The 71st edition of the Cannes Lions Festival will witness the largest cohort of jurors from the UAE to judge at a singular festival.
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has announced the lineup of twelve shortlisting jury members from the UAE who will take part in the initial judging phase for this year’s Cannes Lions awards, scheduled to take place in Cannes, France, from June 17-21.
This update follows the earlier announcement of thirteen awarding jury members – including a jury president – who will collaborate with jurors from 54 diverse markets to acknowledge and celebrate exceptional global creative achievements, setting a new standard for excellence.
The 71st edition of the Cannes Lions Festival will feature its largest UAE cohort yet, with 25 jurors overseeing judging duties at a single festival, highlighting the nation’s increasing impact and expertise in the global creative landscape.
Commenting on the global shortlisting jury members announcement, Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS, said: “Our Shortlisting Jurors play a fundamental role in the Cannes Lions judging process. This talented line-up of industry experts will bring us one step closer to defining the creative benchmark on the global stage this June. I’d like to extend my gratitude for their hard work in curating the work that will go on to be awarded and recognised at the Festival this year.”
In reference to the Cannes Lions jury panel from the UAE, Ian Fairservice – Managing Partner of Motivate Media Group, said: “In reference to the Cannes Lions jury panel from the UAE, Ian Fairservice – Managing Partner of Motivate Media Group, said: “We are excited to see the continuous increase in the UAE’s footprint at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity. Kalpesh Patankar’s appointment as the second consecutive jury president in two years serves as a clear indication of the creative industry’s development here, steered by a diverse and talented group of experts. This reflects the UAE’s steadfast dedication to upholding standards of excellence and innovation in advertising, marketing, and communications. With a further twelve talented jury members, each bringing their own unique perspectives to the judging process, this is a great representation of our region at the international level.”
The 2024 Shortlisting Jury Members from the UAE have been named as:
Brand Experience & Activation:
Jarrad Pitts, Creative Director, Consulum
Direct:
Zahir Mirza, Executive Creative Director, C2
Entertainment:
Shereen Mostafa, Head of Production Publicis Groupe Middle East, Publicis Groupe
Film:
Serena Abi Aad, Creative Director and Film Director
Film Craft:
Rodrigo Scapolan, Creative Director, TBWA\RAAD
Health & Wellness:
Rana Sadek, Associate Creative Director, ImpactBBDO Dubai
Industry Craft:
Prerna Mehra, Creative Director and Head of Art and Design, MullenLowe MENA,
Gemma Crompton, Creative Director, Landor
Outdoor:
Firas Medrows, Executive Creative Director, DDB
PR:
Shafaq Tariq, Director – PR, Social Media and Influencer Marketing, MKV Digital
Print & Publishing:
Mohamed Bareche, Executive Creative Director, Horizon FCB
Social & Influencer:
Akanksha Goel, CEO and Founder, Socialize / We Are Social
With the Luxury & Lifestyle Lions Jury to be announced soon, you can see the full list of Global Presidents and Awarding and Shortlisting Juries here.
Further information on this year’s Festival and the Lions Awards can be found at visit www.canneslions.com.
Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan are the official representatives of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in the UAE.
The 2024 Jury Presidents line-up features 11 industry experts from nine distinct markets, showcasing the comprehensive scope of the branded communications ecosystem
Dubai Lynx, MENA’s leading platform for creative excellence and effectiveness, has announced 11 industry experts who will lead the 2024 Juries.
The 11 industry experts from nine different markets, representing the breadth of the branded communications ecosystem including creative agencies, independent agencies, and brands, will convene in Dubai alongside their respective juries to establish the benchmark for creative excellence across MENA.
Commenting on the Jury President line-up, Philip Thomas, Chairman, LIONS and Dubai Lynx, said: “We welcome a wonderfully talented group of experts for 2024, to recognise the best ideas shaping the landscape in this unique part of the world. We thank them for their individual perspectives, expertise and experience for the leadership they will bring to the very important task ahead of them.”
Ian Fairservice, Vice Chairman, Dubai Lynx, added: “We’re thrilled to bring a breadth of voices and perspectives to the Jury rooms for Dubai Lynx 2024, featuring some truly remarkable creative leaders. We’re grateful to all of our 2024 Jurors for devoting their time and knowledge, and we can’t wait to see them in action in Dubai next year.”
