Now in its 3rd edition, META Cinema Forum, the largest cinema convention covering the Middle East and African Markets, will take place from October 27 – 28, 2020.
After signing an agreement with the Pan African Film Consortium, the MENA Cinema Forum was re-branded as META Cinema Forum, inclusive of Middle East and the entire African continent.
For the 2020 edition, in consideration of the ongoing challenges around the global pandemic, the META Cinema Forum will be conducted as a hybrid event, first of its kinds in the world.
The event includes an invaluable conference covering all key critical topics of the cinema sector, from projects and plans to technology and content. The conference has traditionally been accompanied by the biggest cinema convention in the region, to offer the latest in supplies and technologies to the stakeholders. Special screenings, premieres, slate presentations, workshops, awards, and post event receptions have accompanied the conference and trade show to make it a comprehensive cinema convention for the region.
“The cinema industry has been amongst the most impacted sectors by the pandemic, but if the $54 million USD BOX Office sales of Tenet, the first blockbuster release since the pandemic, in its opening week at select international markets has proven anything, it’s that moviegoing is a habit we do not wish to kick, and that passion for movies and cinema as a form of accessible entertainment is here to stay. Therefore, in close coordination with the major global stakeholders, we came up with a true hybrid event, the first of its kind in the world, to facilitate collaborations that are required to help with the recovery. The event will highlight the plan for projects in the region, the recovery phase for the cinema industry, and content diversification as key critical elements. We are very delighted to work with VOX Cinemas once more as our Strategic Partners, and to be able to stream live digital content at VOX for local audience to enjoy, not to mention, to be the first in the world in 2020 to showcase upcoming movies from various studios and their new release dates,” says Leila Masinaei, Conference Director and Managing Partner, Great Minds Event Management.
The 2020 edition will include a knowledge packed conference, select slate presentations of upcoming content and films from leading Hollywood and international studios, including Africa for the first time, at VOX Cinemas, Mall of Emirates in Dubai, a live META Cinema Projects Insight session with the most senior cinema leaders in the region and rounded off with a networking after event reception. Cinema innovations and advanced technologies will also be displayed as a product showcase floor at the event.
For those who don’t wish to attend physically, don’t panic, all conference content will be available live via video conferencing technology and will be free of charge for all to attend this year.
Click here to register for this year’s forum, or contact Great Minds Event Management for more information.
Source: META Cinema Forum
The cinema industry like most industries, has been massively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, with 48 per cent of the world’s cinema screens re-opened, the industry is presently looking to rebuild itself with the release of some MEGA blockbusters in Q3 and Q4 2020.
After several months of the lack of major movie releases in cinemas, we’ve got some exciting news: VOX Cinemas has announced the release dates of some hugely-anticipated new movies, coming to a big screen near you in the coming weeks.
In a break from tradition, Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi/thriller – Tenet, will hit screens in the Middle East on 27th August, ahead of the US. Based on movie ticket pre-bookings in the UAE, all shows for Tenet are booking out fast – that’s how eager audiences are for new blockbuster content!
September will feature Mulan – live-action adaptation of Disney’s classic animated film of the same name, releasing 4th September, and The King’s Man – the third instalment in Matthew Vaughan’s popular period spy franchise, releasing 17th September.
For October, there’s Wonder Woman 1984 – the DC sequel which continues the story of the Amazon warrior princess Diana, releasing 1st October, as well as Death on the Nile – a new adaptation of the Agatha Christie novel, releasing 22nd October.
Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas and Majid Al Futtaim Leisure and Entertainment, Cameron Mitchell said: “After several months of speculation and delays, I’m excited to announce that blockbusters are back at VOX Cinemas and unveil our impressive slate of must-see movies.”
Mitchell added: “There is a real pent-up demand for new releases and, with major tentpoles such as Tenet about to hit our theatres, we’re expecting a significant increase in box office sales.”
Advertisers, here’s your chance to advertise your brand alongside these MEGA Blockbusters. Click here to access our special offer for TENET, and contact us for more information on cinema advertising opportunities alongside the upcoming blockbusters.
Sources: Gulf Business, Gulf News, What’s On and VOX Cinemas
AMC’s eight screen cinema at Al Makan Mall in Hafr Al Batin features best-in-class projection, sound and seating, as well as a new innovative F&B concept – AMC Cinema Souq.
