See It Be It announces applications open for the 2022 programme
Five places are available for creative female talent to join the 2020/2021 cohort
This year’s See It Be It accelerator programme will take place at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity from 20-24 June 2022
Cannes Lions has announced that applications are open for the 2022 See It Be It programme, which aims to support creative female talent from across the global industry and accelerate them into senior creative roles.
Five places are available for female industry talent, from across the world, to join the 15 women already selected for the 2020/21 cohort. Together, they will take part in a unique development experience at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in June, receiving an all-access Festival pass, travel to and from Cannes, and accommodation, courtesy of the Festival, the group will attend an exclusive programme of events, workshops and mentoring with some of the most respected leaders in the industry today. To date, over 100 women have taken part in See It Be It, and many alumni have progressed into leadership positions, won Lions awards and become Cannes Lions jurors.
The See It Be It Ambassador for 2022 will be Swati Bhattacharya, Chief Creative Officer, FCB India, who will guide the participants through the programme, alongside the See It Be It Chair: Madonna Badger, CCO and Founder, Badger & Winters.
Swati Bhattacharya commented: “The most important element of See It Be It, is bringing the brightest women together and supporting them to take the lead in their career, to shine brighter, and to own it. Peer mentorship is a delicate dance of lifting each other up to achieve more. Gender is part of us, but it doesn’t define us. Women can and must lead and the need for the See It Be It programme is greater now than it has ever been.”
Susie Walker, VP Awards and Insight, LIONS, added: “See It Be It launched in 2014, in response to the gender imbalance across the creative communications industry. The programme provides networking and an array of support for female industry talent from across the globe in their career and leadership ambitions. We are delighted to extend the See It Be It programme in 2022 and support creative women in the industry from across the world to achieve personal and professional success.”
The 15 females already selected to take part in See It Be It 2020/2021, who will join the five newly selected creatives for the 2022 cohort in Cannes, are as follows:
Allie Steel, Senior Writer, DDB – Australia
Andrea Auz, Creative Director, Paper – Ecuador
Denise Tee, Creative Consultant – Philippines,
Ellen Fromm, Senior Copywriter, AKQA Amsterdam – Netherlands
Geetanjali Jaiswal, Senior Creative Director, McCann – India
Javiera Wuth, Senior Copywriter, Pedro Juan y Diego – Chile
Karo Gómez, Social Media Strategist, Media.Monks – Mexico
Lauren Ferreira, Creative Director for Apple, TBWA\Media Arts Lab – USA
Letícia Rodrigues, Associate Creative Director, FCB Brazil – Brazil
Mica Gallino, Brand Creative Director, Nike – USA
Nedal Ahmed, Senior Writer, Wieden+Kennedy Tokyo – Japan
Rachel Chew, Associate Creative Director, Ogilvy – Singapore
Rosa Guerrero, Creative Leader, MoM Marketing of Minds – Dominican Republic
Tescia Deák, Creative Director, TBWA\Chiat\Day – USA
Applications close on 16 February 2022 and the full See It Be It 2022 cohort will be announced in March. Click here to apply
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity will take place from 20-24 June 2022, in Cannes, France. Click here to purchase passes.
Source: Cannes Lions Press Release
Muvi Cinemas – Atelier La Vie is the latest cinema to open as part of the exhibitor’s roll out plan to expand across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia’s first homegrown cinema brand Muvi Cinemas has announced the launch of its first standalone VIP Suites multiplex at Atelier La Vie. Located at the Al Shati District of Jeddah, the new cinema – which opened to the public on 15 December 2021, is part of a mixed-use leisure venue developed by Al-Anwa Holding Company for Investments.
The multiplex situated among exclusive retail stores, cafes and restaurants in an urban garden environment boasts 4 Muvi SUITES theaters with a total of 200 VIP seats, offering exceptional audiovisual experience and a luxurious lounge atmosphere unmatched in the kingdom.
The cinema also offers a distinguished and diverse à la carte menu that includes everything from light bites to a full meal, which can be enjoyed in both the lounge and the comfort of a cinema seat.
