International stars grace the red carpet at RSIFF’s closing ceremony

International stars grace the red carpet at RSIFF’s closing ceremony
Baz Luhrmann and Gwyneth Paltrow on the red carpet in Jeddah. (Arab News)
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Updated 08 December 2023
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International stars grace the red carpet at RSIFF’s closing ceremony

International stars grace the red carpet at RSIFF’s closing ceremony
  • The winners of the Yusr Awards include director Farah Nabulsi, Saleh Bakri, Mouna Hawa, Zarrar Kahn’s film ‘In Flames’ and Tarsem Singh’s ‘Dear Jassi’

JEDDAH: The Red Sea International Film Festival hosted a glittering closing night gala with A-list stars posing on the red carpet in Jeddah. 

The likes of Henry Golding, Gwyneth Paltrow, Halle Berry, Nicolas Cage, Adrien Brody and Andrew Garfield hit the red carpet, with “Crazy Rich Asians” star Golding telling Arab News “it only keeps getting better and better. I think it’s so smooth tonight and it’s just been magnificent to be on the red carpet here and share this space with Nicolas Cage, Baz Luhrmann and Frieda Pinto ... I feel very lucky.”




Andrew Garfield on the red carpet. (Arab News)

The festival wrapped up its third edition with a screening of “Ferrari,” a biopic directed by Michael Mann starring Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz, Shailene Woodley and Patrick Dempsey.  Although Thursday night marked the closing ceremony and Yusr Awards, the festival will continue its slate of screenings until Dec. 9.

Mohammed Al-Turki, CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation, previously spoke about “Ferrari” in a released statement, saying: “This exhilarating film has been close to the festival’s ‘heart,’ as it has been supported by our Red Sea International Film Financing, a vehicle for us to champion acclaimed storytellers and create the opportunity for cultural exchange. Michael Mann’s powerful film shows true craftsmanship and empathy for the ambitious genius behind one of the world’s most desired works of design.” 

During the gala night, the festival unveiled this year’s Yusr Awards, which “recognize and celebrate boldness and innovation in film, awarding the biggest prizes in the region to both emerging and established voices across the formats of fiction, documentary, and animation,” as stated on the festival’s website.

Chairwoman of the foundation Jomana Al-Rashid took to the stage and said: “At the beginning of the festival, we aimed to achieve a set of goals: to bridge, to bind and to build. In bridging, this festival has demonstrated that language has never been a barrier, but a bond, and that cultures clash but converge.”

This year’s jury was presided over by director Baz Luhrmann, who was joined by Swedish American actor Joel Kinnaman (“Suicide Squad”); Freida Pinto (“Slumdog Millionaire”); Egyptian actor Amina Khalil (“Grand Hotel”) and Spain’s Paz Vega (“Sex and Lucía,” “The OA”).

The Red Sea International Film Festival kicked off on Nov. 30 with a gala screening of Dubai-based Iraqi director Yasir Al-Yasiri’s “HWJN,” which is based on a YA novel by Saudi writer Ibraheem Abbas. Set in modern-day Jeddah, “HWJN” follows the story of a kind-hearted jinn — an invisible entity in Islamic tradition — as he discovers the truth about his royal lineage.

Meanwhile, German actress Diane Kruger, Bollywood star Ranveer Singh and Saudi actor-writer Abdullah Al-Sadhan received career honors at the festival this year.

 

 

The Red Sea International Film Festival features 11 categories of films: Special Screenings; Red Sea: Competition; Red Sea: Shorts Competition; Festival Favorites; Arab Spectacular; International Spectacular; New Saudi/ New Cinema: Shorts; Red Sea: New Vision; Red Sea: Families and Children; Red Sea: Series and Red Sea: Treasures. 

The theme of year’s festival was “Your Story, Your Festival.”

