Miramax has forged a substantial partnership with the Doha Film Institute, aimed at supporting the development of premium Arabic-language scripted content across the Middle East and North Africa.
The U.S. film and TV studio, which is owned by Qatar’s beIN Media Group and Paramount Global, has announced a DFI for Miramax writer’s program that will provide training, mentorship and production and distribution funding for emerging and established Arab screenwriters.
The program will involve the selection of up to five local and regional projects to develop each year, “offering critical support for the 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,” according to a joint statement.
The partnership with Miramax ties into the DFI’s existing film and TV programs and labs with the goal of extending the reach and impact of these initiatives by offering not just development support but also direct access “to Miramax’s vast distribution and sales network” to reach global audiences, the statement noted.
“At Miramax, we believe great storytelling knows no borders,” said the studio’s CEO, Jonathan Glickman. “This partnership with DFI is a powerful step toward amplifying emerging Arabic-language voices and sharing their stories with audiences worldwide.”
Commented DFI CEO Fatma Hassan Alremaihi (pictured above): “At Doha Film Institute, we believe in the transformative power of storytelling to unite, inspire, and celebrate cultural identity. Our partnership with Miramax marks an exciting new chapter in championing original Arabic-language content that reflects the depth and diversity of our region. By creating compelling stories in our own voice, we not only preserve our heritage but also bring communities closer together through the universal language of cinema.”
The DFI, which is expanding its scope with the launch of the new Doha Film Festival in November, has been a major Arab indie film industry driver over the past 15 years and has more recently also been providing funding for Arab TV series.