Similar to other locations operated by the exhibitor, Muvi Cinemas – Atelier La Vie was designed by UK’s Chapman and Taylor, with a theme of urban downtown. The cutting-edge cinema venue aims to create a dynamic, modern and innovative cinema experience. Internal spaces are characterised by an industrial, yet luxurious, material palette, which includes timber, exposed steelwork, brickwork and a concrete floor. Digital LED screens and dramatic lighting installations complement the city warehouse feel, providing a strong visual identity for the developments.
“As MUVI expands rapidly across the kingdom, the VIP-focused location at Atelier LaVie will exemplify our brand’s ability to provide the most immersive and luxurious movie-viewing experience in the country,” said Adon Quinn, Chief Operating Officer at MUVI Cinemas. “It will be the first to feature MUVI Suites theatres exclusively—a natural decision borne of Al-Anwa’s commitment to providing the finest in retail, wellness, and dining at Atelier La Vie,” he added.
Together with the openings of muvi Boutique – Tala Mall and Boulevard Riyadh (which opened in December 2021) and Al-Yasmin Mall and Mujan Park (which opened in January 2022), Muvi Cinemas presently operates 174 screens across 20 locations in 9 cities across Saudi Arabia.
*More information on muvi Boutique – Tala Mall (Riyadh), Boulevard Riyadh (Riyadh), Al-Yasmin Mall (Jeddah) and Mujan Park (Khamis) to follow soon.
Contact a member of our sales team for cinema advertising opportunities at this standalone premium Muvi cinema location.
Sources: Muvi Cinemas
Saudi box office did a total of US$238 million in 2021, a 95% increase compared to the previous year.
Saudi Arabia in 2021 continued its exponential growth as a theatrical box office market with revenue totaling US$238 million for the year, a 95% increase compared with 2020 when the total intake had been $122 million, according to figures provided by Comscore.
Four years after the removal of the kingdom’s 35-year-old ban on movie theatres, Saudi Arabia has now achieved the status as the West Asian region’s top theatrical market in terms of gross box office, surpassing the UAE, which achieved a box office of US$130m for the year 2021.
Saudi cinemas witnessed the release of 340 new films in 2021, up from 222 films in 2020. The top-grossing 2021 title was Egyptian comedy Waafet Reggaala (A Stand Worthy of Men), which did US$15 million, making it the country’s top grosser ever since moviegoing was reinstated in January 2018.
Spider-Man: No Way Home was the top-grossing Hollywood title in Saudi Arabia in 2021, earning US$11.2 million and continuing to do well in 2022, ranking the No. 2 spot on the chart. It was followed by Cruella, which grossed US$9.1 million, and Guy Ritchie’s Wrath of Man, which made US$8.3 million in Saudi cinemas.
Egyptian comedy, Mesh Ana (Not Me), featuring local megastar Tamer Hosny, weighed in at No. 5 on the 2021 Saudi box office chart with US$8.2 million, while another release from Egypt Mama Hamel (Mom Is Pregnant), about a 60+ woman who is somehow expecting a child, came in at No. 10, pulling US$5.9 million.
Saudi Arabia’s surge in box office grosses is clearly driven by the increase in multiplexes across the nation. The number of multi-screen movie theaters in Saudi Arabia grew from 33 locations at the start of 2021 to 53 locations by December 2021, an increase of 20 new locations, according to Comscore.
According to figures revealed in December during the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah by Bahaa Abdulmajeed -an official from the Saudi Investment Ministry, Saudi Arabia now has 430 screens and counting, and has an ambitious target of reaching 2,600 screens by 2030. Several analysts, including PwC, see Saudi as becoming a billion-dollar movie market in the next few years.
Currently, Saudi-owned Muvi Cinemas operates the highest number of local cinemas, with 21 locations (including its drive-in cinema) across the Kingdom. They are followed by VOX Cinemas with 15 locations. U.S. theater chain AMC Cinemas with 10 locations, Lebanon’s Empire Cinemas with 5 locations and Mexican-owned Cinépolis Cinemas which now operates 2 multiplexes in Saudi.