AMC Cinemas has opened its third Saudi cinema at Al Makan Mall, in the Eastern Province city of Hafr Al Batin.
AMC – Al Makan Mall officially opened on 13th August 2020, with a screening of the Saudi-directed and produced feature film Shams Al-Maaref. The cinema features 8 screens and 787 seats, and includes an IMAX screen.
*Please Note: due to current travel restrictions as a result of COVID-19, the installation of the IMAX screen at Al Makan Mall will be delayed.
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Al Makan Mall boasts the best of what AMC Cinemas is deploying in its rapid expansion across the Kingdom – industry leading in-auditorium experiences, exceptionally creative food and beverage offerings and remarkable service. Greeting guests on arrival to the cinema is AMC Cinema Souq, a reimagined and fully customizable food and beverage concept. AMC Cinema Souq treats moviegoers to classic cinema fare, restaurant-quality hot food, special desserts, handcrafted beverages from AMC MacGuffins Mocktail and Coffee Bar as well as movie merchandise and much more.
John Iozzi, Managing Director of AMC Cinemas, said: “It gives us great pleasure to open our newest location in Hafr Al Batin. We are truly blessed with the opening night turnout and share in the local excitement of this first class cinema.”
Iozzi further stated: “In the coming weeks I look forward to sharing many more AMC Cinemas experiences with the people of the Kingdom as we urgently expand our footprint in Saudi Arabia and continue to provide our guests with innovative cinema formats tailored for every taste.”
Every auditorium at AMC – Al Makan Mall is fully equipped with a massive screen, 4K Barco laser projector, immersive surround sound with Luxe Recliner and Plush Rocker seating throughout. Every seat is appointed with a table and USB charging port.
AMC Cinemas presently operates 19 screens across 3 locations in KSA.
Motivate Val Morgan congratulates AMC Cinemas on the opening of its cinema at Al Makan Mall in Hafr Al Batin, and warmly welcomes this new location to our regional cinema circuit.
Contact us for cinema advertising opportunities across the three AMC locations in Saudi Arabia.
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Sources: AMC Cinemas, Zawya, Arab News and Gulf News
Moviegoers in Egypt can now enjoy the magic of movies in the safety of their cars at the new VOX drive-in cinema at Mountain View Ras El Hikma in North Coast, Egypt.
VOX Cinemas launched a new cinematic experience, the first of its kind in Egypt – VOX Cinemas Drive-In by the Sea, on Thursday 20th August 2020.
The new drive-in cinema located at Mountain View, Ras El Hikma in North Coast accommodates approximately 105 cars and will screen 2 sessions per day – 9pm and 12am.
The experience is priced at EGP350 and EGP550, both tickets are valid per car (maximum of four people) and include a food and drinks package. The Drive-In Supreme pack costs EGP350 and includes the admission of one car along with two medium popcorns and two water bottles. While the Drive-In Deluxe pack costs EGP550 and includes the admission of one car along with one Deluxe nachos, three large popcorns, one M&M’s pack, two soft drinks and two water bottles.
Once parked, audiences can simply tune into a designated radio frequency for the movie audio to be streamed straight into their in-car entertainment system.
Click here to view movie times.
Contact us for cinema advertising at the new VOX Drive-in cinema at Mountain View Ras El Hikma in Egypt.
Source: VOX Cinemas
Muvi Cinemas – Saudi Arabia’s first home-grown cinema brand, has opened the first Dolby Cinema screen in KSA, located at the U-Walk Boulevard, Arabian Centres in Riyadh
Dolby Cinema™ is a premium cinema created by Dolby Laboratories that combines Dolby proprietary technologies such as Dolby Vision™ and Dolby Atmos®, as well as other signature entrance and intrinsic design features, designed to make every visit a completely captivating cinematic event.
Dolby Vision™ brings the story alive with amazing brightness and darker darks to offer a more lifelike sense of depth, rendering colors and detail unlike other movie screens, and Dolby Atmos® transports audiences into the movie with breathtakingly realistic, moving audio that fills the room, while the clarity and precision creates a stunning, textured soundscape that adds layers of depth to each scene.
Films to be screened at the Dolby Cinema in U-Walk include Arabic drama/comedy Shams Al Maarif, English films My Spy and animation Trolls World Tour and Arabic comedy Al Ghasala.
There are a total of 251 Dolby Cinemas globally, with an additional 200 Dolby Cinema screens committed, and more than 300 movie titles being released or announced in Dolby Vision™ and Dolby Atmos®.
