Text and interview: Anastasia Lelyukh We continue our acquaintance with the Emirate film distributors, thanks to which every Thursday (the eve of the weekend in the Arab world), new premieres regularly appear in the UAE cinemas. My second interlocutor was John Chahin, general manager of Italia Film.
A bit of history
Italia Film is the largest buyer / distributor of American and European independent films in the Middle East region. In addition, since 1993 Italia Film has been the exclusive regional distributor of films by the American film company Walt Disney Pictures. In more than four decades of operation, Italia Film has distributed the largest number of independent feature films. On average, 55-60 prime for each year.
In 1970, Italia Film was appointed the distributor of National General Pictures, in 1972 - the exclusive distributor of AIP, in 1975 - the exclusive distributor of Lorimar, in 1975 - the sole distributor of the American television production company and subsidiary Warner Bros Lorimar, in 1977 - the exclusive a distributor in the Middle East region for an independent American film company that produced and distributed Orion Pictures.
In 2004, Italia Film acquired two cinemas with 23 cinemas in East Beirut and Tripoli (Lebanon). Since 2012, Italia Film has acquired distribution rights for films from DreamWorks Studios.
Today it has branches in all countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, including the UAE, as well as in Cairo (Egypt), Amman (Jordan), Beirut (Lebanon), Syria, Iraq, Iran and Sudan.
John, please tell us about the creation of Italia Film.
The company was established over 40 years ago.
Cinema and films - is your passion or just business for you?
First of all, of course, passion. And only then business.
How many films have Italia Film brought and shown in the UAE since its inception?
More than 600.
Please tell us about the plans of Italia Film Stars for 2013.
We want to surprise the audience with new blockbusters of good quality. This year we will show in the Emirate's cinemas: "Oz: The Great and Powerful" ("Oz The Great and Powerful"), "Iron Man 3" ("Iron Man 3"), cartoon "Monsters University" ("Monsters University") , "Lone Ranger", "Cartoon Planes", "Thor 2", "Frozen", "Parker" , “Java Heat”, “Two Guns',” “The Chronicles of Riddick: The Chronicles of Riddick 2.”
Do you collaborate with any other Hollywood movie studios or plan to do this in the near future?
Of course. This is the American film studio Walt Disney, of which we are a distributor in the Middle East. In addition, we are actively working with independent film companies - Focus Feature, Weinstein, Miramax. Soon, DreamWorks film studio will be added here.
We also work closely with several large independent film companies, such as Arclight, Film Nation, Inferno, Incentive.
By what criteria do you select films for the UAE and GCC countries?
We distribute all the films of those film companies and film studios with which we have signed contracts or we have the right to their exclusive distribution in the region of the Middle East and Africa. Nevertheless, we try not to bring films to the UAE that are not designed for commercial success or that are not suitable for the emirate’s market or culture.
In addition, we will never bring films here that can cause religious hatred, or those where there are naked scenes or scenes with drug use.
Based on your experience, can you say that the Russian-speaking community and tourists living or in the UAE are big movie buffs?
Yes, I know that they like to go to the movies. I can’t say that I see them in large numbers in the Emirate’s cinemas, but, clearly, the number of Russian-speaking spectators in the UAE has recently increased significantly.
What will your wishes be for readers of Russian Emirates magazine for 2013?
I would very much like to see Russian-speaking viewers more and more at our premieres. For those who live and work in the UAE, I wish success and good luck in all matters and undertakings. Those who come here to rest, have the best rest, so that they would like to come back here again and again.
And finally, we were very interested in learning about John’s personal preferences ...
Favorite movie genre? Action and romantic comedies.
Favorite movie? I love a lot of movies, with the exception of horror films.
Producer? Steven Spielberg and James Cameron.
Actor and actress? Actors: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Mel Gibson. Actresses: Charlize Theron, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet.
TV series? "24 hours" ("24 hours"), "S. S. I .: crime scene" ("CSI").
Musical group? Bon Jovi, Scorpions.
Kitchen and drink? Sushi, scotch tape.
www.italiafilm.com.lb
www.facebook.com/ItaliaFilmME
