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  • First film announced as Saudi Arabia launches Big Time Investment to fund Arab productions 

First film announced as Saudi Arabia launches Big Time Investment to fund Arab productions 

First film announced as Saudi Arabia launches Big Time Investment to fund Arab productions 
Mona Zaki will star as Umm Kulthum. (Getty Images)
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Updated 20 February 2024
Arab News
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First film announced as Saudi Arabia launches Big Time Investment to fund Arab productions 

First film announced as Saudi Arabia launches Big Time Investment to fund Arab productions 
Updated 20 February 2024
Arab News
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DUBAI: Egyptian actress Mona Zaki is set to star in a film portraying the life of legendary singer Umm Kulthum, which is the first film in a slate of productions as Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority announced the launch of a film fund named Big Time Investment, aimed at fostering the production of Arabic cinema.

The inaugural project under this initiative will be a biopic celebrating the life of Egyptian legend Umm Kulthum, who was referred to as “The fourth pyramid” by Arabs, as well as “The star of the East,” “Mother of the Arabs” and “Lady of Arabic Song.” 

Egyptian filmmaker Marwan Hamed has been tapped to direct the film titled “El Set,” with acclaimed Egyptian actress Mona Zaki set to portray Umm Kulthum.

The announcement regarding the fund took place in Cairo, where Turki Al-Sheikh, the chairman of the GEA, disclosed that the authority would serve as the main sponsor of the approximately $130 million fund. 

The Ministry of Culture will act as a co-sponsor, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency. Several  Saudi companies will also contribute to the fund, including Sela Studio, SMC Company, Rotana Audio Visual Co., and Benchmark Company.

The fund aims to germinate roughly 20 Arabic titles a year.

Topics: Saudi Arabia Big Time Investment Mona Zaki

First-time director Anderson .Paak brings humor and magic to RSIFF title ‘K-Pops’

First-time director Anderson .Paak brings humor and magic to RSIFF title ‘K-Pops’
Updated 7 sec ago
Gautaman Bhaskaran
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First-time director Anderson .Paak brings humor and magic to RSIFF title ‘K-Pops’

First-time director Anderson .Paak brings humor and magic to RSIFF title ‘K-Pops’
Updated 7 sec ago
Gautaman Bhaskaran

JEDDAH: Cinema can go overboard with emotional relationships, and this is where American singer and rapper Anderson .Paak’s Red Sea International Film Festival title “K-Pops” hits the right notes without sinking into a morose medley. Entertaining, with music that keeps the audience engaged, the film follows BJ, a washed-up drummer whose life turns around when he meets his teenage son for the first time.

.Paak himself plays the father, who is still holding out in middle age for rock’n’roll stardom while his real-life son Soul Rasheed plays the fictional Tae Young, whose mother Yeji is Korean.

The film was partially shot in Saudi Arabia's AlUla. (Supplied)

BJ gets an unexpected gig on a Korean talent show and discovers that Tae Young is a hotly-tipped contestant.

The movie travels beyond the Korean cultural scene by exploring the love life of its protagonist, who on a trip to Korea meets his old lover, Yeji (Jee Young Han), and learns that he has had a son by her. The two make up for lost time, and the scenes between them are handled subtly by .Paak – laudable for a debutant director who is also a multi-Grammy winner.  Eager to make up for lost parenting time, BJ becomes the boy’s mentor but as the film goes on, we realize the father needs to grow up alongside his son.

Partly shot in Saudi Arabia’s AlUla as part of a multi-film deal between Film AlUla and global media company Stampede Ventures, the work turns out to be endearingly personal and the ties between father and son are magical. Touchingly tender, it is an easy watch, in part because of the strong chemistry between all three lead stars. What is more, interracial complexities are woven into the plot, although I did feel that these could have been explored a little more — a somewhat understated screenplay could have been reason and more layered storytelling would have been welcome. However, the film's comedic touches make up for this and .Paak is mesmeric, especially when he gets the audience to laugh the loudest. Leisurely executed, the movie flows along like a lazy river that is a joy to ride.

Topics: Red Sea International Film Festival 2024

Review: RSIFF title ‘Black Dog’ is an art house draw

Review: RSIFF title ‘Black Dog’ is an art house draw
Updated 30 min 34 sec ago
Gautaman Bhaskaran
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Review: RSIFF title ‘Black Dog’ is an art house draw

Review: RSIFF title ‘Black Dog’ is an art house draw
Updated 30 min 34 sec ago
Gautaman Bhaskaran

JEDDAH: The winner of the Un Certain Regard prize at the Cannes Film Festival in May, Chinese drama “Black Dog” travelled to the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah and screened as part of the Festival Favorites program. Stark and suitably set in the barren landscape of the Chinese desert, the movie explores loneliness and exudes a sense of desperation. Director Guan Hu (known for “Mr Six,” “Run for Love,” “Cow”) follows a murder convict who leaves prison and lands a job as a dog catcher in a work that strongly reminded me of the celebrated Japanese auteur Takeshi Kitano.

