Exclusive: Amazon has acquired world rights for Beirut-set dramedy series Self Modulation from producers Falcon Films and Arna Media, in its first ever Arabic TV series acquisition.
The series is the first project in a multi-show deal partly financed by Arna Media, which plans to invest in two projects annually with Falcon Films.
It is produced by Sobhi Sannan, Rami Sannan and Raed Sannan for Dubai and Beirut-based Falcon Films and Nadezda Motina and Aram Hovhannisyan for Moscow-based Arna Media. The ten-part, 50-minute episode series will air in Q2 2024.
The show follows Ahmad, a Syrian man living illegally in Lebanon whose life takes a dramatic turn after witnessing a tragic event. As he navigates his way through a job at a suicide hotline centre, Ahmad’s dreams of fame and recognition lead him down a path of deception and destruction.
The cast features Maxim Khalil, Carole El Hajj, Foad Yammine, Natasha Choufani, Leen Gherra and Abbas Al Nouri.
The series is written by Foad Yammine, Rami Awad and director Mayar Al Nouri, who makes his television directing debut.
“I am thrilled to collaborate with Nadezda Motina on this extraordinary project. When I introduced the concept to Arna Media, they were captivated by its originality, particularly as no similar project has been undertaken, especially within the Middle East region,” said Falcon Films Managing Director Rami Sannan.
“We are eagerly anticipating the imminent release of the series on Amazon and are eager to hear the audience’s response. From the outset, our goal has been to showcase our capability to produce content with global appeal, reaching audiences beyond the Middle East.”
Arna Media President Motina said the project had been born out of long-standing professional relationship with Sannan.
“When I decided to invest in a series for the Middle East market, I could not think of a better partner. I was sure he could create a unique product which will appeal to local and global players. When you see it, you may think this is A24 in Middle East,” said Arna Media President Nadezda Motina.
Falcon Films is an independent production and distribution company working across the Middle East.
To date it has produced more than 15 local films and five series, including for Downtown, which played on Jawwy Stc; 8 Days for Mbc Shahid, and The Chamber, which debuted on Starzplay Arabia.
On the theatrical front, the company is gearing up for the summer releases of Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1 & 2 and A Weekend In Taipei, produced by Luc Besson.
The series is the first project in a multi-show deal partly financed by Arna Media, which plans to invest in two projects annually with Falcon Films.
It is produced by Sobhi Sannan, Rami Sannan and Raed Sannan for Dubai and Beirut-based Falcon Films and Nadezda Motina and Aram Hovhannisyan for Moscow-based Arna Media. The ten-part, 50-minute episode series will air in Q2 2024.
The show follows Ahmad, a Syrian man living illegally in Lebanon whose life takes a dramatic turn after witnessing a tragic event. As he navigates his way through a job at a suicide hotline centre, Ahmad’s dreams of fame and recognition lead him down a path of deception and destruction.
The cast features Maxim Khalil, Carole El Hajj, Foad Yammine, Natasha Choufani, Leen Gherra and Abbas Al Nouri.
The series is written by Foad Yammine, Rami Awad and director Mayar Al Nouri, who makes his television directing debut.
“I am thrilled to collaborate with Nadezda Motina on this extraordinary project. When I introduced the concept to Arna Media, they were captivated by its originality, particularly as no similar project has been undertaken, especially within the Middle East region,” said Falcon Films Managing Director Rami Sannan.
“We are eagerly anticipating the imminent release of the series on Amazon and are eager to hear the audience’s response. From the outset, our goal has been to showcase our capability to produce content with global appeal, reaching audiences beyond the Middle East.”
Arna Media President Motina said the project had been born out of long-standing professional relationship with Sannan.
“When I decided to invest in a series for the Middle East market, I could not think of a better partner. I was sure he could create a unique product which will appeal to local and global players. When you see it, you may think this is A24 in Middle East,” said Arna Media President Nadezda Motina.
