News

Dubai-based Mbc Group’s Shahid VIP streaming service has forged a partnership with Arabic animation studio Barajoun Entertainment to co-produce five local-language animation features over the next three years.

These Arabic animation pics will stream exclusively on Shahid VIP as Shahid originals.

Details on the animation projects in the pipeline are being kept under wraps, but the companies revealed that their first collaboration is based on a science-fiction novel and will feature the voice of an unspecified A-list Arab actor. This initial title in the slate is expected to launch on Shahid VIP in July.

Dubai-based Barajoun Entertainment is headed by banker-turned-producer Ayman Jamal, who set up the company in 2011 as the Mena region’s first bona-fide animation studio. Jamal shepherded the 2015 “Bilal” (pictured) film, inspired by the real-life story of Bilal Ibn Rabah, an African slave who became one of the early followers of the Prophet Muhammad. “Bilal” marks...

Flix Flashback‘Big B’ started yet another new wave in Malayalam cinema because it not just introduced a brand-new stylised action genre, but also subverted some of the tropes associated with mass heroes till then.Neelima MenonFacebook/ MammoottyAmal Neerad’s directorial debut, Big B, despite being a trailblazing Malayalam movie for introducing a new style of filmmaking, didn’t get the audience it deserved. Today, of course, it has a cult following, a reason why its sequel Bilal, which was announced in 2017, is awaited eagerly by fans. Interestingly Amal’s debut movie also broke the rigid hierarchy that was rampant in Malayalam cinema. At a time when it was given that a new director had to work with an experienced crew, Amal brought in his own team of fresh technicians on board. So, Big B had a new writer (Unni R), poster designer (Papaya Media), musician (Gopi Sundar), costume designer...

Sky have released first look images for a new Sky Original drama, “Unwanted.”

Inspired by the book “Bilal,” an investigative book from journalist Fabrizio Gatti, the eight-part series tells the story of an undercover human rights defender who is helping migrants journey from Africa to Europe as they battle human traffickers and government officials.

Stefano Bises (“Gomorrah”) created and wrote the series in collaboration with with the collaboration of Alessandro Valenti, Bernardo Pellegrini and Michela Straniero. It has just gone into production in Milan, Italy. Marco Bocci (“Fino all’ultimo battito”), pictured above, Jessica Schwarz (“Romy”) and Dada Fungula Bozela (“Snabba Cash”) star alongside Sylvester Groth (“Inglourious Basterds”) and Scot Williams (“Memory”).

They are joined by Hassan Najib, Jonathan Berlin, Jason Derek Prempeh, Cecilia Dazzi, Francesco Acquaroli, Barbara Auer, Marco Palvetti, Denise Capezza, Nuala Peberdy, Samuel Kalambay, Amadou Mbow, Edward Apeagyei, Reshny N’Kouka, Onyinye Odokoro and Massimo De Lorenzo.

European pay-tv platform Sky will unveil an Italian adaptation of French hit series “Call My Agent,” and thriller series “Europa,” directed by German filmmaker Oliver Hirschbiegel, who helmed the Oscar-nominated “Downfall,” at an event Friday at the Rome Mia Market.

The Italian “Call My Agent” remake is being produced by Palomar, the Rome-based company controlled by France’s Mediawan, which originated the hit show set at a Parisian talent agency (pictured).

“Whereas ‘Call My Agent’ is quintessentially Parisian, this will be quintessentially the [Rome-based] world of Italian cinema,” Nils Hartmann, senior director of Sky Italia original productions, told Variety. “It’s a great homage to Italian cinema and the country’s star system,” he added.

Lisa Nur Sultan, who penned the successful Italian version of “Liar,” is the head writer, while Luca Ribuoli (“The Mafia Only Kills in Summer”) will direct, with plans to start shooting in 2022, and a planned playdate also next year.

MollywoodScheduled to hit the screens on March 4, the film stars Mammootty as Father Benedict, a former priest who has a special interest in crime investigations.Digital NativeThe second teaser of the upcoming Mammootty starrer The Priest, directed by debutant Jofin T Chacko, was released by its makers on Saturday. Mammootty plays the titular role in the film, which also marks actor Manju Warrier’s first collaboration with the superstar. Scheduled to hit the screens on March 4, the film stars Mammootty as Father Benedict, a former priest who has a special interest in crime investigations. Manju Warrier, the leading lady, is said to be playing a strong character in the film. The film also stars Baby Monica, Nikhila Vimal and Saniya Iyappan. The technical crew of The Priest comprises Jofin T Chacko as the writer, Shyam Menon and Deepu Pradeep for screenplay, Rahul Raj for music, Akhil George for cranking the...

Mollywood'Bheeshma Parvam', directed by Amal Neerad, also stars Soubin Shahir and Lena.Digital NativeDigital NativeTollywood star Mammootty’s first venture post lockdown will be Bheeshma Parvam, directed by Amal Neerad. Actors Soubin Shahir and Lena are also a part of the cast. According to the latest reports, Shine Tom Chacko has been signed on for the project as well. On getting an opportunity to join the Bheeshma Parvam team, Shine Tom Chacko had told in an interview with the Times of India, “I was busy shooting for Adi when Amal called me and told me that he wanted to narrate a story. I was excited because I always wanted to act in his movie but was reluctant to ask him. So, when he told me the script and said it also has Mammukka, Soubin and Sreenath Bhasi and that he wanted me to play a character, I was excited.” Shine...

MollywoodAccording to reports, Sreenath Bhasi is also in talks to join the cast of the Amal Neerad film. Digital NativeOne of the most awaited projects in the Malayalam film industry right now is the Mammootty starrer Bheeshma Parvam, directed by Amal Neerad. This project is all set to commence soon and will be the first one for the Malayalam megastar post-lockdown. While the excitement levels are high, there is news that Soubin Shahir and Lena will be joining the cast. Reports have further stated that Sreenath Bhasi too is in talks to join the cast. The film is scripted by Ravi Shankar, Devadath Shaji and Mano Jose. Thanking the director for the opportunity, Ravi Shankar wrote on his social media page, “Thank you Amal Neerad for giving me an opportunity to be part of this dream project.” Devadath also took to his social media page to write, “Blessed to be...