Here is the full list of winners: 

Asharq Documentary

Awarded for Best Documentary In Competition – a $10,000 prize

Winner: Kaouther Ben Hania for “Four Daughters”

Chopard Rising Talent Trophy

Winner: Nour Alkhadra

Film AlUla Audience Award: Saudi Film

With a $50,000 prize

Winner: “Nora” / Saudi Arabia – Red Sea: Competition

Film AlUla Audience Award: Non-Saudi Film

With a $50,000 prize

Winner: “Hopeless” / South Korea – Festival Favorites

Shorts

Silver Yusr for Best Short Film

With a $12,500 prize

Winner: “Suitcase” – directed by Saman Hosseinpuor and Ako Zandkarimi

Golden Yusr for Best Short Film

With a $25,000 prize

Winner: “Somewhere in Between” – directed by Dahlia Nemlich

Features

Best Cinematic Contribution

Winner: “Omen” / Baloji

Best Actor

Winner: Saleh Bakri / “The Teacher”

Best Actress

Winner: Mouna Hawa / “Inshallah A Boy”

Best Screenplay

With a $10,000 prize

Winner: “Six Feet Over” / Karim Bensalah and Jamal Belmahi

Best Director

With a $10,000 prize

Winner: Shokir Kholikov / “Sunday”

Jury Prize

With a $10,000 prize

Winner: Farah Nabulsi / “The Teacher”

Silver Yusr for the Best Feature Film

With a $30,000

Winner: “Dear Jassi” / Tarsem Singh

Golden Yusr for Best Feature Film

With a $100,000

Winner: “In Flames” / Zarrar Kahn


Dubai Design Week returns with brand new fair: Dubai Editions

Dubai Design Week returns with brand new fair: Dubai Editions
Updated 06 November 2024
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Dubai Design Week returns with brand new fair: Dubai Editions

Dubai Design Week returns with brand new fair: Dubai Editions
  • As large-scale architectural and design installations take over the Gulf metropolis, the inaugural Dubai Editions is set to offer a mix of art, design and prints to appeal to the city’s changing demographics

DUBAI: Until Nov. 10, visitors to Dubai Design District can relish in riveting large-scale design installations, exhibitions and fairs dedicated to high-end and collectible design objects from the Gulf, wider Middle East and international markets.

The annual event, now in its 10th year, will present over 500 designers, professionals and brands from various creative industries, transforming the bustling UAE metropolis into a global hub for design and art.

Numerous returning elements include Abwab, an annual commission showcasing talents from across Southwest Asia and North Africa, dedicated this year to the theme of vernacular architecture and regenerative design processes through the utilization of local materials, climate-responsive techniques and community-centered designs.

Abwab this year will feature three regional practices that will present their work in pavilions across the Dubai Design District. These include “Present/Absent Mudhif” by Ola Saad Znad from Iraq, portraying the Marsh Arabs’ architectural heritage in Iraq using reeds and ancient Sumerian techniques; “ReRoot” by Jordanian-Palestinian Dima Al Srouri, Andy Cartier from France, Rosa Hamalainen from Finland and Palestinian-Lebanese Dahlia Hamati exploring emergency housing solutions through an ecological lens using palm waste and mycelium; and “Material Witnesses and Narrating Lifeforms” by Miriam Hillawi Abraham from Ethiopia, which draws inspiration from coral stone found in early settlements on the East African coast.

Other notable returning platforms include workshops in the Maker’s Space and the weekend Marketplace, offering one-of-a-kind handcrafted objects and cuisine.

In a dedicated section within the 10th edition of Downtown Design will be the new fair titled Dubai Editions. Featured are over 50 galleries, design studios and collectives from the region and internationally presenting editioned artworks, collectible design objects and furniture and editioned prints.

The new fair reflects the changing demographic of Dubai, Pablo del Val, artistic director of Art Dubai, told Arab News.

“The fair is extremely exciting because it represents the shifts taking place in the city,” said Del Val. “There are many new generations of people that have recently moved to Dubai that have different collecting needs.

“People are beginning to buy properties that are arranged in new ways with different needs,” he added.

Participants include Dubai and New York-based Leila Heller; renowned Lebanese carpetmaker Iwan Maktabi, which opened its new flagship showroom in Dubai’s Jumeirah 3 featuring the first-ever global shop-in-shop for Italian contemporary rug company, cc tapis; Dastan from Tehran; Comptoir de Mines Galerie from Marrakech; Studio Bazazo and Fadi Basbous Studio from Lebanon; and spaces from Dubai, including Gulf Photo Plus, The Urbanist, Meem Gallery and Zawyeh Gallery.

