city Riyadh: Last News

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentSaudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding Telfaz11 Studios is teaming up with France’s Easy Riders Films to develop and produce a slate of four features directed by emerging Saudi talents with international ambitions.The first title expected to go into production is “Night Courier,” a comedy about a young man named Fahad who winds up in possession of six crates of illicit booze in an Arab city known for its hidden delights and dangers. This project was first presented last year at the inaugural Red Sea Film Festival’s Red Sea Souk projects market.The four-picture pact between Telfaz11 and Easy Riders was forged at the Cannes Film Festival.Founded by Alaa Yousef Fadan, Ali Al Kalthami, and Ibrahim Al Khairallah, Telfaz11 is an innovative content company that started out in the YouTube space and has since seen rapid growth in both production and distribution.

Film Independent has set the filmmakers and projects for its 2022 Documentary Lab. The list includes Alissa Figueroa (Breaking the Blue Wall, w/t), Shalon Buskirk and Drew Swedberg (In love, in memory), Nada Riyadh and Ayman El Amir (Land of Women), Kit Vincent and Ed Owles (Red Herring, w/t), Alix Blair, Lauren Kushner and Elise McCave (Untitled Helen Project) and Jonathan Olshefski and Elizabeth Day (Without Arrows).

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentMoviegoing in Saudi Arabia has come a long way since April 18, 2018, when “Black Panther” premiered to a packed crowd in a converted symphony hall in Riyadh, ending the country’s 35-year ban on public screenings prompted by an ultraconservative Islamic wave that started in the 1980s.Cut to three-and-a-half years after the “Panther” premiere — at which men and women sat together as they watched the Marvel superhero — and when it comes to watching movies on the big screen “things have evolved on different levels,” says Carlo Vincenti, head of Italia Film, which is Disney’s distributor in the region.Today there are 57 state-of-the-art cinema sites in 16 Saudi cities for a total of more than 500 screens. Admissions have soared from 149,000 from just two venues in 2018 to more than 13 million tickets sold at 53 different locations in 2021.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentVox Cinemas, the highest-grossing exhibitor in West Asia, where it operates more than 600 screens, will focus on diversification next, while also continuing its geographical expansion plan, says Ignace Lahoud, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Leisure (MAF), Entertainment and Cinemas, which operates Vox.“In the last two or three years, most of our growth has been focused on building and opening cinemas in Saudi Arabia. We intend to continue expanding there, although probably not at the same pace.”Several analysts, including PwC, see Saudi as becoming a billion-dollar movie market.Variety is honoring Vox with its Achievement in Intl.

There are only a handful of days left until the month of Ramadan starts so it's a good idea to start preparing for the fasting period if you are taking part this year. Those unfamiliar with how fasting works in Ramadan should be aware that each day begins with an early meal, known as suhoor.

Simi Khadra has seemingly found herself in a love triangle after she was spotted kissing her former bestie Bella Hadid’s ex The Weeknd. Simi was there for The Weeknd’s 32nd birthday bash in Las Vegas. Around 2 AM, Simi and The Weeknd were spotted making out like crazy in video footage obtained by TMZ, seemingly confirming rumors that the two have been hooking up. Bella and Simi used to be best friends, but Bella unfollowed her once the rumors surfaced. Here’s everything you need to know about the DJ causing all the drama.

How do I make you love me? The Weeknd and Simi Khadra were spotted kissing in Vegas, according to Hollywood Life. An Instagram video emerged of the Dawn FM singer and DJ/Model smooching at his 32nd birthday party on February 19, 2022, at the Delilah in Las Vegas. Is this solid proof that the two are a couple?

WWE star Bianca Belair is eyeing up more WrestleMania glory – and the chance to make history at Elimination Chamber in Saudi Arabia this weekend. The EST of WWE is one of six stars ready to battle it out in a Chamber match at the Jeddah Super Dome in Jeddah.She’ll go up against Rhea Ripley, Nikki A.S.H, Doudrop, Liv Morgan and Alexa Bliss to see who’ll wrestle for the Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania in April.Their collision is one of three marquee female bouts at Saturday afternoon’s event, which takes place just four years after the company staged The Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia without any women on the card.Belair, who also had a prominent role in last October’s Crown Jewel event in Riyadh, has admitted excited at ‘making history’ as WWE’s female stars continue to make strides in the nation.In an interview with WWE UK, she commented: “I’m always excited to visit Saudi Arabia, my first time was for Crown Jewel!“To be visiting now with all the new developments that are happening for women, being part of that and being able to look out into the audience and see women, men, boys and little girls, it’s really special.“It’ll be my first Elimination Chamber match too and I’m all about being a part of huge moments and continuing to make more history.”The 32-year-old is relishing the chance to perform at WrestleMania again having won the SmackDown Women’s Championship from Sasha Banks at the showpiece occasion last year.WWE’s call to have her drop the title to Becky Lynch in a matter of seconds last summer wasn’t popular with fans, but Belair says she’s taken the madness of the last year in her stride.“I know what it feels like to be at WrestleMania,” she added.

