US outfit Miramax is partnering with the Doha Film Institute (DFI) to create a writer’s program aimed at supporting local Arab-language content across the Middle East and Africa.
The DFI x Miramax writer’s program will provide training, mentorship, and production and distribution resources for both emerging and established Arab writers, offering critical support for their projects, contributing to the expansion of the region’s series content output, and strengthening Qatar’s position as a leading media hub in the Middle East.
The program will involve the selection of up to five local and regional projects to develop each year. It will also tie into DFI’s existing series programs, with the goal of extending the reach and impact of these initiatives.
Importantly, the collaboration will also see supported projects given direct access to Miramax’s vast distribution and sales network to reach audiences worldwide.
“At Miramax, we believe great storytelling knows no borders,” says Miramax CEO, Jonathan Glickman. “This partnership with DFI is a powerful step toward amplifying emerging Arabic-language voices and sharing their stories with audiences worldwide.”
Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, CEO of DFI, adds: “Our partnership with Miramax marks an exciting new chapter in championing original Arabic-language content that reflects the depth and diversity of our region.”
Miramax has had a strong year, with highlights including Oscar-nominated The Holdovers; The Beekeeper (which grossed over $160m worldwide); indie-hit Strange Darling; Golden Globe-nominated series The Gentlemen, which has been renewed for a second season; and the fourth installment of the Bridget Jones franchise - Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.
Forthcoming Miramax projects include: Roofman, starring Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst and Peter Dinklage, set to premiere 10 October, and Colman Domingo’s directorial debut Scandalous, starring Sydney Sweeney and David Jonsson.