Top 10 Box Office Hits in Saudi Arabia in 2021
Source: Variety
Spider-Man: No Way Home was the talk of the MCU community for months before its release. The internet was flooded with fan theories about multiple Spider-Man fighting together in the film, and people were convinced they had spotted Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield on set.
On December 16, 2021, Spider-Man finally made it into cinemas in MENA, and worldwide on December 17. The Multiverse brought both ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ and the ‘Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’ to the big screen alongside Holland’s take on the ‘Web-slinging’ hero. In addition to them, several villains from previous Spider-Man films also made an appearance, matching the expectations of the MCU Spiderman fans as well as the general audience.
The Movie has been shattering records ever since. While receiving much praise from both fans and critics around the world, it has now earned a sweet spot on the domestic box office list in the US and has become the fourth highest-grossing film of all time. The movie raked up a US$ 702.6 million in ticket sales in the US alone since its release, and US$ 1.6 billion globally, making it the eighth highest-grossing film at the global box office.
Sony Pictures MENA Marketing Director Charbel Zakhour recently announced on LinkedIn that Spider-Man: No Way Home has officially become the No.1 Grossing Film in the MENA region. This box office success reaffirms the unmatched impact theatrical releases can have in times post the outbreak of the pandemic. Spider-Man: No Way Home also demolished any preconceived notions about how much a major theatrical blockbuster could gross in these times.
As a result of this success, the industry has maintained a V-shaped recovery since the disruption caused by the pandemic, and we are looking forward to a positive year in 2022.
Newly opened Muvi Cinemas – The View is part of the ongoing Muvi brand’s expansion strategy across Saudi Arabia.
Muvi Cinemas opened its Fifteenth location Muvi Cinemas – The View at The View Mall in Riyadh on 15th December 2021. The cinema offers 9 screens with a capacity of 977 seats.
Similar to other locations operated by the exhibitor, Muvi Cinemas – The View was designed by UK’s Chapman and Taylor, with an aim to create a dynamic, modern and innovative cinematic experience.
The designs for the cutting-edge cinema venues have a theme of urban downtown, with the intention of creating a dynamic, modern, and innovative cinema experience. Internal spaces are characterised by an industrial, yet luxurious, material palette, including timber, exposed steelwork, exposed brickwork, and an exposed concrete floor. Digital LED screens and dramatic lighting installations complement the city warehouse feel, providing a strong visual identity for the developments.
The View Mall spanning 52,200 square meters is an excellent hangout spot which boasts more than 170 international and local brand names, covering fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. A comprehensive list of shops features sportswear from Adidas, kidswear from Ziddy, Scandinavian brand L*TT LIV, jeans from Levi’s, casual wear from Aéropostale, and more.
Muvi Cinemas now operates 144 screens across 15 locations in 8 cities across Saudi Arabia.
Contact a member of our sales team for cinema advertising opportunities on the screens of Muvi Cinemas – The View.
Sources: Chapman and Taylor and MUVI
Thirteen experts will lead the Dubai Lynx juries to award outstanding creativity in branded communications from across MENA
Dubai Lynx, MENA’s premier Festival and Awards for creative excellence in branded communications, has announced the thirteen industry experts who will lead the 2022 juries.
The Jury Presidents will judge work entered across 20 different categories, including the newly launched Social & Influencer Lynx and refreshed Creative Effectiveness Lynx and PR Lynx.
About the Jury Presidents, Philip Thomas, Chairman, Dubai Lynx, said, “This is an exceptional group of global talent from across a spectrum of disciplines. We are delighted that, together with their juries, they will be responsible for setting the creative bar in the region as they view, discuss and award work from across MENA. It’s a privilege to be working with them and we’re already excited to see the outcome of their judging.”
Ian Fairservice, Vice Chairman of Dubai Lynx, added: “Dubai Lynx, MENA’s premier festival of creativity, is making an eagerly awaited comeback. In 2022, a newly designed two-day learning and development experience will replace the full festival, with a smaller programme of community-focused networking and talks taking place in a number of venues across Dubai.”