Falcon Films is an independent production and distribution company working across the Middle East.
To date it has produced more than 15 local films and five series, including for Downtown, which played on Jawwy Stc; 8 Days for Mbc Shahid, and The Chamber, which debuted on Starzplay Arabia.
On the theatrical front, the company is gearing up for the summer releases of Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1 & 2 and A Weekend In Taipei, produced by Luc Besson.
- 4/11/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Things were looking bad for DC Studios in the post-covid era, but it seems that it’s only getting worse. In fact, one of their most profitable superheroes – Jason Momoa’s Aquaman – is projected to be a box office bomb, just like the rest of the DC films in 2023.
According to Box Office Pro, ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ has projected earnings for the opening weekend sit between $32 and $42 million domestically, and between $105 and $168 million globally. That’s abysmal, considering the movie has a budget of about $205 million, meaning it has to hit at least around $400 million to break even.
The first ‘Aquaman’ movie in 2018 had low projections as well, but then it surprised everyone and became one of Dceu’s most profitable projects, amassing over a billion dollars worldwide. However, we can’t expect ‘Aquaman 2’ to be the same kind of surprise. In fact, things are pointing towards a...
According to Box Office Pro, ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ has projected earnings for the opening weekend sit between $32 and $42 million domestically, and between $105 and $168 million globally. That’s abysmal, considering the movie has a budget of about $205 million, meaning it has to hit at least around $400 million to break even.
The first ‘Aquaman’ movie in 2018 had low projections as well, but then it surprised everyone and became one of Dceu’s most profitable projects, amassing over a billion dollars worldwide. However, we can’t expect ‘Aquaman 2’ to be the same kind of surprise. In fact, things are pointing towards a...
- 12/4/2023
- by Luka Glavas
- Comic Basics
There’s only one movie left to be released before Dceu is rebooted into the newly established Dcu, and it’s one of the most anticipated DC movies ever since it was announced, ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.’ The first ‘Aquaman’ was a massive success both when it comes to critics and box office, but as Dceu was losing its steam lining up failed projects, the interest for ‘Aquaman 2’ somewhat dwindled.
What’s worse is that the movie received almost no marketing at all due to the SAG-AFTRA strike that prohibited the actors from promoting the movie. It was also plagued with the fact that Amber Heard kept her role as Mera following the meltdown of her very public and very uncomfortable trial with former spouse Johnny Depp. A similar situation was seen in the ‘Flash’ movie after Ezra Miller was allowed to keep his role as the titular character.
What’s worse is that the movie received almost no marketing at all due to the SAG-AFTRA strike that prohibited the actors from promoting the movie. It was also plagued with the fact that Amber Heard kept her role as Mera following the meltdown of her very public and very uncomfortable trial with former spouse Johnny Depp. A similar situation was seen in the ‘Flash’ movie after Ezra Miller was allowed to keep his role as the titular character.
- 10/24/2023
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Comic Basics
Munich-based Neuesuper, one of the rising values on Germany’s ebullient new TV scene, is teaming with Ard Degeto to develop “Breitscheidplatz,” a drama-thriller that depicts the build-up to Berlin’s 2016 Christmas market truck attack which left 12 dead.
The series, however, will buck trends, presenting not a matter-of-fact rehashing of the events leading up to the attack, but rather a fictional interpretation of what might have happened, turning on two German policemen working at a time when Europe had suffered a blitz of attacks, attempting to prevent a similar outrage in Germany.
“One of the huge questions poised by the attack is how on earth it could have happened, how did the security forces come to make such mistakes?” said Simon Amberger, one of the producers for Neuesuper.
A six-part series commissioned for Ard Degeto by Carolin Haasis, “Breitscheidplatz” tries to deliver an answer. Picturing the daily work of the...
The series, however, will buck trends, presenting not a matter-of-fact rehashing of the events leading up to the attack, but rather a fictional interpretation of what might have happened, turning on two German policemen working at a time when Europe had suffered a blitz of attacks, attempting to prevent a similar outrage in Germany.
