Saudi box office did a total of US$238 million in 2021, a 95% increase compared to the previous year.
Saudi Arabia in 2021 continued its exponential growth as a theatrical box office market with revenue totaling US$238 million for the year, a 95% increase compared with 2020 when the total intake had been $122 million, according to figures provided by Comscore.
Four years after the removal of the kingdom’s 35-year-old ban on movie theatres, Saudi Arabia has now achieved the status as the West Asian region’s top theatrical market in terms of gross box office, surpassing the UAE, which achieved a box office of US$130m for the year 2021.
Saudi cinemas witnessed the release of 340 new films in 2021, up from 222 films in 2020. The top-grossing 2021 title was Egyptian comedy Waafet Reggaala (A Stand Worthy of Men), which did US$15 million, making it the country’s top grosser ever since moviegoing was reinstated in January 2018.
Spider-Man: No Way Home was the top-grossing Hollywood title in Saudi Arabia in 2021, earning US$11.2 million and continuing to do well in 2022, ranking the No. 2 spot on the chart. It was followed by Cruella, which grossed US$9.1 million, and Guy Ritchie’s Wrath of Man, which made US$8.3 million in Saudi cinemas.
Egyptian comedy, Mesh Ana (Not Me), featuring local megastar Tamer Hosny, weighed in at No. 5 on the 2021 Saudi box office chart with US$8.2 million, while another release from Egypt Mama Hamel (Mom Is Pregnant), about a 60+ woman who is somehow expecting a child, came in at No. 10, pulling US$5.9 million.
Saudi Arabia’s surge in box office grosses is clearly driven by the increase in multiplexes across the nation. The number of multi-screen movie theaters in Saudi Arabia grew from 33 locations at the start of 2021 to 53 locations by December 2021, an increase of 20 new locations, according to Comscore.
According to figures revealed in December during the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah by Bahaa Abdulmajeed -an official from the Saudi Investment Ministry, Saudi Arabia now has 430 screens and counting, and has an ambitious target of reaching 2,600 screens by 2030. Several analysts, including PwC, see Saudi as becoming a billion-dollar movie market in the next few years.
Currently, Saudi-owned Muvi Cinemas operates the highest number of local cinemas, with 21 locations (including its drive-in cinema) across the Kingdom. They are followed by VOX Cinemas with 15 locations. U.S. theater chain AMC Cinemas with 10 locations, Lebanon’s Empire Cinemas with 5 locations and Mexican-owned Cinépolis Cinemas which now operates 2 multiplexes in Saudi.
Top 10 Box Office Hits in Saudi Arabia in 2021
Source: Variety
Here are the brands that advertised in cinema to celebrate UAE National Day 2021
United Arab Emirates celebrated its 50th National Day – The Year of the 50, on 2nd December 2021.
Set against the scenic landscape of Hatta’s dams, lakes, and valleys, the 50th National Day celebrations on a floating stage was a fitting extravaganza for the country’s Golden Jubilee.
The anniversary was also celebrated across the seven emirates and by their millions of residents – from many different faiths, races, cultures and nations, by gathering to watch firework displays and take part in a variety of celebratory activities, including a free day at Expo 2020.
To honour and celebrate the nation’s leadership, progress, history and values, three brands launched cinema campaigns across the country:
ADNOC
Agency: Fusion 5
Ad Duration: 150 secs.
Campaign Duration: 2nd December to 9th December 2021
Cinema Locations: Multiple VOX, Cinemacity, Cine Royal and Oscar cinema locations
Sephora
Agency: Spark Foundry
Ad Duration: 20 secs.
Campaign Duration: 25th November to 4th December 2021
Cinema Locations: Multiple VOX locations and Reel Cinemas – The Dubai Mall
Etisalat
Agency: Initiative
Ad Duration: 20 secs.
Campaign Duration: 25th November to 25th December 2021
Cinema Locations: Across the Motivate Val Morgan cinema circuit
Contact us for cinema advertising opportunities to mark special occasions/events across our circuit in the GCC.
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
VOX Cinemas wins the Highest Grossing Exhibitor in The Middle East 2020-21 award for generating revenue amounting to US$171.7 million in the Middle East from October 2020 to October 2021 at the META Cinema Forum Awards 2021.