MollywoodBesides Mammootty in the lead role, the film will also have Soubin Shahir and Sreenath Bhasi playing pivotal roles.Digital NativeMalayalam superstar Mammootty and director Amal Neerad are teaming up for a project before they start work on Bilal. Titled Bheeshma, the first look poster was released by Mammootty's son and actor Dulquer Salmaan on Sunday. Sharing the first look poster, Dulquer wrote, "Presenting to you the exciting first look of Bheeshma. How epic does this look. When this team comes together I go back to being a fan boy watching Big B wide eyed. I can’t wait to watch this slick entertainer on the big screen. All the best to Amalettan and the entire team. #fanboyfirst #mydaddystrongest #aintnobodylikehim #megastar #amalneerad #bheeshma #thekindamovieswewaitfor." Besides Mammootty in the lead role, the film will also have Soubin Shahir and Sreenath Bhasi playing pivotal roles. The project will be made on a...

MollywoodThe actor and the director were working on ‘Bilal’, the sequel to ‘Big B’ when Covid-19 broke out. Digital NativeWhile the release of Bilal is awaited, the film’s lead actor and director are teaming up for a fresh project on a smaller budget. Malayalam superstar Mammootty and director Amal Neerad will begin work on the new untitled project soon and it will start rolling from February 3. Besides Mammootty in the lead role, the film will also have Soubin Shahir and Sreenath Bhasi playing pivotal roles. Sources in the know say that Bilal, sequel to the popular film Big B, is planned on a larger canvas with shooting locations earmarked in some foreign locations, and it will be possible to take off only after the Covid-19 pandemic is under control. Incidentally, Mammootty will be on a film set after a year’s break. It may be noted here that the...

MollywoodThere were allegations that the poster was plagiarised from the American series ‘Breaking Bad’.Digital NativeThe poster of Malayalam superstar Mammootty’s upcoming film The Priest was released a few days ago. While the star’s fans were raving about Mammootty’s look in the film, some alleged that the poster was plagiarised. The allegation was that the look was inspired by Bryan Cranston’s getup in Breaking Bad, an American crime-drama series. Reacting to this allegation, the design team OldMonks Design put out a clarification, saying that the so-called poster of Breakig Bad was fake, and someone had edited the original poster of The Priest. They put a post with three pictures on their social media page (image above): “The first image is the location still. The second one is the poster that we designed for The Priest. The third image is that poster that someone else had...

MollywoodThe actor had been on self-imposed isolation ever since the lockdown for containing Covid-19 was announced.Digital NativeMalayalam megastar Mammootty was on self-imposed isolation ever since the lockdown for containing Covid-19 was announced in March and recently ventured out with his close associates creating a sense of eagerness among his fans on what his next would be. For the uninitiated, Mammootty did not venture out of his Kochi residence for 275 days and his actor son Dulquer Salmaan reportedly said that his dad wanted to set a new record of staying home for the longest period. According to reports, the megastar, in a new avatar, sporting a thick beard and pony-tailed hair, recently shot for a commercial for which he finally ventured out. On this, close associate, production manager Badhushah said in an interview to the Times of India, “It was the first time he stepped out since the pandemic lockdown.

MollywoodThe actor and the director were earlier planning to work on ‘Bilal’, the sequel to the popular movie ‘Big B’. Digital NativeThe announcement about the sequel to Big B was made several months ago and fans are waiting eagerly for more information; particularly about its commencement. The plan was to commence the shooting in March this year but it had to be put off due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, enquiries have now revealed that before going ahead with the sequel titled Bilal, director Amal Neerad and Mammootty will be teaming up for another film. This project is expected to go on the floor in January next year and more details are expected to be out soon. There were earlier reports that Gopi Sundar has already begun composing the tunes for Bilal and he confirmed it by posting a picture with director Amal Neerad on his social media page.

MollywoodRatheena Sharshad who is making her debut directorial with the Mammootty starrer refuted reports of actor Tovino joining the film.Tnm StaffRatheena Sharshad / FacebookRatheena Sharshad, debut filmmaker who will be directing Mammootty in a film, refuted reports of actor Tovino Thomas joining it. In a Facebook post, Ratheena wrote that she is directing a film with Mammootty in the lead; however, it is untrue that Tovino Thomas is acting in it. "I saw several reports that Tovino Thomas is acting in the movie. However it is not true. No one associated with the film has any role in this news. I will be informing you all of the other actors and technical crew of my film in the coming days," Rateena clarified on Facebook. Ratheena has earlier worked as executive producer in the popular film Uyare, starring Parvathy, Asif Ali and Tovino, that released last year. The film, narrating the...

MollywoodThe first project from this production house would be a heroine-centric and youthful entertainer. Digital NativeMamta Mohandas has announced the launch of her production house Mamta Mohandas Productions. Sharing the good news, she wrote, “Happy to share news of the launch of my very first production. This is a dream come true. I thank my family, my production partner Noel Ben, all my well wishes and close friends, and everyone else who believed in me and helped me to make this moment come to life.” The first project from this production house would be a heroine-centric and youthful entertainer. Reports are that three National Award winners will be associated with this film and more details are expected to be out soon. Mamta currently has the Malayalam film Lalbagh in the pipeline besides a host of other films. Lalbagh, directed by Prashanth Murali, comes with the tag line Garden City of Sins.

MollywoodThe photos had fans and co-workers raving about the actor’s commitment to fitness at this age.Digital NativeSome days ago, Malayalam mega star Mammootty made netizens go berserk with his workout selfies. The star posted two pictures with the caption: “Work at Home! Work from Home! Home Work! No other Work So Work Out!” While the 69-year-old star’s fans are raving about his fitness levels, many were curious to know about his family’s reaction to it. And now, his son Dulquer Salmaan has revealed about it in an interview. Dulquer said to The Quint, “Actually when he clicked that picture, he showed it to us and for a second we were like 'Omg you look so good'. He is consistently training and has always been good about his fitness, gym and diet. My mom, wife, sister, all the family members were surprised how good he looked and...

MollywoodRatheena has earlier worked as executive producer in the critically acclaimed film ‘Uyare’.Digital NativeMalayalam megastar Mammootty has time and again given opportunities for young filmmakers and several directors have made their debut with him. This time around, Mammootty has agreed to work with Ratheena Sharshad, who is all set to make her directorial debut. Having worked as the executive producer in the critically acclaimed film Uyare, Ratheena has managed to get some of the best talents in the Malayalam film industry for her debut film. While she has roped in the mega star Mammootty to play the lead role, the film has an impressive technical crew with Girish Gangadharan to handle the cinematography, Deepu Joseph for editing and Jakes Bejoy to compose the tunes. The film’s script is handled by Harshad and the Suhas-Sharfu duo. This yet to be titled film will be bankrolled by George Sebastian, Arjun Ravindran,...

