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NEWS Thursday 16 May 2019
DAY 3

THE BUZZ
OF THE DAY FROM NEW

YORK’S CRIME
IMAGE NATION ABU DHABI RIDDEN

STREETS TO
SIGNS LANDMARK PARTNERSHIP THE CROISETTE

FOR MIDDLE EASTERN PROJECTS TEVE Mariotti, CEO, Atlas
Learning, Inc. introduces a
documentary exploring the
MAGE Nation Abu Dhabi, Majid Al redemptive power of
Futtaim and MBC Studios have entered S entrepreneurship. Who live
into an alliance to launch a production and who dies in a landscape of random
partnership for film and TV projects destruction? Is the drive to survive — to
I across the Middle East. The partnership see an opportunity, assess the risk and
will greenlight several projects each year, take it — the same as the drive to create
representing a significant boost to the value for one’s self and others after a
region’s growing entertainment industry. disaster? Can that drive be taught? The
In collaboration with the three road to answer those questions began in
organisations, the partnership will support the angry streets of New York’s roughest
projects from inception through to ghettos for educator/producer Steve
distribution. Mariotti. It took only 37 years to reach the
The partnership actively seeks projects Marché du Film. On an ordinary afternoon
from across the Middle East, with a focus in 1982, Mariotti experienced a terrifying
on Saudi Arabia, UAE and Egypt, and has mugging by young, urban toughs that left
already begun producing its first project. Michael Garin, CEO Image Nation Abu Dhabi (left), Majid Al Futtaim – Ventures’ Khaled El Chidiac him suffering with PTSD. To heal, he
The first film supported by the partnership and MBC Studios’ Peter Smith in Cannes to launch the landmark partnership © DR plunged into the black hole of educating
is Three Four Eternity, a vampire family trio of companies will facilitate the creative particularly, Saudi Arabia, in light of Vision children like his attackers, the poorest of
drama produced by Mohamed Hefzy, process at every step of a project’s 2030.” the poor’s children, at the notorious public
under his company Film Clinic, which will development, and this is a major step Peter Smith, managing director of MBC school Boys and Girls High School in
be the directorial debut for the film’s writer, towards our vision of creating dynamic Studios, said: “This is a strategic move by Bedford-Stuyvesant, deep in the heart of
Rami Yasin (The Worthy, Zinzana). HWJN content for the Middle East that will not MBC Studios complemented by our New York City. His experiences galvanising
which is currently in development is the only engage locally, but also play to the rest partners in Majid Al Futtaim and Image those disengaged youths to learn by
feature-film adaptation of the bestselling of the world,” he added. Nation Abu Dhabi. We’re bringing inspiring them to start their own small
Saudi Arabian novel from author Ibrahim Majid Al Futtaim is contributing to the together, for the very first time, a businesses led Mariotti to expand his ideas
Abbas about a devout God-fearing Jinn partnership through its cinema arm as both 360-degree Arab film entity that covers all and ultimately found the Network for
who forges a special bond with a talented an exhibitor and distributor of films. aspects of content creation, including Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). Now an
female medical student. Majid Al Futtaim’s cinema entity, VOX development, production, theatrical international foundation that has
“This region has infinitely talented writers Cinemas, includes over 400 screens in exhibition, televising on the Middle East’s graduated over a 1,000,000 under-
and filmmakers wanting to tell their eight countries including Saudi Arabia leading broadcaster and SVOD platforms, privileged youths from 12 countries from
stories, as well as a sophisticated consumer where the exhibitor opened the Kingdom’s as well as international sales. their entrepreneurial training programmes,
audience that craves locally made content first multiplex in April 2018. VOX “We want to create premium Arabic- NFTE has revolutionised education for this
that resonates with them,” said Ben Ross, Cinemas has opened a further four language feature-film content from across under-served population. Mariotti and his
chief content officer at Image Nation, the multiplexes in Riyadh and Jeddah, the Middle East to connect with audiences team are at Cannes unveiling a
Academy Award-winning media and totalling 47 screens, and plans to open 110 in the region and internationally. This documentary entitled The Triumph of the
entertainment company in the Middle by the end of 2019. partnership, in essence, creates a fully Entrepreneurial Spirit. This fully funded,
East. Khaled El Chidiac, acting CEO, Majid Al integrated studio.” work-in-progress explores the lives of nine
“This partnership will have a significant Futtaim – Ventures, said: “Entertainment Image Nation and MBC Studios survivors of war, genocide, abuse, disease,
impact on the scale and ambition of the and creative industries are vital to a announced earlier this year a slate of Saudi and worse who have risen from victim to
region’s industries, enabling more creatives thriving and diversified economy and there films for local, regional and international victors. The documentary presents an
to bring their ideas to life and deliver the has never been a more exciting time to be audiences.✦ ethnically diverse set of distinctive personal
content that audiences want to see. The part of this field in the MENA region, and Liza Foreman profiles. Footage was shot on location,
bringing the viewer into the specific world
of each profiled entrepreneur, from a
Bedouin village to Ethiopia to the Bialystok
INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTOR FIZZ-E-MOTION ghetto in World War II. More on-location
footage will be shot during 2019. The aim
LAUNCHES IN CANNES WITH FIVE NEW TITLES of the completed 90-minute documentary
is general release to theatres, and to
NEW INTERNATIONAL distributor Fizz-e- and a focus on a smaller but selective The sales catalogue includes the sci-fi film television and online outlets, with strong
Motion, founded by Luke Corradine and number of films, Fizz-e-Motion believes The Last Boy from UK director Perry potential to be developed into a television
Yannick Rudynski, is doing its first Cannes, that creating a good symbiosis between Bhandal which features Luke Goss and series. ✦ Liza Foreman
presenting an ambitious catalogue of five producers and distributors can yield better Peter Guinness in one of his best
new titles from the UK, Poland, the US and and more successful films. performances to date. Fizz-e-Motion is also
Latin America. Fizz-e-Motion is active in The company is bringing to the market in pre-production for drama series The
sales and production and has offices in Tomasz Szafranski’s third feature film, the Voice of the Dead based on Julian Sanchez’ NEWS THE OFFICIAL DAIL Y
Cannes and Vienna. €2.5 m family adventure, Rock ‘n’Roll Eddie best-selling trilogy books to be shot in
JOIN
With a background in production, featuring Marciej Makowski which Barcelona later this year.✦ JOIN US ON US ON
distribution, music and financial advising, premiered theatrically in April in Poland. Liza Foreman
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CORRECTION : Yesterday in an interview we ran with David Garrett of Mister Smith Entertainment
we printed his name incorrectly. We apologise for this error. www.facebook.com/cannesmarketnews

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