UAE Jury for Cannes Lions 2021 include Paul Shearer, Jennifer Fischer, Dida Atassi and seven other highly respected and award winning advertising and media personalities.
As the official representatives of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan are pleased to announce that ten leading advertising and media professionals from the UAE have been selected as jury members for the 2021 Festival.
UAE jury members who will be on the Awarding and Shortlisting jury panel include:
Industry Craft Lions
Paul Shearer | Chief Creative Officer | Impact BBDO Dubai
Paul has always believed in bringing something different to the table.
His work for Guess Jeans, Nike, Audi and Levi’s has won him respect and numerous advertising awards.
During his time at BBH, Paul had the opportunity to work collaboratively with clients, which contributed to his work being impactful and successful in the marketplace. Paul then decided to broaden his horizons globally and took a job at Wieden and Kenedy Amsterdam as the Creative Director. It was here that he had the chance to work on the Nike account.
Paul prides himself on understanding the digital world and has won 54 Cannes Lions (the most recent being a Grand Prix). When it comes to awards, Paul believes that winning a client some new customers is far more satisfying. Other awards won include 8 D&AD pencils, 15 One Show and 9 British Television awards.
Innovation Lions
Jennifer Fischer | Chief Innovation Officer | TBWA\RAAD
Always dissatisfied with the status quo, Jennifer spent years shaping the future of some of the most valuable brands in the world such as Coca-Cola, Apple, Ikea, KFC, Expo 2020, Facebook or Nissan.
Her role as Chief Innovation Officer MENA for TBWA\RAAD is to lead an always in beta transformation – harnessing the power of technology, strategy, collaboration, and creativity to re-imagine the way companies work, innovate and grow.
Her career milestones include many firsts from launching the first opera house in the region to communicating the first space mission from an Arabic nation or working on the first Apple campaign in MENA.
Her ideas have been published and shared by Forbes, Campaign Magazine, Communicate, Marketing Society, Arab Ad, Arabian Business among others.
Design Lions
Dida Atassi | Design Director | Accenture Interactive Middle East
An accomplished digital professional, Dida has spent 18 years developing compelling world-class experiences for global and local brands across telecommunication, banking, retail, lifestyle and government sectors. From ideation workshops to polished design deliverables, Dida places a particular focus on crafting unique, loveable products and services that resonate with local cultures. As an advocate of the user, Dida tries to help people see how digital can make life a little easier by designing simple and rewarding experiences.
Dida’s skills include user experience design, interface design, service design, and digital strategy using tools such as prototyping, user research and design thinking workshops and methodology. She has a particular interest in studying local cultures and norms and how they impact design.
Media Lions
Asad Rehman | Director Media and Digital Transformation | Unilever MENA
Asad manages Unilever’s Media & Digital Marketing Transformation for Middle & East North Africa. He also sits at the Unilever MENA/Turkey/Russia Board. He has been in Dubai since 2013, prior to which he spent 6 years at the Unilever HQ in London. Earlier on in his career, Asad worked for WPP/Group M in various parts of the world. He managed local offices in Pakistan and Vietnam, did a global role in London, and managed regional projects in Asia and LATAM.
Asad is an award-winning marketer with accolades from D&AD, Cannes Lions, WARC, Global Effie’s, and Spikes, Lynx, Festival of Media, and MENA Effie’s, and is passionate about bringing together technology, data, and creativity to help craft purposeful brands.
Asad was the Founding Chair of The Marketing Society Middle East Chapter from 2016 to 2018 and sits on the board of the IAA UAE. He was awarded The Marketing Society Fellowship in 2019 and was also the Effie’s Marketer of The Year in 2018.
PR Lions
Amy Brill | Head of PR | M&C Saatchi
As M&C Saatchi Public Relations’ market lead for the UAE, Amy is responsible for the overall direction of the team, creative work and business growth. An experienced PR professional, she has worked for some of the world’s most recognisable brands across corporate and consumer sectors.
Amy has a BA Hons degree in Public Relations from Bournemouth University in the UK and started her career at BBC Worldwide before embarking on agency life, working for clients such as Rolls-Royce, Discovery, Hilton, Disney, PayPal and the British Embassy in both the UK and Middle East.
She established the M&C Saatchi Public Relations business in the UAE in 2017, aged just 27 and has been recognised by industry leaders as a Rising Star and Face to Watch. In the two years the agency has been running, Amy and her team have picked up gold and silver accolades at both the PRCA and MEPRA Awards.