Amazon has thrown families a huge benefit during the coronavirus pandemic by making a lot of their children’s content (Amazon Originals and licensed shows) available for free, even for families that don’t have a Prime membership. Most of what’s there is series programming, which Amazon excels at offering. For families with Amazon Prime, however, there are definitely some family friendly movies to watch, although those are in shorter supply than the more extensive episodic programs. Many of the films that are available are classics parents will remember from their own childhoods, so if you’re trying to figure out what to watch with your kids on Amazon Prime, here are some of our suggestions on family friendly movies.

Benji (1974)

While this classic film may be a little triggering for children (the plot involves the two main child characters being kidnapped), the story of the heroic stray who rescues them,...

KollywoodThe actor is now expecting the release of 'Oomai Vizhigal' which has been lying in the cans for a couple of years.Digital NativeMamta Mohandas is not a new face to the Tamil film audiences as she made her debut in Kollywood with the 2006 release Sivappathigaram and was then seen in a few other films. The actor is now expecting the release of Oomai Vizhigal, also starring Prabhu Deva, which has been lying in the cans for a couple of years. Mamta has said that plans were on to release this film in April this year but due to the coronavirus scare it has been postponed. In an interview to the Times of India, Mamta has been quoted as saying, “I am also waiting for the film to release. It was supposed to come out this April but I guess with (the Covid-19 situation), it will be delayed further.” Debutant...

Mollywood The actor will play a nurse named Sara in the film.Digital NativePrashanth Murali’s upcoming film Lalbagh, which comes with the tag line Garden City of Sins, will have Mamta Mohandas playing the main lead. The actor had earlier teamed up with Prashanth for the movie Paisa Paisa, which had Indrajith Sukumaran as the main lead. The character poster of Mamta Mohandas in Lalbagh was unveiled recently and we got to know that she plays a nurse named Sara in it. Rahul Madhav, Sijoy Varghese and Rahul Dev Shetty form the star cast of this murder mystery. The film is bankrolled by Raj Zacharias under his banner with the technical crew comprising Rahul Raj for music and Suneesh Sebastian for editing. Reports are that Lalbagh is all about a murder that takes place after a birthday party and the suspense will make it an edge of the seat thriller.

MollywoodMamta Mohandas and Manoj K Jayan will be part of the star cast as well.Digital NativeA few weeks ago, we had reported that the groundwork for the Big B sequel, titled Bilal, has begun and is proceeding at a good speed. Reports also surfaced that Gopi Sundar has begun composing the tunes for the film and he confirmed it by posting a pic with director Amal Neerad on his social media page. Big B starred Mammootty in the lead role and its sequel will also have him as the hero. Recently, it has been confirmed that Bala, who played one of Mammootty’s brothers in Big B, has inked a deal to star in the sequel. It has also been confirmed that Mamta Mohandas and Manoj K Jayan will be part of the star cast as well. The newest addition to the star cast will be a filmmaker and actor Lal Jr.

MollywoodReports are that the team has planned a one-month schedule in Kochi where some important portions will be shot. Digital NativeDigital NativeThe shooting of the much-expected Mammootty starrer Bilal will commence in Kochi this month. Reports are that the team has planned a one-month schedule in Kochi where some important portions will be shot. After this schedule in Kochi is wrapped up, the Bilal team will be moving over to Kolkata where some important scenes will be canned. The groundwork for the Big B sequel, titled Bilal, began several months ago and there was an update a few days ago that music composer Gopi Sundar has begun composing the tunes for the film. Big B starred Mammootty in the lead role and its sequel will also have him as the hero. Recently, it has been confirmed that Bala, who played one of Mammootty’s brothers in Big B, has signed...

MollywoodReports are that the team has planned a one-month schedule in Kochi where some important portions will be shot. Digital NativeDigital NativeThe shooting of the much-expected Mammootty starrer Bilal will commence in Kochi this month. Reports are that the team has planned a one-month schedule in Kochi where some important portions will be shot. After this schedule in Kochi is wrapped up, the Bilal team will be moving over to Kolkata where some important scenes will be canned. The groundwork for the Big B sequel, titled Bilal, began several months ago and there was an update a few days ago that music composer Gopi Sundar has begun composing the tunes for the film. Big B starred Mammootty in the lead role and its sequel will also have him as the hero. Recently, it has been confirmed that Bala, who played one of Mammootty’s brothers in Big B, has signed...

MollywoodThe actor had also played an important role in the prequel movie ‘Big B’.Digital NativeThe groundwork for the Big B sequel, titled Bilal, has begun and is proceeding at a good speed. In fact, Gopi Sundar has begun composing the tunes for the film and has posted a picture with director Amal Neerad on his social media page confirming the news. Big B starred Mammootty in the lead role and its sequel will also have him as the hero. Recently, it has been confirmed that Bala, who played one of Mammootty’s brothers in Big B, has inked a deal to star in the sequel as well. Unni R in association with Suhas and Sharfu of Varathan fame will be penning the script for Bilal. Reports are that Mamtha Mohandas, who was part of the first film, is also in talks to play a role in the film but...

MollywoodGopi Sundar posted a picture with the filmmaker on his social media page confirming the news.Digital NativeDigital Native Reports about the megastar Mammootty and director Amal Neerad doing a sequel to Big B surfaced a couple of years ago but there was no news about its progress. Finally, we have the announcement that Gopi Sundar has begun composing the tunes for the sequel titled Bilal. He posted a picture with the filmmaker on his social media page confirming the news. Further, Mammootty caught the attention of his fans a couple of months ago by stating that the groundwork for this film is on and more details would emerge when things are ready. Soubin Shahir also posted a picture on Instagram with Amal Neerad and had captioned it Big B. This gives an indication that the prep work to get Bilal on to the floors has begun in full swing.

Updated at 11:45Am Pt with more numbers and analysis. The specialty film marketplace saw an uptick in the number of releases and box office gross, though most ticket-buyers went for Oscar contenders continuing to aim for a nomination bounce.

Magnolia bundled this year’s group of Oscar-Nominated Short Films, teaming with ShortsTV to release the program in 180 locations over the weekend. The annual release has become popular, though this year’s did not quite match last year’s record-setting launch weekend. From Friday to Sunday, this year’s package grossed $615K, averaging $3,417, down from $660K in 184 sites a year ago. The 2017 edition went on to cume $2.83M. At the time, Magnolia touted it as the biggest opening ever for Oscar Shorts, both in terms of screen count and gross.

