Mohammed Saeed Harib's forthcoming Rashid & Rajab, an Image Nation Abu Dhabi film that premieres in the UAE ahead of a general release over Eid, has been acquired by international sales agent AGC International, in a deal signed at the Cannes Film Festival.
AGC International, the international sales and distribution arm of AGC Studios in Hollywood, will provide Rashid & Rajab with a platform to be distributed to exhibitors, broadcasters and streaming platforms globally. The comedy already has distribution in the Mena region via Tanweer Films, with its high-profile Eid release throughout the GCC and an Egyptian release scheduled for later in the summer.
Shot on location in Dubai, the UAE production is the first live-action feature film from Emirati director Harib, best known as the creator of the popular animated TV series Freej. The film was produced by Emirati filmmakers Ali Mostafa (The Worthy and From A to B) and Majid Alansari (Zinzana), alongside Breakout Film's Rami Yasin (Shabab Sheyab).
The family-friendly body-swap comedy follows wealthy Emirati executive Rashid (Marwan Abdullah Saleh) and carefree Egyptian fast-food deliveryman Rajab (Shadi Alfons), who switch bodies after a freak accident on their way to work. As they desperately look for a way to revert to their former selves, the unlikely pair gain a different perspective into each other’s lives.
The deal follows recent successes from Image Nation Abu Dhabi, with its legal drama Justice picked up globally as a Netflix Original, and a Best Documentary Academy Award for its international co-production Free Solo. Stuart Ford, chairman and chief executive of AGC Studios, said: "We are delighted to be working with our partners at Image Nation Abu Dhabi to bring this delightful comedy to worldwide audiences, and this helps confirm AGC's support for growing Arabic cinema worldwide."
Ben Ross, chief content officer at Image Nation Abu Dhabi, added: "Having Stuart and AGC Studios supporting Rashid & Rajab on an international level is a testament to the film's universal charm and appeal. We can't wait for audiences in the UAE and around the world to see the film."
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Three ways to boost your credit score
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MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
'Gold'
Director:Anthony Hayes
Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes
Rating:3/5
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
Company profile
Name: Oulo.com
Founder: Kamal Nazha
Based: Dubai
Founded: 2020
Number of employees: 5
Sector: Technology
Funding: $450,000
EGYPT SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Ahmed El Shennawy, Mohamed El Shennawy, Mohamed Abou-Gabal, Mahmoud Abdel Rehem "Genesh"
Defenders: Ahmed Elmohamady, Ahmed Hegazi, Omar Gaber, Ali Gazal, Ayman Ahsraf, Mahmoud Hamdy, Baher Elmohamady, Ahmed Ayman Mansour, Mahmoud Alaa, Ahmed Abou-Elfotouh
Midfielders: Walid Soliman, Abdallah El Said, Mohamed Elneny, Tarek Hamed, Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Hassan, Amr Warda, Nabil Emad
Forwards: Ahmed Ali, Mohamed Salah, Marwan Mohsen, Ahmed "Kouka" Hassan.
The UAE squad for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games
The jiu-jitsu men’s team: Faisal Al Ketbi, Zayed Al Kaabi, Yahia Al Hammadi, Taleb Al Kirbi, Obaid Al Nuaimi, Omar Al Fadhli, Zayed Al Mansoori, Saeed Al Mazroui, Ibrahim Al Hosani, Mohammed Al Qubaisi, Salem Al Suwaidi, Khalfan Belhol, Saood Al Hammadi.
Women’s team: Mouza Al Shamsi, Wadeema Al Yafei, Reem Al Hashmi, Mahra Al Hanaei, Bashayer Al Matrooshi, Hessa Thani, Salwa Al Ali.
Our legal advisor
Rasmi Ragy is a senior counsel at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Prosecutor in Egypt with more than 40 years experience across the GCC.
Education: Ain Shams University, Egypt, in 1978.
2020 Oscars winners: in numbers
- Parasite – 4
- 1917– 3
- Ford v Ferrari – 2
- Joker – 2
- Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood – 2
- American Factory – 1
- Bombshell – 1
- Hair Love – 1
- Jojo Rabbit – 1
- Judy – 1
- Little Women – 1
- Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl) – 1
- Marriage Story – 1
- Rocketman – 1
- The Neighbors' Window – 1
- Toy Story 4 – 1
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
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- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
