Abu Dhabi
, UAE
- August 24, 2011:
Imagenation Abu Dhabi announced an exclusive international sales agreement with Fortissimo Films today, securing world-wide distribution for the first slate of local and Arabic language film projects being developed, financed and produced by the company.
The announcement follows the recent distribution agreement with Empire International for the MENA region, and gives Imagenation Abu Dhabi's first local productions global reach with the support of these two renowned industry partners.
The multi-year, multi-picture agreement will begin with the international distribution of Imagenation Abu Dhabi's first two Emirati productions - the coming-of-age story Sea Shadow by celebrated Emirati director Nawaf Al-Janahi (The Circle), and the Arabian supernatural thriller Djinn, by renowned director Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Poltergeist).
On announcing the deal, Mohammed Al Mubarak, Chairman of Imagenation Abu Dhabi commented:" Fortissimo has a long and successful track-record of taking emerging film industries to a world-wide audience. They work closely with their partners to nurture and effectively position films across a number of markets, and it was this experience, involvement and commitment to the industry that we sought in our international sales agent. Through our new partnerships with both Fortissimo and Empire, the strength of Imagenation Abu Dhabi's content will now be matched by the strength of our distribution network." Michael Garin, CEO of Imagenation Abu Dhabi, continued: "With their extensive industry knowledge, Fortissimo will not only be an important partner in the distribution of our films internationally, but also in the development of our future film projects. They will provide us with real time data on our existing projects while also helping us to determine the type of films we will develop going forward, all with increased market awareness." Michael J. Werner, Chairman of Fortissimo, added: "We are witnessing the creation of a new, unique and talented source for international cinema and we are delighted to have the opportunity to work with Imagenation Abu Dhabi and the amazing slate of projects that the company is putting together. The diversity of the slate and the care and strategizing that is going into the development of each project means that these films have real potential to resonate with international festivals, journalists, distributors and audiences the world over." Both Djinn and Sea Shadow are currently in post-production having completed principal photography in the UAE. International launch plans for both titles are yet to be confirmed.
Renowned genre master Tobe Hooper returns to form with Djinn, a powerful story of a young Emirati couple who move into a new luxury high-rise apartment only to find they have entered the nightmarish world of djinn. Sea Shadow follows a young Emirati boy and girl growing up in a small seaside village, who struggle with tradition and convention in their journey towards adulthood.
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