Still, it’s well ahead of 2016, which grossed $505K in just 112 theaters on the way to a hefty cume of $2.8M.

Updated at 11:20Am Pt with more numbers and analysis. Sony Classics' A Fantastic Woman opened with a solid start in the wake of a qualifying run last year. The Chilean feature, which is nominated for an Oscar in the foreign language category, handily beat other limited-release debuts this weekend. The top specialty gross overall, though, went to Vertical Entertainment's animated feature Bilal: A New Breed of Hero. It bowed in three hundred locations Friday, taking in…...

With just one new movie in wide release, most analysts were projecting that Maze Runner: The Death Cure would repeat atop the box office this weekend, but that would ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Instead, Sony's Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle somehow managed to return to the top ticketing spot with an estimated $11 million, not only taking out Death Cure, but also newcomer Winchester, making a surprise grab at the crown in its seventh frame in theaters.

Sony's Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, which recently became Sony's biggest box office hit outside of the Spider-Man movies, took in an impressive $11 million in its seventh weekend in theaters, dropping just 31.9%, with a $3,282 per-screen average from 3,352, a decrease of 201 theaters from last weekend. This weekend's win brings Jumanji's domestic total to $352.6 million, with a worldwide total of $855.7 million, from just a $90 million budget. While it seems unlikely that it will hit $1 billion,...

With just one new movie in wide release, most analysts were projecting that Maze Runner: The Death Cure would repeat atop the box office this weekend, but that would ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Instead, Sony's Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle somehow managed to return to the top ticketing spot with an estimated $11 million, not only taking out Death Cure, but also newcomer Winchester, making a surprise grab at the crown in its seventh frame in theaters.

Sony's Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, which recently became Sony's biggest box office hit outside of the Spider-Man movies, took in an impressive $11 million in its seventh weekend in theaters, dropping just 31.9%, with a $3,282 per-screen average from 3,352, a decrease of 201 theaters from last weekend. This weekend's win brings Jumanji's domestic total to $352.6 million, with a worldwide total of $855.7 million, from just a $90 million budget. While it seems unlikely that it will hit $1 billion,...

The new animated film Bilal: A New Breed of Hero is one of those films that looks terribly unoriginal and predictable at first glance. Especially when one views the film’s trailer, which unfortunately markets it as little more than a Saturday morning animated show that feels destined to bombard you with religious messages, regardless of whether you are amenable to them or not. But, something remarkable happens along the way, the film proves to be rather entertaining and not as “preachy” as the trailers promised. Sure, that element is still present—so, if that kind of thing really bothers you, then this probably isn’t the film for you—but the practice is not nearly as omnipresent as one might expect. In the end, Bilal: A New Breed of Hero turns out to be an entertaining and surprisingly energetic animated adventure.

The story of Bilal: A New Breed of Hero...

Khurram H. Alavi and Ayman Jamal’s 3D-animated historical adventure tale “Bilal: A New Breed of Hero” seems like a compromise between telling an interesting story and staying true to the history. Where “Bilal” exceeds in animation and direction, it lacks in entertaining, cohesive story, possibly owing to either the directors’ desire to remain accurate to Muslim texts or the huge span of time the directors are trying to cover in a single movie. As a child, Bilal (voiced by Andre Robinson, “Doc McStuffins”) dreams of becoming a warrior. Alavi and Jamal depict his fantasies in bright, vivid colors with dynamic...

Last weekend, as expected, 20th Century Fox's Maze Runner finale The Death Cure finally took down Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle at the box office, and now it only faces minimal competition with just one movie opening in wide release this weekend, Winchester. While this Maze Runner franchise finale didn't post a massive opening, its $24.1 million was more than enough to take down both Jumanji and an expanding Hostiles, and with just one new release, debuting in far fewer theaters, we're predicting that The Maze Runner: The Death Cure, comes out on top again with $14.6 million.

If this prediction is accurate, it will represent roughly a 40% drop in its second weekend for this franchise finale, which is slightly better than the second weekend drop for 2014's The Maze Runner (46.4%) and much better than 2015's The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (56.4%). While this adaptation wasn't exactly a hit with critics,...

Sony's Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle has dominated at the box office all month long, but, as expected, its reign came to an end this weekend, thanks to 20th Century Fox's The Maze Runner: The Death Cure. While it came in slightly under projections, the third installment in The Maze Runner trilogy based on the books by author James Dashner, took in an estimated $23.5 million, more than enough to take down Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, which is still putting up strong numbers in its sixth frame in theaters, dropping just 15.9% to take in $16.4 million.

The Maze Runner: The Death Cure opened in 3,787 theaters, posting a solid $6,205 per-screen average. This movie continues the downward trend for this franchise, as the trilogy comes to an end. The Maze Runner opened in 2014, debuting with a $32.5 million opening weekend, with $102.4 million domestic and $348.3 million worldwide, from just a $34 million budget. The...

After posting minimal decreases, and facing minimal competition, Sony's Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle has proven to be a box office hit, winning the last three weekends in a row, although that streak is likely in jeopardy with the release of 20th Century Fox's The Maze Runner: The Death Cure. This final installment of The Maze Runner trilogy, which follow the young group known as the Gladers trying to take down the organization known as Wckd, is poised to topple Jumanji, while Entertainment Studios' Hostiles will be expanding nationwide and could make a sizeable dent at the box office. We're predicting that the Gladers will finally take down the gamers of Jumanji, opening with a solid $26.1 million this weekend, which continues the slight downward decline of this franchise.

The first two Maze Runner movies weren't massive hits at the box office, but both were solid performers, putting...

Synopsis: 1,400 years ago, Bilal, a seven-year-old boy, with a dream of becoming a great warrior, is abducted into slavery with his sister and taken to a land far away from his home and thrown into a world where corruption and injustice rule all. Throughout his life he undergoes many hardships, through which he discovers an inner strength he did not realize he possessed. Through these experiences, Bilal comes to realize that if he is brave enough to raise his voice and choose his own path – everything becomes possible. It is through his courage, that he frees himself and ultimately his community; it is through the power of his voice and faith that his lifelong dream of freedom comes true. Bilal grows into a man who will inspire the world.

Bilal: A New Breed Of Hero – Main Trailer

Bilal: A New Breed Of Hero

Power Of One

The story “Bilal: A New Breed Of Hero...