Brand Experience and Activation Lions
Vidya Manmohan | Founder and Creative Chairwoman | V4 Advertising LLC
Vidya Manmohan is the Founder & Creative Chairwoman of V4 Good and Ex-Executive Creative Director of GREY Dubai.
She also happens to be one among the rare breed of female Executive Creative Directors in the region today, celebrated for having travelled off the beaten track, across the span of her career – from walking out of the gates of medical school to pursue a career in Advertising and switching from Art direction to copywriting mid-way through her successful career.
What’s more, this mom of a University student has gone back to University herself to pursue her Master’s in Digital Management, whilst having successfully launched a new-age communication hub.
Her work reflects the pop culture around her and has bagged International awards, not only in the print and outdoor categories, but also in radio, design, digital, integrated and advertising for good.
Vidya has also been on the jury panel of International Advertising Festivals such as Cannes Lions, New York Festivals, Clio, Adfest, Lisbon Advertising Awards, The White Square and the Young Guns to name a few.
Film Lions
Serena Abi Aad | Head of Content | Havas Dubai
Serena is an award winning film director whose short films have travelled international festivals across the Middle East, Europe and Canada.
As a passionate storyteller, her professional journey has been diverse and always centered around storytelling.
She spent most of her twenties on film sets, learning every job in a film crew. She then decided to understand the ad world better and became a TV producer at Leo Burnett, where she worked on films for DSF, Chevrolet and Hummer, among others.
Following her time at Leo Burnett, she worked with MBC as writer, producer and director of a first of its kind reality TV show. In 2012, she joined Yahoo as branded content manager and supervised multiple video content productions for brands such as P&G and DSF.
She had her own content production house for a couple of years, before joining Havas DXB as Head of Content.
She is currently Creative Director at Havas DXB, telling stories for clients such as FAB, Barakat, Veet and Durex.
Social & Influencer Lions
Akanksha Goel | Founder & CEO | Socialize
A digital marketing pioneer, Akanksha Goel is the founder of Socialize; Middle East’s first dedicated social media agency.
Akanksha started her career at the age of 20, as the youngest ever Editor-in-chief for STUFF Magazine. She gained experience working across India & Singapore, where she was at the forefront of the Web2.0 revolution and helped organise Asia’s first-ever pod-camp. She then moved to Dubai amidst the region’s economic crisis, and in 2010 created Socialize to harness the untapped business potential of then-emerging social networks.
In her current role as Managing Director, she is actively involved in driving business growth, leading team development and overseeing the strategic mandate across the agency’s coveted client roster that includes iconic brands like Dubai EXPO 2020, Volkswagen, Sony, General Mills & Bioderma.
An executive graduate from Harvard Business School; she holds a business degree in Marketing Communications from Singapore Management University. Nominated as Emirates Woman of the Year and named to Holmes Report’s Innovator 25 list in 2018, Akanksha is widely recognized as a business influencer, speaker, and a reference for social media in the Middle East.
Direct Lions
Alex Pineda | Creative Director | TBWA\RAAD
Alex Pineda was born in Bogotá, Colombia, and English and Spanish speaker and Crazy about football. He is also a museum hunter, napkin illustrator and comic book artist who has travelled to 5 continents, 77 countries, hundreds of cities, and explored many cultures.
He holds a Master’s degree in ‘Creativity and Strategic Management of Advertising’ from the European Institute of Design in Barcelona, Spain; Specialist in ‘Advertising Management’ from the Jorge Tadeo Lozano University of Bogotá, Colombia; and graduated as a ‘Professional in Graphic Design’ from the same university.
Alex has been awarded at Cannes Lions, Cannes Young Lions, D&AD, One Show, Clio, Dubai Lynx, LIA London International Awards, New York Festivals, Loeries, Webby Awards, Effies, Epica, Cresta, Ojo De Iberoamérica, Festival El Dorado and ‘Lápiz de Acero’ (National Design Award of Colombia).
He was also elected as ‘Associate Creative Director of the Year’ for the Middle East and North Africa, by the ‘Black & White Report’ in 2018; the Number 1 Creative Copywriter in the UAE by ‘Lürzer’s Archive’ Magazine in 2017, 2018 and 2019, and one of the “Best Colombian expats around the world” by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia and the Embassy of Colombia in Abu Dhabi in 2020.
