Just weeks before the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah, a new regional distributor and sales operation has been launched in Saudi Arabia. TwentyOne Entertainment, led by former Universal and Disney executive Paul Chesney, will be attending the festival with its first acquisition, the film “Norah”. The company also launched Red Palm Pictures, a Saudi production operation, with a multi-picture deal with Saudi writer-director Tawfik Alzaidi.
The emergence of these new entities reflects the rapid growth of the film industry in Saudi Arabia, which now boasts the fastest-growing box office in the world. Local titles are also starting to gain traction in the mainstream. Chesney hopes that TwentyOne Entertainment and Red Palm Pictures will attract regional talent and contribute to the cinematic landscape of Saudi Arabia.
Speaking about the launch of TwentyOne Entertainment, Chesney stated, “There’s a lot of talent here. We want to really produce something that will say something on the screen here that’s unique and different and hasn’t been seen before. We want to change the narrative and make content on a Saudi scale.”
Chesney also acknowledged the growing appetite among Saudi audiences for local films, as demonstrated by the success of films like “Sattar”. He expressed the desire to create content that showcases the history of Saudi Arabia and tells untold stories. While Saudi Arabia is the primary focus for TwentyOne Entertainment, Chesney emphasized that they are not ignoring the rest of the Middle East and North Africa region.
In terms of distribution, Chesney stated that they are open to theatrical releases as well as streaming platforms. On the production side, they aim to create content for various mediums, including film, streaming, and documentaries. Chesney also acknowledged the presence of well-established companies in the MENA region, such as Mad Solutions and Front Row, and expressed a willingness to collaborate with them.
Chesney’s involvement with the region dates back to his time at Universal Pictures, where he looked after the company’s licensing markets, including the Middle East. However, he was drawn to the region by the significant changes taking place in the Saudi Arabian film industry.