|
Michael Moore Film gets Middle East release
United Arab Emirates based Front Row Entertainment is planning to release Michael Mooreâs Fahrenheit 9/11 in the Middle East beginning on July 14 according to managing director Gianluca Chacra. The film will first be sent out on 18 screens in the United Arab Emirates and will be released in Syria (2 screens), Jordan (3 screens), Lebanon (10 screens) and Egypt (5 screens) six days later on July 20. Other territories which Front Row will handle include Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia â however, all of the above countries are awaiting censorship clearance. According to Chacra, Saudi Arabia âdoes not have theatres as interaction between males and females is forbidden, yet, theyâve offered to have it on one screen with different shows for females and males. Weâre scared most of these countries will have a problem (with censorship approval) due to the Saudi content in the film. Yet, with the Dubai Film Festival coming up, I think theyâll want to show the world theyâre quite democratic and open-minded.â | Here, you dropped your lips |
In terms of marketing the film, Front Row is getting a boost from organisations related to Hezbollah which have rung up from Lebanon to ask if there is anything they can do to support the film. And although Chacra says he and his company feel strongly that Fahrenheit is not anti-American, but anti-Bush, âwe canât go against these organisations as they could strongly blow-up boycott the film in Lebanon and Syria.â As it is too early to have materials available from the filmâs sales agent Wild Bunch, its US producer Miramax or distributor Lions Gate, Front Row created a teaser poster but declined a free set of materials from a printing press run by Pakistanis as this could be deemed as an inappropriate source - âcinemas in the UAE are often frequented by US Marines who come over from Iraq on the weekends.â Front Row, which also worked with Mooreâs Bowling For Columbine, is setting a precedent with Fahrenheit as it is the first documentary ever to be released theatrically in the territory. Bowling went straight to video and had a healthy run. Indeed, Moore is, explains Chacra, âconsidered an Arab supporter,â locally.
Posted by: Steve 2004-06-17 |
