via press release
FRONT ROW BAGS 20 TITLES AT AFM!
Dubai, UAE. November 16, 2015. Despite a slow AFM, the Middle East distribution company FRONT ROW FILMED ENTERTAINMENT ends AFM by contracting 20 titles including the NICOLAS WINDING REFN produced remake “MANIAC COP” directed by JOHN HYAMS and the ANTONIO BANDERAS lead thriller “FAITH” from Wild Bunch. Both will be co-distributed with long-time associate Teleview International across the Middle East.
Front Row continues its long standing relationships with PROTAGONIST PICTURES by acquiring “THE DISCOVERY” starring NICHOLAS HOULT and Cannes Film Festival Best Actress winner ROONEY MARA; while from HANWAY FILMS the titles include the horror feature “THE DEVIL’S CANDY” which saw its premiere at this year’s TIFF, as well as the Lone Sherfig comedy drama “THEIR FINEST HOUR AND A HALF” starring Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin and Bill Nighy; from EMBANKMENT FILMS the English language remake of the French horror (now cult classic) by the same name “INSIDE” produced by the same team that brought “Buried” and “Rec” as well as the epic “CHURCHILL” starring Golden Globe nominee BRIAN COX; while from SALT FILM, the high concept creature-feature “THE VOID” directed by Steven Konstanski and Jeremie Gillispie as well as high concept genre flick “THE NEIGHBOR” directed by Marcus Dunstan and written by Patrick Melton and also Marcus Dunstan who previously worked on smash hits such as SAW IV, V, VI and Saw 3D as well as The Collector and The Collection.
Front Row also managed to ink a deal with ALL RIGHTS ENTERTAINMENT’s “LITTLE MIZZ INNOCENT”, a $45 Mil project described as a female Bourne Identity action packed title starring Tyrese Gibson, Olga Kuryelenko, John Travolta and Christopher Plummer, all to be directed by Xavier Gens (Hitman).
The list continues with the CINEMA MANAGEMENT GROUP’s thriller “BROKEN VOWS” starring WES BENTLEY and JAIME ALEXANDER as well as the ambitious Vincent Van Gough animated biography “LOVING VINCENT” voiced by SAOIRSE RONAN, DOUGLAS BOOTH and CHRIS O’DOWD; from Arsenal pictures the rom-com “WALK OF FAME” with SCOTT EASTWOOD and JAIMIE KENNEDY; the horror “ANTI BIRTH” from Christian De Gallegos’ newly formed GREEN-LIGHT PICTURES starring Natasha Lyonne, Chloe Sevigny and Marc Webber; The Evan Rachel Wood, Ellen Page sci-fi drama “INTO THE FOREST” from CELSIUS ENTERTAINMENT and which A-24 will be releasing in the US; “ORION” with Lily Cole and David Arquette and “THE AMERICAN SIDE” with Matthew Broderick and Jeanine Garofalo from SHORELINE ENTERTAINMENT.
Animations were also a top priority for Front Row this market and these included PING PONG RABBIT 3D directed by Mike Johnson (The Corpse Bride) also from CINEMA MANAGEMENT GROUP; Hippo Animation’s “KUNG FU STYLE” in 3D which is currently in the process of casting A-List voices and being sold by GORILLA PICTURES. And last, but not least, “H.P. LOVECRAFT AND THE FROZEN KINGDOM” from LIGHTHOUSE ENTERTAINMENT.
“With a mix of US, UK and Egyptian titles, we managed to release 44 theatrical titles this year and committed on doing the same in 2016. However, in 2016 we will be focusing on developing the TVOD and SVOD business trying to fill the void that DVD left in the industry.” says Gianluca Chakra, Managing Partner of Front Row Filmed Entertainment. Long time partner and President of Front Row Filmed Entertainment and General Manager of the Kuwait National Cinema Company Hisham AlGhanim adds “2015 has been good to us and, in order to grow our business even more, we have decided to finance and distribute Egyptian films which are of essence to our theatrical industry. In 2016, we will be backing 17 Egyptian titles most of which will indeed contain A-List local cast.”
Front Row’s upcoming releases include Oliver Stone’s “SNOWDEN”; “BLOOD FATHER”; “Charlie Kaufman’s “ANOMALISA”, Rob Zombie’s “31”, “Ben Wheatley’s “HIGH RISE” and “FREE FIRE”, “JANE GOT A GUN”, “PELE”, ‘THE DRESSMAKER” “MISS YOU ALREADY”, “FREEHELD”, “MARTYRS” and “THE LOBSTER”.
Front Row will also be present at the 11th Edition of the Dubai Film Festival with 3 films: The Cannes Film Festival Palme D’Or Winner “DHEEPAN”; the acclaimed Fox Searchlight release “BROOKLYN” as well as the Toronto premiered “THE CHILDHOOD OF A LEADER”.
-ENDS-
ABOUT FRONT ROW FILMED ENTERTAINMENT:
Front Row Filmed Entertainment LLC is a leading independent film distribution company who acquires all rights for distribution in the Middle East and North Africa based in Dubai (UAE) and with offices in Kuwait and Lebanon.
Front Row was launched in 2003 by Gianluca & Michel Chakra and currently boasts a film library of over 875 titles which include VOD and TV rights. The company is also partnered with the Kuwait National Cinema Company (KNCC) that represents a 97% market share in the Kuwaiti exhibition market. The territory of Kuwait currently represents 36% of the Middle East theatrical business.
Front Row and KNCC acquire between 90-120 titles a year and are absolute leaders in the Arabic language titles acquiring almost 70% of the Arabic language produced titles for the Middle East.
In July 2014, Front Row signs an aggregation deal with iTunes become the sole aggregator to service Apple Inc. in the MENA Region.
FRONT ROW BAGS 20 TITLES AT AFM!
