Muvi Studios and Saudi Tefaz11's new production arm, AlShimaisi Films, have produced the film.
Saudi action-comedy Sattar is set for a wide theatrical launch in Saudi Arabia on December 29 via Front Row Arabia, a joint-venture between MENA distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment and Saudi Arabia’s home-grown exhibitor, Muvi Cinemas.
The film is produced by Saudi Tefaz11’s newly launched production arm, AlShimaisi Films, as well as Muvi Studios.
The companies dropped the film’s first full trailer with advanced ticket sales opening.
Helmed by Kuwaiti director Abdullah Al Arak, Sattar stars Saudi actor and stand-up comedian Ibrahim Al Hajjaj (known for the hit action series Rashash) who plays Saad, a depressed man failing at both his professional and personal life who decides to pursue his childhood dream of becoming a freestyle wrestler. The dream soon turns into a nightmare when a clip of him getting beaten gets leaked in the auditions. Later he meets Ali Hogan, a famous wrestling business manager played by Abdulaziz Al Shehri, who convinces him to re-enter the world of wrestling, where he meets his Pakistani coach Abdul Khaleq, played by Ibrahim Al Khairallah, who prepares him for the biggest free wrestling championship. The film also stars Shahd Algefari on her acting debut.
Sattar had its global premiere at the second edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia earlier this month. It was presented by the festival’s CEO Mohammed Al Turki and Jomana R. Al-Rashid, chairwoman of the umbrella body the Red Sea Foundation. The screening was also attended by various media personalities and critics and received rave reviews from audiences.
The Saudi theatrical market has been quickly rising over the past few years, with Arabic films, in particular, representing a staggering 31% of the Box Office in 2022 with just 7% of the total number of releases. Despite that, Saudi films still represent a small percentage of those releases.
Ibraheem Alkhairallah, Head of AlShimaisi Films, said: “We are so proud to be launching AlShimaisi films, the newest brand from Telfaz11 group with the release of our first action-comedy Sattar, which was created by Saudi talent. The company has the mandate to create and produce commercial films that will appeal and capture the minds and imagination of both Saudi and Arab audiences alike. We’re excited to be collaborating with Muvi Studios and Front Row for the release and can’t wait for people to see it.”
Following its release in KSA, Sattar is also set to be released across cinemas in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Iraq at a later date.
