News

Stuart Ford’s AGC International has picked up world rights to two Arab-produced titles, Hwjn by Yasir Al-Yasiri and To My Son by Dhafer L’abidine, ahead of their debuts at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival.

AGC nabbed Hwjn, which opens Red Sea this evening, from Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Mbc Studios, and Vox Studios. To My Son was acquired from O3 Medya and L’Abidine’s Double A Productions.

Adapted from the best-selling Young Adult fantasy novel by Ibraheem Abbas, Hwjn combines Arabian folklore elements of fantasy, blended with modern themes. Set in modern-day Jeddah, Hwjn follows the story of a kind-hearted jinn as he discovers the truth about his royal lineage. Synopsis reads: Hwjn (Baraa Alem) sets off on an epic journey to reclaim his birthright, and while battling ancient evils to maintain the harmonious balance between his world and ours, falls in love with Sawsan (Nour Alkhadra), a young medical student.

AGC Intl., the international sales and distribution arm of Stuart Ford’s fast-growing independent content studio AGC Studios, has picked up world rights from Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Mbc Studios and Vox Studios on Yasir Al Yasiri’s “Hwjn,” and from O3 Medya and Dhafer L’Abidine’s Double A Productions on L’Abidine’s “To My Son.”

Saudi fantasy romance ‘Hwjn’ will open the Red Sea Film Festival on Nov. 30, while the emotional family drama “To My Son” will premiere in Red Sea’s Arab Spectacular section.

The deals mark another significant step in AGC Studios’ drive to bringing theatrical features from the Middle East and North Africa region to global audiences. AGC has partnered with Image Nation Abu Dhabi on Arabic blockbusters “Al Kameen” and “Voy! Voy! Voy!” (with Vox), Egypt’s box-office juggernaut and selection for Academy Award consideration for best international feature. AGC is also partnered...

Deal furthers AGC Studios’ commitment to championing Mena region theatrical features.

AGC International has acquired world sales rights to Hwjn and To My Son on the eve of their world premieres at Red Sea International Film Festival.

Iraqi filmmaker Yasir Al Yasiri’s Saudi fantasy romance Hwjn from Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Mbc Studios and Vox Studios will open the festival today (November 30) and is adapted from the YA novel by Ibraheem Abbas.

The feature combines Arabian folklore elements with contemporary themes and takes place in modern-day Jeddah as the kind-hearted titular jinn (Baraa Alem) discovers the truth about his...

“Head to Head” is a comedy directed by Malik Nejer and written by Abdulaziz Al-Muzaini. It stars Abdulaziz Alshehri, Adel Radwan, Mohammad Alqass, Ida Alkusay and others.

In this highly entertaining comedy set in Saudi Arabia, we are treated to all the elements of Guy Ritchie‘s distinctive style: criminals, corpses, a touch of comic relief, sharp dialogue, and absurd situations.

This Netflix release is a perfect opportunity to get lost in a film that we found incredibly amusing.

Storyline

The film tells the story of a love-struck chauffeur and a mechanic who mistakenly pick up a retired criminal. The two men are forced into a wild, life-changing adventure as they try to survive.

About the movie Head to Head

“Head to Head” is funny, well-scripted, and features striking contrasts in its cinematography. The performances are commendable. If there is any criticism, it would be that the film closely resembles Guy Ritchie’s personal style,...

Bella Thorne is saying ciao to the role of festival programmer.

The “Paint Her Red” filmmaker, who makes her directorial debut with the short film, will curate a selection for the “Influential Shorts” gala programming for the 2023 Taormina Film Festival. Thorne has selected “Don’t Go Too Far” as the first short film to be screened alongside her own.

Thorne and Taormina Film Festival co-Artistic Director Barrett Wissman selected “Don’t Go Too Far,” directed by Saudi female filmmaker Maram Taibah. The film follows an Arab man (Hakeem Jomah) with an intellectual disability who is accidentally separated from his sister (Ida Alkusay) on a New York subway. Never having been left alone in his entire life, the train carries him off. He is left to find his way back home alone in an apathetic city. “Don’t Go Too Far” is written and directed by Taibah and produced by Jaselle Martino.

Ten-part adventure-fantasy series is made by Mbc Studios.

Mbc Studios, the production arm of leading Saudi media company Mbc Group, has begun filming Rise Of The Witches – the biggest ever TV series to be made in the country.

The 10-part adventure-fantasy series is being shot on purpose-built sets at Neom, a 500bn megacity that is under construction in the northwest province of Tabuk, and holds the largest ever budget for special effects for a Saudi production, according to Mbc.

The series will feature a predominantly Saudi cast, led by local stars Ida AlKusay and Sumaya Rida, and tells the story...

Production

Mbc Studios, the in-house premium content production arm of Mbc Group, has commenced production on fantasy-adventure “Rise of the Witches”, the biggest series to be ever produced with a homegrown Saudi cast, and holds the largest ever budget for special effects for a Saudi production. Supported by Neom, the series is being filmed on three purpose-built studio sets, including Saudi Arabia’s biggest purpose-built backlots to date.

Based on the best-selling Saudi mythology books by Osamah Almuslim, the series, set in ancient Arabia, tells the story of an epic war between two rival witch covens, led by Afsaar and Da’ja’a.

Growing up in a world dominated by male magicians who want to prevent women from having any access to magical powers, both witches secretly learn the arts and go on to form their own groups in order to protect themselves and gain power.

The predominantly Saudi cast...

Mbc Studios, the high-end production arm of Saudi media and entertainment giant Mbc Group, has announced shooting is underway on the fantasy-adventure Rise Of The Witches, its biggest show to date featuring a local cast and crew.

The production is currently filming on the site of Neom, the burgeoning smart city in the northeast of the country. The site, which is at the heart of the Saudi strategy to become a major film and TV production hub, previously hosted the big-budget Desert Warrior.

Mbc Studios said Neom was supporting the production and had constructed three purpose-built sets for the production, which also has the biggest special effects budget for a Saudi production to date.

The series is based on the best-selling Saudi mythology books by Osamah Almuslim. Set in ancient Arabia, it tells the story of an epic war between two rival witch covens.

Growing up in a world dominated...

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Mbc Studios, the production arm of the Saudi-owned free-to-air satellite network giant Mbc, has unveiled what it claims to be the “biggest TV series” ever to be shot in the country.

Rise of the Witches, a 10-part fantasy-adventure series based on the bestselling books by Saudi author Osamah Al Muslim, is now in production at Neom, the name of the coastal area in the north east of the country due to be home to a much-hyped 500 billion megacity, using three purpose-built studio sets, including Saudi Arabia’s biggest purpose built backlot. Mbc Studios recently shot the feature Desert Warrior — starring Anthony Mackie and understood to be the most expensive film made in Saudi Arabia — at Neom, one of two major Hollywood titles it’s producing alongside the Gerard Butler action-thriller Kandahar.

According to Mbc, the series is the biggest series ever produced with a homegrown Saudi cast,...