Dubai, UAE. November 16, 2015. Despite a slow AFM, the Middle East distribution company FRONT ROW FILMED ENTERTAINMENT ends AFM by contracting 20 titles including the NICOLAS WINDING REFN produced remake “MANIAC COP” directed by JOHN HYAMS and the ANTONIO BANDERAS lead thriller “FAITH” from Wild Bunch. Both will be co-distributed with long-time associate Teleview International across the Middle East.
Front Row continues its long standing relationships with PROTAGONIST PICTURES by acquiring “THE DISCOVERY” starring NICHOLAS HOULT and Cannes Film Festival Best Actress winner ROONEY MARA; while from HANWAY FILMS the titles include the horror feature “THE DEVIL’S CANDY” which saw its premiere at this year’s TIFF, as well as the Lone Sherfig comedy drama “THEIR FINEST HOUR AND A HALF” starring Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin and Bill Nighy; from EMBANKMENT FILMS the English language remake of the French horror (now cult classic) by the same name “INSIDE” produced by the same team that brought “Buried” and “Rec” as well as the epic “CHURCHILL” starring Golden Globe nominee BRIAN COX; while from SALT FILM, the high concept creature-feature “THE VOID” directed by Steven Konstanski and Jeremie Gillispie as well as high concept genre flick “THE NEIGHBOR” directed by Marcus Dunstan and written by Patrick Melton and also Marcus Dunstan who previously worked on smash hits such as SAW IV, V, VI and Saw 3D as well as The Collector and The Collection.
Front Row also managed to ink a deal with ALL RIGHTS ENTERTAINMENT’s “LITTLE MIZZ INNOCENT”, a $45 Mil project described as a female Bourne Identity action packed title starring Tyrese Gibson, Olga Kuryelenko, John Travolta and Christopher Plummer, all to be directed by Xavier Gens (Hitman).
The list continues with the CINEMA MANAGEMENT GROUP’s thriller “BROKEN VOWS” starring WES BENTLEY and JAIME ALEXANDER as well as the ambitious Vincent Van Gough animated biography “LOVING VINCENT” voiced by SAOIRSE RONAN, DOUGLAS BOOTH and CHRIS O’DOWD; from Arsenal pictures the rom-com “WALK OF FAME” with SCOTT EASTWOOD and JAIMIE KENNEDY; the horror “ANTI BIRTH” from Christian De Gallegos’ newly formed GREEN-LIGHT PICTURES starring Natasha Lyonne, Chloe Sevigny and Marc Webber; The Evan Rachel Wood, Ellen Page sci-fi drama “INTO THE FOREST” from CELSIUS ENTERTAINMENT and which A-24 will be releasing in the US; “ORION” with Lily Cole and David Arquette and “THE AMERICAN SIDE” with Matthew Broderick and Jeanine Garofalo from SHORELINE ENTERTAINMENT.
Animations were also a top priority for Front Row this market and these included PING PONG RABBIT 3D directed by Mike Johnson (The Corpse Bride) also from CINEMA MANAGEMENT GROUP; Hippo Animation’s “KUNG FU STYLE” in 3D which is currently in the process of casting A-List voices and being sold by GORILLA PICTURES. And last, but not least, “H.P. LOVECRAFT AND THE FROZEN KINGDOM” from LIGHTHOUSE ENTERTAINMENT.
“With a mix of US, UK and Egyptian titles, we managed to release 44 theatrical titles this year and committed on doing the same in 2016. However, in 2016 we will be focusing on developing the TVOD and SVOD business trying to fill the void that DVD left in the industry.” says Gianluca Chakra, Managing Partner of Front Row Filmed Entertainment. Long time partner and President of Front Row Filmed Entertainment and General Manager of the Kuwait National Cinema Company Hisham AlGhanim adds “2015 has been good to us and, in order to grow our business even more, we have decided to finance and distribute Egyptian films which are of essence to our theatrical industry. In 2016, we will be backing 17 Egyptian titles most of which will indeed contain A-List local cast.”
Front Row’s upcoming releases include Oliver Stone’s “SNOWDEN”; “BLOOD FATHER”; “Charlie Kaufman’s “ANOMALISA”, Rob Zombie’s “31”, “Ben Wheatley’s “HIGH RISE” and “FREE FIRE”, “JANE GOT A GUN”, “PELE”, ‘THE DRESSMAKER” “MISS YOU ALREADY”, “FREEHELD”, “MARTYRS” and “THE LOBSTER”.
Front Row will also be present at the 11th Edition of the Dubai Film Festival with 3 films: The Cannes Film Festival Palme D’Or Winner “DHEEPAN”; the acclaimed Fox Searchlight release “BROOKLYN” as well as the Toronto premiered “THE CHILDHOOD OF A LEADER”.
-ENDS-
ABOUT FRONT ROW FILMED ENTERTAINMENT:
Front Row Filmed Entertainment LLC is a leading independent film distribution company who acquires all rights for distribution in the Middle East and North Africa based in Dubai (UAE) and with offices in Kuwait and Lebanon.
Front Row was launched in 2003 by Gianluca & Michel Chakra and currently boasts a film library of over 875 titles which include VOD and TV rights. The company is also partnered with the Kuwait National Cinema Company (KNCC) that represents a 97% market share in the Kuwaiti exhibition market. The territory of Kuwait currently represents 36% of the Middle East theatrical business.
Front Row and KNCC acquire between 90-120 titles a year and are absolute leaders in the Arabic language titles acquiring almost 70% of the Arabic language produced titles for the Middle East.
In July 2014, Front Row signs an aggregation deal with iTunes become the sole aggregator to service Apple Inc. in the MENA Region.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Follow Cinema Static on: 
Comments
Post a Comment
Apologies for the moderation mode. I presume you understand...