'Serendipity'

Source: Miramax

‘Serendipity’

Miramax has become the latest studio to sign a partnership with Qatar’s Film Committee at Media City Qatar, with a partnership for co-developing titles from MENA region and Turkey.

Under the agreement, the Film Committee will executive produce the development of one original scripted series and one film.

It will begin with an Arabic-language version of Peter Chelsom’s 2001 romantic comedy Serendipity, which was produced by Miramax.

Miramax CEO Jonathan Glickman discussed the title and partnership on stage at Doha Film Festival’s Industry Days.

“The first one we’re going to do is romantic comedy Serendipity,” said Glickman, in a Fireside Chat session titled ‘Producing For A Global Audience’ with media strategist Karim Sarkis. “That’s a story that lends itself to all different worlds, and I’m excited to see how an Arabic language and Arabic culture version of that story comes about.”

The projects are being developed by Miramax MENA+T through its Doha regional headquarters, managed by head of content Lucy Dertavitian. Miramax is owned by Qatar’s beIN Media Group and Paramount Global.

The partnership will include both original titles, and and titles based on Miramax IP.

“We’re working together to find mid-career writers from the region, but also using the local universities,” said Glickman of future projects from the pact. “These kids are going to have the expertise on what the stories are, but our knowledge on how to get these stories out to the world at large.”

“This partnership personifies Qatar’s vision to develop the very best talent locally, regionally and in the wider region, showcasing authentic stories from the Arab world,” said Hassan Al Thawadi, chairman of the Film Committee, in a statement. “Working with an industry leader such as Miramax underlines Qatar’s ambition and commitment to build a world-class film industry right here in Doha.”

It is the second major partnership announced on the opening of the Industry Days, after a development and financing pact with Neon, another US indie studio.

Qatar has also boosted its cash rebate to a potential 50%, on a day of major business for the industry.

Opportunity

Earlier this year Miramax announced a partnership with Qatar’s Doha Film Institute – which organises the film festival – to provide training, mentorship, and production and distribution resources for both emerging and established Arab writers.

In his Doha talk, Glickman spoke about the need for studios to develop more original ideas, saying that established franchises such as Harry Potter and even James Bond came from humble beginnings.

“They’re not things that you can put in a computer and say ‘let’s generate what IP is’,” said Glickman. “The business is in an interesting spot; studios want those things, but they need to replenish them. That’s where the opportunity is moving forward.”

He believes that the trend for video game adaptations has not yet peaked, with plans for such projects in the works at Miramax. “We are definitely focused on it and seeing what works around the world,” said Glickman. “[The video game industry] is a global industry; there are games that are huge in Eastern Europe, that haven’t been seen anywhere else in the world, so there’s opportunity to take stories from there.”

In his previous role as president of MGM’s film division, Glickman oversaw production and release on Sam Mendes’s James Bond films Skyfall and Spectre; and continued overseeing No Time To Die despite leaving the company in January 2020.

Asked what he would do with the Bond franchise now, following its sale from Eon Productions to Amazon earlier this year, Glickman said “Thank god I’m out of that. I used to wake up and sweat every morning that I was getting a call from London. And so I’m relaxed and I can just be a fan.”

He said Amy Pascal and David Heyman, who are producing the next Bond film for Amazon, are “people I know very well… they know what they’re doing”.

The session closed a busy first day at DFF’s Industry Days, which continue tomorrow with a closed-door session with A24’s Daniel Katz.

DFF runs until November 28.

Topics