Joy Awards 2024 unveil winners in star-studded event in Riyadh

22 January 2024

Joy Awards 2024 unveil winners in star-studded event in Riyadh

The vibrant city of Riyadh once again set the stage for the biggest event on its annual entertainment calendar as the highly anticipated Joy Awards returned for its fourth edition on Saturday 20 January.

Part of Riyadh Season and presented by the General Entertainment Authority (GeA) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Joy Awards 2024 recognised and honoured some of the biggest names in music, cinema, television, sports, and more from the Arab world and beyond.

The star-studded event, co-organised by MBC GROUP, was graced by His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the GeA, alongside a host of regional and global celebrities.

Special guests honoured and/or attended included Sir Anthony Hopkins, Kevin Costner, Mark Wahlberg, Jean Reno, Eva Longoria, Salman Khan, Martin Lawrence, Quincy Jones, Lang Lang, Alia Bhatt, Georgina Rodriguez, Anthony Anderson, Sam Worthington, Paul Anderson, directors Zach Schneider and Doug Liman, and the global sports stars Tyson Fury, John Cena, and Francis Ngannou.

Joining in attendance were prominent Arab and international journalists and media personalities, as well as notable figures and distinguished invitees.

Supported by the Saudi Vision 2030’s Quality of Life Program, the Joy Awards 2024 began with arrivals on the lavender carpet, with proceedings broadcast live on MBC1, MBC MASR, MBC IRAQ, and MBC5, in addition to via Shahid, the world’s leading Arabic streaming platform.

The event featured a star opening with Wissam Breidy and Carmen Bsaibes, followed by the duo presenting segments to unveil the names of the Joy Awards 2024 winners, spanning both individual and production categories. The stage, meanwhile, lit up thanks to a number of performances by artists including Abdul Majeed Abdullah, Amr Diab, Assala, Sherine, the legendary Gloria Gaynor, Lang Lang, Bebe Rexha, and legendary artist Nagat El-Sagheera.

Furthermore, acclaimed international music composer Claudio Constantini delivered a captivating musical composition as part of a poignant short film entitled “Message to Those Departed”. The piece served as a heartfelt tribute to those in art, culture, and media within the Arab world who left us over the past year.

The evening concluded with the winners and performers gathering on stage to capture a commemorative photo with HE Alalshikh.

AND THE WINNERS ARE…

CINEMA

Best Film
Sattar

Best Actress (Film)
Nelly Karim (Voy! Voy! Voy)

Best Actor (Film)
Karim Abdelaziz (Beit El-Ruby)

—

TELEVSION

Best TV Series
Crystal

Best Actress (TV Series)
Rahaf Mohammad (Brahim Fe El-Beit)

Best Actor (TV Series)
Saad Aziz (Sikkat Safar)

Best Newcomer (TV Series)
Walid Qashran (Studio 23)

—

MUSIC

Best Song
Ya Leil W Yal Ein (Al-Shami)

Best Female Artist
Assala Nasri

Best Male Artist
Ayed

Best Newcomer
Talal Sam

—

DIGITAL

Best Social Media Influencer (Female)
Bibi Alabdulmohsen

Best Social Media Influencer (Male)
Ahmed Al-Qahtani (ShoNgxBoNg)

—

SPORT

Best Female Sports Personality
Ons Jabeur

Best Male Sports Personality
Abdullah Al-Rubaie

—

HONORARY AWARDS

HE Alalshikh granted a number of recipients a special Entertainment Industry Honorary Award. They include esteemed maestro and music arranger Walid Fayed, Bollywood star Alia Bhatt, renowned pianist Lang Lang, director Zach Schneider, US actor and comedian Martin Lawrence, the production team behind “Taht-El-Wesaya” (TV series starring Mona Zaki), legendary Kuwaiti actor Mohammed Al-Mansor, Lebanese singer Najwa Karam, Mohamed Abdel Motaal (General Manager for MBC MASR), Fadel Zahreddine (Group Director of Emerging Media at MBC GROUP), and Zaki Hassanien (CEO of Benchmark).