Speaking on the opening of the Dolby Cinema at U-Walk, Sultan Alhokair, CEO of Muvi Cinemas, said: “We are very excited to be opening Dolby Cinema and bringing the most powerful image and sound technology to Saudi Arabia. Dolby Cinema will provide a different experience for Saudi cinemagoers and will be the first of three screens to be added to our extensive portfolio of offerings.”
Muvi Cinemas was established in 2019 with headquarters in Riyadh. Last year, Muvi announced an expansion plan to launch 250 new screens across the Kingdom within 24 months to offer unique and exclusive experiences for all guests, and recruit and train more local talent. The cinema chain operates a total of 41 screens across the following locations in KSA: Mall of Arabia (Jeddah), Al Hamra Mall (Riyadh), Nakheel Mall (Dammam) and U-Walk (Riyadh).
Contact us for cinema advertising opportunities across the four locations of Muvi Cinemas in Saudi Arabia.
Sources: Muvi Cinemas, Arab News and BroadcastPro Middle East
Shot with IMAX Cameras, Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated sci-fi thriller, from Warner Bros., Tenet will release in cinemas across the UAE, KSA and Lebanon on Thursday 27th August (Wednesday 26th August in Egypt).
Towards the end of July, Warner Bros. confirmed that Tenet would release in cinema, towards the end of August, in 70 overseas territories including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Russia and the United Kingdom.
The studio is still waiting for the go-ahead to debut Tenet in China – the world’s second-largest movie market. When theatres in the country first started to reopen, there were concerns that Tenet wouldn’t be able to screen there as exhibitors were not able to play movies that exceeded two hours in length — and Tenet clocks in at just over 2 hours and 30 minutes. But cinema owners have recently booked Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Inception and other old titles with lengthy runtimes, suggesting that China has eased up or doesn’t plan to enforce the restriction.
Warner Bros. also confirmed that the studio plans to move away from traditional global day-and-date release — a surprising break from tradition since North America is the world’s biggest film market and remains pivotal for major movies to turn a profit. Instead of a global day-and-date release, the studio hopes to innovate and recalibrate given the fact that foreign markets are already starting to reopen safely and is in desperate need for new Hollywood movies to entice audiences.
AMC Theatres CEO Adam Aron praised Warner Bros. for sticking to its promise of a theatrical release for Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, saying the studio is “doing something heroic.”
Watch the trailer for Tenet below:
Advertisers… here’s your chance to return to the BIG screen in a BIG way, alongside the first summer blockbuster release of 2020. Check out our Tenet offers below:
Hurry! This is an opportunity not to miss out on.
Contact a member of our sales team for more information on cinema advertising opportunities alongside this MEGA Blockbuster!
Source: Variety
VOX Cinemas opened its tenth cinema at Tabuk Park in Saudi Arabia (the first ever cinema in the city of Tabuk) on Monday 27th July 2020, in line with its commitment to expand its footprint to new cities across the country.
The 11-screen multiplex has a seating capacity of 831 and features VOX Cinemas’ signature concepts including two KIDS screens, a colourful and dedicated auditorium for young movie lovers, and VIP, which offers guests a more luxurious experience. VOX Cinemas Tabuk Park combines world-class entertainment with an enhanced range of innovative and homegrown food and beverage options, including a Nutella Bar as well as the VOX Cinemas Candy Bar.
Tabuk Park is the second VOX location to open in Saudi Arabia since the reopening of cinemas in the country following the COVID-19 cinema closure. With a total of 112 screens across 10 movie theatres in four cities, VOX Cinemas is the largest exhibitor by screen count, admissions, market share and the largest independent distributor in the Kingdom.
Speaking on the opening of Tabuk Park, Mohamed Al Hashemi — Country Head, Majid Al Futtaim Ventures KSA said, “We are extremely proud to be bringing the magic of motion picture to Tabuk for the first time, which demonstrates our commitment to supporting the Quality of Life Program by enhancing participation in cultural and entertainment activities and creating job opportunities in the film industry. It also marks another major milestone for VOX Cinemas, which surpassed 100 screens in Saudi Arabia with the opening of VOX Cinemas Sahara Mall, Riyadh in June. We continue to build on that momentum by expanding our footprint in new cities such as Tabuk with plans to open in Hail and Jubail in the coming months. We will also be bringing our world class experiences to Jeddah at the end of the year, in line with our ambitious plans to build 600 cinema screens across the Kingdom by 2023 as part of a SAR 2 billion investment. Saudi Arabia has a burgeoning entertainment sector and we look forward to leveraging the growth opportunities that Vision 2030 presents.”