Enter here for your chance to win a pair of passes to an advance screening of the new animated film, Bilal: A New Breed Of Hero.

For your chance to receive a pair of complimentary passes to see the new film Bilal: A New Breed Of Hero at the AMC Forum 30 on Tuesday, January 30th at 7:00Pm, just look for the “Enter the Contest” box further down on this page. But hurry because there are a limited number of passes available and when they’re gone, they’re gone!

About The Film

Bilal: A New Breed Of Hero: Fourteen hundred years ago, Bilal, a seven-year-old boy, with a dream of becoming a great warrior, is abducted into slavery with his sister and taken to a land far away from his home and thrown into a world where corruption and injustice rule all. Throughout his life he undergoes many hardships,...

Today, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we're thrilled to bring you the exclusive reveal of the main trailer for Bilal: A New Breed of Hero. This gorgeous CG-animated film from co-writers/co-directors Khurram H. Alavi and Ayman Jamal tells the tale of the title character, a boy abducted into slavery in ancient times who managed to hold onto his dreams and fight for his freedom, and the freedom of those around him. I can think of no better message to share in these times, or on this day in particular, and I'm very much …...

"Being a warrior won't make you a great man. Being a great man means living without chains." Vertical Entertainment has debuted an official trailer for an animated movie titled Bilal: A New Breed of Hero, which premiered back in 2015 and 2016 at film festivals but is just getting a theatrical release in the Us in February of 2018, this year. Long delay, but this received some positive reviews so maybe it's worth the wait. The film comes from the Middle East and is made by animation studio Barajoun Entertainment, telling the story of a boy with a dream of becoming a great warrior who is abducted into slavery. The voice cast for the English-language version of the movie includes Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ian McShane, Jacob Latimore, China Anne McClain, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams, and Michael Gross. This looks like an entertaining animated adventure, telling a story that we don't normally see on this side of the world.

Vertical Entertainment has picked up distribution rights to animated feature Bilal: A New Breed of Hero, featuring the voices of Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ian McShane, China Anne McClain, Jacob Latimore, Michael Gross, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Mark Rolston, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams, and Fred Tatasciore. Barajoun Entertainment and Mav12 produced the pic, which Vertical will release theatrically in February. The pic from directors Ayman Jamal and Khurram H. Alavi, is based on…...

Earlier this month, Blumhouse Productions and WWE Studios unveiled the first Sleight trailer, which introduced Jacob Latimore as Bo, a street magician whose skills go far beyond your typical card and coin tricks. While it remains to be seen when the next trailer will arrive, Blumhouse debuted the new poster today, which features the tagline "You can change the cards you're dealt." The poster also features Bo tossing a playing card in the air, or perhaps he's using his super-human powers to make the card levitate on its own. This movie could be a huge break for Jacob Lattimore, who has been steadily rising through the Hollywood ranks as of late.

Jacob Latimore made his feature film debut in 2010's Vanishing on 7th Street, which he parlayed into roles in Black Nativity, Ride Along and The Maze Runner. He also provides the voice for the title character in Bilal: A New Breed of Hero,...

Epic ‘Bilal’ Team Talks to SydneysBuzz About Making the First Middle Eastern CG Animated Feature

Continue reading on SydneysBuzz The Blog »...

Actors Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jacob Latimore and ChinaAnne McClain all voice the starring characters in Barajoun Entertainment’s first feature film production, “Bilal: A New Breed of Hero.” The story is based on the true story of Bilal Ibn Rabah, a freed… Continue Reading →...

Festival to open with Michaël Dudok de Wit’s The Red Turtle [pictured]; Guillermo del Toro and Aardman to give masterclasses.

Annecy International Animation Film Festival, running June 13-18 this year, has unveiled its line-up.

New Zealand director Leanne Pooley’s documentary 25 April, about the Battle of Gallipoli; Canadian film-makers Jean-François Pouliot and François Brisson’s 3D hit Snowtime! (La Guerre des Tuques 3D); Claude Barras’s Cannes-screener My Life As A Courgette, and Sundance discovery Nuts! are among the titles in the feature-length competition.

The festival will open with Michaël Dudok de Wit’s The Red Turtle, which will premiere first in Official Selection at Cannes.

Other highlights include a preview screening of Chris Renaud and Yarrow Cheney’s The Secret Life Of Pets, in the presence of the directors. Andrew Stanton will also attend the festival, accompanying Finding Dory.

First images of Ron Clements and John Musker’s upcoming film Moana and Michael Thurmeier’s [link...

Cleverman.

Park Road Post has worked on some major productions over the past few years including the The Hobbit, Bilal, The Hunt for the Wilderpeople and The Dark Horse.

But it.s their work on Australian-New Zealand co-production Cleverman which has set tongues wagging on both sides of the Tasman.

Park Road Post chief executive, Cameron Harland told If one of the biggest highlights of 2015 was working with Goalpost and Pukeko on Cleverman.

.This was an Australian production with very much an Australian heart and story but posted in its entirety in New Zealand at Park Road,. he said..

.We have been blown away by how successful the early screenings have been and how widely the production has been picked up, but also in the way the production worked..

.I know that Graeme Mason (Screen Australia chief executive) is a big advocate of co-productions and was particularly engaged in this...

Ambi Distribution commences talks at Efm this week on the animation Bilal from Barajoun Entertainment, the Dubai-based animation and effects house with whom Ambi Group has unveiled a five-film partnership.

The deal between Ambi Group co-founders Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi and Barajoun Entertainment owner Ayman Jamal will see the parties co-finance and co-produce family-centric CGI animated films budgeted in the $50m range.

Barajoun’s studios and Ambi’s Aic Studios in Toronto will co-develop and produce the content, and will additionally explore live-action features based on popular IP. Ambi Distribution will oversee worldwide distribution on the slate.

Bilal, which is not part of the upcoming five films, is inspired by a true story of an African Hero who braved oppression and ultimately became a leader of his time. Ayman Jamal and Khurram H. Alavi directed and the voice cast includes Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Ian McShane.

Ambi has scaled up its animation operations over the last year...

The World Premiere of “Bilal” (UAE; 2015) took place at Doha's Ajyal Youth Film Festival. This new animated feature film, directed by Ayman Jamal and Khurram Alav, is for families and the rating is expected to be PG-13.