The 2024 Dubai Lynx Jury Presidents have been announced as follows:
Brand Experience & Activation and Creative Commerce:
Rafael Rizuto, Chief Creative Officer, Dentsu Creative, US and Hispanic LATAM
Creative Effectiveness and Creative Strategy:
Bertille Toledano, President, BETC Paris, France
Design and Industry Craft:
Rajdeepak Das, CEO and Chief Creative Officer of Leo Burnett and Chairman, Creative Council, Publicis Groupe, South Asia
Digital and Social & Influencer:
Anna Qvennerstedt, Global Chief Creative Officer, Forsman & Bodenfors, Global
Direct and Outdoor:
Nkgabiseng Motau, Co-Founder / Chief Creative Officer, Think Creative Africa, Africa
Entertainment:
Ana Balarin, Chief Creative Officer, Wieden+Kennedy, UK
Film Craft:
Pierre Nelwan, Managing Director, Media.Monks, the Netherlands
Film, Print & Publishing, Radio & Audio, Integrated, Glass: The Award for Change and Grand Prix for Good:
Gabriel Schmitt, Global Chief Creative Officer, Grey, Global
Healthcare:
Rohini Miglani, Vice President, Procter & Gamble International Operational SA SG, Asia/India/MEA
Media:
Enyi Nwosu, Chief Strategy Officer, UM London, UK
PR:
Anthony Chelvanathan, Chief Creative Officer, Canada
The Festival will take place on Tuesday 5 March 2024 followed by the Awards Ceremony & Dinner taking place on Wednesday 6 March 2024.
Entries into Dubai Lynx are being accepted until 25 January 2024. Click here for further information on the awards.
Motivate Val Morgan is the official representative of Dubai Lynx Festival in the UAE
A specially curated menu by Saudi chef Mona Mosly was launched by VOX cinemas on Saudi National Day.
VOX Cinemas has announced a culinary collaboration with Chef Mona Mosly which will see the female Saudi Chef elevate the in-cinema dining experience with a specially curated menu.
Moviegoers in Saudi Arabia can now enjoy more than 20 signature dishes at GOLD, VOX Cinemas’ luxury cinema concept, and Candy Bar.
Chef Mona Mosly is one of the region’s most recognisable celebrity chefs due to her role as host and judge on five series of the TV phenomenon Top Chef Middle East. She has extensive experience in culinary art, having trained professionally in Switzerland before attending the world-renowned Le Cordon Bleu in London and subsequently honing her craft at esteemed restaurants across the Middle East.
Known for her catchphrase, ‘From My Heart to Yours’, Chef Mona injects passion into every dish and her exclusive menu for VOX Cinemas aims to evoke memories through flavour while featuring her creative take on classic dishes. Highlights on the menu, which has been specially tailored for the cinematic experience, include Saudi Fish & Chips, Mona Shawarma, Khubz Mhalla and Rose Kakadeh.
Mohamed Al Hashemi, Country Head at Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, Entertainment, Cinemas and Lifestyle in Saudi Arabia said: “The Saudi labour market has made unprecedented progress in recent years, with more Saudi women entering the workforce and establishing a strong footprint across various industries. In line with Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s National Transformation Programme, Majid Al Futtaim is committed to hiring inclusively to ensure exceptional employment opportunities.”
“Given her culinary prowess and unique talent, VOX Cinemas is excited to collaborate with Chef Mona Mosly and unveil her as the new face of our in-cinema dining experience. We believe that F&B is an integral part of going to the movies and this collaboration demonstrates our customer-centricity and dedication to providing an unrivalled cinematic experience. This is just the first step in what we believe will be a long and successful partnership and our ultimate goal is to expand this offering to our cinemas across the region” he added.
Chef Mona Mosly said, “VOX Cinemas has set the standard in cinema dining in the GCC and I’m extremely proud to partner with them given our shared dedication to innovation and excellence as well as the outreach to the Arab world that VOX has to offer. I am confident that this collaboration is a recipe for success and look forward to bringing dishes from my heart to yours at VOX Cinemas in Saudi.”