Motivate Val Morgan congratulates VOX Cinemas on the opening of Tabuk Park and warmly welcomes this new location to our regional cinema circuit.
Contact us for cinema advertising opportunities at this new VOX location in KSA.
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Source: VOX Cinemas
Attention movie-lovers!
While cinemas in certain countries still remain closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and big movie titles keep shifting global cinematic release dates, there’s still some interesting news from the world of movies which you ought to know.
Here’s a round-up of the big announcements made in July 2020:
20th Century Studios has released a new teaser trailer for the long-delayed The New Mutants.
The New Mutants was produced by 20th Century Fox and writer/director Josh Boone shot the film back in 2017, when it was understood that it would be released as a new Fox Marvel movie akin to Logan or Dark Phoenix. However, the film was consistently delayed and pushed back to the point that when Disney bought Fox, The New Mutants was still unreleased. It’s a ‘holdover’ film that doesn’t have any specific connective tissue to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so fans have been eager to see how Disney would handle it.
The film is currently slated to hit cinemas on August 28 – but Disney/20th Century Studios may continue to hold onto its theatrical release if things don’t improve on the COVID-19 front.
Check out the teaser trailer below:
Read more on this at Collider
Studios continue to move movie premiere dates due to US theatres remaining closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some of the shifts announced in the month of July 2020:
Tenet (August 12, 2020 to TBD, 2020)
Mulan (August 21, 2020 to TBD)
The Broken Hearts Gallery (August 7, 2020 to TBD)
Bill & Ted Face the Music (August 28, 2020 to September 1, 2020)
A Quiet Place 2 (September 4, 2020 to April 23, 2021)
What About Love (September 25, 2020 to February 12, 2021)
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (September 11, 2020 to June 4, 2021)
The French Dispatch (October 16, 2020 to TBD)
Top Gun: Maverick (December 23, 2020 to July 2, 2021)
Image Credits: Ng Han Guan-AP-Shutterstock
Movie theatres in China began reopening in July, and Chinese authorities also gave the go-ahead for cinemas in Beijing to reopen. With about 835 cinemas open across the country (about 12% of the total), the Chinese box office has been steadily climbing in July with films such as Sheep Without A Shepherd, Dolittle, and Bloodshot drawing audiences back to cinemas. More big Hollywood titles are to follow including the anniversary re-release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, 1917, and Bad Boys for Life.
This is definitely good news for the cinema industry as China was the fastest growing film market in the world prior to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Read more on this at Deadline
Warner Bros. has taken Christopher Nolan’s latest espionage thriller Tenet off the release calendar due to the surge COVID-19. The film was set to become the first major studio film back in theatres, however, the studio assured fans that the film is still coming to theatres in 2020.
However, Warner Bros. has mentioned that they will be tossing the traditional global day-and-date release, and working on a non-traditional strategy to maintain its commitment to the theatrical experience around the world by first releasing overseas where cinemas have reopened – Europe, Asia, Middle East and 12% of the total in China, for two thirds of the global box office for a blockbuster such as Tenet typically comes from outside the US.
The studio is giving exact release dates, but sources elsewhere say the studio hopes to begin opening Tenet in international markets in late August before it arrives in the US in the first part of September (even if only in select cities).
Fingers crossed for Tenet – the push we’ve been waiting for to jump-start the cinema industry in times of post COVID-19 recovery.
Read more on this at The Hollywood Reporter
With most countries starting to reopen borders, especially Europe, Tom Cruise is hoping to return to Norway with his crew this fall to continue filming Mission: Impossible 7.
The upcoming sequel is back on track with filming and was recently granted permission to start shooting again after being delayed by the pandemic. Cruise is also continuing his plans to make history with the first narrative feature shot in space, and Universal Pictures is in negotiations to land the new film, which will be shot in cooperation with NASA on the International Space Station.