Outdoor Lions
Fabio Silveira | General Manager | Havas Dubai
Fabio has been in leadership positions on strategy and client services in creative agencies for the past 10 years.
His experience spans 15 years and 5 continents – with regional and global responsibilities in Brazil, Portugal and Dubai.
He’s currently responsible for the operations of Havas Creative in Dubai, encompassing Client Services, Strategy, Creative, Social Media, Content and Production.
Cannes Lions 2021 will mark the highest ever representation from global brands, platforms, entertainment and technology companies, bringing a breadth of expertise to the Lions awards.
Furthermore, for the first time ever, the number of female jurors too reaches 51%, up from 48% in 2019.
Cannes Lions 2021 will be fully digital, running as Cannes Lions Live, from 21-25 June. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the event in Cannes, France, will not take place this year. Further information on the Lions can be found at Cannes Lions Awards.
We at Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan warmly congratulate these ten highly respected and award winning advertising and media personalities from the UAE who will be part of the jury panel at this year’s Cannes Lions Festival, and wish them all the very best with the judging ahead.
From leisure and entertainment, to healthcare and properties & real estate, here are the commercials presently
dominating the big screen across the Motivate Val Morgan cinema circuit.
With recent blockbusters such as Tom & Jerry, Raya and the Last Dragon and Godzilla vs. Kong performing successfully well at box office, and with more content across a variety of languages confirmed for theatrical release, there is no better time than now to advertise your brand in cinema.
Here are some brand commercials presently dominating the big screen:
American Hospital
Ad Duration: 60 sec.
Campaign Duration: 05th March 2021 to 14th July 2021
Country: UAE
Cinema Locations: Reel Cinemas – The Dubai Mall, Dubai Marina Mall, The Pointe and VOX Cinemas – City Centre Mirdif, Mall of the Emirates, Mercato and Nakheel Mall
Atlantis
Ad Duration: 30 sec.
Follow a Movie: Godzilla vs Kong
Country: UAE
Cinema Locations: VOX Cinemas – Mall of Emirates and Reel Cinemas – The Dubai Mall, Dubai Marina Mall and The Pointe.
Mohammed Bin Rashid City
Ad Duration: 55 sec.
Campaign Duration: 23rd Jan 2021 to 21st April 2021 (Part of an Annual Campaign)
Country: UAE
Cinema Locations: Multiple Reel and VOX locations
Al Hokail Medical Group
Ad Duration: 20 sec. (each)
Campaign Duration: 18th March to 26th May 2021
Country: Saudi Arabia
Cinema Locations: VOX Cinemas – West Avenue Mall and MUVI Cinemas – Nakheel Mall
Double Tree by Hilton Resort and Spa
Ad Duration: 30 sec.
Campaign Duration: 25th March 2021 to 07th April 2021
Country: UAE
Cinema Locations: VOX Cinemas – City Centre Mirdif, Mercato, Mall of the Emirates, Nation Towers, YAS Mall, The Galleria Al Maryah Island.
Cartier
Ad Duration: 30 sec.
Campaign Duration: 25th March 2021 to 07th April 2021
Country: Saudi Arabia
Cinema Locations: VOX Cinemas – Red Sea Mall, Riyadh Front, Riyadh Park and Kingdom Centre, and MUVI Cinemas – Mall of Arabia.
Etisalat
Ad Duration: 60 sec.
Campaign Duration: 25th March 2021 to 13th April 2021 (part of annual campaign)
Country: UAE
Cinema Locations: Multiple VOX, Reel, Oscar, Cine Royal and Cinemacity locations.
Shine light on your brand by making cinema an integral part of your media plan! Contact a member of our sales team for more information on advertising opportunities.
Here’s an extensive line-up of movies releasing in cinema over summer in 2021!
With the global rollout of the vaccine, cinemas in parts of the US now open and UK set to open its doors to cinemagoers in May, multiple production houses have now confirmed the theatrical release date for most movies postponed as a result of the pandemic, with cinema lovers now having lots to look forward to this summer.
Here’s a comprehensive list of movies set to hit the BIG screen this summer:
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway
A sequel to the 2018 animation blockbuster, the second installment witnesses Peter Rabbit move to the big city upon finding the garden life redundant. However, not every sail must be smooth – he meets people from different walks of life in the big city and eventually ends up creating havoc for his family! Join Peter on this journey in a cinema near you on 13 May 2021.
