Dubai-based independent film distributor and producer Front Row Filmed Entertainment has acquired global rights – excluding theatrical, which is limited to the Mena region – for Lebanese drama “Death of a Virgin and the Sin of Not Living” that launched last year from Berlin’s Panorama section.
Produced by Beirut-based Bee On Set Productions, “Death of a Virgin” marks director George Peter Barbari’s feature debut. It stars newcomers Etienne Assal, Adnan Khabbaz, Jean-Paul Franjieh and Elie Dankoura Saad. Set in Batroun, one of Lebanon’s most famous coastal cities, pic follows a group of troubled teens who are taking their friend Etienne (Assal) to a sex worker in an attempt to make him lose his virginity.
Variety in its review called the film “an impressive debut” that “burrows inside until you find yourself flooded by the fragility of life, with all its beauty and sorrow.”
Since launching from Berlin, “Death of...
Produced by Beirut-based Bee On Set Productions, “Death of a Virgin” marks director George Peter Barbari’s feature debut. It stars newcomers Etienne Assal, Adnan Khabbaz, Jean-Paul Franjieh and Elie Dankoura Saad. Set in Batroun, one of Lebanon’s most famous coastal cities, pic follows a group of troubled teens who are taking their friend Etienne (Assal) to a sex worker in an attempt to make him lose his virginity.
Variety in its review called the film “an impressive debut” that “burrows inside until you find yourself flooded by the fragility of life, with all its beauty and sorrow.”
Since launching from Berlin, “Death of...
- 2/16/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Stephane Celerier, a veteran French film executive whose former banner Mars Films co-produced “La Famille Belier,” is joining forces with Pgs Entertainment to create a new production company.
Celerier is launching Gemma Pictures with Philippe and Guillaume Souter, the founders of Pgs Entertainment, a thriving family-owned business specialized in financing and licensing worldwide youth entertainment.
The new Paris-based company will look to produce French and English-language films, TV series and TV movies and is already developing a slate of 10 projects with well-known French and international talent. A resourceful and deep-pocketed company, Pgs Entertainment will fully finance the development of Gemma Pictures’ roster over the next three years and will handle the back office, while giving Celerier the full reins of the company.
One of France’s most respected and passionate industry figures, Celerier acquired and distributed locally a flurry of critically-acclaimed U.K. and U.S. movies, including “Billy Elliot,...
Celerier is launching Gemma Pictures with Philippe and Guillaume Souter, the founders of Pgs Entertainment, a thriving family-owned business specialized in financing and licensing worldwide youth entertainment.
The new Paris-based company will look to produce French and English-language films, TV series and TV movies and is already developing a slate of 10 projects with well-known French and international talent. A resourceful and deep-pocketed company, Pgs Entertainment will fully finance the development of Gemma Pictures’ roster over the next three years and will handle the back office, while giving Celerier the full reins of the company.
One of France’s most respected and passionate industry figures, Celerier acquired and distributed locally a flurry of critically-acclaimed U.K. and U.S. movies, including “Billy Elliot,...
- 2/15/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
One of Scandinavia’s leading film distributors, Scanbox Entertainment is changing ownership with a new board including CEO Thor Sigurjonsson.
The company was bought back from Scanbox Chairman Joni Sighvatsson. New owners include COO Kim William Beich, commercial director Torben Thorup Jorgensen, and producer Chris Briggs. They will be expending the business into film and TV production, kicking off with a Norwegian adaptation of the Italian blockbuster “Perfect Strangers “ which is co-produced by Storm Films and will premiere in theaters on Feb. 25.
“We see significant growth potential in the content creation side of the business. and with this Mbo, we have taken the first step towards that goal,” said Sigurjonsson.
The company will continue to license and distribute international and local films in the Nordic region as its core business. Scanbox’s slate also includes the Icelandic version of “Perfect Strangers” with Zik Zak Filmworks, which will premiering in the fall.
The company was bought back from Scanbox Chairman Joni Sighvatsson. New owners include COO Kim William Beich, commercial director Torben Thorup Jorgensen, and producer Chris Briggs. They will be expending the business into film and TV production, kicking off with a Norwegian adaptation of the Italian blockbuster “Perfect Strangers “ which is co-produced by Storm Films and will premiere in theaters on Feb. 25.