The Joy Awards 2024 Lifetime Achievement honour was presented to several recipients. They are Hollywood star Sir Anthony Hopkins and Kevin Costner, music producer Quincy Jones (whose son accepted the award on his behalf), Saudi singing legend Rabeh Saqer, renowned Saudi actor Ali Al-Mdfa, Egyptian actress Essad Youniss, and Syrian actress Muna Wassef. An award was also granted to the legendary Egyptian singer and actress Nagat El-Sagheera.

The internationally acclaimed Lebanese fashion designer Elie Saab received the Diamond Entertainment Industry Award, while Hollywood’s Eva Longoria was awarded Personality of the Year.

Last but not least, the highly coveted Leader of Arab Art honour – awarded only once in the Joy Awards – was presented to the acclaimed Egyptian actor Adel Emam, who addressed the audience with a recorded message. The award was received on his behalf by his sons, director Rami Imam and actor Mohamed Emam.

What sets the Joy Awards apart from others is that the audience/viewer chooses the winners from a number of categories and subcategories via the official app. Each user is allowed one vote per category.

The Joy Awards are brought to you by the General Entertainment Authority (GeA) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and are co-hosted by MBC GROUP.

MBC GROUP is the largest and leading media company in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

[Source: MBC press release]

MBC GROUP announces ground-breaking cinematic milestone with “Sukkar”

14 December 2023

MBC GROUP announces ground-breaking cinematic milestone with “Sukkar”

MBC GROUP, the largest and leading media company in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, announces the extraordinary success of its first-ever Arabic-language musical production.

In a ground-breaking cinematic milestone within the MENA, “Sukkar” – starring the rising Khaleeji talent, Hala Al Turk in one of her biggest roles to date – has amassed over $2 million at the box office so far.

Since its theatrical debut in October 2023, “Sukkar” has enchanted audiences across the Arab world, creating a first-of-its-kind cinematic phenomenon that has never been witnessed before in the region.

Created by Heba Mishari Hamada and directed by Tamer Mahdy, “Sukkar” features a unique blend of original music, captivating storytelling, and family-friendly content that has resonated strongly with viewers, contributing to its remarkable box office performance.

MBC GROUP leads the film’s production, alongside Aroma Productions, which managed cinematic execution under the supervision of MBC STUDIOS.

Christina Wayne, Managing Director at MBC STUDIOS said: “The achievement of surpassing $2 million at the box office marks an impressive breakthrough for the region, particularly within the genre of musicals. ‘Sukkar’ is not only achieving tremendous success, but it is also setting a new standard for cinematic excellence, reaffirming the region’s appetite for diverse, high-quality, and culturally resonant storytelling.

“The ongoing success of ‘Sukkar’ reflects the sustained demand from Arab families who continue to head to theatres to watch the movie. This success will no doubt pave the way for future endeavours in the realm of musical filmmaking, showcasing the potential for original content and narratives that enchant our audiences.”

“Sukkar” follows the journey of Sukkar (played by Al Turk) and her friends who live in an orphanage, waking up every day with hopes of transforming their lives into something more meaningful and colourful. Despite their hopeful outlook, the orphanage’s manager, Ratiba, proves to be exceptionally mean, exacerbating the challenges that the children face in their pursuit of a better life.

Featuring 12 original songs, “Sukkar” draws inspiration from the famous epistolary novel, “Daddy-Long-Legs” by American writer Jean Webster. All original songs for “Sukkar” were penned by Heba Mashari Hamada, with the soundtrack composed by Ehab Abdel Wahed, arranged by Ahmed Tareq Yehya, and produced by Joy Music Production. The renowned Egyptian singer Ahmed Saad has lent his voice to the film.

Starring alongside Al Turk in “Sukkar” is a host of young talent from around the GCC and Middle East, including Yasmina El Abd, Hajar Mohamad, Wedema Ahmad, Maria Gomaa, Moataz Heshaam, Mohamad Al Harbi, Bafly Reymond Isaac, and twins Abdullah and Omar Khaled.

Also starring in the musical in the adult roles are the prominent actors Magda Zaki, Mohamed Tharwat, and Reham Al Shanawany.

