Actualités

“Seven Types of Ambiguity,” the Australian TV series involving a mystery told from the shifting perspective of seven characters, is getting an Arabic adaptation as an original production for beIN Media Group’s Tod streaming platform.

Titled “Mirage” or alternately (“Sarab”) in Arabic, the first international adaptation of the six-part ABC series – which is based on the acclaimed novel by Australian author Elliot Perlman, revolving around the disappearance of a child in suburban Melbourne — is being transposed to a Middle East setting. Just like the original, each episode of the ten-part Rashomon-like show is told from a different point of view.

Shooting is underway on the Arabic adaptation of “Seven Types of Ambiguity” which is being directed by Egypt’s Ahmed Khaled (“The Thief of Baghdad”) and toplines Egypt’s Khaled El Nabawy (“Kingdom of Heaven”) and Yosra El Lozy who recently starred in surrogacy-themed Ramadan drama “Selat Rahem.

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 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 series is produced by Al Yasiri...

Bein Motor Sports Revving Up In Asia

beIN Sports has picked up exclusive rights to the Formula 1 World Championships in ten territories across Asia. The new media rights agreement begins this year and runs until the conclusion of the 2025 championship.

The ten Asian territories included in the agreement are Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Philippines, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. In many territories in Asia, Formula One previously played on the Disney-owned Fox Sports channels.

The new deal includes rights to all Grand Prix races, the new sprint races, qualifying and practice sessions.

Coverage begins with the season opener, in Bahrain from 3-5 March, and runs through to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from 24-26 November.

The coverage will be available on major pay-tv platforms in the region, including on beIN’s live streaming app, beIN Sports Connect.

Storm Warning

Jonas Baur will take the role as executive producer...

Known in the Arab world as the first best selling author of horror and fantasy, Ahmed Khaled Towfik remains largely unknown in the Western world but if producer and director Rami Imam has any say in the matter, that might all change very soon.

While at Cannes, Imam announced that he was in the process of adapting Towfik's best selling novel "Utopia" which was translated into English in 2011. The story unfolds in 2030 in Egypt of an alternate reality. In this world, the wealthy live in a city called Utopia while "The Others," the poor working class, live in Cairo. The story follows two well-to-do Utopians as they head into Cairo on a sort of "hunting" trip.

I'm not familiar with Towfik's work though [Continued ...]...

The well that is Egyptian sci-fi cinema isn't exactly overflowing, or even half-full (sci-fi movies made by Egyptian filmmakers, that tell stories centered around Egyptian characters); and as a lover of sci-fi movies in general, who also wants to see more filmmakers of the diaspora work within the genre, this project immediately had my attention! In a deal announced at Cannes (which kicked off today), a film adaptation of Egyptian author Ahmed Khaled Towfik's 2010 bestselling novel (also hailed a masterpiece), titled "Utopia" is in the works.  The apocalyptic tale will be adapted by Egyptian filmmaker Rami Imam. The relatively-short (192-pages) novel is set...