The news just keeps getting better for Esquire Saudi‘s current cover star Mohammed Dokhei, with the announcement that his new film Mandoob, will get a premiere in the US at the 35th Palm Springs Film Festival this week.
The Saudi crime thriller has been soaring and sitting atop the Saudi box office for three weeks in a row, according to the Red Sea Film Foundation.
Set in Riyadh and directed by local Saudi filmmaker (and also former Esquire Saudi cover star) Ali Kalthami, the films tells the story of a Fahad, who, after getting fired from his call center job, becomes an illegal booze runner in order to save his ailing father.
The film made its international debut at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival. Mandoob is also the first Arab film to be completely mastered by both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, which is a first for Saudi and Arabic film.
“Dolby is proud to collaborate with the creative minds behind Mandoob, bringing Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos to the forefront of this cinematic masterpiece,” the Dolby company said.
Now, after lifting its 35-year-old ban on movie theatres, Saudi Arabia is quickly ascending to become the cinematic juggernaut of the region, creating its own films that even manage to compete with Hollywood at the local box office.
Let’s see what 2024 has in store for the region.