The family-friendly film, currently still in cinemas, is distributed by Empire Entertainment.

[Source: MBC press release]

MBC GROUP signs agreement to launch and operate satellite TV channel dedicated to celebrating the richness of Saudi culture

18 August 2023

MBC GROUP signs agreement to launch and operate satellite TV channel dedicated to celebrating the richness of Saudi culture

His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Culture for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, signed an agreement with Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim, the Chairman of MBC GROUP, to launch and operate a brand-new satellite television channel dedicated to celebrating the richness of Saudi culture.

The establishment of the new channel – which is set to broadcast a diverse range of programming focused on the Kingdom’s rich history, in addition to current events and offerings – is in line with the cultural objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, cementing the Kingdom’s position as a regional hub for culture.

Airing on MBC GROUP’s TV satellite network, as well as its streaming platform, Shahid, the channel – whose name will be unveiled in the coming period – aims to appeal to a wide-ranging audience including those who enjoy compelling storytelling such as documentaries, as well as more general entertainment.

Launching this September 2023, the channel – which also aims to further establish the presence of Saudi content within the global creative landscape – will focus on content that reflects the Kingdom’s rich heritage, majestic civilisation, and exciting culture. Ground-breaking programming is set to include expertly produced content on arts, literature, history and heritage, poetry, film and theatre, design, fashion, and dining and hospitality. Documentaries scheduled to feature include ones centred on the lives and memoirs of prominent Saudi figures, while other programming will comprise theatre performances and productions, Saudi arts and culture talks and showcases, as well as talk shows with renowned academics in their space.

In addition to the new channel, the agreement also incorporates the launch of a new digital media platform dedicated to similar content in the Saudi cultural space. Aimed at audiences who prefer to consume most of their content online, the platform will continuously publish articles, podcasts, and videos such as short documentaries.

Reflecting the ever-changing needs of both local and global audiences, both the upcoming channel and digital platform welcomes the involvement of Saudi talent and creatives, with MBC GROUP spearheading the transformation of their content into important cultural assets.

The establishment of the channel is in line with the cultural objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, cementing the Kingdom’s position as a regional hub for culture. This aligns with the aspirations of a new generation of audiences, content creators, and others, who are passionate about showcasing their country to the rest of the world. More information on both offerings will be released in due course. MBC GROUP is the largest and leading media company in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. [Source: MBC press release]

MBC’s Shahid strengthens partnerships across MENA region, achieves 3.5x growth in 12 months

9 May 2023

MBC’s Shahid strengthens partnerships across MENA region, achieves 3.5x growth in 12 months

Shahid, the world’s leading Arabic streaming platform powered by MBC GROUP, announced today its continuing success story on partnerships across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), which has led to a 3.5x growth over the past 12 months. Shahid’s strong and dynamic partnerships across various industries – including telcos, device manufacturers and other brands, banks, and airlines – have been key in driving growth and expansion.

TELCOS

Starting with telcos, Shahid has partnered with over 30 telecommunication operators across the region to date, offering smart and easy mobile billing for subscribers. Additionally, Shahid has agreements in place with 12+ partners so far that bundles complimentary Shahid subscriptions along with core mobile plans.

Major telcos to have partnered with Shahid include Saudi’s STC, Egypt’s Vodafone, and Orange Morocco. Not only do the partnerships focus on special deals for Shahid subscribers, but they have also resulted in creating exclusive experiences for telcos clients. For example, in November 2022, Vodafone RED customers in Egypt were given the exclusive opportunity to be part of the private screening of the Shahid Originals production, “Room 207”. Meanwhile, this January saw Orange Morocco supporting the launch of “Casa Street”, the first Moroccan series produced for Shahid Originals through various experiences and activations for viewers.

DEVICE MANUFACTURERS

During the past 12 months, Shahid announced partnerships with major device manufacturers in the region to bring exclusive bundles and subscription offers to customers. They include Samsung, LG, Elaraby, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s PlayStation, Hisense, and OPPO.

BRANDS

Shahid has also formed regional partnerships with Talabat, Anghami, Noon, Mastercard, Al Rifai and Careem, focusing on running co-branded subscription campaigns.