“One of the huge questions poised by the attack is how on earth it could have happened, how did the security forces come to make such mistakes?” said Simon Amberger, one of the producers for Neuesuper.
A six-part series commissioned for Ard Degeto by Carolin Haasis, “Breitscheidplatz” tries to deliver an answer. Picturing the daily work of the...
- 10/12/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Berlin — The Berlin Festival’s Drama Series Days wrapped Wednesday after three days of intense panels, screenings and an affirmation of the robust growth of Europe’s higher-end drama series production. As the Berlin Festival looks to a future under new directors, one fairly safe prediction is that its TV strand, already boasting packed-to-the -rafters audiences for its key sessions, will only get bigger. Following, five takeaways from its 5th edition:
Netflix
Amazon made the running at Sundance, but Netflix ruled business news flow in Berlin, at least through Wednesday afternoon. With its first film in Berlin competition, Isabel Coixet’s “Elisa & Marcela,” an at-least 49-exec delegation and its own panel at Berlin’s Drama Series Days, during the course of the Berlin Film Festival, Netflix unveiled 12 new Original Series and seven new Original Movies out of international, from Spain (five new series), Mexico, Germany and Norway (one series).
The...
Netflix
Amazon made the running at Sundance, but Netflix ruled business news flow in Berlin, at least through Wednesday afternoon. With its first film in Berlin competition, Isabel Coixet’s “Elisa & Marcela,” an at-least 49-exec delegation and its own panel at Berlin’s Drama Series Days, during the course of the Berlin Film Festival, Netflix unveiled 12 new Original Series and seven new Original Movies out of international, from Spain (five new series), Mexico, Germany and Norway (one series).
The...
- 2/13/2019
- by John Hopewell and Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Sky Vision has secured a raft of international deals with major partners for “8 Days” and “Bullets,” the two high-end drama series it is showcasing in Berlin. The buyers include HBO Europe and Rtl in Germany.
“8 Days” is produced by Neuesuper for Sky Deutschland and is the pay-tv broadcaster’s latest original drama. Bowing on Sky Deutschland on March 1, the show follows events as a huge meteor hurtles towards Earth. The series is one of the titles in the Berlinale series lineup.
On the day of its world premiere in Berlin on Wednesday, Sky Vision, the pay-tv giant’s production and distribution arm, has sealed a deal for the drama with HBO Europe. HBO has taken it for its services across Central and Eastern Europe, the Nordics, and Portugal.
Russia’s Amedia, which is the home of HBO programming in the country, has also picked up the eight-part series. ITV...
“8 Days” is produced by Neuesuper for Sky Deutschland and is the pay-tv broadcaster’s latest original drama. Bowing on Sky Deutschland on March 1, the show follows events as a huge meteor hurtles towards Earth. The series is one of the titles in the Berlinale series lineup.
On the day of its world premiere in Berlin on Wednesday, Sky Vision, the pay-tv giant’s production and distribution arm, has sealed a deal for the drama with HBO Europe. HBO has taken it for its services across Central and Eastern Europe, the Nordics, and Portugal.
Russia’s Amedia, which is the home of HBO programming in the country, has also picked up the eight-part series. ITV...
- 2/13/2019
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Berlin — When news breaks that an asteroid is on a collision course with Earth, a Berlin family is among the many taking flight. In the next eight days, their struggle for survival will probe deeper questions about what binds them, and what might tear them apart.
Created by Rafael Parente and Peter Kocyla, “8 Days” is directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky and Michael Krummenacher featuring an ensemble cast. The Berlinale Series selection, which world premieres as part of Drama Series Days’ Market Screenings on Feb. 13, is produced by Neuesuper for Sky Germany. World sales are handled by Sky Vision.
