Saudi Arabia’s Film AlUla Partners With British Fashion Council in Push to Lure Fashion Film Shoots

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Top Middle East broadcaster MBC Group has forged a partnership with U.S. anime and manga distributor Tokyopop under which they are forming a hub dedicated to the licensing, promotion, and production of anime content in the region. The joint venture, called MBC Anime, is led by Stu Levy, the American anime and manga expert who is founder and CEO of Tokyopop, a prominent international distributor, licensor, and publisher of anime and manga. Through the new initiative, MBC Anime “will commission, produce, and invest in a series of world-class quality anime titles,” according to an MBC statement.

Producer Of Disney+’s ‘A Thousand Blows’ Staffs Up

Work has begun on Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight’s Birmingham TV and film studio.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Saudi Arabia is launching soft money schemes worth a total $234 million available to both local and international companies over the next three years in its ongoing effort to launch a local film and TV industry almost from scratch. The Saudi Cultural Development Fund officially unveiled its so-called Film Sector Financing Program during the Ignite the Scene event dedicated to the film industry held in Riyadh last week. In an interview on Monday with Variety Najla AlNomair, who is the cultural development fund’s chief strategy and business development officer, said that the Saudi soft money pot is split into two parts: one allocated for loans that amounts to $154 million, and the other for investments, amounting to $80 million.

Saudi Cultural Development Fund (CDF) has officially launched its Film Sector Financing Program (FSFP) offering financial support to local and international film companies that want to get involved in the country’s burgeoning cinema industry.

Will Smith chats with Lewis Hamilton for a quick minute ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia held at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on Sunday (March 19) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Hams Fekri, a 29-year-old Saudi wedding singer from Jeddah, has been crowned the winner of the first season of “Saudi Idol” during a moving live finale from The Boulevard Riyadh City recreational complex. The golden-throated Fekri was exultant after battling it out in front of a live studio audience and panel of judges for 13 weeks. She emerged victorious out of three finalists to win most audience votes for the night. Fekri’s mother — who achieved success as a pop singer during the 1980s, but subsequently faded into obscurity — hugged her daughter on stage.  In addition to being named the very first “Saudi Idol,” Fekri also won a recording contract with MBC Group’s Platinum Records label which involves the release of a full studio album in the coming months.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Chilean filmmaker Maite Alberdi’s documentary about love, memory and Alzheimer’s disease “The Eternal Memory” has scored a slew of international sales after making a splash at Sundance and Berlin. Dogwoof, the British sales company specialized in high-profile docs, has announced multiple deals on “Eternal Memory,” which won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize for World Documentary in January and was a recent standout at the Berlinale where it had its European bow. The hot doc is screening later this week at the CPH:DOX documentary film festival in Copenhagen. Dogwoof partnered with MTV Documentary Films to represent “The Eternal Memory” for international sales soon after its Sundance premiere. They have now scored sales on the doc to: Edge Entertainment (Nordics); Madman (Australia and New Zealand); Sherry Media (Canada); I Wonder Pictures (Italy); BTeam Pictures (Spain); Periscoop (Benelux); Atnine Film (South Korea); Synca (Japan); LEV (Israel), and Restart (Former Yugoslavia).

Soap and hygiene brand Dove has slammed the Oscar-winning film The Whale for its portrayal of fat people and using a fat suit.This year’s Academy Awards saw show-stopping moments such as Everything Everywhere All At Once securing a whopping seven awards, Rihanna performing and Lucien Laviscount launching a foul-mouthed attack on the Conservative Party. A heartwarming moment came when an emotional Brendan Fraser handed his first Oscar after his triumphant return to the world of showbusiness last year.The star received the accolade for his leading role in The Whale, which follows Charlie, a reclusive and unhealthy English teacher who is eating his way to death but desperate to reconnect with his estranged daughter. The film seemingly divided viewers and critics alike, with some people taking issue with the use of a fat suit and how it portrayed plus-size people.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Aardman Animations’ founder Peter Lord and “Waltz With Bashir” director Ari Folman are set to receive Pulcinella Career Awards at Italy’s Cartoons On The Bay TV animation festival which is broadening its scope. The event launched in 1996 by Italian state broadcaster RAI has now expanded beyond TV toons to comprise video game productions, the comic book world, transmedia storytelling and metaverse animation content. Reflecting its more high-tech horizons, the fest’s 27th edition – which will run May 31-June 4 in the Southern seaside city of Pescara – will also be celebrating “Cuphead,” the hit Canadian video game that’s become a Netflix series, and bestowing its creator Maja Moldenhauer with its new Transmedia Award.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent 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?