Families in Qatar enjoy going out together as is obvious as one walks around looking at the people: fathers pushing strollers, mothers with the little brothers and sisters, all enjoying the many types events at the youth festival, stopping by stands for ice cream or pizza, going to museums, the peaceful enjoyment of weekends.

The press screening was itself very interesting, attended mostly by Arab men of the press from all over the Middle East; and I could see they were very engrossed in this film … as was I who watched it with a very critical mind. The role of the mother and sister satisfied my need for inclusion. The mother enchanted me with her love, beauty and wisdom. I do wish the sister had more chance to show her depth of mind because it is obvious how important she is to the story and she played an important role throughout the story.

The story opens new vistas into the world and is universal at the same time. Its exoticism makes it special in the way of Aladdin or 1,001 Nights, or Sinbad, stories we all grew up with. While American audiences are used to exotic settings, especially in cartoons, one is reminded that this one is historically based. It is a great way to introduce the Middle East to children, as its story is a heroic battle of good against evil.

We spoke with co-directors Ayman Jamal and Khurram H. Alavi, the two young American actors Andre Robinson (“Despicable Me 2”) and Jacob Latimore (“The Maze Runner”) and the Finnish composer of the impressive score, Atil Örvarsson.

Featuring Adewale Akinnouye-Agbanje ("Game of Thrones"), this heroic epic animated film took four years to produce. It was financed via individual investors from Saudi Arabia, Dubai and with the support of the Doha Film Institute.

SydneysBuzz: How did you begin to make this large-scale movie?

Ayman Jamal: We wanted to make the historical epic uniquely telling the life story of Bilal from the age of 6 years old to 60 years old.

There was no animation or CGI studio in the Mena region so we had to start the studio ourselves and that’s how we established Dubai-based Barajoun Studios.

To begin the project, a research team, including a number of forensic scientists, worked for almost two years looking back into the past to provide critical information to help structure the characters featured in “Bilal” and to recreate and bring to life their tribal nature, their physical being, their behavior and attitudes and their appearance.

The film’s director Khurram H. Alavi from Pakistan combined his scriptwriting and directing abilities and his background as a digital sculptor and character artist to create the unique nature of the characters in the film which were created from scratch with conceptual designs as the first step.

Khurram H. Alavi: The style of the characters is very different from other animated movies. We didn’t want the characters to be cartoonish but also not too realistic either. It involved creative talents from 22 countries working in Dubai.

The beautifully rendered animation is uniquely suited to telling this story of an African boy who, 1,400 years ago, dreams of becoming a great warrior. His dream becomes a nightmare when men on horseback invade his village, kill his mother and abduct him and his sister and sell them into slavery in a land far away from home. Thrown into a world where greed and injustice rule all, Bilal finds the courage to raise his voice and make a change.

Inspired by true events, this is a story of a real hero’s journey toward self-discovery from age 6 to 60, one who has earned his place in time and history. Its archetypical story is much like that of Joseph and his brothers who sold him into slavery but who, with his innate intelligence, rose to the top of the master’s household -- along with a touch of Abraham who broke the idols of his time as the concept of One God broke into his consciousness of the world around him.

Bilal’s next adventure is finding its international legs. With proper strategic marketing, sales and distribution, (and perhaps a little trimming as 105 minutes feels a little long) this film should be lucrative. The film deserves be seen and acclaimed by worldwide audiences including in the U.S. I myself would have enjoyed seeing this film with my father, mother and sister when we went to movies together, one of the happiest memories of my childhood.

Its appeal to all families, including, but by no means limited, to African-American families who lacking an onscreen hero at this point in time, should also be key to its success. We all know their per capita moviegoing habits are high which makes them one of the best markets to target whenever possible.

Ayman Jamal and Khurram Alavi were encouraged by Will Smith whose interest in universal storytelling as it relates to the African diaspora is very strong.

SydneysBuzz: Tell me more about the participation of Will Smith.

Ayman Jamal: Two years ago, Will Smith visited us in Dubai and we talked about casting for “Bilal”, and he was a great help in giving us direction. We were looking for someone who had an African-American accent, and who could give an authentic feel.

Khurram H. Alavi: We had hundreds of people audition, but we were really lucky to get these outstanding actors.

SydneysBuzz: Were the looks of the characters based on the actors?

Jacob Latimore: You know what? When I saw the pictures, I thought: “Are you picking me because I look like him?” And when I posted the pictures to Instagram, all my fans were like: “You’re a cartoon character!” But it wasn’t intentional – just movie magic!

Jamal: The character of Bilal is based on a real historical figure, and we had a whole team researching what he looked and sounded like. It was done in a very scientific way.

SydneysBuzz : Atil, how did you go about composing the score?

Atil Ö rvarsson: Geography played a big part in creating the music for the film.

The music needed to get into the characteristics of the region and had to combine the archaelogical, historical nature of the story and make it accessible for an international audience. We used old instruments from the region and combined it with modern electronically synthesized music.

SydneysBuzz: Does each character have a theme?

We created themes for some of the characters and created a unique, other worldly sound for the witch doctor.

SydneysBuzz: What’s it like to premiere your film at a film festival for young people?

Latimore: It’s so unique that the youth judge and pick the winners here. It’s so important that they have a platform and a voice – they’re the future tastemakers. And anything they like, the world likes. It’s also my first time out of the U.S., so I’m super excited.

Jamal: It’s the best celebration for us. It’s a big thing for the region – a full-length feature film that was produced here and will be distributed worldwide. This has never been done before.

After playing Dubai, it will go to the Berlin Film Festival where we hope to be able to announce some territorial distribution deals.

For more information on this film you can follow the team on social media:

http://www.bilalmovie.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bilalmovie

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bilal_movie

Instagram: @bilalmovie

#Doha #ajyal15 #animation .

Dubai-based Barajoun Entertainment, the studio behind the UAE’s first feature-length animation Bilal, which premieres at Diff today (Dec 10), has revealed details of its next project.

Based on an original idea by Barajoun co-founder and Bilal co-director Ayman Jamal, the new production will revolve around a musician, who was active during the Islamic era in Spain around 700Ad and continues to influence classical music to this day.

“Like Bilal, it is based on a true story and a forgotten hero. This is an approach we like to take at Barajoun,” said Jamal, who declined to reveal the exact identity of the protagonist.

Us screenwriter Will Csaklos, whose story consultant credits include Finding Nemo and The Princess And The Frog, has just delivered the screenplay.

“He was a guru musician who still influences music to this day. I also love the story because it’s set at a time when Spain was a centre for the arts,” Jamal...