VOX Cinemas’ signature concept GOLD caters to movie lovers who want to indulge in gourmet food. Guests have the option of dining in an exclusive private lounge area or having their food delivered straight to their seats through the in-theatre waiter service. Redefining the luxury cinema experience, the GOLD auditorium features reclining leather seats, plush blankets, and pillows as well as cutting-edge audiovisual technology in a stylish and intimate setting.
Chef Mona is the latest high-profile chef to collaborate with VOX Cinemas. Most recently Michelin-starred chef Akira Back curated a menu for VOX Cinemas’ THEATRE across UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar.
Chef Mona Mosly’s menu will be available exclusively at VOX Cinemas The Kingdom Centre, and The Esplanade in Riyadh before being rolled out to additional locations including Sahara Mall, Riyadh, and Red Sea Mall, Jeddah.
For more information visit VOX Cinemas
Source: VOX Cinemas (Press Release)
Muvi Park Avenue – Riyadh is the latest addition to the operator’s extensive cinema network in the kingdom.
Saudi homegrown cinema brand Muvi Cinemas opened its twenty-first location at Park Avenue Mall, Riyadh on 28 April 2022.
The 10 screens cinema with a total of 1,277 seats also features a ScreenX and an Xperience screen, and it is the eighth cinema by the operator in Riyadh city.
The cinema is part of the newly opened outdoor mall in the city – Park Avenue, which offers a variety of entertainment and shopping options, restaurants, cafes and children’s amusement parks for the entire family to enjoy and experience.
Muvi Cinemas presently operates 205 screens across 21 locations in 9 cities of Saudi Arabia.
Contact a member of our sales team for cinema advertising opportunities at Muvi – Park Avenue – Riyadh.
Source: Muvi Cinemas
VOX Cinemas opened its fifteenth location in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at Jubail Galleria Mall in Jubail on 25th October 2021, in line with its commitment to make entertainment experiences accessible to everyone across Saudi Arabia, and contribute to the growth of the entertainment industry in the country.
Located at Jubail’s must-visit shopping and lifestyle destination, VOX Cinemas – Jubail Galleria Mall features five screens, including a Kids screen – a dedicated auditorium for young movie lovers to watch the latest family-friendly films. All auditoriums boast cutting-edge audio-visual technology for an unmatched cinematic experience.
Mohamed Al Hashemi, Country Head of Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, Entertainment, Cinemas, and Lifestyle in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia said: “VOX Cinemas is excited to join forces with Al Mutlaq Group to open our first cinema in Jubail as we continue to expand our footprint to new cities as well as opening entertainment experiences where we have an established presence. We’re also extremely proud to support job creation with the hiring of local talent, including our first female cinema manager in the Eastern region who will be leading our business in Jubail, as part of our commitment to realise the goals of Vision 2030. The Kingdom is evolving at a rapid pace into a global powerhouse of leisure and entertainment, and we will build on the success of 2021 by significantly increasing our pace of growth. We will also continue to introduce pioneering concepts that provide a place where communities can socialise and enjoy quality time together. We look forward to creating more great moments with our guests at VOX Cinemas Galleria Mall – Jubail.”
Abir Al Mutlaq, Director of Transformation, Al Mutlaq Group added: “VOX Cinemas has a wealth of market expertise and consistently delivers exceptional entertainment experiences for families throughout the Kingdom. We are extremely proud to collaborate once again following our first opening at The Roof in Riyadh in 2019. The state-of-the-art cinema is the first-of-its-kind in Jubail Industrial City and a strategic addition to Galleria Mall. We are confident that it will be a popular entertainment destination with families and movie lovers in the Eastern Province.”
With the opening of Jubail Galleria Mall, VOX Cinemas now operate a total of 154 screens across 15 cinemas in 6 cities in KSA, making it the largest exhibitor by screen count and ticket sales in the country. It is also the largest independent film distributor in the Kingdom.
Click here to book your tickets at this new cinema, and Contact a member of our sales team for cinema advertising opportunities on the screens of VOX Cinemas – Jubail Galleria Mall.