BANKING & PAYMENT PROVIDERS

Part of Shahid’s continued growth has been thanks to its ongoing facilitation of payment options for a highly diverse region. It expanded its payment methods through e-wallets, launching with Egypt’s Paymob and Vodafone Cash.

Shahid has also launched a variety of prepaid cards in 100+ retail distributors across 15 countries, including via Fawry, Jarir, Virgin Megastore, Sharaf DG, and Like4card.

As for recent banking agreements, Shahid has formed regional partnerships with Arab Bank and Emirates NBD Egypt.

AIRLINES

And finally, one major partnership to have been announced over the past year was that of Shahid joining forces with Emirates to offer premium content exclusively onboard its award-winning inflight entertainment system, ICE.

Announced in July 2022, the collaboration made Emirates ICE the only platform in the world – aside from the streaming service’s own premium-subscription online platform – to offer access to highly popular titles by Shahid Originals.

At time of debut, all Emirates customers enjoyed access to an extensive selection of over 135 hours of Shahid content from 15 programmes.

Commenting on Shahid’s growth in partnerships, Natasha Matos-Hemingway, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer at Shahid, stated: “We are delighted with the growth and expansion we have achieved over the past year, and we attribute much of our success to the strong partnerships we have formed across the MENA region.

“We look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationships with our partners, and delivering compelling storytelling, innovative digital offerings, and lifestyle experiences to our subscribers and fans.”

MBC GROUP is the largest and leading media company in the MENA region.

[Source: MBC press release]

MBC GROUP extends licensing deal with NBCUniversal

17 March 2023

MBC GROUP extends licensing deal with NBCUniversal

MBC GROUP, the largest and leading media company in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has extended its licensing deal with NBCUniversal to continue bringing the best of Hollywood movies by Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation to audiences across the region.

This latest multi-year extension forms part of a 20+ year ongoing relationship between MBC GROUP and NBCUniversal.

Sam Barnett, CEO of MBC GROUP commented: “We are pleased to extend our licensing deal with NBCUniversal. This deal allows us to bring top Hollywood titles to our audiences in the region.

Through our collaboration, we are not only able to expand the reach of NBCUniversal content but also to work together to offer a range of films to different groups of people. We can bring major action and drama franchises, as well as family-friendly animations, to our various demographics.”

Belinda Menendez, President & Chief Revenue Officer for NBCUniversal Global Distribution, said “We are delighted to extend our longstanding relationship with MBC Group through this new licensing deal. As a result of this agreement, MBC Group can ensure that their viewers throughout the Middle East and North Africa will have a front row seat to watch NBCUniversal’s blockbuster films for many years to come. From animated movies to action-packed thrillers, there truly is something for everyone in the family to enjoy!”

MBC GROUP’s newly extended licensing deal with NBCUniversal results in the company securing rights to broadcast a range of titles by Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation on MBC2 – the leading English-language movie channel in MENA.

This includes the showcase of first run box office hits for a free-to-air TV channel, such as “F9: The Fast Saga,” “The Boss Baby: Family Business,” “The Croods: A New Age” and “The Invisible Man”. Also included are the film franchises of “Bourne,” “Despicable Me,” “Jurassic Park” and “The Mummy.”

The extended licensing deal also sees titles appearing on Shahid, the world’s leading Arabic platform by MBC GROUP. Focusing on family fun, featured titles include “Shrek,” “Shrek 2,” “Sing,” “Trolls,” “The Secret Life of Pets,” “Minions,” “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax” and “Shark Tale.”

A GLOBAL HUB FOR THE MIDDLE EAST & BEYOND

In addition to its leading position in the MENA, MBC GROUP is also considered one of the world’s top media and broadcast organisations. Its award-winning streaming platform, Shahid, can be accessed across the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

MBC GROUP is also at the forefront of spearheading international exchanges of knowledge and expertise by inviting international companies, talent, and producers to become involved in Arabic-language titles. It also works with global entities to offer support and opportunities to MENA talent and producers worldwide.

[Source: MBC press release]