He established job creation programs in saudi arabia and the middle east

EXCLUSIVE: Saudi feelgood comedy-drama Sattar , which has enjoyed a record-breaking theatrical run at home, will hit U.K. cinemas next month in a release spearheaded by MENA region distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment . Sattar , which is set in the world of freestyle wrestling, will be only the second Saudi Arabian film to be released theatrically in the U.K. after Haifa al-Mansour’s ground-breaking 2012 international breakout Wadjda . The film will launch on around 10 U.K. screens in London and other major U.K. cities, including Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Leeds, on February 10. Front Row, which has struck a direct distribution, revenue-sharing deal with Odeon Cinemas , is aiming to catch the wave of the film’s success in Saudi Arabia . The target audience is Saudi Arabian and Gulf citizens living in the U.K. but Front Row expects it to appeal to a wider Arabic-speaking audience as well as local spectators without … [Read more...] about Saudi Freestyle Wrestling, Feelgood Hit ‘Sattar’ To Get U.K. Release As Front Row Strikes Deal With Odeon Cinemas

EXCLUSIVE: Peter Smith is leaving MBC Studios after four years as Managing Director. We’ve learned the international industry veteran is stepping down from the premium production arm of Middle Eastern and North African network MBC, though he’ll continue to advise on production and distribution. In a statement to Deadline, MBC CEO Sam Barnett confirmed the exit and said a successor would be named “in due course, in coming days.” Smith is a former NBCUniversal International President and was CEO of Cineflix Studios and Greece-based broadcaster Antenna Group. He joined MBC Studios in 2018 as it launched as the production arm of free-to-air network MBC, which is the largest media company in the MENA region. He was tasked with increasing MBC’s original film and TV output and and he has gone on to overseen the launch of shows such as Rashash , Rise of the Witches and The Devil’s Promise . “Peter Smith is stepping aside as Managing Director of MBC Studios,” said … [Read more...] about MBC Studios Boss Peter Smith Exiting Saudi-Owned Media Group

Starzplay has announced its first Arabic-language original series, created in collaboration with Emirati content powerhouse Image Nation Abu Dhabi . The international streaming service of Starz has a big following in the Middle East and North Africa where its regional offering Starzplay Arabia is available in 19 territories. The new show, called Kaboos , features five standalone episodes and is billed as a modern-day retelling of Arab folklore. It explores urban legends in Saudi Arabia , Kuwait, Egypt and the UAE, across a variety of genres from classic horror stories to noir psychological thrillers. Some of MENA’s hottest rising young directors are attached to the show, including the UAE’s Majid Al Ansari ( Zinzana , Paranormal ) and Hana Kazim ( Makr ) as well as Iraq-born, Abu Dhabi-based Yasir Al Yasiri ( 122 ), Egypt’s Ahmed Khaled ( 30 March ) and Bahraini, U.S.-based director and producer Hala Matar ( Streetcar ). The horror anthology … [Read more...] about Starzplay & Image Nation Abu Dhabi Unveil Streamer’s First Arabic Original Series ‘Kaboos’

Disputes over residuals that flow from new revenue streams have been at the center of every major film and TV strike in Hollywood’s history. And as the WGA , SAG-AFTRA and the DGA all preparing for contract talks early in 2023 with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers, residuals could again be the flashpoint for the first industry-wide strike in 15 years. With inflation at over 7% this year, raising minimum pay rates also is expected to be a major issue for all three guilds. The WGA West, for instance, saw significant declines in total earnings for film and TV writers in 2020 and 2021, in part due to smaller episode orders and ubiquitous mini writers rooms, so the usual 3% annual pay hikes may not cut it this time. The WGA’s current contract expires May 1, and the DGA and SAG-AFTRA contracts both expire June 30, and all three guilds have said they want more streaming residuals and higher minimum pay rates for their members. And though strike … [Read more...] about Historically, The WGA Is Overdue For A Strike, With Residuals Again A Key Issue Of Upcoming Talks