META Cinema Forum brings together cinema stakeholders from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and CIS countries, committing to elevate the cinematic experience in emerging markets.
The sixth edition of the highly successful META Cinema Forum took place between November 7-8, 2023, at the Grand Hyatt in Dubai under the theme ‘Growing the Region’s Cinema Share,’ exemplifying a dedicated commitment to fostering growth and innovation within the industry.
The event, attended by over 500 delegates, visitors, buyers, sellers, and other industry stakeholders, featured engaging discussions, presentations, and workshops addressing the industry’s challenges, solutions, and current market dynamics. Key topics covered included Regional Content Production and International Collaboration, Cinemas of the Future, as well as a comprehensive exploration of emerging cinema trends and technologies, incorporating vital cinema statistics and case studies delving into Rewarding Patrons and Effective Pricing Strategies.
A myriad of stands, presenting the latest products, services, and technologies from a carefully curated selection of industry suppliers, technology providers, and stakeholders, were also showcased at the event.
The forum also attracted the biggest cinema operators in the region as partners in success, with VOX Cinemas, the forum’s strategic partner, alongside AMC KSA, Cinepolis, Muvi, and other cinema operators presenting their future expansion plans.
A notable feature of this year’s edition was the spotlight on Women in Film and TV (WIFT). The event showcased a round table discussion titled ‘Beyond the Glitz,’ featuring prominent female panelists such as Nancy Paton, Founder of Desert Rose Films and President of WIFTGCC, Charlotte Louise Sutcliffe, Entertainment Lawyer and Associate at CWB, and Head of Events at WIFTGCC, Ozge Conduroglu, Acquisition & Distribution Lead at The Plot Pictures MENA, and Ashleigh Potts, Marketing Director at Studio Distribution, Majid Al Futtaim LLC.
Additionally, the forum celebrated rising female Emirati filmmakers Zainab Shaheen, Maitha Al Awadi, Eman Al Sayed, and Sarraa Al Shehhi. The spotlight also shone on Nayla Al Khaja, the first Emirati film director, who received recognition at the WIFT MENA AWARDS during the event.
Leila Masinaei, Managing Partner, Great Mind Events Management, remarked, “The success of the 6th META Cinema Forum reflects our unwavering commitment to advancing the cinematic landscape in emerging markets. This year’s event has reinforced our belief in the power of collaboration, innovation, and shared experiences within the industry. We are excited about the future possibilities and the role META Cinema Forum will continue to play in shaping the cinema sector in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the CIS region.”
The two-day cinema conference also featured special screenings, including the latest Marvel movie ‘The Marvels’.
The highlight of the event was The META Cinema Awards and Gala Reception—a night of celebration recognizing outstanding achievements in the cinema industry. Nathan Gilligan, Senior Operations Manager at Comscore, and Nena Loncar, Client Insights Manager at Comscore, presented the awards. Recipients of this year’s META Cinema Awards include:”
Motivate Val Morgan was one of the media partners for the META Cinema Forum and a supporting partner for Meta Cinema Forum 2023.
Shah Rukh Khan-starring blockbuster Jawan garnered USD$78M worldwide in its opening weekend
Jawan, one of the most highly anticipated Bollywood movies of 2023 starring Shah Rukh Khan, has finally made its grand debut on the silver screen. The action thriller has shattered records, grossing over USD$78M worldwide in just one week and attracting over 440,000 cinemagoers in the Middle East.
With cinemas buzzing, renowned brands across the region seized this unique opportunity by securing on-screen advertising to establish connections with captive cinema audiences on the big screen.
From FMCG brands to real estate developers, and healthcare groups, here are the cinema campaigns booked to follow the action-thriller Jawan:
Gazebo Restaurant
Region: UAE
Duration: 30 Sec.
Prime Medical Center
Region: UAE
Duration: 15 Sec.
Everest Spices
Region: UAE
Duration: 35 & 40 Secs.
Bafleh Jewelery
Region: UAE
Duration: 30 Sec.
Jaguar World
Region: UAE
Duration: 30 Sec.
Absolute Barbecue
Region: UAE
Duration: 15 Sec.
Sushila Jewelers
Region: UAE
Duration: 15 Sec.
Meteora Developers
Region: UAE
Duration: 15 Sec.
Unilever – Glow & Lovely
Region: UAE
Duration: 10 Sec.
Unilever – Comfort Rinse
Region: UAE
Duration: 20 Sec.
Kaya Skin Clinic
Region: UAE
Duration: 15 Sec.
Ajmal Perfumes
Region: UAE
Duration: 15 Sec.
P&G – Ariel
Region: UAE
Duration: 20 Sec.
Bawree
Region: UAE
Duration: 30 Sec.
ITC
Region: UAE
Duration: 30 Sec.
Think cinema for ‘attention-grabbing’ advertising!
Check out the list of upcoming blockbusters in Q4 2023 and contact us for cinema advertising opportunities across the GCC, Egypt and Lebanon.
Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan leads the list of upcoming Indian blockbusters releasing in the second half of 2023
Indian cinema is experiencing a remarkable resurgence in 2023, recapturing the pre-pandemic excitement with a captivating lineup of titles.
One standout release in the first half of the year was Pathaan (Hindi), featuring the charismatic Shah Rukh Khan, emerging as the most popular Indian movie of the year to date. Additionally, other noteworthy box office successes include Adipurush (Hindi and Telugu), Ponniyin Selvan: Part Two (Tamil), Waltair Veerayya (Telugu), and Romancham (Malayalam).
As we venture into the second half of 2023, the Indian Box Office keeps its promise of an exhilarating lineup of major tentpoles. Already scoring success both domestically and internationally are Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (Hindi) and Bro (Telugu). Audiences can also eagerly anticipate the upcoming releases of OMG 2 (Hindi), starring Akshay Kumar, Jailer (Tamil), featuring the legendary Rajnikant, and King of Kotha (Malayalam), starring Dulquer Salman, all set to hit the big screen in August 2023.
As for September 2023 and beyond, here are the most anticipated Indian blockbusters scheduled for release:
Jawan (Hindi)
Release Date: 7 September 2023
Stars: Shah Rukh Khan, Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, Deepika Padukone
Salaar (Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam)
Release Date: 28 September 2023
Stars: Prabhas, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Tinu Anand, Shruthy Hassan
Leo (Tamil)
Release Date: 19 October 2023
Stars: Joseph Vijay, Anurag Kashyap, Sanjay Dutt
Ganapath: Part 1 (Hindi)
Release Date: 20 October 2023
Stars: Tiger Shroff, Himanshu Jaykar, Kriti Sanon
Tiger 3 (Hindi)
Release Date: 10 November 2023
Stars: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Emraan Hashmi
Animal (Hindi)
Release Date: 1 December 2023
Stars: Ranbir Kapoor, Triptii Dimri, Anil Kapoor
Pushpa: The Rule Part 2 (Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, and Malayalam)
Release Date: 15 December 2023
Stars: Allu Arjun, Fahadh Faasil, Rashmika Mandanna
Yodha (Hindi)
Release Date: 15 December 2023
Stars: Sidharth Malhotra, Disha Patani, Raashi Khanna
Dunki (Hindi)
Release Date: 22 December 2023
Stars: Shah Rukh Khan, Taapsee Pannu, Boman Irani
Following these highly anticipated Indian blockbusters presents an excellent opportunity for brands to reach and engage with the Asian audience.
Think cinema for ‘attention-grabbing’ advertising!
*Movie release dates are subject to change
Source: IMDb, Google