“We see significant growth potential in the content creation side of the business. and with this Mbo, we have taken the first step towards that goal,” said Sigurjonsson.
The company will continue to license and distribute international and local films in the Nordic region as its core business. Scanbox’s slate also includes the Icelandic version of “Perfect Strangers” with Zik Zak Filmworks, which will premiering in the fall.
- 2/10/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Welcome to Deadline’s International Disruptors, a feature where we shine a spotlight on key executives and companies outside of the U.S. shaking up the offshore marketplace. This week, we’re talking to Gianluca Chakra, founder and managing director of pan-Arab distribution outfit Front Row Filmed Entertainment. The company, which was founded from humble beginnings in 2003, is now one of the most prominent companies in the Middle East and recently launched its first production with Netflix, Perfect Strangers.
It’s been an auspicious start to the year for Gianluca Chakra’s pan-Arab outfit Front Row Filmed Entertainment. The company, which has long been at the forefront of distributing top-shelf independent cinema to the Middle East region, kicked off 2022 with its first production Perfect Strangers, the latest international remake of 2016 Italian hit Perfetti Sconosciuti. Netflix boarded the project last year after signing a first-look deal with Front Row, marking the...
It’s been an auspicious start to the year for Gianluca Chakra’s pan-Arab outfit Front Row Filmed Entertainment. The company, which has long been at the forefront of distributing top-shelf independent cinema to the Middle East region, kicked off 2022 with its first production Perfect Strangers, the latest international remake of 2016 Italian hit Perfetti Sconosciuti. Netflix boarded the project last year after signing a first-look deal with Front Row, marking the...
- 2/9/2022
- by Diana Lodderhose
- Deadline Film + TV
The year 2022 has started out strong for Netflix in Arabic-speaking countries, where its edgy originals are making a punchy debut.
The streamer’s first Arab original film, “Perfect Strangers,” sparked an uproar in socially conservative Egypt due to its portrayal of a gay male character and taboo storylines. Meanwhile, “Finding Ola” toplines Cairo-based Tunisian star Hend Sabry as a happy divorcee who embarks on a journey of self-discovery after her divorce. Both are reflections of the streamer’s thematically groundbreaking strategy in the region, says Nuha Eltayeb, Netflix’s director of acquisitions in Mena and Turkey.
“We’re looking for content that will create impact for the viewers, where they will find it authentic and representative, and at the same time relatable to their day-to-day storylines,” says Eltayeb.
Since its Jan. 20 debut, “Perfect Strangers” has risen to the top of Netflix viewing charts in Arab countries including Morocco, Egypt and...
The streamer’s first Arab original film, “Perfect Strangers,” sparked an uproar in socially conservative Egypt due to its portrayal of a gay male character and taboo storylines. Meanwhile, “Finding Ola” toplines Cairo-based Tunisian star Hend Sabry as a happy divorcee who embarks on a journey of self-discovery after her divorce. Both are reflections of the streamer’s thematically groundbreaking strategy in the region, says Nuha Eltayeb, Netflix’s director of acquisitions in Mena and Turkey.
“We’re looking for content that will create impact for the viewers, where they will find it authentic and representative, and at the same time relatable to their day-to-day storylines,” says Eltayeb.
Since its Jan. 20 debut, “Perfect Strangers” has risen to the top of Netflix viewing charts in Arab countries including Morocco, Egypt and...
- 2/3/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Juicy, soapy Korean series have been a staple on Netflix for years, but following the “Squid Game” phenomena, audiences around the world can’t get enough of not only the typical K-drama fare but also Korean thrillers and reality series.
Korean zombie thriller “All of Us Are Dead,” which features a familiar “Squid Game” face (Lee Yoo-Mi) made its debut on the streamer’s non-English language TV Top 10 list for the week of Jan. 24 through 30, coming in at No. 1 with 124.79 million hours viewed. This marks the most hours viewed in the premiere week for any Korean title since Netflix began releasing its Top 10 data last year.
