Chakra launched Front Row in Dubai in 2003, acquiring foreign- language films and documentaries for distribution. The first films he acquired were the Brazilian CITY OF GOD and Lars von Trier’s DOGVILLE. Today, Front Row acquires roughly 120 Arab and international titles a year, a third of which are released in theaters. To expand in the GCC, it partnered with muvi Cinemas in KSA and KNCC, which operates over 80 screens in Kuwait through its distribution arm, International Film Distribution. FRFE introduced its first film production, the Arabic adaptation of the 2016 Italian PERFECT STRANGERS, which Netflix picked as its first Arabic original feature.
HIS WEAKEST CREATURES: Front Row reteamed with Film Clinic and director Omar Hilal for this high-profile dark comedy. Starring Ahmed Helmy and Hend Sabri, the Cairo-set production explores animal EXHIB. & DISTRIBUTORS MARIO HADDAD SR. CEO | LEBANESE MARIO HADDAD JR. PRESIDENT OF DISTRIBUTION | LEBANESE EMPIRE INTERNATIONAL | LEBANON, EMPIRE INTERNATIONAL GULF | UAE, ALLIED FILM DISTRIBUTORS (AFD) | EGYPT CAREER HIGHLIGHT(S) : Founded in 1919 as a chain of movie theaters, Empire is Sony Pictures\' exclusive theatrical distributor in the MENA region. Empire International Gulf (Dubai) and Allied Film Distributors (Cairo) cooperate with the Beirut head office. In 2022, the company partnered with BG Film, a Turkish film production and distribution company, to bring Turkish movies to the region. In 2021, Mario Jr. Haddad joined Gianluca Chakra in launching Front Row Productions, which debuted with Netflix\'s first Arabic film and adaptation of the Italian film PERFECT STRANGERS. welfare and moral resilience.
PEANUTS: Front Row and Abajour Productions backed the directorial debut of Lebanese star Fouad Yammine. The Beirut-set mockumentary offers a darkly comedic portrait of existence.
A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH: Co-produced by Front Row with Egypt’s Film Clinic, this poignant drama world premiered in the Official Competition at the Red Sea International Film Festival.
