CANNES: O3 Productions, the drama and film production arm of MBC Group, the largest private media company in the Middle East & North Africa region, and Image Nation Abu Dhabi, one of the leading media and entertainment companies in the Middle East, today announced a new partnership to co-finance and co-produce a slate of Saudi films for local, regional and international audiences.
 
Though Image Nation and MBC/O3 are keeping specific details of the four new feature projects under wraps, genres are likely to include action, thriller, real-life dramas and comedies. Projects will aim to film in Saudi and utilize Saudi talent in front of and behind the camera. Development has begun on all projects, with production set to commence in 2019.
 
This new deal comes in the wake of the first cinemas in two generations opening in Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announcing itself open for business for filmmakers from Saudi, the Arab world and internationally.
 
The country has a big presence at this year’s Cannes Film festival with The Saudi Film Council in town for the first time this year along with a Saudi Film Pavilion at the Marche du Film and a selection of Saudi short films showing as part of the festival’s industry programme. The Saudi Film Council has also announced a generous production rebate as a means to attract international productions to film in the Kingdom.
 
Fadi Ismail, Group Director of O3 Productions said: “There is so much to be done in this brave new world and we believe in collaboration with those who have same ambitions and vision. Image Nation is a trusted and established player in the film industry and we have joined forces to launch a slate of Saudi films that will promote Saudi storytelling and talents. MBC group and its Drama  and film production arm are keen to push of Saudi storytelling in drama and films qualitatively and quantitatively to new heights and create content that not only is captivating to a Saudi and regional viewers,  but can travel globally and and help in changing the image of KSA into an active player in international entertainment industry.”
 
Michael Garin, Chief Executive Officer of Image Nation Abu Dhabi, said: “This is an incredibly exciting moment for the regional film and television industry. Image Nation is committed to developing a sustainable local industry that creates world-quality entertainment to engage audiences across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC. This collaboration with MBC and O3 is another significant step towards this vision.”
 
Ben Ross, Head of Narrative Film and Television at Image Nation, commented: “As Saudi Arabia begins a new chapter in its cinematic history, this exciting partnership between Image Nation, MBC and O3 will showcase the very best Saudi filmmaking talent in front of and behind the camera. We are one of the first foreign companies investing in Saudi content and are looking forward to introducing new Saudi talent to local, regional and global audiences. We’re delighted to be working with the multi-talented Fahad Al Butairi again on Love Above the Law. This deal really underscores Image Nation and MBC’s shared commitment to producing high-quality Arab language film and television projects for the Arab world.”
 
Saudi comedian and writer Fahad Al Butairi, who previously collaborated with Image Nation on From A to B and the upcoming Rashid and Rajab, is also writing a new project entitled Love Above the Law which will fall under the new deal. The film is a comedy about a middle class Saudi man marrying a girl from the Badiya, the rural community, and the two discovering they actually have a lot in common.
 
This MBC/O3 Saudi deal follows on from the previous film and TV deal that MBC and Image Nation announced last year.
 
Under that deal, O3 and Image Nation are currently in advanced development on the feature film adaptation of Saudi pop culture smash HWJN, about a devout God-fearing Jinn who forges a special bond with a talented Saudi female medical student.
 
Emirati filmmaker Majid Al-Ansari, who previously directed Image Nation’s Zinzana and has served as executive producer on a number of Image Nation’s other projects will direct the film, which will commence shooting in the Autumn this year. An extensive casting search in Saudi Arabia is currently underway for the leads in the film and casting will be announced in due course.
 
A spin-off TV series The Delusionists which also has a unique take on modern Saudi and Arab society will also go into production back-to-back with the film.
 
-Ends-
 
About Image Nation Abu Dhabi
Image Nation Abu Dhabi is one of the leading media and entertainment companies in the Arabic-speaking world.  The company produces local and international films, documentaries & television content, and broadcasts Quest Arabiya Region – a factual entertainment channel in partnership with Discovery across the MENA.  The company aims to build a sustainable film and television industry in Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates.
 
Image Nation’s slate includes Emirati produced feature films (SHABAB SHEYAB, ZINZANA, THE WORTHY), cause-driven documentaries (HE NAMED ME MALALA, EVERY LAST CHILD) and television series (JUSTICE, an Arab-language courtroom drama that launched on OSN).  The company supports its local activities through award-winning international co-productions, including ROMAN ISRAEL, ESQ and THE CIRCLE.
 
Through its content, Image Nation is creating opportunities for local talent to tell their stories and work on projects that provide them the tools to establish and sustain a local industry.
 
About MBC GROUP
MBC Group (Middle East Broadcasting Center) is the largest and leading private multimedia company in the Middle East North Africa region. For the past 26 years, MBC GROUP was able to enrich people’s lives through information, interaction and entertainment. In 2002, nearly a decade after the launch of MBC1 in London, back in 1991, and as the 1st private free-to-air Arab satellite TV channel, MBC GROUP relocated its headquarters to Dubai Media City, United Arab Emirates, where it remains.
Today, MBC GROUP includes 20 leading TV channels: MBC1 (general family entertainment); MBC2 and MBC MAX (24-hour western movies); MBC3 (children’s edutainment with a mix of both local productions and western acquisitions); MBC4 (entertainment for young families with a female-focus); MBC ACTION (an indigenous adrenaline-packed channel targeting young males with local and homegrown productions); MBC VARIETY (Western films and general entertainment with uninterrupted broadcasting); AL ARABIYA NEWS CHANNEL (the 24-hour Arabic language news channel); AL HADATH (an extension of AL ARABIYA News Channel with a specific focus on real events in the Arab world and beyond); WANASAH (24-hour Arabic music channel); MBC DRAMA (24/7 Arabic drama); MBC MASR (general family entertainment geared towards the Egyptian family); MBC MASR 2 (providing the Egyptian audience with superior quality entertainment);  MBC+ DRAMA (paid channel); MBC BOLLYWOOD (delivering the freshest in Bollywood content geared towards the region via an Arabized interface); and a network of 4 Sports channels, MBC PRO SPORTS (delivering the “Saudi Football Premier League” to audiences in the Kingdom); and MBC USA (the channel is present on “Dish Network” in the US, and targets Arab audiences aboard; the channel is dedicated to offer and broadcast a wide range of content from the prominent MBC channels including movies, series and global formats).

In July 2011, seven channels within MBC GROUP began to broadcast in HD across the MENA Region. In 2013, others joined the collection of HD channels and continue to do so.

MBC GROUP also includes two leading FM radio stations: MBC FM (Gulf music) and PANORAMA FM (contemporary Arabic hit music); as well as O3 PRODUCTIONS, a premium content drama production company. Furthermore, MBC GROUP includes online platforms: www.mbc.net, www.alarabiya.net,  SHAHID www.shahid.net  (the #1 Premium Arabic VOD service in the World),WIZZO (the Biggest Gaming community in MENA), www.actionha.net, and www.mbcprosports.net among other digital ventures.

© Press Release 2018