Latest news with #MajidAlAnsari
Broadcast Pro
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Emirati thriller ‘HOBA' to make global debut at Fantastic Fest 2025
Following its Fantastic Fest premiere, psychological horror-thriller 'HOBA' will hit UAE cinemas on October 30, 2025. Image Nation Abu Dhabi and Spooky Pictures have revealed that HOBA, a gripping psychological horror-thriller from acclaimed Emirati filmmaker Majid Al Ansari, will celebrate its world premiere at this year's Fantastic Fest this September. The festival hosted in Austin, Texas is one of the world's leading showcases for bold, boundary-pushing cinema. Marking the first Arabic-language Emirati feature on the Image Nation and Spooky Pictures slate, HOBA delivers a haunting, atmospheric story steeped in tension and emotional depth. It follows Amani (Emirati actress Bdoor Mohammed), a devoted wife whose world unravels when her husband returns home with a second wife, Zahra (Sarah Taibah, Saudi filmmaker and artist). But with Zahra comes something far more sinister, an unseen darkness that begins to consume their home, testing the limits of loyalty, love and survival. The cast also features Eman Tarik as Noor, Amani's daughter, and Jasem AlKharraz as her father Khalid. Behind the camera, Majid Al Ansari is joined by powerhouse producers Roy Lee, Steven Schneider, Derek Dauchy and Rami Yasin, with Mohamed Hefzy and Yasir Al Yasiri as executive producers. Following its Fantastic Fest premiere, HOBA will hit UAE cinemas on October 30, 2025, promising audiences an unforgettable descent into psychological terror. Image Nation Abu Dhabi will also have two other projects screening at Fantastic Fest under its successful partnership with Spooky Pictures, with the North American premiere of The Plague and the world premiere of the cult-genre film franchise V/H/S Halloween.
Al Etihad
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
Spooky Pictures and Image Nation Abu Dhabi unveil new horror film by Emirati director
22 June 2025 22:41 Abu Dhabi (ALETIHAD)Spooky Pictures and Image Nation Abu Dhabi, the Academy Award-winning film and entertainment studio, have announced the release their next psychological horror-thriller "HOBA", a new feature film by critically acclaimed Emirati filmmaker Majid Al the first Arabic-language Emirati film under the Spooky Pictures and Image Nation slate, HOBA marks a significant step forward for regional genre storytelling. The film is set for release in the UAE on October ("The Vile" in English) tells the story of a devoted wife and mother whose life begins to unravel when her husband returns home with a second wife and an unseen darkness infiltrates her Ross, CEO of Image Nation, said: "HOBA is a bold and compelling film that demonstrates the power of local storytelling on a global stage. We're proud to work with Majid Al Ansari once again and to bring forward a genre film that challenges, disturbs and deeply moves."Steven Schneider, co-founder of Spooky Pictures added: "HOBA is exactly the kind of film we love to champion at Spooky Pictures - intimate, unnerving and emotionally rich. Majid Al Ansari has crafted a story that's both deeply rooted in its cultural context and universally haunting. We're excited to be part of a project that pushes the boundaries of psychological horror while introducing audiences to a powerful up-and-coming voice in genre filmmaking."Starring Emirati actress Bdoor Mohammed ("Blood Wedding", "25 Fils") in the lead role as the first wife, Amani, the film also features Saudi artist and filmmaker Sarah Taibah ("Jameel Jeddan", "Night Courier") as the enigmatic second wife, talent Iman Doghoz ("Makr", "Kaboos") portrays Amani's vulnerable daughter, while Emirati actor Jassem AlKharraz (Zawaj Ella Roba'a, Ala Gad Alhal, Wadima and Halima) plays her father, the cast brings to life a deeply resonant story about family bonds, emotional conflict and the unseen forces that test by horror genre veterans Roy Lee ("Barbarian", "It"), Steven Schneider ("Insidious", "Paranormal Activity"), Derek Dauchy ("Late Night with the Devil", "The Plague") and Rami Yasin ("Hokum") the film blends supernatural tension with culturally grounded storytelling, offering a uniquely regional take on universal fears. Mohamed Hefzy ("Flight 404", "Voy! Voy! Voy!") is executive marks a return to the genre for Majid Al Ansari, whose breakout debut "Zinzana" earned international acclaim and became the first Arab language film acquired by Netflix. Known for blending bold visual style with emotionally charged storytelling, Al Ansari continues to push boundaries in Arab cinema, offering audiences globally resonant narratives grounded in regional Ansari said: "With HOBA, I wanted to tell a story that feels both intimate and unsettling; one that explores real emotional experiences through the lens of genre. It's about love, fear and resilience, and what happens when the familiar turns unfamiliar, when the people we trust most begin to feel like strangers."Hoba is part of a slate of upcoming projects from Spooky Pictures and Image Nation including Charlie Polinger's "The Plague" starring Joel Edgerton, which recently premiered in Cannes' prestigious Un Certain Regard competition, Randall Okita's "Menace" starring Isabel May, and Damian Mc Carthy's "Hokum", starring Adam Scott. Majid Al Futtaim - Vox Independent Distribution is handling the theatrical release for UAE, with Film Clinic handling the rights for post-theatrical in MENA, and AGC International handling the rights for the rest of the world.