Cruella
The live-action movie stars Emma Stone as a young Cruella de Vil – the famous villain from ‘101 Dalmatians’. The story revolves around Cruella’s years as a fashion designer in the 70s, when she becomes obsessed with dogs’ skin – especially Dalmatians. The movie is set to release on the BIG screen on 27 May 2021.
Fast & Furious 9
Make way for the 9th installment in the Fast Saga! The plot of the movie centres on Dominic Toretto and his crew having to join forces to battle the most skilled assassin and high-performance driver they’ve ever encountered, who also happens to be Dom’s forsaken brother Jakob. Will Dom be able to save those he loves, or will he go down fighting? Find out on 25 June 2021.
The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It
Real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren are back with a chilling story of terror, murder and unknown evil. The third installment of the real-life inspired series revolves around the fight for the soul of a young boy, which leads to something that is unknown in U.S history – a murder suspect claiming demonic possession as a defense. The movie is set to releases in cinema on 3 June 2021.
A Quiet Place II
The sequel to the 2018 blockbuster follows the events at the home of the Abbott family, who now face the terrors of the outside world. Compelled to resort to the unknown, the Abbott’s realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threat lurking beyond the sand path. Venture into the unknown with them on 10 June 2021 at a cinema near you.
The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard
The world’s most lethal odd duo – bodyguard Michael Bryce and hitman Darius Kincaid, have taken on another life-threatening mission – to save Darius’s wife Sonia. The trio get caught amidst a global plot only to find that they are all that stand between Europe and a vengeful and powerful madman. Join the fun deadly mayhem on 17 June 2021.
Black Widow
In Marvel Studios’ action-packed spy thriller, Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff confronts the darker parts of her life when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger. This action-packed blockbuster resales on 9 July 2021.
The Suicide Squad
The sequel to the 2016 Suicide Squad, is set to release across cinemas on 5 August 2021. The movie revolves around super-Villains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Peacemaker, and a collection of cons at Belle Reve prison who join the super-secret Force X. Heavily armed, they are dropped off at the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese where they must fight to live.
Free Guy
After multiple reschedules, this blockbuster starring Ryan Reynolds is set to release on 12 August 2021. The movie’s plot is based on a bank teller named Guy, who realizes he is a character in a video game that is soon going offline! Will he win the race against time to save the game before the developers can shut it down? Find out this summer.
Candyman
A sequel to the 1992 horror film, Candyman makes a comeback to a reestablished neighborhood of Chicago where the legend began. A decade after the last of the Cabrini towers were torn down, Anthony and his partner move into a loft in the now gentrified Cabrini, unknowingly opening a door to a complex past that unravels his own sanity and unleashes a terrifying wave of violence. This spine-chilling thriller is set to release in cinema on 24 August 2021.
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City
Once the booming home of pharmaceutical giant Umbrella Corporation, Raccoon City is now a dying Midwestern town. The company’s production plant has left the city as a barren wasteland with great evil brewing below the surface. A small group of survivors must work together to uncover the truth behind the crimes of Umbrella Corporation and make it through the night. Watch the eventful night unfold in a theatre near you on 2 September 2021.
The Boss Baby 2: Family Business
The Templeton brothers have become adults and drifted away from each other, but a new boss baby with a cutting-edge approach is about to bring them together again – and inspire a new family business.
Other movies set to release over summer in 2021 include:
Troll: The Tale of Tail (May 2021), Spirit Untamed (June 2021), The Forever Purge (July 2021), Jungle Cruise (July 2021), Reminiscence (August 2021), Stillwater (August 2021), Shang-Chi: The Legend of the 10 Rings (September 2021), The Addams Family 2 (September 2021), Invasion (September 2021), The Many Saints of Newark (September 2021) and more.
From action-packed blockbusters, hair-raising thrillers and a heap of light entertainment, the big screen is set to be your go to destination this summer.
Contact us to display your brand alongside these upcoming blockbusters on the BIG screen!
Moemen Metwally and Fernando Montero from Memac Ogilvy Dubai win gold at the UAE Young Lions Digital Competition 2021.
The 18th edition of the esteemed UAE Young Lions Digital Competition, hosted by Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan – the official UAE representative of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, took place on Saturday 27th March 2021.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, this year’s competition took place online, with a total of 14 teams across 9 agencies participating. The Judging and Awards Ceremony followed online on Monday 29th March 2021, with Moemen Metwally and Fernando Montero from Memac Ogilvy Dubai winning Gold.