Saudi Arabia at the weekend when a Pakistan International Airlines flight from Riyadh to Islamabad was forced to land in Dammam because of the weather.But the pilot then refused to take off again, telling his passengers that he had finished his shift, reports The Express Tribune.In protest, the passengers refused to get off Sunday’s flight PK-9754, and that prompted security teams at the airport to intervene.A spokesperson for PIA said it was necessary for pilots to follow the rules regarding shift patterns for safety reasons, and alternative arrangements were made for the passengers as a result.They eventually arrived in Islamabad later that night.It’s not just bad weather that has left travellers frustrated recently.Last month, British Airways passengers hoping to fly to Barbados were left stuck on their plane at Heathrow for more than five hours after the pilot tested positive for Covid-19 while he was in the cockpit.To stay up to date with all the latest news, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.England hockey star Darcy Bourne, 20, was among the frustrated passengers, and she gave updates of their ordeal via TikTok.In the first of her three videos, she said: "Pilot just got a text saying he tested positive so we're all stuck on the plane."In the video, the pilot can be heard saying: "What we're currently doing is looking for another pilot to take my place and that process is ongoing, but it's not going to happen quickly and at the moment we have got people in the process of trying to find someone."In the second video, taken in the airport's departure lounge, Darcy said: "Update: they kicked us all off five hours later and gave us all £4 food vouchers."But the frustrated passengers were later

Arsenal's former captain.The striker has been marginalised out the side after committing what the Gunners perceived to be multiple disciplinary breaches. He has been stripped of the captaincy and any chance of rekindling with Arsenal looks all but lost.Most recently he had to be flown back to London from the Gabon camp in the Africa Cup of Nations after scans revealed he had “heart lesions” from having Covid.Now a Riyadh-based club have offered a way out for the attacker.

EXCLUSIVE: LA-based Brightburn producer The H Collective Films has formed a pact with Saudi Arabia’s Inqisam Studios to co-invest in and co-produce movies and TV with a focus on the Arabic-speaking market.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Internationally known DJ David Guetta has made a home for himself in the Persian Gulf. The French DJ is a resident of the United Arab Emirates, where he has performed multiple times — the latest being on the helipad at the landmark Burj Al Arab hotel, and was one of the first artists invited to perform in Saudi Arabia when the kingdom opened its doors to tourists and began allowing concerts and entertainment.

Charlie Amter Earlier this week, the inaugural edition of Saudi Arabia’s XP Music Conference took place over three days and nights in Riyadh, drawing hundreds of music industry professionals and artists from around the Persian Gulf and beyond.The event was sponsored by the Saudi government as it seeks to open itself up to more opportunities in the music industry — such as Justin Bieber’s recent concert in the country — amid both international criticism over the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and a tough time for privately held annual music conferences, such as France’s Midem (which on Wednesday announced it will not hold an event next year).

Telfaz11, the Saudi Arabian production and finance company, has struck a deal to acquire Riyadh-based producer Last Scene Films.

Alissa Simon Film CriticThe first fiction film to be set amongst the working-class Black Saudi community of Riyadh, this social issues drama, released by Netflix and chosen as the Kingdom’s international feature submission, is more fascinating for the cultural differences it reveals than any felicities of filmmaking. Taking place at the end of the 1990s, the rather ominously titled “The Tambour of Retribution,” is the second feature directed by Abdulaziz Alshelahi (“Zero Distance”).

Celebrity chef Salt Bae has revealed he's leaving London after a short stay to set up his 28th restaurant in Saudi Arabia.

'Salt Bae' will be leaving his expensive London restaurant to set up his 28th venue in Saudi Arabia.

Newcastle and Saudi Arabia don't have too many shared values.As the crow flies, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and the Saudi capital of Riyadh are roughly 4,076 miles apart.The average August temperature in the Middle East state is 36C, while the north east can lay claim to a balmy average of 15C.In Newcastle, a stotty cake is a local delicacy, whereas Saudi has Kabsa, a rice dish influence by Persian and Indian biryanis. But perhaps where the two countries differ most is in their laws and what is legal and what is illegal.

WWE blockbusters in Saudi Arabia, the 21 October spectacle will be held at Mohammed Abdu Arena in Riyadh. The company has put together of its strongest-looking cards of the year for the night, with Brock Lesnar set to challenge the dominant Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship, and the WWE title also on the line as Big E defends against The UK’s own Drew McIntyre in the first real test of his credentials.

Arsene Wenger is set to return to the dugout as the coach for a Saudi Arabian super team as they take on PSG in the Riyadh Season Cup.Wenger hasn't been seen on the touchline since he left Arsenal in 2018.However, his first foray back into management will be to head up a Saudi side consisting of players from Al-Hilal SFC and Al-Nassr FC.The Saudi Royal Court Advisor, Turki Alsheikh, tweeted: "The great international coach Arsene Wenger was signed to lead the stars of Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr against PSG in the cup."The clash is scheduled for January 2022.The news that Wenger will be leading the Saudi based side comes just days after Newcastle United's takeover.Mike Ashley sold the Magpies to the PIF group, who are chaired by Saudi Crown Prince

cameraman, Simon Cumbers, who had been shot dead at the scene, and had been put in a room on his own, "which someone had decided would be a good idea but was actually really depressing. My days revolved around things being slopped out, measured out and emptied out, and all I could think about were the things I would never be able to do again."He’s brisk as he lists them.