Lang (essayed by a grim Eddie Peng) is hired to trap strays in the Gobi Desert. But a man with a heart that melts, he watches in anguish as the canines are mistreated and decides to adopt one. Once a celebrity — a stunt motorcyclist, a great guitarist and the son of a bigwig — Lang’s incarceration sees him transformed into a completely different person that is wonderfully encapsulated by Peng.

Strictly for art house fans, “Black Dog” can be a hard watch for others and the starkness of a part of the country with its decay and hostile desert sands is far from the allure that we often associate with cinema. Hu does not seem to care as he tells us with brutal frankness how dozens of dogs (some suffering from fatal rabies) are hunted down with a huge net by catchers — the scenes can be revolting to some.

“Black Dog” relies on one too many contrived incidents that impede the narrative flow, but if you’re a fan of moody, almost allegorical films, this one is for you.

Topics: Red Sea International Film Festival 2024

Emma Roberts to star in AlUla-shot thriller

Emma Roberts to star in AlUla-shot thriller
Updated 11 December 2024
Arab News
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Emma Roberts to star in AlUla-shot thriller

Emma Roberts to star in AlUla-shot thriller
  • Shooting of the ‘Fourth Wall’ begins in the first quarter of 2025
Updated 11 December 2024
Arab News

JEDDAH: Hollywood actress Emma Roberts is set to star in a film shot at AlUla Studios in Saudi Arabia, according to Film AlUla and global media company Stampede Ventures.

The movie, the “Fourth Wall,” will begin shooting in AlUla in the first quarter of 2025. It is part of a deal between CEO Greg Silverman’s Stampede Ventures and Film AlUla that was announced last year.

“The initial collaboration has been recalibrated to focus on producing a specific slate of four films well-suited for production at AlUla Studios and to further the key objective of knowledge-sharing and mentoring local talent,” a press release stated, explaining a shift from the previously announced 10 film deal down to four films that will “further the key objective of knowledge-sharing and mentoring local talent.”

Although the film title was revealed last year, this is the first time Roberts has been publicly attached to the project. 

The film follows a former child star from a popular TV sitcom who is kidnapped and wakes up in a complete recreation of the show’s set with the rest of the cast.

This is where she must work through her trauma and recreate iconic moments from the series to stay alive and find a way out.

Written by Jerry Kontogiorgis, the film will be produced by Silverman and Grant Torre of Stampede Ventures and directed by Alexis Ostrander (“Servant”).

US actress Roberts (“Space Cadet,” “Holidate”) will have the lead role.

Stampede Ventures is among the first to use Film AlUla’s production facility, which includes a soundstage, backlot, production support buildings, workshops, warehouses, recording studio, and training and rehearsal space, all over 2,787 sq. meters.

There will be an emphasis on using Saudi talent during the production process, with introductory workshops and on-site training across various departments. This includes production staff, camera crew, art department, set operations, lighting, locations, transportation, sound, wardrobe, and makeup.

In a statement, Silverman said: “After a very positive recent experience shooting ‘K-Pops’ on location in AlUla, Stampede Ventures is now thrilled to bring more films to our partnership with RCU.

“Our productions will celebrate the unique allure of AlUla as a setting for cinematic creativity and the inspiring energy and love for filmmaking of the men and women of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

The “K-Pops” production was directed by eight-time Grammy winner Anderson .Paak.

Topics: RSIFF 2024 Emma Roberts

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Benedict Cumberbatch shares his love of theater with RSIFF audience
Lifestyle
Benedict Cumberbatch shares his love of theater with RSIFF audience

Marisa Tomei praises Saudi efforts to grow local film industry

Marisa Tomei praises Saudi efforts to grow local film industry
Updated 11 December 2024
Shyama Krishna Kumar
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Marisa Tomei praises Saudi efforts to grow local film industry

Marisa Tomei praises Saudi efforts to grow local film industry
Updated 11 December 2024
Shyama Krishna Kumar

JEDDAH: Academy Award-winning US actress Marisa Tomei turned heads at the Red Sea International Film Festival red carpet on Tuesday night, following a talk she gave at the Red Sea Souk earlier in the day.