VOX Cinema’s US$171.7 million box office revenue represents more than 21 percent of the US$800 million box office revenue expected in the Middle East in 2021, according to research by Omdia.
The 4th edition of the META Cinema Forum – the largest cinema convention, covering Middle East and African markets, powered by Yummz Hot Chips Cafe, took place between 26th and 28th October 2021 at the Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai.
Eight winners were honoured with the highest industry accolades at the META Cinema Forum Awards for their achievements – based on the numbers collated from industry sources – making it the most authentic industry awards based on performance. Two of the awards were presented by META Cinema Forum while the rest 6 were presented by Comscore.
VOX Cinemas won the Highest Grossing Exhibitor in The Middle East 2020-21 award for generated revenue amounting to US$171.7 million in the Middle East from October 2020 to October 2021.
Cinemarine Cinemas won the Exhibitor of the Pandemic Period of Turkey. Cenk Sezgin, Chief Executive Officer, Cinemarine Cinemas, received the award for his organisation.
Murat Cemcir, Enterprising investor, Producer, Artist, was adjudged the Fastest Box Office Success in a Very Short Seasonal Period in Turkey. His organisation saw 21 million in admission and TL226 million Turkish Lira box office revenue in 10 movies.
Four Star Films won the Highest-grossing English Title in the Middle East 2020-21 for Fast & Furious 9 with box office revenue reaching US$16.98 million in the Middle East.
Empire Entertainment and Orient Films won the Highest-Grossing Arabic Title in the Middle East 2020-21–for Waafet Reggaala, which generated US$15.08 million box office revenue in the Middle East.
Film One won the award in the Highest-Grossing Title in Africa 2020-21 category for Omo Ghetto: The Saga, with box office revenue reaching US$1.66 million in West Africa.
Muvi Cinemas won the Exhibitor of the Year 2020-21 award for its recent accomplishments in growth and development during a period of great uncertainty having established 121 screens over 13 locations across Saudi Arabia.
Eagle Films won the Distributor of the Year 2020-21 in recognition of the support and dedication to deliver a pipeline of quality films during a period of risk and instability having more than 46 most films released during October 2020 – to October 2021 – including Wrath of Man and The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard.
Unlike other industry awards that are based on either corporate marketing presentations, public perception or jury nominations, META Cinema Forum Awards is based on pure numbers that puts them at the top of the ranking in each category where the names were chosen from.
Leila Masinaei, Managing Partner, Great Mind Events Management, said, “This is a true reflection of the best performance in each category in the film industry and we are pleased to honour them with their well-deserved awards.
“The numbers dictate who wins the awards. For example, Four Star Films won the Highest-grossing English Title in the Middle East 2020-21 for Fast & Furious 9 that is based on the box office revenue figure, reaching US$16.98 million in the Middle East. No one can dispute its rank as top-grossing film in the region.
“As MENA Cinema Forum matures as the largest cinema convention in the Middle East and Africa, we want to make thing more transparent to ensure authenticity of the awards that are based on third-party research.”
Box office revenue in the Middle East is set to cross US$800 million in 2021, US$1 billion in 2022 and US$1.3 billion in 2024, recovering from US$250 million in 2020 – marking the fastest recovery in the world, according to research by Omdia.
More than 500 industry delegates, experts and participants discussed the opportunities and challenges faced by the industry stakeholders at this year’s META Cinema Forum. The three-day mega film industry conference took place just a few weeks into Dubai Expo 2020 – the largest event in the Middle East and Africa region.
The Middle East and Africa region has one of the fastest growing entertainment industries in the world and governments are investing heavily to diversify economies and reduce dependency on a single economic sector
Motivate Val Morgan was a media partner for this year’s META Cinema Forum.
Sources: Press Release (Great Mind Events Management)
Saudi Arabia celebrated its 91st National Day (also known as Al-Yaom-ul-Watany) on 23rd September 2021, commemorating the birth of the modern Saudi nation.
This year’s theme and slogan was ‘Heya Lana Dar’, which means ‘A Home for Us’ – appreciating the spirit of the country’s cultural diversity that makes everyone (Saudis and foreigners) feel at home.
To honour and celebrate the transformative journey the country has embarked on over the past 91 years, leading brands in Saudi Arabia launched cinema campaigns across the country:
Saudia
The national airline of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia launched its national day cinema campaign emphasizing the spirit of being a Saudi national and its prosperity through generations.