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival has announced a dozen projects from young filmmakers from Saudi, and the wider Arab and African region, selected for its development program, the Red Sea Lodge, in collaboration with TorinoFilmLab and sponsored by the Film AlUla film commission. The Lodge is a 10-month mentorship program that has now opened up to African works along with Saudi and Arab projects. Winners will take home a portion of the total $200,000 pot in prizes that will be awarded during the fest’s 2023 edition in December.  The selected projects from Saudi Arabia are:

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Kuwaiti-born writer-director Zeyad (also known as “Z”) Alhusaini, whose action movie with comedic undertones “How I Got There” recently won the audience award at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival, has joined United Talent Agency for representation in all areas. The groundbreaking film about two best buddies from childhood, named Salem and Asad, who stumble upon a gun shipment and try to seize this opportunity to get rich quick is set entirely in the Persian Gulf. “How I Got There” provides a relatively realistic glimpse of Kuwait’s present-day melting-pot of cultures, and its underworld of gun-running mercenaries, gangs, and terrorists, plus the local rap scene.

Seth Rogen has made some critically-acclaimed movies like The Fabelmans and has starred in some not-so-great films throughout his career. The actor is now opening up about how reading opinions from film critics can be very hurtful.

Molly-Mae Hauge has taken a trip to London with baby Bambi as the mum and daughter enjoy a stay at the plush Bulgari Hotel in Central London. The influencer, who gave birth in January, has shared a series of pictures social media as they lap up the luxury life-style.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund Public Investment Fund (PIF) has increased its stake in Japanese film and TV studio Toei Company, from 5% to 6.03%, according to a report by the Reuters financial news agency. The move comes shortly after Toei published a ten-year plan for international expansion. Toei includes film and TV production operations, the T-Joy cinema chain and Toei Animation. Last month, it said that it had beaten its film revenue record, thanks to the success of titles including “The First Slam Dunk,” “The Legend of Butterfly” and “One Piece Film Red.” The stake increase also follows PIF’s February announcement that it had increased its stake in Japanese games and console maker Nintendo to 8.26% and that (along with the Singapore state fund GIC) was a buyer of a $966 million bond issue from Korean entertainment-tech firm Kakao Corp.

Saudi Arabian family comedy Sattar, set against the world of freestyle wrestling, has continued its record-breaking run at home to become one of the country’s top five highest-grossing local movies ever.

Molly-Mae Hague has been sharing an insight into home life after having her man Tommy Fury home from his victory in Saudi Arabia. The former Love Island star greeted her partner through the door of their plush home with open arms and a 'Welcome Home Champ' display after the Manchester boxer was victorious in his fight against Jake Paul on Sunday night three weeks after welcoming newborn daughter Bambi into the world.

Tyson Fury couldn't resist joining in the fun as his youngest son celebrated his fourth birthday. Little Adonis woke to find downstairs decked out for him with a superhero theme.

New mum Molly-Mae Hague has discovered a genius hack that will save her tonnes of time on days out with baby Bambi. Molly, 23, who welcomed her daughter with boyfriend Tommy Fury, 23, in January, has purchased the Doona Infant Car Seat - the world’s first car seat with integrated wheels, meaning that in less than five seconds you can be out of your car with your baby, and on your way in style.The product description on the Doona website says: "Whether you’re nipping into the petrol station, picking up a coffee, picking up a few bits from the supermarket, travelling on public transport or through an airport, the Doona is truly the next generation in parent and child safety and mobility." Love Island star Molly, who has the £349 stroller in the Nitro Black colour, took baby Bambi home from the hospital in the swanky travel system.