The 2022 Dubai Lynx Jury Presidents have been announced as follows:
Brand Experience & Activation Jury President
Malcolm Poynton, Global Chief Creative Officer, Cheil Worldwide, Global
Creative Effectiveness and Creative Strategy Jury President
Nadja Bellan-White, Global Chief Marketing Officer, VICE Media Group, Global
Design and Industry Craft Jury President
Marta Swannie, Senior Creative Director, Superunion, United Kingdom
Direct and Outdoor Jury President
Chaka Sobhani, Global Chief Creative Officer, Leo Burnett, Global
Digital and Mobile Jury President
Wesley Ter Haar, Co-Founder, Media.Monks, Global
Entertainment Jury President
Asawin Phanichwatana, Deputy Chief Creative Officer, GREYnJ UNITED, Thailand
Film Jury President
Alex Grieve, Chief Creative Officer, AMV BBDO, United Kingdom
Film Craft Jury President
Khalil Bachooali, Founder & Managing Director, Offroad Films, India
Healthcare Jury President
Veronica Trujillo, Managing Director, TBWA\WorldHealth Mexico
Media Jury President
Anna Chitty, CEO, Starcom China
PR Jury President
Kat Thomas, Founder & Global Executive Creative Director, One Green Bean, Global
Print & Publishing and Radio & Audio Jury President
Tseliso Rangaka, Chief Creative Officer, FCB/HC Johannesburg, South Africa
Social & Influencer
Catalin Dobre, Chief Creative Officer McCann Worldgroup Romania & Creative Director McCann CEE, McCann, Romania
The winners of the 2022 awards will be revealed and celebrated at the Dubai Lynx Awards Show. Taking place at Dubai Opera House on 16 March 2022, the black-tie awards dinner is a night of celebration and networking for the whole industry.
Entries into Dubai Lynx are being accepted until 2 February 2022. For further information please visit the Dubai Lynx website
Tickets for the two-day learning and development experience will be available from 26 January 2022.
Source: Dubai Lynx
In this edition of ‘What’s Buzzin Behind the Screen’, we bring you the latest industry news – everything you need to know about what’s happening behind the scenes in Hollywood. From the latest trailer releases to box office collections and movie announcements, here’s the January 2022 update:
Stay tuned for the latest industry news in our February 2022 edition.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Empire Online
Newly opened Ajdan Walk is part of AMC Cinemas’ ongoing strategy to develop the Kingdom’s cinema sector under the Vision 2030 Quality of Life program. The Cinema offers 9 auditoriums providing an enjoyable luxury experience with advanced audiovisual technologies
AMC Cinemas, the first global cinema operator in the Kingdom, has opened a new location at Ajdan Walk in Al-Khobar.
It will provide a state-of-the-art cinematic experience in line with the high standards AMC Cinemas is already known for.
AMC Ajdan Walk was officially inaugurated in presence of prominent personalities and media representatives on Wednesday, December 22. Guests watched an exclusive screening of newly released, The Matrix Resurrections, the fourth part of the Matrix series of films.
The new cinema offers 900 seats across nine auditoriums, including seven luxurious screens and two premium large formats, Dolby Cinema, which offers vibrant images and exceptional sound purity, and Prime, which evokes enthusiasm through amazing display technologies, sound systems with an immersive viewing pleasure, and luxurious reclining seats which provide the utmost comfort and relaxation.
Speaking on the occasion, Andrew Such, AMC Cinemas CEO said, “The opening is part of our ongoing strategy to provide an innovative cinematic experience for audiences throughout the Kingdom. It also reflects our commitment to provide the highest international standards and ensure movie-goers’ visits to our locations are an unforgettable experience.”
“With the opening of AMC Ajdan Walk we continue to demonstrate our support for the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 Quality of Life program which aims to enhance and grow the entertainment sector. It motivates us to continue our strategy to build and provide innovative cinemas across the Kingdom,” he added.