Commercial Duration: 60 sec.
Campaign Duration: 21 – 24 September 2021
Locations: VOX Cinemas (Riyadh Front and Red Sea Mall), Muvi Cinemas (Nakheel Mall and Mall of Dhahran), AMC Cinemas – Stars Avenue and Cinépolis Cinemas – Lulu Mall
STC
Saudi Telecom Company launched its cinema campaign that parades the evolution of digital life in the kingdom.
Commercial Duration: 90 sec.
Campaign Duration: 23 – 25 September 2021
Locations: VOX Cinemas (Riyadh Park Mall and Red Sea Mall), AMC Cinemas – Panorama, Muvi Cinemas (Mall of Arabia and Nakheel Mall) and Cinépolis Cinemas – Lulu Mall
Banque Saudi Fransi
The Saudi based banking group’s national day campaign celebrates the vision and achievement of Saudi Arabia as a nation in various sectors.
Commercial Duration: 30 sec.
Campaign Duration: 21 – 27 September 2021
Locations: VOX Cinemas (Riyadh Park Mall, Kingdom Tower, Riyadh Front and Red Sea Mall), AMC Cinemas (Panorama and Riyadh Gallery) and Muvi Cinemas (Nakheel Mall Riyadh, U Walk, Mall of Arabia, Nakheel Mall Dammam and Mall of Dhahran)
Tamimi Markets
One of the fastest-growing supermarket chains in Saudi Arabia booked an ad to commemorate the Kingdom’s prosperity and greatness.
Commercial Duration: 15 sec.
Campaign Duration: 22 – 28 September 2021
Locations: 25 locations covering multiple VOX, Muvi, AMC and Cinépolis cinema locations
The General Presidency for the affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque
The government agency launched its campaign welcoming pilgrims and aiming to facilitate worshipers to perform the religious worship at the grand mosques with a prompt for being dutiful and generous in the times of the pandemic.
Commercial Duration: 60 sec.
Campaign Duration: 23 – 25 September 2021
Locations: VOX Cinemas – Town Square, Muvi Cinemas – Nakheel Mall in Dammam and AMC Cinemas – Azizia Plaza
With National Days of Oman (18th November), UAE (2nd December), Bahrain (16th December) and Qatar (18th December) around the corner, contact a member of our sales team for more information on cinema advertising opportunities to mark these special days!
VOX Cinemas – Mall of Oman is the largest cinema in the Sultanate.
The cinema features 3 Gold cinemas – the cinema exhibitor’s first luxury cinema offering in Oman
VOX Cinemas opened its largest cinema in Oman at the newly launched Mall of Oman in Muscat on 1st September 2021. The 15-screen cinema, with a total of 1471 seats, features IMAX, Gold and Kids concepts.
The three Gold cinemas at VOX Cinemas – Mall of Oman is the cinema exhibitor’s first luxury offering in the Sultanate, with an adjoining VIP Lounge offering moviegoers a luxurious and diverse menu of popular and modern flavors presented in signature VOX style.
In addition to refreshment counter favourites such as popcorn, nachos and hotdogs/burgers, cinemagoers of VOX Cinemas – Mall of Oman can also indulge at the Nutella Bar and Kitchen 35 – a bakeshop with artisan breads, pastries and fresh juices.
Mall of Oman is home to a host of brands including a 9,000 square meter Carrefour Hypermarket and several brands from Landmark Group (Max Fashion and Centrepoint), Majid Al Futtaim (Hollister), Al Futtaim Group (Marks & Spencer) and Apparel Group (LC Waikiki, R&B and SMYK). Other famous outlets at the mall include DKNY, Nespresso, G-SHOCK, Homes R Us, Tavola and Al Khalili Buildex. The mall also features a 1,000 plus seater food court which offers a selection of global chains. For patrons looking for more indulgent cuisine options from across the globe, the mall will soon feature various cafés and restaurants, including over 50 dining options.
80% of Mall of Oman’s gross leasable area is leased and the mall is set to welcome over 300 additional retail outlets in the coming months. The mall will also feature the largest indoor snow park in the Sultanate next year, spanning over 14,000 square meters.
VOX Cinemas presently operates 78 screens across 14 locations in 6 cities of Oman.
