Saudi Film Barakah Meets Barakah Releases in UAE Theaters

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Film Stars and Public Figures Attend the Special Screening

Saudi Film Barakah Meets Barakah Releases in UAE Theaters


MAD Solutions, in collaboration with Film Clinic-Indie Film Distribution (FCIFD), is set to release director
Mahmoud Sabbagh's Saudi film Barakah Meets Barakah in cinemas across the UAE on Thursday, the 8th
of September, closely followed by a release throughout the Arab world.

Both companies have organized a special screening event for the film to be held on September 6th at VOX cinemas, Mall of the Emirates, in Dubai. The film's cast and crew will be in attendance at the event, along with a large number of artists, critics, media persons, and public figures, including Sahar Madani, wife of the Saudi Consul; Sudanese director Amjad Abu Al Ala; Egyptian actress Doaa Agrama; Critic Bashar Ibrahim, Editorial Manager at Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF).

The film has just been selected to represent Saudi Arabia at the 2017 Academy Awards by competing in the Best Foreign-Language Film category. The 60th BFI London Film Festival (5 - 16 October) has also announced that Barakah Meets Barakah will also compete in its Laugh Gala.

Moreover, the film has also been selected to compete within the Special Presentations section at the 41st Toronto International Film Festival (8 - 18 September) following its world premiere at the 66th Berlinale where it won the Ecumenical Jury Prize within the Forum section.

Barakah Meets Barakah tells the story of two lovers who are united in an environment hostile to dating of any kind. He is Barakah, the municipal civil servant from Jeddah, who is also an amateur actor in a theatrical troupe. She is Barakah, a wild beauty, who functions as a crowd-puller for her stylish mother's boutique and runs her own widely-seen vlog. They both defy customs and traditions, as well as the religious police, using modern communication technologies and traditional dating methods.

MAD Solutions, alongside Film Clinic-Indie Film Distribution (FCIFD), has announced the acquisition of the Arab world distribution rights to the Saudi film through the French sales agency MPM Film.

Produced by El Housh Productions, Barakah Meets Barakah stars Fatima Al Banawi, Hisham Fageeh, Sami Hifny, Abdulmajeed Alruhaidi and Khairia Nazmi. The film is written and directed by Mahmoud Sabbagh. Born in Jeddah, Mahmoud Sabbagh is a Saudi director who studied Documentary Filmmaking in New York. He later worked as an independent film director and producer in Saudi Arabia. His repertoire includes the documentary The Story of Hamza Shahata (2013), TV series Cash (2014) and his feature debut film Barakah Meets Barakah.

Barakah Meets Barakah will be released on Thursday, 8 September in UAE cinemas, including VOX cinemas at Mall of the Emirates, Al Hamra Mall, City Center Fujairah, Yas Mall, and Reel Cinemas at Dubai Mall.