beth-   MAD Solutions, in collaboration with Rowad Media, release Australian film The Furnace, starring Ahmed Malek and directed by Roderick MacKay, in Saudi Arabia as of Thursday, April 1. This comes as part of the film’s tour across the Arab world, where it is slated to release across further Arab countries, soon.  The Furnace will be screened with English and Arabic subtitles.Mamdouh Salem, CEO of Rowad Media for Media Production & Entertainment says “Saudi theaters are currently expanding their venues to include more screens, as a result of the high demand on them. The venues are expected to reach 2500 screens, in accordance with Saudi Arabia’s vision for 2030, to become the biggest market in the region. We are proud of our collaboration with MAD Solutions in introducing highly acclaimed Arab films that have been to prestigious film festivals worldwide, seeking to develop the Arab cinema to the greatest extent possible. We also seek to correct many misperceptions, creating a space that features a variety of Arab projects. 

Moshira Farouk Bahar, Cultural and Theatrical Distribution Manager at MAD Solutions says “We’re glade with such partnership with Rowad Media, which is first presented through screening the international film, The Furnace. We seek to offer a variety of films for the Saudi audiences, especially under the cinematic development that comes in accordance with the country’s new vision, which will surely affect the entire cinema industry in Saudi Arabia. We’re also glade to be part of this development, where we’ve previously worked on the distribution of key Saudi films, including Barakah Meets Barakah and Rollem.”

The film landed its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, where it immediately gained international critical acclaim and was described as “An enjoyably absorbing experience” by Variety and “Brutish western is tough as old leather and good as gold” via The Guardian. Malek also received positive reviews on his performance in the film: “Egyptian actor Ahmed Malek (a Screen Star of Tomorrow in 2018) is immediately engaging as Hanif” as it was stated by the Screen Daily.

Also, The Furnace landed its Arab premiere at El Gouna Film Festival where it garnered a wide audience and critical acclaim. Tarek El Shennawy praised Ahmed Malek’s performance in the film saying:” Malek is truly talented in acting and deserves to be a global actor.” Moreover, The Furnace’s premiere has fueled a frenzy between audiences on social media, topping the most researched and reacted upon on Google.

1897 Western Australia. To escape a harsh existence and return home, a young Afghan cameleer partners with a mysterious bushman on the run with two 400oz Crown-marked gold bars. Together the unlikely pair must outwit a zealous police sergeant and his troopers in a race to reach a secret furnace - the one place where they can safely reset the bars to remove the mark of the Crown. Written and directed by Roderick MacKay, The film stars Ahmed Malek, David Wenham and Jay Ryan.

The film received a production support from a number of institutes, including Screen Australia, in association with Screenwest, Lotterywest and the Western Australian Regional Film Fund. MAD Solutions handles the film’s distribution and marketing in the Arab World.