As the official cinema advertising partner of VOX Cinemas, Motivate Val Morgan congratulates the exhibitor on the opening of its largest cinema in the Sultanate of Oman, and warmly welcomes this new location to our regional cinema circuit.
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 – Mall of Oman.
Sources: Majid Al Futtaim (Press Release) and Arabian Business
Michelin star chef Akira Back partners with VOX Cinemas for a special menu for its luxury cinema concept –THEATRE
VOX Cinemas, the dedicated cinema arm of Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, communities, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East and Africa, has announced a partnership with Akira Back, world-renowned Michelin star chef. The highly-anticipated culinary collaboration, which launches in the United Arab Emirates in September, will see the global restauranteur curate a special menu for THEATRE, VOX Cinemas’ luxury cinema concept, so moviegoers can enjoy an unparalleled dining experience.
Guests at THEATRE can expect a modern Japanese menu which features a dynamic combination of Akira Back’s signature dishes as well as culinary creations exclusive to VOX Cinemas. Famed for his sense of adventure and creativity, Akira Back has enjoyed an illustrious career bringing his culinary expertise and artistry across the globe, with a portfolio of critically acclaimed restaurants and lounges in destinations like Beverly Hills, San Diego, Seychelles North Island, Toronto, Singapore, Seoul, Dubai and more.
VOX Cinemas’ THEATRE combines film with fine food and provides guests with the option of dining in an exclusive private lounge area or having their food delivered straight to their seat through the in-theatre waiter service. Redefining the luxury cinema experience, THEATRE boasts reclining leather seats, plush blankets and pillows and cutting-edge audiovisual technology in a stylish and intimate setting.
Ignace Lahoud, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, Entertainment & Cinemas said, “Cinemagoers in the region are becoming increasingly discerning and we are extremely excited about collaborating with Chef Akira Back to introduce a new era in fine dining and film in response to rising expectations. At VOX Cinemas, we offer more than just movies and, are continuously diversifying our offering so guests can enjoy an all-encompassing cinematic experience. We believe that F&B plays a major part in enhancing the moviegoing experience and, with Chef Akira Back at the helm, THEATRE is sure to set a new benchmark in cinema dining.”
Chef Akira Back added, “THEATRE has revolutionised the luxury cinema experience and, I’m extremely proud to join forces with VOX Cinemas given our shared commitment to innovation. Together we believe that F&B is a complementary component of going to the movies and we have designed a menu that is sure to appeal to the most discerning guests and movie lovers.”
The menu by Akira Back will be available at VOX Cinemas across the United Arab Emirates in September before being rolled-out across Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait later in the year. The official launch dates will be announced closer to the time.
Source: VOX Cinemas (Press Release)
VOX Cinemas The Esplanade is integrated with Yalla! Bowling and offers a variety of high-end cinematic experiences including GOLD, MAX, and KIDS.
VOX Cinemas celebrated the opening of its latest integrated cinema experience with the launch of VOX Cinemas The Esplanade in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 19 August 2021. The opening marks the third fully launched project between VOX Cinemas and Unified Real Estate Development Company as part of a SAR 500 million multi-project investment commitment to develop seven integrated leisure, entertainment, and cinemas experiences across the Kingdom.
The 8-screen multiplex with 868 seats is integrated with Yalla! Bowling, a selection of games including billiard tables and air hockey as well as F&B to complement the cinematic experience. The new cinema endorses signature VOX concepts namely MAX, KIDS and GOLD.
Mohamed Al Hashemi, Country Head, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Majid Al Futtaim Leisure, Entertainment, Cinemas and Lifestyle added, “Our expansion in Saudi Arabia continues, and we’re excited to bring more entertainment experiences to communities in Saudi Arabia with the opening of VOX Cinemas The Esplanade. This latest offering is the perfect location to reach a wider audience of movie lovers and anyone else seeking a memorable experience. We are proud to collaborate with Unified Real Estate Development Company once again as together we make a deeper contribution to the Kingdom’s Quality of Life program and Vision 2030. We are committed to continuously investing in our expansion in the Kingdom, especially with the growing demand for world-class, immersive cinematic experiences. We look forward to welcoming people across the community and creating even more great moments with our guests.”