“The fair offers a great concept of presenting works that are less expensive by our artists,” Leila Heller told Arab News. “Our artists became so inspired to create new prints and sculptures that are available in editions. The fair also offers works on paper, so our artists have created smaller works in paper as well.”

Heller will present works by artists such as Farideh Lashai, Reza Aramesh, Keith Haring, Darvish Fakhr, Azza Al Qubaisi and Stephany Sanossian.

Iwan Maktabi is showing a carpet designed by acclaimed Emirati artist Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim. CEO Mohamed Maktabi said they switched their booth from Downtown Design to Dubai Editions and are launching what he calls “Iwan Maktabi: Artist Edition,” presenting the brand’s special carpet collaborations with artists.

While Dubai Design Week will offer much to see and experience, it represents a shift and growth in Dubai’s recent population that has sought out the Gulf city as a new place to call home.

As Del Val put it: “Everything starts to change when you belong to a community where you expect to live for a much longer period of time.

“This (fair) could be an incubator for things to come.”


Saudi films in the spotlight as RSIFF announces Arab Spectacular selection

Saudi films in the spotlight as RSIFF announces Arab Spectacular selection
Updated 06 November 2024
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Saudi films in the spotlight as RSIFF announces Arab Spectacular selection

Saudi films in the spotlight as RSIFF announces Arab Spectacular selection

DUBAI: The Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) unveiled a five-film collection for its Arab Spectacular section, which features world premieres of three Saudi titles exploring societal changes in the Kingdom.

Antoine Khalife, director of Arab Programs & Film Classics for the RSIFF, said in a statement: “We know that our stories and the quality of the way we tell them deserve a place alongside other international films, which is why we are working hard to support and nurture our region’s filmmakers, providing them with a prestigious platform to present their work to international audiences, and facilitating networking opportunities with industry leaders.”

Among the Saudi films is “My Driver and I,” the directorial debut of Saudi creative Ahd Kamel. Set in 1980s and 90s Jeddah, the film follows a rebellious Saudi girl and her Sudanese driver as they form a friendship which is tested when she starts to take the wheel.

“Hobal,” by Saudi director Abdulaziz Alshlahei, follows a Bedouin family whose members are forced by its patriarch to live in isolation in the desert due to fear of an infectious disease during the 1990s.

The third Saudi film to screen in the section is the much-anticipated “Lail Nahar,” directed by filmmaker Abdulaziz Almuzaini, who is behind popular Saudi TV series and movie “Masameer.” When a renowned opera singer faces backlash after a viral accusation of racism, he stuns the public by announcing plans to marry a black woman — only to scramble for a bride and find an unexpected connection with Layl, a wedding singer.

Rounding off RSIFF‘s Arab Spectacular selection is renowned Algerian filmmaker Merzak Allouache’s dramedy “Front Row,” about a feud that breaks out between matriarchs who are vying for the best spot at the beach; and Egyptian director Omar Bakry’s “Abdo & Saneya,” a silent, black-and-white film about an Egyptian couple who immigrates to New York City in search of a cure for infertility without having any notion of modern American life.


Gigi, Bella Hadid make a stylish splash in Seoul and Dubai for fashion and jewelry launches

Gigi, Bella Hadid make a stylish splash in Seoul and Dubai for fashion and jewelry launches
Updated 06 November 2024
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Gigi, Bella Hadid make a stylish splash in Seoul and Dubai for fashion and jewelry launches

Gigi, Bella Hadid make a stylish splash in Seoul and Dubai for fashion and jewelry launches

DUBAI: US Dutch Palestinian model Gigi Hadid spent time in Seoul this week to launch her fashion brand Guest in Residence at a pop-up event in the city, while her sister Bella Hadid was in Dubai for the opening of Chopard’s new boutique in Dubai Mall.

For the event, Gigi wore a piece from her own collection—a chic brown cashmere coat called the Grizzly Coat—styled with straight-leg jeans, black loafers and a gold necklace. She wore her blonde hair in a sleek bob, complemented by winged eyeliner and a mauve lip.

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The supermodel also shared glimpses of her time in Seoul on Instagram. She hosted a dinner for her guests, which included notable names from the music and fashion world, such as CL, leader of the K-pop girl group 2NE1.