The winning duo will move on to represent the UAE at the International Young Lions Competition – in the digital category, which will also take place online in June 2021.
Warsha Jamnadas and Nour Itani from Publicis Middle East bagged Silver, while Tarryn Tucker and Luma Kudsiova from BPG Group Dubai, and Lina Maria Monroy and Alison Cordeiro Rodriguez from Saatchi & Saatchi Dubai tied for Bronze.
Other participating agencies at this year’s competition included: Leo Burnett Dubai, Socialize, And Us, Serviceplan Middle East and FP7 McCann.
The jury panel for this year’s competition comprised of: Munah Zahr (Leo Burnett), Fadi Yaish (And Us), Cristiano Tonnarelli (Memac Ogilvy), Komal Bedi Sohal (Saatchi & Saatchi Dubai), Fouad Malak and Oliver Robinson (F7P McCann), Rafael Augusto (Publicis Middle East), Akhilesh Bagri (Serviceplan Middle East), Anyce Nedir (Socialize), and Lousie Kotze and Justin Du Plessis (BPG Group Dubai)
This year’s client was du Telecommunications, who presented a brief pertaining to cybercrime in the UAE. Participating teams were asked to create a digital campaign with a powerful message and fitting hashtag, to emphasize the importance of the internet being utilized wisely and safely, with the necessary precautions in place.
Speaking at the Award ceremony on behalf of du Telecommunications, Dr. Mansoor Habib, Head of Sustainability & Wellbeing, said: “At du, our mission is to create a culture that addresses safe internet usage and related issues such as cyber bullying, digital addiction, and the wellbeing of everyone that uses our telecommunication services. We are very honored that we could introduce the theme of cyber safety at this year’s UAE Young Lions Digital Competition to brief all the participating agencies. The creative insight of the participants – all of which were very unique and powerful – helped us understand how much more innovative we can be with our communication on using the internet safely and responsibly.”
Ian Fairservice – Managing Partner, Motivate Media Group, said “Even though the format for the UAE Young Lions Competition had to be adjusted to an online version this year, we were still very impressed with the content produced. I want to congratulate everyone who entered, but especially Moemen Metwally and Fernando Montero from Memac Ogilvy who I’m sure will be great ambassadors for the UAE during this year’s Cannes Lions Festival.”
The UAE Young Lions Digital Competition 2021 was held in strategic partnership with Dubai Media City and was sponsored by Getty Images.
Congratulations to the winners and a job well done to all 14 teams who participated in this year’s competition.
One of the most anticipated blockbusters of this year – Godzilla vs. Kong, has been a huge hit in every market it opened, pulling in a record setting US$ 141.7 million overseas. The film opened in 38 different international markets, with China accounting for US$ 99 million over eight days – the country’s largest box-office debut in nearly two years.
With international audiences flocking to movie theaters once again, the U.S. box office too made its triumphant return with the blockbuster earning a thumping US$ 27.9 million in North America in just three days of its release (31 March 2021). In the UAE, the blockbuster garnered an astounding 138,000 admissions in its first four days, with a US$ 1.9 million weekend total – far more than any film has managed since the pandemic began. Saudi Arabia was right behind the UAE with 76,000 admissions for the feature.
The film has also been a hit with critics, currently sitting at 81 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes with 118 reviews counted.
The record COVID-era opening of Godzilla vs. Kong is especially encouraging since Netflix made headlines for paying nearly US$ 450 million to acquire the rights for two sequels to Knives Out. Key tests ahead for global cinema are A Quiet Place Part II (Paramount) and F9 (Universal) – set for international release on 28 May and 25 June respectively, both of which are initially theater exclusives.
Recent hits such as Tom & Jerry and Raya and the Last Dragon also opened in the 20,000 admissions range in the UAE. Open for seven weeks now in the, Tom & Jerry has totaled over 150,000 admissions – an impressive achievement for the animated/live action hybrid, while the Malayalam film The One also opened with 20,000 admissions, all of which indicate that business is back in a big way in the UAE.
Upcoming blockbuster releases across the Middle East include: Mortal Kombat (8 April), Free Guy (20 May), Cruella (27 May), Luca (17 June), F9 (24 June), Top Gun: Maverick (1 July), Black Widow (8 July), Jungle Cruise (29 July), The Suicide Squad (5 August), The Boss Baby: Family Business (16 September), Dune (30 September), Spider-Man: No Way Home (17 December) and The King’s Man (22 December).Advertisers, mark your return to the BIG SCREEN in a BIG WAY!