Prince Bandar bin Khalid F. Al Saud, President of Unified Real Estate Development Company added: “Riyadh continues to grow and evolve as a compelling entertainment option in the region, and we are pleased to be a part of this development alongside Majid Al Futtaim. The VOX Cinemas location at The Esplanade promises a rich variety of entertainment experiences to complement the on-screen action, making it an ideal fit for the discerning visitors of The Esplanade.”
In April, VOX Cinemas opened the first ever multiplex in Hail in collaboration with Unified Real Estate Development Company, the largest and fastest-growing outdoor shopping center developer in Saudi Arabia, and together they also have a location at Town Square in Jeddah.
VOX Cinemas presently operates 149 screens across 14 locations in 5 cities of Saudi Arabia.
Motivate Val Morgan congratulates VOX Cinemas on the launch of The Esplanade, and warmly welcomes this new location to our cinema circuit in Saudi Arabia.
Contact us to advertise your brand on the screens of VOX Cinemas – The Esplanade.
Source: VOX Cinemas (Press Release)
The VOX Cinemas CTRL experience marks the latest innovation by the cinema exhibitor and gives audiences real-time collaborative influence over the plot of the movie.
VOX Cinemas, the dedicated cinema arm of Majid Al Futtaim, has introduced CTRL, the region’s first interactive movie experience which lets the audience collectively decide how the plot unfolds. The latest innovation from VOX Cinemas in partnership with entertainment and tech company, Kino Industries, launched across the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 5 August 2021.
VOX Cinemas CTRL will be showing Late Shift, the world’s first interactive feature-length film, which enables cinemagoers to decide the fate of the lead character and the course of the movie using a simple voting system on an App. During the screening of the high stakes action thriller, which has countless storylines consisting of 180 decision points and 7 alternative endings, the audience typically makes 40-50 choices, while the cutting-edge and seamless technology aggregates the votes and chooses the most popular option. Late Shift was directed and co-written by Tobias Weber – an award-winning filmmaker and a Co-Founder of Kino Industries, and Michael Robert Johnson – author of Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes. The critically acclaimed movie was awarded the 2018 BAFTA Cymru Award.
Toni El Massih, Chief Content Officer, VOX Cinemas said, “We are incredibly excited to partner with Kino Industries and launch the Middle East’s first interactive movie, which puts the audience in control of countless adaptable storylines. Redefining the cinematic experience and introducing game-changing concepts that exceed our guests’ expectations has been a cornerstone of our success at VOX Cinemas and we continue to push the boundaries of innovation. Using pioneering technology, CTRL seamlessly combines the realism and production values of film with the interactivity of a videogame to create a new dimension of engagement. Having sold out at the Beijing International Film Festival in less than five minutes, I have no doubt that this unique and exhilarating participatory experience will prove hugely popular with cinemagoers in the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Chady Eli Mattar, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Kino Industries added, “We are thrilled to be teaming up with VOX Cinemas on this exciting venture. For us they represent the epitome of a contemporary exhibitor – they are bold, innovative, forward thinkers, and we at Kino share a similar DNA! Thus, this partnership will be setting the standards of the future of cinema in the region.”
The daily screenings of Late Shift will take place at 6pm and 8pm (Sunday – Thursday) and 5pm, 7pm and 9pm (Friday and Saturday) at VOX Cinemas at Mall of the Emirates, Yas Mall, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Al Zahia, The Galleria Al Maryah Island and Wafi City. The experience will also be rolled-out across select VOX Cinemas in Saudi Arabia.
VOX Cinemas has been awarded ‘Best Cinema Experience’ at the MENALAC Awards for two years running (2019 and 2020). CTRL complements VOX Cinemas’ portfolio of world-class experiences which includes Snow Cinema at Ski Dubai; Sensory Friendly Screenings; OUTDOOR, an open-air concept and THEATRE and GOLD, luxury experiences which combine fine food and film.
Tickets for the VOX Cinemas CTRL experience can be booked via their website, app or purchased at the ticket counter.
Source: VOX Cinemas (Press Release)
The META Cinema Forum 2021 will be discussing how the MENA cinema industry has witnessed growth in the past year and is expected to be a billion-dollar market by 2024.
Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and health and safety protocols, the cinema industry in the MENA region has grown against the backdrop of a steep decline in the global cinema industry. Although the global Box Office is slowly making a comeback with pandemic-era record breaking opening weekends for F9 and Black Widow, the cinema box office revenues in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are expected to grow by 4 percent to US$ 1 billion (Dh3.7 billion) by 2024, compared to a 2.4 percent decline worldwide, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a global auditing consultancy.
Research data analysed by finance website Finaria also showed that globally the combined revenues in the box office industry plummeted by 71.5 percent from $42.5 billion in 2019 to approximately $31 billion last year. Expansion throughout the Arab world and Middle East, specifically in Saudi Arabia, has unlocked a lucrative economic opportunity and Saudi Arabia has now become a major contributor to the growth of the global cinema industry.
The news comes as organisers, GM Events, released the dates for the fourth edition of the META Cinema Forum – the largest cinema convention in the Middle East and Africa – from October 26-28, 2021 at Atlantis the Palm, Dubai. It also follows shortly after Dubai government announced the lifting of restrictions on public entertainment events as part of a gradual opening up of the country’s borders to select countries that have recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic.
META Cinema Forum 2021, which takes place amid the World Expo 2020 – one of the largest global events which is taking place for the first time in the Middle East – will host a conference, awards, seminars, workshops, masterclasses, special screenings, premieres, product presentations, slates, exhibitions and live demonstrations. The conference will tackle industry issues as well as regional industry-specific discussions on the film industry across Africa, Asia, South Asia and the Middle East.
“Back for its 4th edition, the META Cinema Forum, now expanding to cover markets across including Levant, Turkey and Indian subcontinent, is sure to be the hottest cinema event in year 2021.” Said Leila Masinaei, Managing Partner, Great Mind Events Management. “The event is unique in that it highlights the only region with an expanding cinema sector, with participants actively attending to source new design ideas, F&B concepts, technological innovation and alternative content.”
Ignace Lahoud, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas and Majid Al Futtaim Leisure & Entertainment added “VOX Cinemas is proud to be the strategic partner of the META Cinema Forum once again, given our shared commitment to the cinematic experience. Now in its fourth year, the META Cinema Forum provides an important platform and inspires dialogues amongst leading players so that we can continuously innovate and enhance the cinema experience and industry. With the META region becoming an increasingly important market to the global box office, events such as this are essential to the continued success of the industry and, we look forward to this year’s event which boasts a stellar line-up.”
Cinemas in many markets are still closed and few countries have opened cinema halls while many have permanently closed as a result of being significantly financially impacted by Covid-19. However, unlike many other markets, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) box office was up 3 percent to US$115 million in 2020, the PwC report says. By 2030, one of the governing authorities to regulate and operate cinemas, the General Commission for Audiovisual Media (GCAM), expects there to be around 350 cinemas and 2,500 movie screens in the country, and the industry will be worth around US$1 billion.
META Cinema Forum, the largest industry convention, will focus on the challenges faced by the cinema industry, changing trends as well as focusing on the new cinema projects that will drive the growth of the industry.
The continued participation and support of the African continent, backed by Pan African Film Consortium, will bring the leading African film industry movers and shakers into the conversation.
Mykel Parish Ajaere, President, Pan-African Film Consortium, says, “In 2020, the corona virus heralded a new economy for the creative industry with the global film industry alone suffering a revenue loss of over ten billion U.S. dollars due to the impact of the virus outbreak around the world.”
“There must be a way to balance commercial returns and I believe that the META Cinema Forum 2021 will provide sustainable solutions to Middle East and African cinema, at this difficult time. As president of the Pan-African Film Consortium and as an influencer in the African film industry, I’m excited about our partnership with the META Cinema Forum 2021. This is the time for Africa to strengthen its film economy and harness the enormous benefits the forum will provide.”
META Cinema Forum 2021 is backed by all the leading industry players. The event is supported by Pan-African Film Consortium while VOX Cinemas is once again Strategic Partner. Other leading exhibitors including MUVI Cinemas, Cinépolis Gulf, Novo Cinema, Cinemarine, StarzPlay, FimHouse Cinemas, Cinepax, ROXY Cinemas, Carnival Cinemas, Empire Cinemas and Women in Exhibition have also come on board as Cinema and Event Partners.
Click here to register for this year’s forum or contact Great Minds Event Management for more information.
Source: META Cinema Forum (Press Release)