The third annual Ajyal Youth Film Festival presented by the Doha Film Institute (November 29 to December 5) showcases feature films from 20 countries and a series of short film programs in Katara, Qatar.

Fatma Al Remaihi, Festival Director and CEO of the Doha Film Institute, says: “By providing young people with access to international cinema, filmmakers from around the world, and the space to discuss their ideas and develop critical thinking, Ajyal empowers the youngest members of our community and develops their understanding of the world around them.”

Academy Award nominated director, Hany Abu-Assad and Arab Idol champion Mohammed Assaf, whose life story "The Idol" is based on, will attend the Opening Night and will participate in a special ‘In Conversation’ session about bringing Assaf’s life story to the big screen and highlight the power of combining music and cinema and the challenges facing Arab artists today.

Read more about "The Idol" and an interview with Hany Abu-Assad at its debut at Tiff 2015.

Aside from the daily public screenings of local and international films other events are the popular "Made in Qatar"; Sony Cinema Under the Stars; Family Weekend; the Doha Giffoni Youth Media Summit ; special events and exhibitions; the Sandbox interactive digital playground; school screenings; and the Ajyal Competition, where hundreds of young jurors between the ages of 8 and 21 will watch and discuss shorts and features and decide on the winning films. competition line-up.

The popular "Made in Qatar" section features 17 films -- nine narrative shorts and eight documentaries by local talent.

More than 500 young people from the ages of 8 to 21 make up the Ajyal Competition Jury which will watch and analyze a dynamic program of films in three competitive sections followed by discussions and events including panels, workshops and Q&A sessions with filmmakers.

Each of the three Ajyal Juries are made of 24 international jurors from 12 countries including Australia, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Italy, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Serbia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. The jury awards a Best Film prize to their favorite short and feature-length film, for a total of six awards. The directors of the winning films are awarded funding toward their next film, so jurors are empowered to support and promote future content that is relevant and important to them in a proactive way.

Mohaq means ‘New Moon’ in Arabic, and these are Ajyal’s youngest jurors, aged 8 to 12. These jurors will watch one program of short films and four feature-length films, marking the first year that competitive feature films are included in this category. They are: "Celestial Camel" (Russia) by Yury Feting about a young sheepherder living in the desolate Kalmyk Steppe, who sets off on an epic journey after his father is forced to sell the family’s beloved camel calf; "The Greatest House in the World" (Guatemala, Mexico) by Ana V. Bojórquez and Lucía Carreras - a film about the never-ending circle of life told through the story of a young girl in the isolated highlands of Guatemala; "Paper Planes"(Australia) by Robert Connolly - a tale of friendship, creativity and the bonds of family which centers around an 11-year-old boy with an exceptional talent for creating paper airplanes; and "Phantom Boy" by Jean-Loup Felicioli, Alain Gagnol (France, Belgium) an animated film about an 11-year-old boy whose illness allows him to have out-of-body experiences and mysterious powers.

Ajyal’s jurors aged 13 to 17 are the Hilal jury – the term means ‘Crescent Moon’ in Arabic. Five feature films and a program of shorts make up this jury’s film selection. The feature films competing in this section are: "Lamb" (France, Ethiopia, Germany, Norway, Qatar) by Yared Zeleke, a portrait of a young Ethiopian boy trying to find his way in the world; "Landfill Harmonic" (U.S.) directed by Brad Allgood and Graham Townsley and recent audience award winning documentary at Napa Valley Film Festival, that tracks the astounding rise of a Paraguayan youth orchestra whose members live next to one of South America's largest landfills and make their instruments from recycled materials; "Mina Walking" (Canada, Afghanistan), a multiple award winning documentary by Yosef Baraki, a powerful tale of a 12-year-old girl in war-torn Afghanistan struggling to make ends meet for her family; "Scarecrow " (The Philippines) by Zig Madamba Dulay which explores the complicated relationship of social injustice and familial expectations through the story of a young mother in a rural town; and " Wolf Totem" (China, France) by Jean-Jacques Annaud. Set against the backdrop of the Chinese Cultural Revolution 1967, it is the story of a two young Chinese students who are sent on a research assignment with the nomadic herdsmen of Inner Mongolia and become fascinated by the wolves that roam the plains.

The most mature of Ajyal’s juries, Bader (Arabic for ‘Full Moon’) jurors are aged 18 to 21 and will select their favorite films from five features and two programs of short films. The feature films vying for top honors in this section are: "An" (Japan, France, Germany) by Naomi Kawase is a drama about a lonely baker whose life is reinvigorated when he hires an elderly woman with a special culinary skill; "The Second Mother " (Brazil's submission for Oscar nomination) by Anna Muylaert which is an exploration of the bond between mothers and their children told through the story of a housekeeper in Sao Paulo (Read review and interview with director Anna Muylaert here); "Taxi" (Iran), winner of Fipresci and Golden Bear Awards in Berlin 2015, by Jafar Panahi in which the celebrated Iranian director places himself in the driver’s seat of a cab, taking fares to their destinations in a wonderful portrait of contemporary Iran; "Very Big Shot" (Lebanon, Qatar), a bold and insightful dark comedy by Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya that skewers political corruption and the media circus that goes with it; and "Walls" (Spain) - a documentary by Pablo Iraburu and Migueltxo Molina that follows several subjects on both sides of three contemporary international borders, demonstrating that the people on each side of the barriers are not as different as they may believe.

In addition to the three competitive sections, the Festival’s youngest audiences under the age of 8 years will also vote for their favorite film with the help of their parents who will determine the Parents’ Choice Award in the Bariq program. Bariq films are selected to satisfy the excitement and curiosity of young children and are suitable for the whole family. This year’s program features a collection of eight short films and will also include a special outdoor cine-concert on the Katara esplanade by the Festival Tout-Petits Cinéma from Paris, with four films accompanied by live music by pianist Anthony Boulc’h and saxophonist Fanch Minous.

A senior jury of three eminent figures from the local and regional industry will determine the winners of the competitive section comprising feature films from 20 countries and a series of short film program with two awards being presented for Best Short Narrative Film and Best Short Documentary Film. The 2015 jury members are film producer Bassam Al Ibrahim (Qatar), who is the CEO of Innovation Films and co-founder of ILoveQatar.net; film actress, director and producer, Ahd (Saudi Arabia), internationally renowned for her performance in Haifaa al-Mansour’s " Wadjda;" and respected veteran journalist and media personality, Marcel Ghanem (Lebanon).

