Front Row Acquires MENA Rights to “Inside Sand”

Dubai-based distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment has acquired all MENA rights to the Saudi Arabian drama In sandthe winner of the Jury Prize at the second Red Sea International Film Festival earlier this month.

Front Row will release the film in cinemas in Saudi Arabia in the first quarter of 2023 under the Front Row Arabia label, the joint venture with leading local exhibitor Muvi Cinemas.

The intricately twisted desert epic follows a young tobacconist who breaks away from his trading convoy to quickly return to his village, where his wife is about to give birth to their first child.

He travels alone and is attacked by thieves who assume he is dead. His journey becomes a quest for wilderness survival with the added threat of a wolf chasing him.

The drama is Saudi filmmaker Moe Alatawi’s debut feature and features an all-Saudi cast led by Ra’ed Alshammari, Adwa Fahd, Muhand Alsaleh, Fatima Alsharif and Obaid Alwadaani.

In sand was the first Saudi Arabian feature film shot in the country’s burgeoning new megacity and location, NEOM, which is also a production partner with Riyadh-based production company Alsarid Films and the Saudi Film Commission.

To make the production as authentic as possible, the filmmaker brought a lifelike wolf to the set.

“We are delighted to be working with him In sand team to release the film,” said Front Row CEO Gianluca Chakra.

“We are committed to support and support young Saudi filmmakers In sand is the perfect example of the quality of their work. It is a visually stunning work that deserves to be seen on the big screen.”

Producer Reem Alatawi noticed this In sand is one of the first local films set against the bygone world of camel convoys and desert lifestyle in Saudi Arabia.

“I think it will be the biggest draw for local audiences and also worldwide. When the film premiered at Red Sea FF, we were amazed by the response from local audiences,” she said.

“They felt connected to the film through authentic details, dialect and realistic vocabulary. It’s been an exciting journey spanning three years and we’re delighted to be working with Front Row to bring what we’ve all been working on over the years to audiences in the MENA region.”

In sand joins a growing number of Saudi Arabian feature film titles on Front Row’s MENA slate, including the recently released Telfaz 11-produced wrestling world drama Sattar as well as 2021 action thrillers Itinerary 10 and upcoming doc blue spiritabout the Al Hilal football team who are said to be close to signing Cristiano Ronaldo.

Recent releases outside the MENA region include The worst person in the world, crimes of the future, The son and anime hit One-piece film: red.