“Squid Game” remains legions above all other titles on Netflix’s Top 10 most popular non-English TV list of all time (based on hours viewed in the show’s first 28 days on the streaming platform), with a mammoth watch count of 1,650,450,000 hours. However, for the first time in months,...
Korean zombie thriller “All of Us Are Dead,” which features a familiar “Squid Game” face (Lee Yoo-Mi) made its debut on the streamer’s non-English language TV Top 10 list for the week of Jan. 24 through 30, coming in at No. 1 with 124.79 million hours viewed. This marks the most hours viewed in the premiere week for any Korean title since Netflix began releasing its Top 10 data last year.
“Squid Game” remains legions above all other titles on Netflix’s Top 10 most popular non-English TV list of all time (based on hours viewed in the show’s first 28 days on the streaming platform), with a mammoth watch count of 1,650,450,000 hours. However, for the first time in months,...
- 2/1/2022
- by Mónica Marie Zorrilla
- Variety Film + TV
Italy’s Vision Distribution has boarded Berlin Panorama title “Swing Ride,” directed by Chiara Bellosi, and will launch sales at the upcoming EFM on the pic about an overweight teenager named Benedetta who is pining for attention.
“Swing Ride” (“Calcinculo”) is a dark fable set in a small southern Italian town portraying the friendship between Benedetta, played by newcomer Gaia Di Pietro, and the skinny non-binary Amanda, played by Andrea Carpenzano whom Benedetta decides to follow in her “stray world,” as the director puts it in her notes.
Described by Bellosi as depicting an unusual friendship and the experience of empowerment, this coming-of-age film follows Bellosi’s first feature “Ordinary Justice,” which examined the lives of two families on opposite sides of a murder case and launched from Berlin’s Generation 14plus section in 2020.
Both pics are produced by Carlo Cresto Dina’s Tempesta which discovered Alice Rohrwacher and is...
“Swing Ride” (“Calcinculo”) is a dark fable set in a small southern Italian town portraying the friendship between Benedetta, played by newcomer Gaia Di Pietro, and the skinny non-binary Amanda, played by Andrea Carpenzano whom Benedetta decides to follow in her “stray world,” as the director puts it in her notes.
Described by Bellosi as depicting an unusual friendship and the experience of empowerment, this coming-of-age film follows Bellosi’s first feature “Ordinary Justice,” which examined the lives of two families on opposite sides of a murder case and launched from Berlin’s Generation 14plus section in 2020.
Both pics are produced by Carlo Cresto Dina’s Tempesta which discovered Alice Rohrwacher and is...
- 2/1/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Nadine Labaki, the Lebanese actress and filmmaker who landed an Oscar nomination as director of 2018’s record-smashing feature Capernaum, has been cast in the upcoming Arabic language remake of hit Italian drama Perfect Strangers.
Labaki joins an impressive lineup of Arabic stars, including Mona Zaki (30 Years Ago, Scheherazade: Tell Me A Story, Escaping Tel Aviv), Adel Karam (The Insult, Caramel, Netflix’s Live From Beirut), Eyad Nassar (The Looming Tower, Sons of Rizk 2, The Blue Elephant 2), Diamand Bou Abboud (The Insult, The Sculptor, The Fixer) and Lebanese legend, actor screen and playwright George Khabbaz (Under the Bombs, Ghadi, and co-writer of Capernaum).
First announced in late 2018, the Perfect Strangers...
Labaki joins an impressive lineup of Arabic stars, including Mona Zaki (30 Years Ago, Scheherazade: Tell Me A Story, Escaping Tel Aviv), Adel Karam (The Insult, Caramel, Netflix’s Live From Beirut), Eyad Nassar (The Looming Tower, Sons of Rizk 2, The Blue Elephant 2), Diamand Bou Abboud (The Insult, The Sculptor, The Fixer) and Lebanese legend, actor screen and playwright George Khabbaz (Under the Bombs, Ghadi, and co-writer of Capernaum).
First announced in late 2018, the Perfect Strangers...
- 12/29/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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