Sources: Zawya and VOX Cinemas
A feature on cinema post-pandemic by Jim Amos, as published on Celluloid Junkie.
It hasn’t been a pleasant two months for the movie industry, as moviegoing has been completely upended, along with the rest of the entertainment sector, by the coronavirus. With rare exception: Tenet, Mulan, Wonder Woman 1984, to name a few, most summer tentpoles have shifted to later in 2020 or early 2021 and there is lingering doubt in what numbers moviegoers will return to cinemas when we start to get the “all clear” sign by governments from around the world.
But here’s the good news. We are starting to see faint signs of hope on the horizon. The fact that studios are keeping their July and August releases on the schedule shows that they believe that moviegoing should be in a relatively fortuitous place by mid-late summer. Many ‘pundits’ who follow the film business are highly skeptical that films such as Tenet or Mulan will make their summer release dates but when you think about it there’s actually good reason for that glimmer of hope.
First, we have a population that has been sequestered in their homes and, gulp, hanging out with their families, for weeks now and are undoubtedly dying to get out to do something. Anything. People may not be ready to congregate with 80,000 of their closest friends at college football games or at stadium rock concerts but they may be more willing to head to movie theaters with 80-100 other people, especially if in-cinema social distancing measures remain in place or there is the available option to attend matinee shows which theoretically should have fewer patrons in attendance.
There is also the issue of ticket prices. Fans of concerts and live theater are undoubtedly going to be leery of dropping $100-200 for an upcoming show if there’s a chance that the virus returns in the fall or winter, as some predict, and events are once again canceled or postponed. It’s one thing to spend $10 for a movie ticket. It’s quite another to plunk down a rent payment for tickets to a concert that may not happen and if today’s cancelation clarification from Ticketmaster is any indication, concertgoers shouldn’t be looking to the ticketing giant for any kind of financial consideration.
‘Meet me at the multiplex.’ “WW84” – “Wonder Woman 1984” (Image Credits – WB)
The other thing to keep in mind is that a large percentage of people who buy tickets to shows and sporting events end up buying them ticket resale outlets at greatly inflated prices. Good luck getting your money back on those.
So yes, the movie industry as a whole, and the cinema industry specifically, are in very difficult straits. Some cinemas – large and small, are debating whether they’ll have the available cash to reopen. Those who do, however, might very well find themselves on the front line as the population starts to “toe dip” into the world of OOHE, or out of home entertainment. And studios are in a unique position where they can pivot quickly and actually move their release schedules forward if patrons start returning to cinemas in greater numbers than expected. Sporting events, concerts, live shows and the like don’t have that flexibility.
In addition, the move of tentpoles back to later in the year should provide independent studios such as Lionsgate, Focus, STX, and others the opportunity to grab summer playtime — albeit somewhat muted playtime — that they might not have enjoyed previously if the rest of the industry takes more of a wait-and-see approach.
Yes, there is a chance that moviegoers return slowly to cinemas but content consumers who are tired of streaming, terrestrial TV and their relatives could be salivating for any new content and their best bet would be a return to movie theaters. That doesn’t just apply to feature films but also to event cinema productions which may provide fans the opportunity to see concerts, filmed performances or events such as The Met opera, which they have been shut out of while they shelter in place, and at a fraction of the price. For fans of the band, Coldplay on screen is better than no Coldplay at all.
Not streaming to a device near you. “Tenet” – Only in Cinemas. (Image Credits – WB)
As well, this might also be the perfect time for studios and cinemas to come together on variable pricing plans. Luring moviegoers back to theaters with two-for-one deals or different levels of pricing for different films could be a welcome tonic for movie fans who might still be hesitant to return to cinemas or have been hard hit financially by COVID-19 yet still need a “night out” that won’t break the bank. Try getting that by buying a ticket to an Ed Sheeran concert or an Arsenal match.
The cinema industry hasn’t been a pretty sight these past several weeks and though we’ve seen articles galore about the plight of cinema chains we seem to have lost sight of the impact that coronavirus has had on individual movie theater workers, those employees who give up their Friday and Saturday nights, all for a poverty-level USD $15 an hour (if they’re lucky). Even if there’s precious little to play, cinemas will want to get their theaters open as quickly as it is safe to do so for several reasons, not the least of which is to rehire their workers in some form or fashion.