Read more on this at Deadline
Image Credits: The Playlist
Edgar Wright, the beloved filmmaker behind movies such as Shaun of the Dead and Baby Driver, has signed on to develop, executive produce, and direct a ghostly film named Stage 13 – an adaptation of one of novelist/screenwriter Simon Rich‘s recent short stories. Despite the presence of a ghost, Stage 13 won’t be a traditional horror film. The film centres on a young, aspiring director who’s plucked from obscurity and hired to direct a movie on major film studio’s backlot – only to discover that the only reason he was given the chance in the first place is because the sound stage is haunted and the studio head is trying to get rid of the ghost, an aspiring actress who still desperately wants to be a star.
Read more on this at /Film
Image Credits: Paramount Pictures
Paramount’s Grease prequel Summer Lovin’ is revving up its engine, with the studio tapping Brett Haley to direct the film. The new movie tells the story of greaser Danny and good girl Sandy’s summer fling, originally hinted at in the song Summer Nights in the original 1978 movie. Leah McKendrick penned the script with Temple Hill and Picturestart producing.
The film will mark Haley’s first film at a major studio after cutting his teeth on the indie and streaming service circuit.
Read more on this at Deadline
Image Credits: Warner Bros
In a live web panel at the first inaugural Justice Con, Zack Snyder revealed that Zach Snyder’s Justice League (The Snyder’s Cut) will be more than 214 minutes and confirmed none of Joss Whedon’s shots will be in this version.
The director didn’t come empty handed, for he shared a brief unfinished clip, along with a few details about the process of completing his film.
Snyder also said that he was in the process working on restoring the aspect ratio of the film back to the full frame, IMAX cut what he originally intended. He also revealed that he’s been collaborating with composer Junkie XL as they complete the score alongside the film’s additional footage.
Justice Con ran from 25 – 26 July 2020 and was organized by The Nerd Queens (Cole and Nana) and Wonder Meg, Justice Con. The event brought together fans, cast and crew members Snyder’s Justice League, and charitable organizations Ink to the People, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, for a series of live panels dedicated to the release of the Snyder Cut and its charity affiliates.
Read more on this at The Hollywood Reporter
As part of the latest offering by cinema exhibitors in the UAE – in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Reel Cinemas has launched its latest drive-in cinema in Abu Dhabi, brining the total count to five drive-ins across the UAE.
Reel Cinemas launched its third drive-in cinema at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on Thursday 9th July 2020, and will screen movies three nights a week on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:45pm. The entrance to the drive-in cinema is located at Yas Marina Circuit’s East Gate.
The cinema accommodates 63 cars, with a limit of up to five people per vehicle if family or up to three if not. Tickets are priced Dh160 per car, and includes a food and drinks package (popcorn, soft drinks, water and chocolate). Extra snacks can be ordered from inside the car, by alerting staff using the hazard lights.
Upon entry, guests will have their temperatures checked, before being directed to a specific parking spot. Visitors are requested to remain in their vehicles at all times, with the exception of using the toilets. Wearing of facemasks are mandatory if windows are lowered to speak to event staff, or when leaving the car.
Reel Cinemas launched its first drive-in experience at The Dubai Mall in late May, followed by another in Dubai Hills Estate in the fourth week of June – both launching after VOX Cinemas’ drive in at Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates, and the announcement by Urban Entertainment of a free drive-in cinema in Sharjah at Madar – Aljada (which opened to the public on Wednesday 1st July 2020).
For more information on movie schedules, visit www.reelcinemas.ae, and don’t forget to check out their Drive-in experience FAQs.
Please Note: Drive-in movie sessions at Yas Marina Circuit currently show up to 1st August 2020. Additional movie sessions beyond 1st August will be added closer towards those dates.
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Sources: The National & Reel Cinemas
Saudi Arabia lifted its national curfew on June 21, 2020 and resumed commercial activities, which included the reopening of cinemas across the country.
Following the reopening of cinemas by VOX and Muvi cinemas in KSA, AMC Cinemas reopened its doors to the public on Thursday 2nd July 2020. In line with government restrictions, social distancing remains in place and wearing a face mask is mandatory.
The cinema exhibitors has also posted videos on its social media channels highlighting the safety and precautionary measures they have taken to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for cinemagoers:
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Similar to all cinemas across the region, AMC Cinemas will screen previously released blockbusters from 2019 and early 2020, until new blockbusters start releasing from August 2020.
Visit amccinemas.com for more information on movies screening across its locations, and contact us for cinema advertising opportunities across the AMC cinema circuit in KSA.
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