Under the title ‘Big Bets, Big Audiences! The Rise of Commercial Arab Productions,’ the Arab Cinema Center (ACC), in collaboration with MBC STUDIOS and the Marché du Film at the Cannes Film Festival, highlights the new phase of maturity in commercial Arab productions. The event will take place on Thursday, May 14th, from 11 am to 1:30 pm at Plage des Palmes.
 
The panel, moderated by Ali Jaafar (Head of Films and Global Series at MBC STUDIOS), explores what is fueling the current momentum of Arab productions and how producers are optimizing budgets to achieve mass success across both the box office and streaming platforms. It also reviews how to build a sustainable model for commercially successful storytelling.
 
Panelists include Samar Akrouk, Managing Director at MBC STUDIOS and Group Director of Production at MBC GROUP; Tareq Al Ibrahim, General Manager of MBC1, Drama, and Shahid Content; Hana Alomair, writer, director, and Chairperson of the Saudi Cinema Association; Mohammed Hefzy, Co-Founder of Film Clinic; and Dhafer L’Abidine, actor, writer, producer, and director.
 
About Marché du Film
The Marché du Film, the business hub of the Festival de Cannes, is the world’s largest international gathering of film professionals. As a key step in the development, production, and distribution of films globally, the market brings together over 12,500 professionals (including producers, distributors, festival representatives, film institutions, buyers, and financiers) from more than 120 countries to exchange ideas, projects, and strike deals in a unique environment.
Website: www.marchedufilm.com
 
About Arab Cinema Center
Founded by MAD Solutions in 2015, the Arab Cinema Center (ACC) is a non-profit international platform promoting Arab cinema. Registered in Berlin, the ACC provides its partner companies with a tangible presence at all major film festivals and markets, organizes industry events, and publishes special editions of the Arab Cinema Magazine.
Website: http://acc.film/
 
About MBC STUDIOS
MBC STUDIOS is a leading global production powerhouse established to realize the unrivaled storytelling potential of the Middle East. With the rising demand for high-quality original Arabic content, it conceptualizes and produces compelling stories for cinema, television, and on-demand platforms. It also serves as a prominent hub for international productions filming in Saudi Arabia and the region, offering comprehensive resources to facilitate successful filming experiences while investing in local talent and infrastructure.
Website: www.mbc.net
For press inquiries, please contact: Sasha Gemayel, Sr. Group PR Manager & Corporate Communication, MBC GROUP