CL posted a clip with Hadid on her Instagram welcoming her to Seoul and shared a look at the dinner’s star-studded guest list. Attendees included NewJeans members Hanni, Danielle, and Minji, “Squid Game” star Jung Ho-yeon and Korean American rapper Jay Park.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by (@dailyfashion_news)

The Guest in Residence pop-up is located in Seoul’s trendy Gangnam district and will run through Nov. 24.

Meanwhile, Bella surprised fans in Dubai on Tuesday with a visit to Dubai Mall. She joined Chopard’s creative director Caroline Scheufele for the ribbon-cutting ceremony before entering the boutique to meet with industry insiders and clients.

Bella Hadid touched down in the UAE this week. (Instagram) 

Later, she made a glamorous appearance at an after-party held at Jaipur Rugs in Alserkal Avenue. Wearing a flowing gold gown from Elie Saab’s Fall/ Winter 2004 Haute Couture collection, she smiled and waved to fans while mingling with guests and clients at the event.

Among the event's attendees was US Iraqi beauty mogul Huda Kattan, who posed for a photo with Bella and Scheufele.

Bella was named the new face and global ambassador for the luxury Swiss jewelry house in September.

Hadid first showed off Chopard creations at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival and has been spotted wearing jewelry by the maison on various red carpets as of late, including multiple sightings at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. 

Bella has also been making waves in the beauty industry with her own fragrance brand, Orabella, which launched in May.


‘Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum,’ Pakistan’s most talked-about drama, concludes with cinematic finale

‘Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum,’ Pakistan’s most talked-about drama, concludes with cinematic finale
Updated 06 November 2024
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‘Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum,’ Pakistan’s most talked-about drama, concludes with cinematic finale

‘Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum,’ Pakistan’s most talked-about drama, concludes with cinematic finale
  • Starring Fahad Mustafa and Hania Aamir, the drama’s final episode sold out cinema tickets in advance
  • Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum earned a 9.2 rating on IMDb and trended on social media in India and Bangladesh

KARACHI: The makers of Pakistan’s most talked-about drama serial, Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, attributed its success to content that resonated deeply with viewers, as its final episode screened in cinemas nationwide on Tuesday.
Starring leading actors Fahad Mustafa and Hania Aamir as Mustafa and Sharjeena, the drama has been a topic of discussion since its debut in July.
The 34-episode series aired twice a week, with the grand finale reaching audiences on the big screen along with television.
Each new episode kept the show trending on Twitter, not only in Pakistan but also in India and Bangladesh, sustaining its popularity across borders. The drama earned a 9.2 rating on IMDb, an exceptional achievement for Pakistani TV productions.
“What’s happening with Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum is unprecedented,” Jerjees Seja, CEO of ARY Digital Network, the channel that the drama, said. “This has never happened before [in the history of Pakistani television plays] and I wonder if this will happen again.”
“It’s [all about] how people resonate [and] how they associate with the content,” he continued. “It’s amazing how audiences have connected with the drama [and] with Sharjeena and Mustafa.”
Tickets for the final episode were sold out in advance for shows in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Faisalabad and other cities, he informed. Shows were extended to midnight considering the demand for tickets.
“It’s a great thing to air the last episodes [of our dramas] in cinemas,” Pakistani artist Mehwish Hayat told Arab News on the sidelines of the finale. “There is no harm if cinemas are being revived through drama serials. The way people have filled the cinema halls across Pakistan to watch this last episode [of this play], it’s phenomenal. This trend should continue.”
Written by seasoned writer Farhat Ishtiaq and directed by Badar Mehmood, Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum followed the different stages of love in the life of lead characters Mustafa and Sharjeena.
“I think the story was quite relatable,” said Mehmood.
“Everyone was relating to one character or the other, be it Adeel, Mustafa, Sharjeena or Rubab,” he continued. “It was a very household story that happens in every home at different moments so that was very relatable.”
The ensemble cast, including Emmad Irfani, Naeema Butt, Bushra Ansari and Jawed Sheikh, was equally incredible and impactful.
“The love I am getting from all the people, not just in Pakistan [but] all over the world, it has absolutely taken me from my lowest low to the highest high in a matter of a few months,” Irfani, who played anti-hero Adeel, told Arab News.
“His capriciousness, his unpredictability [made Adeel resonate with audiences],” he added. “His antics are so volatile, he says something [and then] he does something else. I think that is what captivated the audience’s imagination and that is what inspired me to play Adeel in the first place.”
Those in attendance at the screening of the final episode said the drama resonated with them on multiple levels.
“It was a very family-oriented [drama],” Fauzia Mehtab, who came to the cinema but didn’t get the ticket to watch the show, told Arab News. “We could relate to it. It seemed like it’s the story of our house. And now we are going to get so bored on Monday and Tuesday because there will be no ‘Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum.’”
Fans at the screening could not contain their excitement to see Fahad Mustafa among them. Most of them were eager to click selfies with him, as he could be seen getting truly overwhelmed by the response.
“I came [to the cinema] to see the actors because I really like Fahad Mustafa,” Mehtab said. “I wanted to meet him, but you know you can’t meet him in these circumstances.”


