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More than 50 Blockbusters to be produced in the coming two years
Rotana Media Group has signed deals with major producers to produce over 50 new Arabic blockbusters in the next two years in an estimate cost of 36 million US dollars. In addition to its huge archive, Rotana's recently signed strategic partnerships with major Arab producers to film a significant number of movies, making Rotana's film library the largest and most important in the world. This library includes the biggest number of timeless Arab cinema masterpieces and many of the new movies that were produced in the past few years, as well as some movies that are currently under production.
These unprecedented strategic partnerships in the Arab world to produce a number of new movies by well-known producers from Egypt highlight the company's strong belief in the importance of the film industry on the cultural, artistic and economic level. Among those producers is Ahmad Al Sabki with whom Rotana plans to produce a number of movies starring the leading stars, actors, directors and scriptwriters including actor Mohamed Ramadan, famous director Yousry Nasrallah and writer Tamer Habib.
Rotana is also cooperating with producer Walid Sabri in order to build a strategic relationship to produce a number of movies with prominent star actors.
Rotana is also interested in creating a new generation of filmmakers in order to inject young blood into this industry in Egypt and the Arab world. Therefore, the company has signed a strategic partnership with the young producer and scriptwriter, Mohamed Hafzi in order to produce several movies over the next year, providing youths with the opportunity to jump start their careers in this industry as producers, directors, scriptwriters and actors.
Finally, Rotana renewed its contracts with Al Masa Media Production, including the rights to broadcast 50 of the major recent movies, which will lead to the production of new movies to be announced soon.
Notably, Rotana Media Group's total investment in the Arabic movies industry has reached 281 million US dollars in the past years.
Turki Al Shabana, Rotana's CEO, commented on these partnerships, saying: "They complement Rotana's pioneering and leading role in the Arab filmmaking industry. The production of new movies will lead to the reactivation of this important and strategic industry in the Arab world after it suffered deeply during the Arab Spring. Rotana strongly believes in the importance of the movie industry and the economic and cultural role it plays. Through these partnerships, we aim to include high-standard movies to the company's library, which is considered the largest in the Arab world. Rotana significantly supported the Arab and Egyptian filmmaking industry over the past decade by participating in the production of approximately 200 movies. Rotana is also playing a leading role in the recent restoration of the classic movies into digitally scanned in 4 K and restored to HD quality. These movies are considered as the treasures of the Arab cinema."
Producer Ahmad Al Subki said: "Rotana has always been a successful partner in our feature films and most of our blockbusters have been shown on Rotana Channels, notably our new movies such as "Al Farah", "Cabaret", "Allambi", "8 Gega" and others. Under the agreement that was signed new movies will be produced this year and next year. We are pleased to sign this partnership with Rotana, this company that has its weight in the film market with its channels being the most watched.
Kareem Al Subki who was also present during the signature of the partnership commented by saying: "Happy to witness this new partnership between Rotana and Al Subki in addition to many other production companies. Some of the new films which fall under this agreement are already under production and we have chosen this partnership with Rotana mainly because its channels remain the Arabic audience's favorites."
Producer Walid Sabri said: "Under the contract which was signed, we will be producing a number of films in a new collaboration with Rotana in the next two years. Our relationship with Rotana began ten years ago with the most prominent films produced by our company. In Addition our latest blockbusters such as "the walls of the Moon" will be shown on Rotana channels within the coming two months. Our agreement with Rotana to sign the first contract of its kind in the region comes as result of our confidence in the renowned company and in its channels which are considered as pioneering channels for all the movie audiences in the Arab world. "
Furthermore, producer Mohammed Hifzi said: "This partnership between Rotana and the Movies production companies comes to the biggest advantage of the audience and the Arabic Movie industry in all its elements. Rotana has always been a true and big supporter of the Arabic Cinema."
Finally, producer Hisham Abdel Khalek stated: "Rotana is a leader in supporting the film industry, furthermore Rotana owns the only specialized movies channels that were able to stand out and surpass their competition."
Nonetheless, these partnerships won't be the last as Rotana plans to sign similar agreements soon with equally important movie producers, such initiatives are not new to the company that established over the years important strategic relationships with Arab and Egyptian filmmakers. Rotana's management had worked with major movie producers, played a key role in the movie industry and was able to strengthen its strategic relationships with many producers and stars leading to fruitful collaborations and successful movies.
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About Rotana Media Group
Rotana Media Group is a diversified media company in the Middle East. It is the world's largest producer of Arabic music and a key distributor and producer of Arabic movies, with a library comprising more than 1,600 movies. "Rotana Studios" is likewise considered the biggest producer of Arabic Blockbusters. Rotana also owns a bouquet of leading free-to-air TV channels in both HD and SD including, Rotana Cinema, Rotana Aflam, Rotana Classic, Rotana Khalijiyah, Rotana Masryiah, LBC, Rotana Clip and Rotana Musica, broadcasting the latest Arabic movies, series, and music videos globally. Rotana's content is also digitally distributed.
Furthermore, Rotana has radio stations, a chain of cafes and its own digital magazine. It also operates a leading regional advertising sales arm (Rotana Media Services), responsible for advertising sales on its TV channels as well other media businesses in the region. Rotana Media Group employs over 560 employees located across the Middle East. HRH Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal, the major shareholder of the Rotana Media Group, is also the beneficial owner of approximately 4.9 percent of 21st Century Fox and 1 percent of News Corporation's Class B Common Stock.
© Press Release 2016