CEO of Ajdan Development Company (Ajdan Walk Waterfront Operator) Eng. Mohammed bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Otaibi said, “We are proud of our cooperation with AMC Cinemas in opening the first independent Cinema theatre in the Kingdom. At the same time, we are looking forward to making this place one of the modern landmarks in Al-Khobar’s first waterfront.”
With the opening of AMC Ajdan Walk in Al-Khobar, AMC Cinemas now operates 66 screens across 10 locations in the Kingdom with five in Riyadh and one in Jeddah, Al-Dawadmi, Hafr Al-Batin and Majmaah.
Contact us to advertise your brand on the screens of AMC Ajdan Walk – AL Khobar.
Source: AMC Press Release.
2021 witnessed the return of movies to the big screen with the release of the most anticipated movies that were delayed by the pandemic.
Hollywood had an active year with a variety of films released, such as sci-fi flicks, Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, musicals, character dramas, thrillers, and animations. The audience were quick to re-embrace cinema as their favourite cultural activity.
As we are nearing the end of 2021, let us look back at some of the highlights from the year 2021 that helped bring movies back to the big screen.
UAE:
KSA:
Egypt:
Oman:
Kuwait:
Bahrain:
Qatar:
Lebanon:
(based on Box Office)
10 blockbuster ads (in no particular order) that lit up the big screen in 2021, as featured in Campaign Middle East :
Brand: Cartier
Title: Expo 2020 Women’s Pavilion
Agency: MediaCom MENA
Brand: Yas Island Abu Dhabi
Title: Stayin’ On Yas
Agency: Starcom
Brand: stc
Title: Our Culture is Our Future
Agency: Universal Media KSA
Brand: Etisalat
Title: #TogetherMeans
Agency: Initiative Abu Dhabi
Brand: Hermès
Title: The Legend of Hermès Della Cavalleria
Agency: Havas Media ME
Brand: NEOM
Title: Made to Change
Agency: Starcom
Brand: Mercedes
Title: The New Mercedes-Maybach S-Class
Agency: OMD
Brand: TRA Bahrain
Title: Digital Theft
Brand: Gulf Bank
Title: AlDanah
Agency: Wavemaker MENA
Brand: Porsche
Title: Macan – Your Sidekick,Everywhere
Agency: BPG Kuwait
There are a dizzying amount of exciting new movies coming to theaters in 2022. These are the top 10 movies you should be looking forward to in the coming year:
For more on the movies coming out in 2022, be sure to check out our sizzle reel, which launches towards the end of January 2022
Souces : Vox Cinemas, IMDB, Box Office Mojo
Muvi Cinemas – The Boulevard Unaizah in Qassim is the latest cinema to open as part of the exhibitor’s roll out plan to grow to 307 screens across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over the 12 months ahead.
Muvi Cinemas opened its fourteenth location, The Boulevard Unaizah, on 14th December 2021 in the city of Unaizah, located in the Al Qassim province, Saudi Arabia.
Spanning 3,200-meter square, Unaizah Boulevard venue, is an eight-screen cinema complex capable of accommodating 1,127 moviegoers and includes the Premium Large Format Auditorium Xperience powered by CGS.
Similar to other locations operated by the exhibitor, Muvi Cinemas – The Boulevard Unaizah was designed by UK’s Chapman and Taylor, with an aim to create a dynamic, modern and innovative cinematic experience.
The designs for the cutting-edge cinema venues have a theme of urban downtown, with the intention of creating a dynamic, modern and innovative cinema experience. Internal spaces are characterised by an industrial, yet luxurious, material palette, including timber, exposed steelwork, exposed brickwork and an exposed concrete floor. Digital LED screens and dramatic lighting installations complement the city warehouse feel, providing a strong visual identity for the developments.
Muvi Cinemas presently operates 135 screens across 14 locations in 8 cities across Saudi Arabia.
Contact a member of our sales team for cinema advertising opportunities on the screens of Muvi Cinemas – The Boulevard Unaizah.
Source: Chapman and Taylor, Muvi Cinemas
