Download - Arri

Dr. Martin Prillmann, Adel Adeeb,
Franz Kraus (f.l.t.r.)
The Good News Group is the leader in the Egyptian
media industry. Thanks to the efforts of its
CEO Adel Adeeb and strong cooperation with
Antonio Cazzaniga from ARRI Italia, which is
responsible for the Egyptian camera market,
an agreement was signed to establish the biggest
state-of-the-art film studios in the Middle
East. This exciting announcement was made
during a crowded press conference held on
August 31st at GN's Grand Hyatt Hotel movie
theater in Cairo. At the table with Adel Adeeb
were Franz Kraus and Dr. Martin Prillmann,
representing the ARRI Group of companies;
Mohamed Ashoub, ARRI’s agent in Egypt and
Antonio Cazzaniga, who managed the prephase
of this agreement.
Preparations are now underway to build an
initial 14 studios. They will be equipped with
the latest technology available for filming -
cameras and lighting, DI, colour grading
and a lab for printing. In addition, a large
Cairo Arab media Festival
Antonio Cazzaniga and Mohamed Ashoub
(f.l.t.r.) Minister Anas Al-Fiqqi, Mohamed Ashoub,
Antonio Cazzaniga
A Bold Collaboration
Biggest and most modern studio in the middle East to be built
number of set decorations will be built. The
actual construction is scheduled to begin in
spring 2010 in the Sixth of October City,
and will last for the next three years. The
facilities will be used for Good News films,
while also providing the most sophisticated
base for local and foreign productions.
“The studios are going to give work to 2,000
young Egyptian technicians, who will be
trained by the ARRI team,” says Adel Adeeb.
“They will also be the first in the Middle East
to host the technology for an entirely digital
filmmaking solution. I want our studios to
provide better special effects, more space
to be creative and technology that will save
you time. This is the added value that we
will be providing to the market.”
Adeeb’s cost savings already received a
boost earlier this year with the government’s
decision to exempt filming equipment from
This festival is among the most important
exhibitions to take place in the Arab countries.
Organized by ERTU (the Egyptian Radio &
TV Union) under the auspices of Mr. Anas
Al-Fiqqi, Minister of Information, the 2009
event was held in Cairo's Media Production
City between November 11th and 15th.
Minister Anas Al-Fiqqi officially opened the
trade show at the booth occupied by ARRI,
where the company was represented by local
distributor New Vision and its CEO Mohamed
Ashoub. Delegates from 18 countries and all
fields of the industry, ranging from producers
and creatives to distributers, and executives,
attended the exhibition. The rapid growth of
the Egyptian media industry was best reflected
in the enthusiastic response to top-of-theline
products such as the ARRIFLEX D-21.
During the exhibition, Antonio Cazzaniga
presented the ARRI Italia Excellence Award
W o r l d w i d e
customs duties to ensure that international
and domestic filmmakers are able to use
the latest in technology.
The signed memorandum with ARRI is seen
as the first milestone of a strong and deep
relationship. By seeking the advice and
support of ARRI, the Good News Group
guarantees that the most advanced and
future-proof systems, workflows and equipment
will be put in place.
Egypt already reached a first peak as an
international shooting location due to its
scenery and studios during the mid 70s, when
it was nicknamed the ‘Hollywood of the
Middle East’. Today, the Egyptian film industry
is rapidly growing again and sales of ARRIFLEX
D-21 cameras and the ARRISCAN film scanner
are clear signals of an uncompromising,
high-end approach.
Antonio Cazzaniga
to Mohamed Ashoub, CEO of New Vision
and ARRI representative for camera and lighting,
for his outstanding sales performance.
“It is an interesting and rewarding task to
serve the Egyptian industry during this time
of growth,” says Ashoub. “In a period of
financial difficulties, product quality and
long lasting investments are essential to my
customers. I am proud that the D-21 has
already been sold in Egypt and that it will be
soon followed by other sales. These efforts
took us not only to commercially good results,
but also paved the way to the recently signed
agreement between ARRI and the Good
News Group, for which I have worked long
and hard. The decision to create the biggest
and most advanced production center in
Egypt impacts the entire Arab world, and
we should not forget the skill and the strong
mission of DoPs and producers to follow an
innovative and courageous way in cinema.”
Antonio Cazzaniga
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