“It’s been fantastic,” Tomei said of her time so far in Jeddah in an interview with Arab News. “I’m looking forward to going into the Jeddah Old Town. I’m looking forward to being at the gala. I’m very curious about this film about this opera singer. It’s a comedy,” she said, referring to Saudi filmmaker Abdulaziz Almuzaini’s latest film “Lail Nahar,” which premiered at the festival.

Marisa Tomei on the red carpet in Jeddah. (Getty Images)

She went on about being in Saudi Arabia: “It’s just beautiful. It’s just a dream. It is one of the best parts of this career and being part of this business — to be able to travel, meet new people, see totally interesting, different approaches to life.”

Tomei also took a beat to praise the Kingdom’s efforts to support the growing film industry.

“And what’s going on here in terms of the labs that they’re doing and growing these film studios, and what they’re doing for women in film is really, really, really exciting and paying dividends back. And I mean, only in four years … It’s really, really impressive and exciting, and I’m excited to see what comes, just what continues to come out of here, and it’s just being done in such an elegant, thoughtful way. I’m blown away by that,” she said.

Tomei, who was last prominently seen in the “Spider-Man” trilogy as Aunt May to Tom Holland’s titular character, said she loved working with director Jon Watts on the popular Marvel project.

“I loved being with Jon Watts. I think he’s a great director. He always was saying to us, ‘Let’s do this like an independent film.’ So even though it was this giant film, he kept it really intimate, and he was always open to ideas,” she said.

“Jon always felt, or we felt together, that (Aunt May) really raised Peter Parker and so that her influence would have really been the most massive in his life, and I think that’s also why she gave the classic Uncle Ben line in that pivotal moment. Jon just really had his hands around that. And it was really fun. And it was also fun to do some of the little bit of action scenes that I got to do. And, you know, have my hair really long,” she added.

Topics: Red Sea International Film Festival 2024

Benedict Cumberbatch shares his love of theater with RSIFF audience

Benedict Cumberbatch shares his love of theater with RSIFF audience
Updated 11 December 2024
SALEH FAREED
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Benedict Cumberbatch shares his love of theater with RSIFF audience

Benedict Cumberbatch shares his love of theater with RSIFF audience
Updated 11 December 2024
SALEH FAREED

JEDDAH

British actor Benedict Cumberbatch was in the spotlight at Jeddah’s Red Sea International Film Festival on Tuesday afternoon, delighting a packed audience with an “In Conversation” session.

Fans crowded the auditorium at Culture Square in Al-Balad as the two-time Academy Award nominee recalled growing up with actor parents and discussed his career.

“My parents are both actors, wherever they go or what they do, I was there with them and I learned from them. My father gave me the push to follow my passion,” he said of Timothy Carlton and Wanda Ventham.

He later went into depth about his own career, telling anecdotes from the sets of some of his biggest successes including Marvel’s “Doctor Strange,” the lauded TV series “Sherlock,” “Star Trek into Darkness,” “The Power of the Dog” and “The Imitation Game.”

“It has been a great journey for me and I have enjoyed every minute of it,” he said. “I’m permanently looking for challenges and experiences outside of my own to engage my imagination and craft.”

Cumberbatch has twice been nominated for Academy Awards, the first for 2014’s “The Imitation Game” and the second for “The Power of the Dog” in 2021.

“It’s nice to be nominated, but for me, it’s just about the quality of the work, the value for me is that it brings me into close contact with my collaborators and with the people whose shoulders I’m standing on or have stood on,” he said of the industry recognition.

Cumberbatch has worked in theatre, television, film and radio. Asked if he missed treading the boards, he said: “Oh yes, that’s the real thing. It is where I started my career and theater was my turning point.”

The actor’s other forays into the world of theatre include starring in the UK’s Royal National Theatre’s “After the Dance” (2010) and “Frankenstein” (2011). In 2015, he played William Shakespeare’s Hamlet at the Barbican Theatre in London.

Cumberbatch also talked about his work as a producer, particularly as an executive producer on “We Live in Time” with Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield. He connected with its universal themes and humor, he said, adding that “financing and budget structure are very, very difficult to do in this climate.”

He also had words of praise for his “Sherlock” co-star Martin Freeman, who plays the pragmatic Dr. John Watson. The Emmy and BAFTA-winning Freeman is “a funny actor and also a technical artist,” he said. 

Cumberbatch left the stage to prolonged applause and cheers, with some audience members screaming: “We love you!”

Topics: Red Sea International Film Festival 2024

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Review: First-time director Anderson .Paak brings humor and magic to RSIFF title ‘K-Pops’
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