Contact us for cinema advertising opportunities alongside the above mentioned blockbusters.
Sources: The Numbers, Esquire Middle East, Collider, Forbes and IMDb
VOX Cinema opens a state-of-the-art 16-screen multiplex – the largest cinema in Sharjah, at City Centre Al Zahia in UAE.
VOX Cinemas opened its newest cinema location at City Centre Al Zahia in Sharjah on 9th March 2021.
City Centre Al Zahia is home to 16 state-of-the-art screens with a total of 1,485 seats, and features Gold, VIP, MAX and Kids experiences. The opening marks the second VOX cinema in Sharjah, following the launch of the 12-screen cinema at City Centre Sharjah in June 2018.
? VOX Cinemas is NOW OPEN at City Centre Al Zahia! Enjoy a FREE large Salt, Caramel, or Cheese popcorn with every ticket purchased. Get ready to experience movies like never before and book your tickets at https://t.co/QH7NeTo97J or the VOX app.
*Offer valid from 9-13 March pic.twitter.com/uMS3Jw26a7
— VOX Cinemas (@voxcinemas) March 9, 2021
City Centre Al Zahia – a Dhs 2.6bn project, is the twenty eighth mall in the region by the conglomerate Majid Al Futtaim, and the largest mall in the Northern Emirates. The retail hub includes 136,200 sq m of gross leasable space, and offers visitors a mix of over 360 brands, including Carrefour Hypermarket, Steve Madden, Centrepoint and Damas to name a few. It is within walking distance to the one-million-square-metre residential community of Al Zahia, and has been envisioned as Sharjah’s premier lifestyle destination – part of the strategic partnership between Majid Al Futtaim Properties and Sharjah Asset Management.
Speaking on the opening of City Centre Al Zahia, Shireen El Khatib, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim – Shopping Malls said, “The only new super-regional mall to be launched in the Middle East and North Africa in the wake of Covid-19, City Centre Al Zahia is a testament to the resolve, commitment and optimistic spirit of Sharjah and the wider Northern Emirates.”
As the official cinema advertising partner of VOX Cinemas across the Middle East, we at Motivate Val Morgan congratulate VOX on the opening of this new cinema, and warmly welcome this location to our cinema circuit in the UAE.
Contact us to advertise your brand on the screens at City Centre Al Zahia in Sharjah, UAE.
Sources: Gulf Business, VOX Cinemas and Gulf News
With a movie budget of USD 4.83 million, Roohi is Bollywood’s first big film this year
Due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, last year witnessed a majority of Bollywood blockbusters either pushing their release dates, or releasing on OTT platforms. Indian blockbusters such as Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, Dil Bechara and Shakuntala Devi opted for the later in 2020, with Laxmii featuring Akshay Kumar being the only Bollywood blockbuster to release in hybrid format – Disney+Hotstar release in India and a simultaneous theatrical release in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and UAE. The theatrical release of Laxmii was successful, especially in the UAE where it made a total of USD 200,000, but the latest horror comedy film Roohi – by director Hardik Mehta, which went straight to cinemas both locally and internationally, has taken the top spot at box office since the pandemic, with a collection of USD 345,000 on its first day in India – despite most theatres still operating between 50-75% occupancy. According to boxofficeindia.com, its total collection thus far has been USD 2.26 million domestically, and USD 150,000 internationally.
#Roohi is looking at approx ₹ 17.50 cr total in its *extended* Week 1… A respectable number, in view of the #Covid scenario… Thu 3.06 cr [#MahaShivratri], Fri 2.25 cr, Sat 3.42 cr, Sun 3.85 cr, Mon 1.35 cr, Tue 1.26 cr, Wed 1.22 cr. Total: ₹ 16.41 cr. #India biz.
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) March 18, 2021
As stated by Chauhan, a local exhibitor from Bihar, India: “Before Roohi‘s release, we would have no idea how much a film would do in these pandemic times. We would look at each other’s faces wondering how much a film would earn at the box office. But now we have a benchmark. And Bollywood needed this dose of confidence.”
Girish Johar, film producer and trade business analyst, pointed out that Roohi has witnessed a good response at the box office despite being one of the first big Indian films to release post theaters being opened. With Roohi seeing strong footfalls, exhibitors in India are now hopeful for business to slowly get back on track.
