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Alaa Karkouti joins Buyers in Focus panel at TIFF to explore film sales and distribution strategies
Alaa Karkouti joins Buyers in Focus panel at TIFF to explore film sales and distribution strategies
Alaa Karkouti, Co-Founder of the Arab Cinema Center and CEO of MAD Solutions, is set to speak at the Buyers in Focus panel during the 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), taking place on Sunday, September 7th, from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm.Moderated by Kelly Townsend, editor at Canada’s Playback magazine, the panel — titled ‘Buyers in Focus: Canada, Chile, Egypt, USA’—will feature a lineup of prominent industry leaders including Laurie May, Co-President and Co-Founder of Elevation Pictures, which launched at TIFF in 2013 and has since become Canada’s largest independent film company; and Juliana Jacobsen, Partner and Chief Content Officer at BF Distribution, Latin America’s leading film distributor.
Also joining the panel will be Sarah Colvin, Vice President of Acquisitions at NEON, the bold US distributor behind Palme d’Or winners such as PARASITE, TITANE, and ANATOMY OF A FALL, as well as acclaimed documentaries including FLEE (Oscar-nominated in three categories), APOLLO 11, HONEYLAND, and ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED by Laura Poitras, along with TIFF selections PRESENCE, THE END, and THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG.
Karkouti will offer insights from his experience as a leading buyer and distributor, discussing the motivations behind acquisition decisions, navigating the festival circuit, and adapting to shifting audience trends and platform demands.
MAD Solutions will have a notable presence at this year’s TIFF, showcasing THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB by Kaouther Ben Hania — Tunisia’s official submission for the 98th Academy Awards, for which MAD Distribution handles cultural and theatrical rights in the Arab World — along with PALESTINE 36 by Annemarie Jacir, Palestine’s official submission.
Buyers in Focus is a series of moderated panel conversations featuring leading regional and international acquisition and distribution executives, offering an inside look at the evolving strategies, challenges, and opportunities shaping today’s film marketplace.
In these candid discussions, top film buyers will share insights on how content is sourced, evaluated, and acquired, as well as how filmmakers can better position their projects for success in an increasingly competitive landscape.
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