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NEWS Tuesday 14 May 2019
DAY 1

CANNES Q&A:

DR. ESSAM BUKHARY

CEO, MANGA PRODUCTIONS

Please explain what Manga mediums now as we’re seeing material that technologies from experienced countries to
Productions does would have been released theatrically 10 or Saudi Arabia; build and improve
Manga Productions produces globally so years ago, debuting on premium cable professional content development in Saudi
competitive animation movies, television and streaming platforms and doing very Arabia; support and foster start-ups and
series and video games. Currently, we are well. As a company producing content that young talents in Saudi Arabia and the Arab Dr. Essam Bukhary © DR
preparing the launch of 2D and 3D can live just about anywhere, we must stay World in the fields of creating comics,
animation movies in partnership with up-to-date on the latest developments animations and video games; and promote commercially viable animated films in the
world leading animation studios. The across all industries in the global positive values and ethics among youth and marketplace.
movies are expected to be seen on cinema entertainment ecosystem, and that is younger generations.
screens and international TV channels in achieved, in part, by attending the major How many Cannes have you
the next few years. A subsidiary within markets. Which territories are up or down for attended?
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin co-productions? This is the debut Cannes Market and
Salman’s MiSK Foundation, Manga is What are Manga’s plans for the We are open and would like to collaborate Festival for Manga and we could not be
creating an ecosystem throughout Saudi Cannes Film Festival and the Cannes with companies all over the world. At the more excited. This will be the first of many
Arabia and the Arab world, in which young Marché this year? What do you moment though, Japan is a wonderful we hope. Its up to us to deliver on our
talents are supported and given hope to see while you are here — territory for collaboration as we have an promise to be a key contributor to the
opportunities to produce high quality work and what kinds of people and existing pact with Toei Animation to animation sector, globally, which would
representing our culture. companies do you hope to meet and produce animated content together. Our lead us back to Cannes every year.
do business with? first joint production was The Woodcutter’s
How important is the Cannes We are launching several animation projects Treasure, a 20-minute animation based on Best Cannes film ever?
market for you and your company? to promote Saudi ideas and messages Saudi Arabian folklore. Production is I’m too biased, and would name every
Given that our mission is to become not internationally, and work as a pioneer in complete on Arabic and Japanese versions. animated film ahead of any live-action
just the regional leader, but a true global creative content development, offering The team is also producing a 13-episode movie that has played in Cannes! The
pioneer in the values driven content space, innovative products to build and enable animated folklore TV series, which is bottom line is every film that has screened
we need to have a presence at the events ambitious generations of young creatives. currently in production. at this amazing festival has had a moment
that drive this agenda and there really is no Cannes is the perfect stage for us to interact that will live forever with the filmmakers,
bigger platform than the Cannes Film with potential collaborators for distribution What type of product is in demand cast, and anyone who had a part in it —
Festival and adjoining Marché du Film. For internationally, and to assess the overall currently? and those are the everlasting, magical
us, Cannes is now is an essential platform landscape. We are taking many meetings There is a strong global market demand for moments that matter most.
for relationship building, deal-making, and will be quite active. high-quality animated films and we have
talent discovery and assessment, ambitions for not only Manga, but an Biggest gripe on the Riviera?
competitive analysis, and company What does the future hold for entire generation of young Saudi We have amazing coffee and dates in Saudi
promotion. Manga Productions? What can you storytellers, to be a major player in the Arabia — it would be amazing if there was
tell us about the next five or 10 feature film space. With the worldwide a place or two where we could get them
What other markets do you attend? years? What are some of your appetite for animated entertainment here in Cannes! I promise you, there would
We’ve begun attending TV markets like goals? continuing to grow, we feel it’s important be a lot of happy festival-goers who would
MIPTV and MIPCOM as well as speciality We are on pace to fulfill our mission to for Manga to establish a footprint in this enjoy balancing the strong sour flavour of
festivals like Annecy, with more to come. identify, develop and create inspiring market category and deliver the most the coffee with the sweetness of the dates —
There of course is overlap between content stories; transfer content development entertaining, cutting-edge and Saudi style.✦ Liza Foreman

COLCOA FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL MOVES DATES

HE COLCOA French Film series even more visible,” said the festival’s filmmakers invited to COLCOA not only
Festival will celebrate its 23rd executive producer and artistic director, present their film but meet American
anniversary later this year. François Truffart. professionals in LA including and are part
Running from 23-28 He added: “The number of awards will of workshops about writing and
T September at the Directors also be reduced for this reason. Generally directing,” he said. “The main talent
Guild of America in Hollywood, 50-plus speaking, we now want COLCOA to be agencies attend the festival and, in the
films will be in competition for the the window in Hollywood for French past, several filmmakers have signed with
COLCOA Awards 2019, unspooling in cinema and TV programmes between an agent after being invited at COLCOA.”
three sections: Cinema, Television (Series Venice, Toronto, Telluride and the New He adds: “I would say that the foreign film
and TV Movies) and Shorts. To be selected, York Film Festival. We will work to expose market remains a niche market for French
films and series must be a French films in order for them to compete for films and series with a higher competition
production or co-production. other awards including the Academy within this market between countries.
For the first time, the festival is scheduled Awards.” Despite the development of streaming
to take place at this time of year, in order One of the missions of the festival is to services, French cinema continues to be
to make the most of the awards season. showcase French films and series in the US released in theatres for now with about
“With these new dates, we want the and support acquisitions, releases or 45 films theatrically distributed. The Netflix
showcase to be part of the Awards Season remake rights. “COLCOA is a visible revolution also has an impact even if the
in Hollywood. We also want to bring the platform to promote new French talent in system is made to promote our films only
festival to a higher level with a smaller Hollywood,” he said. The festival is also to subscribers already interested in French
programme in order to make films and designed to facilitate networking. “French programmes.”✦ Liza Foreman

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