Overview
- At the Industry Days opening of the new Doha Film Festival, the Qatar Film Committee announced MOUs with Neon and Department M.
- Neon’s pact spans four years to co-develop and produce six to ten features and shorts, according to the parties.
- Department M’s project centers on a ‘Caesar’ biopic with Doha-based Katara Studios co-producing, Neon set to distribute, and Kuwait’s Sard Media supporting development and documentation.
- Hassan Al Thawadi outlined plans for infrastructure and incentives; Variety reports a regional rebate was announced with details forthcoming alongside early collaborations with the Cannes and Cairo festivals.
- The program features Neon’s Tom Quinn in the opening session and closed events with A24’s Daniel Katz and producer Barbara Broccoli, with the announcements drawing extra attention after recent reports suggested Gulf investors could be tied to a potential Paramount bid for Warner Bros Discovery.