Prominent Egyptian Indie Film Clinic Branches Out Into Saudi Arabia With Ryadh Outpost and Rich Slate (EXCLUSIVE)

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As a seasoned movie critic who has traversed the cinematic landscapes of the Middle East and beyond, I must say that Mohamed Hefzy’s strategic expansion into Saudi Arabia with Film Clinic is nothing short of a game-changer. His commitment to fostering local talent and respecting cultural sensitivities is commendable and sets a high standard for cross-border film collaborations.

Noted Egyptian film producer Mohamed Hefzy is expanding his influence into Saudi Arabia, establishing a satellite office for his successful Film Clinic production company in Riyadh. This move comes as he presents six of his productions at the Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia.

The significant shift takes place following Hefzy’s persistent efforts to build relationships within Saudi Arabia’s film industry on various projects. One of these projects is Egyptian director Abu Bakr Shawky’s high-budget adventure movie “Hajjan,” set in Saudi Arabia, which premiered regionally at the Red Sea Festival last year, following its launch from Toronto. Notably, “Hajjan” was a joint production between Film Clinic and the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, famously known as Ithra.

For a couple of years now, this has been a planned venture,” Hefzy shared with EbMaster. Furthermore, while Film Clinic’s main Saudi office will be located in Riyadh, the ambition is to operate nationwide. As he put it, “We’re discussing locations like Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla, and any spots where we can film movies within the kingdom and collaborate with local filmmakers.

He emphasized that rather than being external forces who bring in talent, directors, writers, and actors, we aim to be considerate of the culture. We recognize the abundance of emerging Saudi talents with compelling stories to share, and believe they are more capable and authentic storytellers than us.

In his statement, Hefzy emphasized that Film Clinic intends to build fresh connections within the local film industry, simultaneously strengthening our ties with our Saudi partners such as MBC Group, Ithra, Muvi, Arabia Pictures, and more. We eagerly await contact from all emerging Saudi screenwriters, directors, and artists.

Alongside its growth in Saudi Arabia, Film Clinic unveiled its lineup of upcoming movies scheduled for 2025, featuring seven films at different production phases. Several of these projects are originating from Saudi Arabia, spanning from those still in development, being produced, and undergoing post-production.

Film Clinic’s recent Saudi production is titled “A Matter of Life and Death,” starring Sarah Taibah (“Mandoob”) and Yaqoub Alfarhan (“Norah,” “Rashash”). This romantic black comedy follows a young woman named Hayat, who is deeply superstitious and believes she’s under a curse. She encounters Yousef, a quiet heart surgeon struggling with unusually slow heartbeats. As the summary suggests, their stories intertwine in an unexpected manner: while Hayat seeks to end her life, Yousef grapples with thoughts even darker than hers.

Filming for the movie titled “Life and Death” is about to commence in Jeddah. This project was conceived by local writer Sarah Taibah, also known as “Jameel Jiddan.” Saudi-based Yemeni filmmaker Anas Batahaf will take on his first directorial role for this production.

Leading production companies such as Front Row Filmed Entertainment, Arabia Pictures Group, and Rotana Studios have teamed up with Film Clinic to coproduce the film titled “Life and Death.

Other projects in various stages the Film Clinic pipeline include:

Titled “Hijra,” this upcoming film by Saudi director Shahad Ameen serves as a follow-up to her feminist tale, “Scales.” The movie is an engaging drama that explores the profound connections forged among various generations of women in Saudi Arabia during a trek through the desert. Film Clinic collaborates on its production alongside Mohamed Al-Daradji and multiple entities such as Biet Ameen Production, The Iraqi Independent Film Center, HumanFilm UK, and Ideation Studio’s Faisal Baltyuor.

As a movie reviewer, I’d say: “I recently watched ‘Berleen,’ a captivating film that brings me back together with the talented Ahmed Abdalla (of ‘Microphone’ and ’19 B’) in a unique story set against the backdrop of Berlin. Here, we follow the lives of three Arab immigrants who navigate surreal circumstances as their paths intertwine amidst the city where past and present dramatically collide. The film stars Menna Shalabi, Yosra El-Lozy, and Mohamed Hatem, alongside other esteemed Egyptian artists.

Titled “The 67th Summer,” the latest film by Abu Bakr Shawky is gaining attention. Before this work, Shawky made waves with his debut “Yomeddine,” which stood out by making it to the competition at Cannes. The movie “The 67th Summer” is set in a historical period and centers around a young Egyptian man named Ali and an Austrian woman called Liz. In this film, Egyptian star Amir El-Masry and Nelly Karim, as well as Austria’s Valerie Pachner (“A Hidden Life”), take on the leading roles.

The film titled “Cotton Queen,” directed by Sudan’s Suzannah Mirghani, is a collaborative production involving Germany, France, Palestine, and Egypt. It unfolds in the context of a Sudanese cotton-farming community.

“Mohamed Siam’s ‘The Night of Unveiled Truths,'” a heartfelt story about a father and son who uncover hidden truths while attempting to resolve their differences over one extended night. Featuring Ahmed Malek, Kamel El Basha, and Mayan El-Sayed. In the final stages of production.

The film titled ‘El Set’ is a biographical drama about the legendary Egyptian vocalist, Umm Kulthum, often hailed as the Arab world’s most remarkable singer. This production is helmed by acclaimed Egyptian director Marwan Hamed, recognized globally for his masterpiece, the groundbreaking epic ‘The Yacoubian Building.’

At the Red Sea Film Festival, Film Clinic presents six films: “Seeking Shelter for Mr. Rambo” by Khaled Mansour, “To a Land Uncharted” by Mahdi Fleifel, and “Snow White” by Taghreed Abu Al-Hassan in the official competition. Furthermore, you’ll find “The Inevitable Quest for a Wedding Dress” by Jaylan Auf in the Festival Favorites section. In the Arab Spectacular section, debuting as world premieres, are “Abdo and Saneya” directed by Omar Bakry and Saudi film “Hobal” by Abdulaziz Alshlahei.

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2024-12-08 13:17