Roohi‘s opening day numbers will set the stage for the extensive line up of highly anticipated Bollywood blockbusters set to hit the big screen in 2021, including Mumbai Saga (March), Bunty Aur Babli 2 (April), Sooryavanshi (April), Radhe (May), Bell Bottom (May), 83 (June), Maidaan (October) and Laal Singh Chaddha (December) among others.
Click here to access a list of Indian Movies set to release in 2021, and contact us to advertise your brand alongside these upcoming blockbusters
Sources: Business Today, Box Office India, Forbes, Times of India and ABP Live
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, we at Motivate Val Morgan present you with seven female directors from across the globe who have garnered praise from audiences and critics alike!
It’s no secret that the number of female directors in the global film industry remains abysmally low. However, great strides are being taken – ‘behind the scenes’, to resolve this issue, with females progressively leading the way in this new decade.
In light of International Women’s Day, we present you with seven phenomenal female directors who have delivered award winning blockbusters, that not only ruled the BIG screen, but also garnered praise from audiences and critics alike!
Lulu Wang
Lulu is an American Director who is well known for writing and directing the comedy-drama films Posthumous (2014) and The Farewell (2019). The Farewell, especially, is about a Chinese family who discover their grandmother is in her last days and decide to keep her in the dark, scheduling a wedding to gather before she dies. The movie went on to win Golden Globe and BAFTA Awards.
Chinonye Chukwu
A Nigerian-American by nationality, Chinonye Chukwu is the first woman of color to win the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival for her movie Clemency – a story that revolves around a prison warden who strikes up an unique bond with a death-row inmate.
Chloé Zhao
Chloé is a Chinese filmmaker popularly known for her directorial masterpiece, Nomadland. The movie is about a woman who loses everything in the great Recession and embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a van-dwelling, modern-day nomad. Chloé worked magic with Frances McDormand and a cast of real-life nomads to deliver a highly acclaimed film that was nominated across various award categories at the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Venice Film Festival amongst many others.
Greta Gerwig
Greta is an American actress, playwright, screenwriter, and director. She earned a Golden Globe award nomination for her role in Frances Ha (2012). Greta made her solo directorial debut with the critically acclaimed comedy-drama film Lady Bird (2017), however, it was Little Women (2019) that secured her nominations at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes and BAFTA Awards to name a few.
Kathryn Bigelow
Kathryn – an American film director, producer, and screenwriter, is known for covering a wide range of genres. She is well known for the movie Zero Dark Thirty, which is based on the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after the September 2001 attacks. Run-and-gun filmmaking has a precision only Bigelow can bring to life, as that feeling of endless pursuit is captured so beautifully through action and characters-in-motion. Zero Dark Thirty was nominated for an array of awards namely the Academy Awards, Screen Actors Guild, Golden Globes and the BAFTA Awards.
Li Yu
Li, a Chinese film director and screenwriter began her career in entertainment at a young age, serving as a presenter at a local TV station. Her first film, Fish and Elephant, billed as the first mainland Chinese feature scooped up awards at the Venice and Berlin Film Festivals, while Buddha Mountain (2010) took on the subject of China’s one-child policy and earned a respectable $11.7 million at the Chinese box office.
Nadine Labaki
Nadine is a Lebanese actress, director and activist who first came to the spotlight as an actress in the early 2000s. With her universally acclaimed drama Capernaum (2018), she became the first Arab woman to ever be nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language Film category. Her directorial debut, Caramel (2007), premiered at the Cannes International Film Festival and became an essential feminist film. Undoubtedly one of the most accomplished filmmakers to ever emerge from the Middle East and North Africa, Nadine has paved the way for many Arab women in film.
As the theme for International Women’s Day 2021 is #ChooseToChallenge, we commend these female directors of diverse backgrounds for going above and beyond, within the typically male dominated field of filmmaking, to deliver some of the most exceptional movies the BIG screen has ever witnessed!
Sources: IndieWire, Wikipedia, IMDB, BBC, LA Times, Egyptian Streets and SCMP.
How many action movies would you say had that one one well choreographed and epic fight scene? Here are our top five picks of the best action scenes from Hollywood!
At the core of any action film should be that one truly impressive action-sequence… one which isn’t just about the action, but so much more. The sequence itself should have a story, with elements such as timing, level of impact and how the characters embody that scene.
But what are the key ingredients at play beneath all the punches, kicks, and bloodshed?