Saudi Arabia unveils major film production hub in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia unveils major film production hub in Riyadh
Updated 05 November 2024
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Saudi Arabia unveils major film production hub in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia unveils major film production hub in Riyadh
  • Al-Hisn Big Time Studios to boost local, regional content creation with advanced production resources
  • Project area covers 300,000 sq. meters and includes a production village with metalworking and carpentry workshops, as well as costume design facilities

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia unveiled Al-Hisn Big Time Studios in Riyadh, a groundbreaking facility aimed at boosting the television and film production industry across the Middle East.

Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority Turki Al-Sheikh inaugurated the facility west of the Saudi capital.

Al-Hisn Big Time Studios, built in a remarkably short period of 120 days, features seven studio buildings covering an area of 10,500 sq. meters.

The total project area covers 300,000 sq. meters and includes a production village with metalworking and carpentry workshops, as well as costume design facilities.

Additional amenities include luxurious suites for VIPs, offices for film production, and fully equipped editing rooms, all creating an ideal work environment that enhances production efficiency.

Al-Sheikh said: “Al-Hisn Big Time Studios will become a stronghold for producing Arab and international content, particularly Saudi productions.”

He further emphasized the importance of local content consumption, saying: “Approximately 65 percent of the content consumed in the region is from Saudi Arabia.”

Al-Sheikh also highlighted the collaborative nature of the project, mentioning that productions will take place at various locations, including Diriyah Jax, Sony Studios, AlUla, and MBC Studios in Al-Nargis.

He added: “We constructed these state-of-the-art facilities in just four months, showcasing our commitment to rapid development.”

Minister of Information Salman Al-Dossary remarked on the opportunities presented by Al-Hisn Big Time Studios, saying: “You will not find a better place than this in the Arab world.”

He praised the integration of government agencies, stating: “Our collective efforts ensure the success of the project, positioning it as a beacon for the film industry.”

The studios aim to provide a comprehensive platform for film and television production, offering creative resources in one location.

“This integration will not only reduce costs and save time but also provide access to cutting-edge global technologies,” Al-Sheikh said, highlighting the studio’s potential to enhance competitiveness in the international market.

In the studios, visitors can explore a museum featuring vintage cameras alongside films shot with them. There are also costume rooms where fashion designers craft outfits for various productions.

Additionally, a dedicated building is set aside for pre-production work. The facility has several production studios, with many Saudi companies collaborating on site, from camera manufacturers to actors, all working together to bring creative visions to life.

Nawaf Almutairi, a founding partner of One Shot drone company, is one of the industry professionals using the studios. He expressed enthusiasm about the opportunities presented by Al-Hisn, saying: “This facility allows us to push the boundaries of aerial photography and filmmaking.”

His company has completed various projects in Saudi Arabia, notably contributing to the third installment of the film “Welad Rizk” with their custom-built drones.

Almutairi said: “We are excited to create innovative content that showcases the beauty of our country."

Abdulrahman Alnafisah, general manager and co-founder of Nebras Films, said: “Saudi Arabia has seen significant advancements in the media and film production sector, fostering growth both locally and regionally. In this transformative landscape, Nebras Films played a key role in the launch of Al-Hisn Big Time Studios, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of Saudi cinema.

“This initiative underscores Nebras Films’ commitment to bolstering the Saudi film industry and nurturing local talent by creating a professional environment that aligns with international standards.”