The good news is there is a light at the end of the tunnel and the movie industry is in a unique position to hold the lantern. There are still difficult times ahead but at least there is a path of opportunity that most other entertainment sectors simply don’t have.
See you at the movies. Hopefully soon.
Source – Celluloid Junkie (When We Return To “Normal,” the First Stop May Be The Movie Theatre)
Globally there are more than 150,000 operational cinema screens and the GCC accounts for 1,300 of them. Research by PwC estimates that more than 1,000 cinema screens are expected to launch over the next three to five years, and the total number of cinema screens are expected to increase by 38.4 percent in the MENA region.
Another study by PwC indicated that the box office revenue in the MENA region exceeded $500 million, which accounted for approximately 1.25 percent of the global box office revenue (US$39.92 billion) in 2017 – up three percent from 2016. With a growing population across the GCC and an increasing level of investment by both regional and international cinema exhibitors, the cinema industry is set to thrive over the years ahead.
The deregulation of Saudi Arabia’s film industry in 2018 has opened up a billion-dollar market for cinema exhibitors and film distributors. The undoing of this law will also present movie distributors with a tremendous opportunity – to exhibit in an additional market which happens to be the largest of all GCC countries, and allow brands to add cinema – a new, effective and unrivalled platform, to its media mix for greater reach.
According to Cameron Mitchell, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas, VOX Cinemas – which presently operates 355 cinema screens, will invest Dh2 billion and add 600 cinema screens in Saudi Arabia.
“All eyes in the industry are on Saudi Arabia right now,” he said. “We will invest $100 million in a year to open 100 cinema screens – part of the Dh2 billion plan to open 600 cinema screens in Saudi Arabia in the next three to five years. Overall, we will operate around 1,200 cinema screens across the region in five years’ time. With the Saudi market opening, we see a lot of opportunities in the region’s cinema and entertainment industry.”
With Arabic being the predominant language amongst Saudi nationals, local filmmakers and content writers – with the help of other creative talent across the region, will also be encouraged to produce more Arabic movies.
Image credits: Abu Dhabi World Online
Not only is cinema an ideal environment – distraction and disruption free, to watch new movie releases, but it’s also a place where movie-lovers frequent when wanting to experience unique concepts and technology on offer – 3D, 4DX and Dolby Atmos to name a few. Cinemas across the region also offer luxury experiences – which include a selection of fine food and drinks, for movie lovers with higher spending power.
Going to the cinema has now become a popular pastime across the GCC, with cinemagoers also watching more than one movie per week, which can be attributed to the promotions by both banks and telecom providers across the region – similar to that of ‘Buy one, get one free’ with HSBC, ‘50% off on Saturdays’ by Visa in Bahrain and ‘du Tuesday’ in the UAE. With audiences now being able to watch the latest movie releases in an affordable, comfortable, luxurious and memorable way, cinema admissions across the region can expect to witness steady growth over the years ahead.
Despite the proliferation of movie streaming platforms and the abandonment of cable, population trends indicate that cinema is still the preferred platform to watch new movie releases – premium first run content. Aside from being one of the fastest growing regions in the world, it is also one of the youngest, with over 50% of the region’s population under the age of 25 years. The younger generation tends to spend more on watching movies at the cinema, and in years to come, it will be this segment of GCC ‘s population that will drive the region’s cinema industry to new heights, allowing it to capture a larger share of the global box office.
With a mega line-up of blockbuster releases – such as Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame, Lion King, X-Men, Fast and the Furious, Toy Story 4 andStar Wars (to name a few), 2019 is predicted to be another record-breaking year – most likely attracting larger audiences between the ages of 16-34 years.
Motivate Val Morgan offers advertisers a regional cinema circuit – spanning across UAE, Lebanon, Oman, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and has the expertise to strategically plan a marketing campaign to engage cinemagoers at every stage of the cinema experience.
Find out more on our offerings – onscreen, offscreen and cinevations, and contact us to bring your brand to life on the big screen.
Source:Arab Health and Khaleej Times