Here are five of our favourite action sequences from Hollywood that bowl us over and leave us in awe, even today!
1. Opening Freeway Attack – Deadpool
Deadpool’s hilarious opening battle on the freeway sets the tone of the film. It works on its own as an independent action scene, but with the wit and fourth-wall shattering wisdom of Deadpool overlaying the action, it gives a fitting introduction of the movie to its audience. Deadpool also makes creative use of the vehicle’s cigarette lighter as he counts down his bullets with manic glee.
2. Superheroes Face Off – Civil War
The superhero battle at the airport in Civil War is the realization of every comic book fan’s lifelong dream. Complimented by exceptional CGI and character performances, this scene is one of the most entertaining fights ever put on film. Civil War offers a thrilling fight, where one finds themselves rooting for both sides.
3. The Bank Vault – Fast and Furious Five
The scene where Dom and Brian pull the bank vault through the streets, while using it as a weapon against crooked cops is fun, destructive, unique and thrilling – all at the same time! What makes this installment of the Fast & Furious franchise a cut above the rest is the filmmaker’s ability to successfully craft the scene in a manner where each character knows exactly how to own specific moments of that scene.
4. Jack Sparrow vs. Will Turner Sword Fight – Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
There is a finesse to the sword fight scene between Jack and Will. The amalgamation of the witty banter and commendable choreography – the use of loose floorboards, improvised weapons and emphasis on every twist and reversal, complements each other and keeps audiences hooked from start to end.
5. Zero G Hallway Scene – Inception
The rotating hallway dream fight in Inception is pure creative choreography by Christopher Nolan and the team., for it is one of the few modern action sequences to rely solely on camera effects. The intense sequence which sees the actors fighting against time and gravity has us sitting on the edge of our seats, wanting more.
Action scenes might be the most exciting to watch , but they are also some of the most complicated to shoot. Capturing a fight on film requires carefully executed techniques in order to make it exhilarating, realistic, and safe for all involved. Below is a list of action films slated for release in 2021, which we believe have epic action sequences to offer:
Godzilla vs. Kong (March), Mortal Kombat (April) , Sooryavanshi (April), Fast and Furious 9 (June), Top Gun: Maverick (July), K.G.F: Chapter 2 (July), No Time To Die (October), Ghostbusters: Afterlife (November) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (December)
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Sources: Wikipedia, YouTube, IMDB, Amex Essentials and Screen Rant
Produced by Maddock Films and Jio Studios, Roohi is Bollywood’s ha-ha horror movie that promises to take the audience on a rollercoaster of emotions.
Set to be Bollywood’s official return to the BIG screen after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 induced lockdown, the trailer of the much-awaited horror-comedy film – Roohi, is finally out!
Starring Janhvi Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao in lead roles and, Varun Sharma in a supporting yet pivotal role, Roohi marks the directorial debut of Hardik Mehta, and is set to release across cinemas in the Middle East on 11 March, 2021. The film depicts the story of two small-town boys – Hitesh and Lakiresh, who meet a girl named Roohi, and the twist in the tale takes place when they realize that Roohi is possed by a ghost. The movie follows a similar format to Stree, the horror-comedy released in 2018 by the same production house – Maddock Films.
The trailer begins and ends with a comic scene, accommodating plenty of jump scares and curiosity inducing moments, making it look promising. Since none of the theatrical releases in Bollywood have so far inspired audiences to return to cinema at large, Roohi could be the first bonafide box-office success since COVID-19 struck.
Bucking the idea of releasing on an OTT platform, Producer Dinesh Vijan said, “The biggest win of this trailer is that everyone, right from the film industry to true blue cinephiles are looking forward to catching Roohi on the big screen.” The trailer successfully crossed over 14 million YouTube views within 24 hours, and its has also received support from numerous movie critics and Bollywood celebrities including Taran Adarsh, Ranveer Singh, Varun Dhawan, Deepika Padukone and Shraddha Kapoor.
#ROOHI TRAILER ARRIVES TODAY… #FirstLook posters of #Roohi… Stars #RajkummarRao, #JanhviKapoor and #VarunSharma… Directed by Hardik Mehta… Produced by Dinesh Vijan and Mrighdeep Singh Lamba… #Jio Studios presentation… 11 March 2021 release. pic.twitter.com/cbBsXNRt0A
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) February 16, 2021
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Sources: Koi Moi, Wikipedia, India Today, Times of India, GQ India and IMDB.
