Saudi Arabia is teeming with film festivals, live performances, concerts, and film production, among other things.
I wish all of you a happy new year and all the blessings of this season. When we were putting together this issue, I didn’t quite realise how many Saudi-centric features and stories we would be carrying this month, but it appears that the January 2022 issue is all about the Kingdom.
From a brand-new gaming tournament commissioned and televised for the first time by Saudi Broadcasting Authority and the number of investment announcements in content announced at the Red Sea International Film Festival, the 40% cash rebate for those choosing to do their productions in the Kingdom, audience measurement and even spectrum management, this edition is teeming with stories. The whole Kingdom is in full gear, and regional and international investments are pouring into the most lucrative television market in the Arab world.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s 2030 Vision has activated all sectors in the country and some of the biggest beneficiaries of this movement have been filmmakers and creatives. Vox Cinemas has announced it will produce 25 films in the next five years; indie film distributor Front Row has announced a few partnerships over the last few months to push the boundaries of storytelling; Lebanese production major Cedars Art Production teamed up with Saudi company Ritix last month to create a new pan-Arab theatrical distribution label called Arab Motion; Muvi Cinemas, a Saudi brand, has been launching several cineplexes in the country; Telfaz 11 has announced a recent acquisition … the list goes on.
Saudi Arabia’s desire to rapidly gain lost ground and its heavy injection of capital for the purpose seems to be serving businesses looking for fresh opportunity to sell their services and solutions. It is also creating a solid training ground to nurture a new generation of talent for making films and content to international standards.
As the only B2B publication for the Media and Entertainment space in MENA, we are proud to start the new year with stories that mean business. Happy new year.