Fatma Al Remaihi said: “It has been another productive and inspiring year for filmmaking in Qatar and this year’s Made in Qatar selection indicates the rapid growth and diversity that we are witnessing in the Qatari film industry."

The films in the 2015 Ajyal Youth Film Festival Made in Qatar section are:

Made in Qatar Program 1, Wednesday 2nd December

"To My Mother" by Amina Al Bloshi

"Light Sounds" by Karem Kamel

"Her Majlis" by Najla Al Khulaifi, Dana Al Mesnad and Nayla Al Thani

"The Palm Tree" by Jassim Al-Rumaihi

"Yellow Nights" by Abdulla al Mulla

"If They Only Knew" by Sana Al-Ansari

"Heart of the House" by Gabrielle Sol

"The Notebook" by Amna Albinali

Made in Qatar Program 2, Friday 4th December

"Charlie" by Ali Ali

"Immortalizing Memories" by Mostafa Sheshtawy

"Asfoora" by Mayar Hamdan

"Good as New" by Jaser Alagha

"I Choose Islam" by Noor Al-Tamimi, Silma Suba and Zac J. Hollo

"Mariam" by Zainab Ayon

"Time" by Yassine Ouahrani

"Man of the House" by Khalifa AlMarri

"Veganize It!" by Khalid Salim

Closing night will be the world premiere of animated feature film "Bilal" (UAE/2015), a new animated feature film made with funding from the Doha Film Institute and produced by Dubai-based Barajoun Studios. Involving creative talents from 22 countries, "Bilal " by Directors Ayman Jamal and Khurram Alavi is an inspiring adventure story of faith, hope and self-discovery. Inspired by the real-life story of Bilal Bin Rabah, the film's cutting edge animation technology, impeccable research and high production values will resonate with audiences across generations. The cast and crew of the film will be in attendance for the premiere including the directors of the film and cast members Andre Robinson ("Despicable Me 2") and Adewale Akinnuoye Agbaje ("Lost", "The Bourne Identity", "Game of Thrones") who voice the young and adult Bilal respectively.

The Ajyal Family Weekend will feature the regional premiere of Marking the Un International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Ajyal 2015 will present in a regional first, an inclusive cinema experience specially ‘transadapted’ to suit audiences with different abilities, a special screening of Al Rayyan Productions animated short "Hero and the Message" (Qatar/2012). Guests will be able to view the film through sound alone, with special subtitles for people who have difficulty understanding speech. This inclusive version of the film has been developed with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and is the result of a collaboration between the Doha Film Institute and the Translation and Interpreting Institute at Hamad Bin Khalifa University who are spearheading the development of transadapted content in the Gulf region.

Fatma Al Remaihi, “Since our first edition, animated films have formed a core part of the Ajyal program and I am delighted that this year, we will premiere three incredibly diverse examples of the artform... from three corners of the globe.”

"Bilal" (UAE/2015) In a dreamlike vision, mysterious dark riders mounted on demonic black horses bear down upon a village. Nearby, little Bilal dreams of being a great warrior as he gallops along on his hobbyhorse. The riders come closer – are they real? Or are they just a figment of the youngster’s extraordinary imagination? Suddenly, Bilal’s dream becomes a nightmare. The men on horseback kill his mother and take him captive along with Ghufaira, his sister, and they are soon sold as slaves to Umayya, the wealthiest merchant in all of Arabia. Bilal never forgets this terrible day, which haunts his sleep for years to come. But the echoes of his mother’s gentle voice stay with him, a constant reminder that to break free of the chains that enslave him, he must forge his own destiny.

"The Good Dinosaur" (USA/2015), the latest feature from the award-winning Pixar Animation Studios and the team behind beloved Pixar classics "Finding Nemo" and "Inside Out" and will feature a special ‘kids red carpet’ for all families and young people from the community to participate and to be transported to a world where dinosaurs walk the Earth. Directed by Peter Sohn, the film screens on December 4th and presents an alternate history where the asteroids that wiped out these ancient reptiles never hit our planet.

"Hero and the Message" (Qatar/2012) tells the fantastic tale of a Qatari brother and sister who travel back in time to witness the founding events of the State of Qatar. Produced by Al Rayyan Productions, the top-notch animated short directed by Pawel Borowski was created to celebrate Qatar’s National Day in 2012, and screens on December 3rd.

"When Marnie Was There" (Japan/2014), screening on December 4 is one of the final anime sensations from Ghibli Studios and is based on the novel When Marnie Was There by Joan G. Robinson. Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, the film is about a young girl Anna who explores a long- abandoned villa and meets a mysterious blonde girl only she can see.

Titles in competition include animation Phantom Boy [pictured], Ethiopian drama Lamb, Brazilian Oscar submission The Second Mother and Jafar Panahi’s Berlinale winner Taxi Tehran.

The Doha Film Institute has announced the competition line-up for the third edition of the Ajyal Youth Film Festival (Nov 29 - Dec 5), comprising feature films from 20 countries as well as a series of short film programmes.

The jury will be made up of more than 500 young people, aged 8-21, who will watch a programme of films under three competitive sections - Mohaq, Hilal, and Bader - followed by discussions and events including panels, workshops and Q&A sessions with filmmakers.

Each of the three Ajyal Juries will award a Best Film prize to their favourite short and feature-length films, for a total of six awards. The directors of the winning films are awarded funding toward their next film.

The jury includes 24 international jurors who will travel to Doha for the event from 12 countries...

Informative interview with Abu Dhabi-based arts and culture magazine The National, which sheds some additional light on this project I alerted you to in February, but didn't have enough information on at the time, and my email to the production company went unanswered... First, a quick recap... Actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje has partnered up with Barajoun Entertainment, a Dubai-based animation and visual effects studio, to produce and star in its first feature film production. The "Lost," "Annie" (and more) star voices the lead character in an animated feature film titled "Bilal," which will be unlike anything produced in the region to date. "The...

Thanks to our friends at Okay Africa for the heads-up on this one... Actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje has partnered up with Barajoun Entertainment, a Dubai-based animation and visual effects studio, to produce and star in its first feature film production. The "Lost," "Annie" (and more) star voices the lead character in an animated feature film titled "Bilal," which will be unlike anything produced in the region to date. "The movie tells the story of a real superhero, an African slave who was brought to Arabia 1,000 years ago and fought for his freedom," the actor says. "He became an inspiration to generations and we’re retelling his...