International Insider: Conflict Week Two; Big Questions At Mipcom; Saudi Setback

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival has revealed details of the Red Sea Souk, the fest’s industry market that will offer meeting and networking opportunities revolving around new Arab and African product. The Souk will take place Dec. 2-5 alongside the Nov.

New Riyadh-based acquisition and distribution company TwentyOne Entertainment has announced its launch at upcoming the Red Sea International Film Festival, which is due to unfold in the port city of in Jeddah from November 30 to December 9.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival has announced the bulk of its lineup from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), signaling that the event is forging ahead with its third edition despite the Israel-Hamas war that has caused cancellations of several movie celebrations across the Arab world. The fest’s third edition, set to run Nov.

Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival has unveiled it 2023 line-up and theme as it maintains its third edition against the backdrop of the escalating Israel-Gaza Conflict. (scroll down for full list)

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Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Leading Saudi advertising and live events company Alamiya has moved into film production by acquiring start up shingle Lyra Pictures, co-founded by experienced media exec Wesam Kattan, who was part of the Viacom team that launched MTV Arabia. Alamiya was founded in 1976 as the first film and TV studio in the kingdom, but was forced to change its business plan in the early 1980s due to the ban on cinema forced by religious conservatives.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Saudi Arabia’s Film AlUla, the film entity looking to attract international productions to a sprawling area of desert and giant boulders, has forged a partnership with Hollywood indie Stampede Ventures, bringing 10 productions to the region over the next three years with a projected $350 million spend. The groundbreaking agreement with Stampede marks the first deal of this scale between Hollywood and Saudi since the kingdom lifted its ban on cinema in late 2017.

Refresh for latest…: Universal/Blumhouse’s Five Nights at Freddy’s is gaming its way to an estimated $130.6M global opening, higher even than we had it yesterday as this phenom is now eyeing a $52.6M bow from 64 international box office markets. As Anthony has chronicled, the domestic $78M opening is a stunner — and amid the day-and-date Peacock bow. Overseas, the play is purely theatrical and has set a number of records.

The phenomenon that is Universal/Blumhouse’s Five Nights at Freddy’s is currently looking at a global opening of $130M. Fazbear and crew are playing in 64 international box office markets where they are expected to reach $52M through Sunday.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent The Marrakech International Film Festival has announced its full jury, signaling that the event is forging ahead with its 20th edition despite the Israel-Hamas conflict — which has caused cancellations of several other fests in the region — and the earthquake that hit the country in September. Joining Jessica Chastain – who is the fest’s previously announced jury president – will be Iranian actor Zar Amir; French actor Camille Cottin; Australian actor and director Joel Edgerton; British director Joanna Hogg; U.S. director Dee Rees; Swedish-Egyptian director Tarek Saleh; Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård and French-Moroccan writer Leïla Slimani.

EXCLUSIVE: One of the few Israeli delegates who attended last week’s Mipcom Cannes has said he made the trip because “we will not let them win.”

Colin Jost and Michael Che were back at the “Weekend Update” desk on Saturday Night Live to take jabs at politics and pop culture.

A whole lot of celebrities have spoken out about Israel and Palestine recently.

Rangers chief James Bisgrove admits he’d love to keep Graeme Souness involved with the club after the former boss played a key role in recruiting Philippe Clement.

Caroline Brew editor In a prime-time speech, President Joe Biden addressed the country for the first time since massive violence broke out between Israel and Hamas, explaining why it’s necessary to continue to support America’s partners in Israel and Ukraine. “That’s why tomorrow, I’m going to send to Congress an urgent budget request to fund America’s national security needs to support our critical partners including Israel and Ukraine. It’s a smart investment that’s going to pay dividends for American security for generations.

Qatar’s Doha Film Institute (DFI) has cancelled the 11th edition of its Ajyal Film Festival, which was due to take place from November 8 to 16, due to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The four major broadcast networks are shuffling their Thursday night schedules to accomodate President Joe Biden’s televised address to outline U.S.’ response to Hamas’ terrorist attacks against Israel and Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) is seeking to win over enough holdouts in the Republican conference to clinch the House speakership today, putting an end to the ongoing drama of GOP division that has all but halted the work of Congress.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Mipcom Cannes, the international TV conference, opened on a solemn note with market director Lucy Smith paying tribute to the “innocent victims in Israel and Gaza.” Smith addressed the reverberations of the Israel-Hamas conflict at the market and within the industry. Out of the 70 Israeli industry executives who had registered for Mipcom, only a few were able to attend due to the devastation brought by Hamas’ attack on Oct.

Broadcast and cable networks will supplement their ongoing news coverage of the war in Israel with programming specials this weekend.