Miramax Strikes Accord With Qatar’s Film Committee To Co-Develop Original Series & Films Kicking Off With ‘Serendipity’ Remake

Miramax and the Film Committee at Media City Qatar announced on Friday that they are partnering to co-develop premium film titles for audiences across the Middle East and international markets.

The new accord was among a raft of partnerships announced by the Film Committee at its first ever Industry Days meeting, which is unfolding within the context of the new Doha Film Festival.

Miramax is owned jointly by Qatar’s BeIN Media Group and Paramount Skydance, with the latter’s 49% stake originally acquired by ViacomCBS in 2019.
 
Under new multi-project agreement, the Film Committee will executive produce the development of one original scripted series and one film.
 
All projects are being developed by Miramax MENA+T through its regional headquarters in Doha, which is managed by Lucy Dertavitian, Head of Content.
 
The partners said that the projects were in various stages of development, with production timelines and release details to be announced.
 
Speaking on a panel about Miramax’s activities at the Industry Days conference Friday, Miramax CEO Jonathan Glickman said the joint development slate would draw heavily on the company’s library of some 700 film titles.

He revealed that one of the projects in the works was a remake of the 2001 U.S. romantic comedy Serendipity starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale.
 
“We have an incredible partnership with the Film Committee that’s going to allow us to make movies and original movies, using our IP to create stories,” he said.
 
“The first one we’re going to do is the romantic comedy Serendipity,” he continued. “I don’t know if you guys remember the original movie, but that’s a story that lends itself to all different worlds, and I’m excited to see what an Arabic language and Arabic culture version of that story comes about.”

The slate will also tap into original stories, and Glickman said the partners were scouting established and emerging talents locally and regionally.

“We’re working together to find mid-career writers from the region, but also using the local universities – Doha has this incredible campus – to find emerging voices that we can work with and nurture to create stories that work for the global market and use our knowledge, I won’t say expertise, because these kids are going to have the expertise on what the stories are, but our knowledge of how to get these stories out to the world at large.”

Film Committee head Hassan Al Thawadi said of the deal: “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. 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.”