Co-creator and showrunner Parente spoke with Variety about the inspiration behind the series, how his characters react in the face of calamity, and whether a world wiped out by an asteroid can dust itself off for Season 2.
The series begins with news that an asteroid is hurtling toward Earth, and there are...
Created by Rafael Parente and Peter Kocyla, “8 Days” is directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky and Michael Krummenacher featuring an ensemble cast. The Berlinale Series selection, which world premieres as part of Drama Series Days’ Market Screenings on Feb. 13, is produced by Neuesuper for Sky Germany. World sales are handled by Sky Vision.
Co-creator and showrunner Parente spoke with Variety about the inspiration behind the series, how his characters react in the face of calamity, and whether a world wiped out by an asteroid can dust itself off for Season 2.
The series begins with news that an asteroid is hurtling toward Earth, and there are...
- 2/13/2019
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Berlin — Attendees of Berlinale’s Drama Series Days followed a busy and wide-ranging program on Monday with a packed opening reception, supported by Film- und Medienstiftung Nrw, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, and the Norwegian Film Institute, and with Variety as a media partner.
After a lively day of panel discussions and sessions focused on the future of television, guests partied at the chic Super Concept Space just steps from the red carpet of Zoo Palast. Among those in attendance were Film- und Medienstiftung Nrw CEO Petra Müller, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg managing director Kirsten Niehuus, Efm director Matthijs Wouter Knol, and Berlinale Series program manager Solmaz Azizi.
The growing excitement around the Berlin Film Festival’s popular TV strand, which moved to Zoo Palast last year to concentrate both screenings and industry activities in a single hub, is part of a natural evolution in the industry, according to Knol.
The Efm topper said that five years ago,...
After a lively day of panel discussions and sessions focused on the future of television, guests partied at the chic Super Concept Space just steps from the red carpet of Zoo Palast. Among those in attendance were Film- und Medienstiftung Nrw CEO Petra Müller, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg managing director Kirsten Niehuus, Efm director Matthijs Wouter Knol, and Berlinale Series program manager Solmaz Azizi.
The growing excitement around the Berlin Film Festival’s popular TV strand, which moved to Zoo Palast last year to concentrate both screenings and industry activities in a single hub, is part of a natural evolution in the industry, according to Knol.
The Efm topper said that five years ago,...
- 2/12/2019
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Period crime thriller from Oscar-winner Stefan Ruzowitzky co-stars Murathan Muslu.
Beta Cinema has picked up international sales on Oscar-winning Stefan Ruzowitzky’s next feature Hinterland to star Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread) and Murathan Muslu.
Principal photography is set to take place in autumn on the period crime thriller co-written by Ruzowitzky with Robert Buchschwenter and Hanno Pinter. The story takes place in Vienna at the beginning of the 1920s as a former detective returns home after seven years in a Russian PoW camp and joins forces with a forensic specialist on a murder investigation.
Square One Entertainment has picked up...
Beta Cinema has picked up international sales on Oscar-winning Stefan Ruzowitzky’s next feature Hinterland to star Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread) and Murathan Muslu.
Principal photography is set to take place in autumn on the period crime thriller co-written by Ruzowitzky with Robert Buchschwenter and Hanno Pinter. The story takes place in Vienna at the beginning of the 1920s as a former detective returns home after seven years in a Russian PoW camp and joins forces with a forensic specialist on a murder investigation.
Square One Entertainment has picked up...
- 2/12/2019
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
Anyone who casts an eye over the long-form dramas premiering at this year’s Berlin Intl. Film Festival can find many series that are ripe for picking by new territories — as well as plenty that have already been pounced on by in-the-know buyers.
Since it launched five years ago, the Berlinale Series program has become a launch pad for European scripted shows. Meanwhile, its Drama Series Days, with Market Screenings framing such series as “Harassment” (pictured) this year, has grown as a financing and acquisitions event at the European Film Market.
