glamour to the paramedic team and set some hearts racing in the emergency department while Omar's melting roadside manner is going to raise the temperature of Holby's female...
- 5/15/2011
- Virgin Media - TV
Directed by: Neil Marshall
Written by: Neil Marshall
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Dominic West, Olga Kurylenko, Noel Clarke, David Morrissey, Jj Feild, Axelle Carolyn, Dave Legeno, Ulrich Thomsen, James Currie, Dhaffer L'Abidine, Imogen Poots, Rachael Stirling
The Romans were fond of expanding their empire, and this fondness often had occasion to venture into the big island of England. Their accomplishments in the south were reasonably well settled; the Roman Empire successfully retained control of that portion of Britain for many, many years. The north, however, wasn't to be won so easily. The Picts - which was a loose confederation of Celtic tribes - weren't obliged to go under Roman law, and they were very skilled at killing those that might try to bring that rule by force.
In goes the feared and respected 9th Roman Legion, led by General Titus Flavius Virilus and guided by a trusted female Pictish scout to show the way.
Written by: Neil Marshall
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Dominic West, Olga Kurylenko, Noel Clarke, David Morrissey, Jj Feild, Axelle Carolyn, Dave Legeno, Ulrich Thomsen, James Currie, Dhaffer L'Abidine, Imogen Poots, Rachael Stirling
The Romans were fond of expanding their empire, and this fondness often had occasion to venture into the big island of England. Their accomplishments in the south were reasonably well settled; the Roman Empire successfully retained control of that portion of Britain for many, many years. The north, however, wasn't to be won so easily. The Picts - which was a loose confederation of Celtic tribes - weren't obliged to go under Roman law, and they were very skilled at killing those that might try to bring that rule by force.
In goes the feared and respected 9th Roman Legion, led by General Titus Flavius Virilus and guided by a trusted female Pictish scout to show the way.
- 8/17/2010
- by Tristan Sinns
- Planet Fury
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