“In the current audiovisual landscape, drama series are an important part of our industry,” says Berlinale director Dieter Kosslick. “That’s why we wanted to include them not only at the Efm, but also in our public program.”
For their part, producers and distributors say they like launching series at a festival such as Berlin. It lends a certain...
Since it launched five years ago, the Berlinale Series program has become a launch pad for European scripted shows. Meanwhile, its Drama Series Days, with Market Screenings framing such series as “Harassment” (pictured) this year, has grown as a financing and acquisitions event at the European Film Market.
“In the current audiovisual landscape, drama series are an important part of our industry,” says Berlinale director Dieter Kosslick. “That’s why we wanted to include them not only at the Efm, but also in our public program.”
For their part, producers and distributors say they like launching series at a festival such as Berlin. It lends a certain...
- 2/11/2019
- by Tim Dams
- Variety Film + TV
Amazon’s Hanna and Netflix’s Swedish drama Quicksand are among the show that will launch at the TV portion of the Berlin Film Festival.
The adaptation of Hanna, which is produced by NBC Universal International Studios and Working Title TV, will bring stars including Joel Kinnaman and Mireille Enos as well as newcomer Esmé Creed-Miles to the city for Berlinale Series.
Netflix’s Störst av allt (Quicksand), which is the Svod’s first Swedish original and stars Hanna Ardéhn and Felix Sandman, is also coming to the Zoo Palast, alongside Sky-backed German drama 8 Days, the second season of Keshet’s Israeli drama False Flag and the third season of Danish money laundering drama Follow the Money.
Four episodes of French time-traveling drama Il était une seconde fois (Twice Upon A Time) will screen, while Austrian drama M – A City Hunts a Murderer, which is David Schalko’s...
The adaptation of Hanna, which is produced by NBC Universal International Studios and Working Title TV, will bring stars including Joel Kinnaman and Mireille Enos as well as newcomer Esmé Creed-Miles to the city for Berlinale Series.
Netflix’s Störst av allt (Quicksand), which is the Svod’s first Swedish original and stars Hanna Ardéhn and Felix Sandman, is also coming to the Zoo Palast, alongside Sky-backed German drama 8 Days, the second season of Keshet’s Israeli drama False Flag and the third season of Danish money laundering drama Follow the Money.
Four episodes of French time-traveling drama Il était une seconde fois (Twice Upon A Time) will screen, while Austrian drama M – A City Hunts a Murderer, which is David Schalko’s...
- 1/17/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon Prime Video’s upcoming high-concept thriller “Hanna” will debut at the 2019 Berlinale Series, with its stars – Esme Creed-Miles, Joel Kinnaman and Mireille Enos – expected in Berlin for its premiere. Netflix also features in the lineup and will debut “Quicksand,” its first Swedish original.
A roster of seven shows also includes big-ticket Sky Germany disaster series “8 Days,” the second season of hit Israeli drama “False Flag,” and an Austrian thriller, “M – A City Hunts a Murderer,” inspired by a 1930s Fritz Lang classic. There are also high-end shows out of France and Denmark at the fifth edition of Berlinale Series.
The Berlinale Series and Drama Series Days, held in the German capital in February alongside the film festival, are fast becoming a fixture on the crowded calendar of international TV events.
Amazon’s “Hanna” is written by David Farr, who adapted John Le Carre’s spy novel “The Night Manager...
A roster of seven shows also includes big-ticket Sky Germany disaster series “8 Days,” the second season of hit Israeli drama “False Flag,” and an Austrian thriller, “M – A City Hunts a Murderer,” inspired by a 1930s Fritz Lang classic. There are also high-end shows out of France and Denmark at the fifth edition of Berlinale Series.
The Berlinale Series and Drama Series Days, held in the German capital in February alongside the film festival, are fast becoming a fixture on the crowded calendar of international TV events.
Amazon’s “Hanna” is written by David Farr, who adapted John Le Carre’s spy novel “The Night Manager...
- 1/17/2019
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
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