The Company

Abbout Productions produces feature films and documentaries and supports Arabic-language movies with a distinctly Arab voice, expressing the identity of the region. The company was established in 1998 by Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige to accomplish and co-produce movies. Georges Schoucair joined Khalil and Joanna as Abbout Productions' producer shortly after the release of their first feature films.

Since 1998, Abbout Productions has managed to bring together an important network of Arab and Lebanese artists, including directors (Carlos Chahine, Simon El Habre, Ahmad Ghossein, Joana Hadjithomas, Mahmoud Hojeij, Khalil Joreige, Michel Kammoun, Elie Khalifeh, Georges Hachem, Mohamad Malas, Nadim Mishlawi, Ghassan Salhab, Hany Tamba), actors (Takla Chamoun, Julia Kassar, Nadine Labaki, Rabih Mroué), musicians (Khaled Mouzannar, Zeid Hamdan, Scrambled Eggs, Soap Kills), as well as film industry professionals who are active on the cultural scene in Beirut and European and Arab capitals. The company has also enabled emerging talents to work with leading industry figures: actors such as Catherine Deneuve and Patrick Chesnais (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Children of the Century), cinematographers such as Jeanne Lapoirie (Under the Sand, 8 Women, The Wild Reeds) and Julien Hirsch (Lady Chatterley, Our Music, The Witnesses), as well as film editors such as Tina Baz-Le Gal (Blame it on Voltaire).

The company collaborates with European partners, particularly Mille et Une Productions (Darwin's Nightmare, The Thread, The Evening Dress), Agat Films & Cie (Venus Beauty Institute, Marius and Jeannette, An Amazing Couple, On the Run, After the Life), Bizibi (De l'Amour, Jaffa), mec Film (The One Man Village), Twenty Twenty Vision (Ajami), Six Island Productions (Sabah, Babette's Feet) and has the support of several Arab and European institutional organizations, such as CNC, ARTE France, France 2, the World Cinema Fund, Hubert Bals Fund, the Fonds Sud Cinéma, the Fonds Francophone de Production Audiovisuelle du Sud (AIF and CIRTEF), COFICUP 2 - A Back Up Films Fund, Arcadi, the Doha Film Institute, the Dubai Film Market (ENJAAZ) and the Lebanese Ministry of Culture.

Abbout Productions has established close working relationships with leading film distributors in Europe (Art Cinéma, Celluloid Dreams, Films Distribution, Film Boutique, U-media, Haut Et Court) and the Arab world (Cedar Art, Sabbah Media, Gulf Film, Teleview International). In addition, Abbout Productions has a strong partnership with MC Distribution, a distribution company, both dedicated to promote new films from the Middle East along with direct and priority access to the sole art house theater in Lebanon, Metropolis Cinema.

Abbout Productions is one of the most ambitious production companies in the Middle East and maintains a sizeable pipeline of projects at various stages of development and pre-production. In 2010, Abbout Productions signed a landmark joint venture with Lucky Monkey Pictures - NY (City Island, Vamps) and Travesia Productions - Argentina (Las Acacias, Despues Del Mar, El Ultimo Verano de la Boyita) which will create exciting financing opportunities in new Middle Eastern film productions and secures the company's position in world cinema.

THE TEAM

Georges Schoucair > Producer
Myriam Sassine > Content Producer
Antoine Waked > Script Consultant
Christian Eid > Production Supervisor
Leyla Nassar > Lawyer


Source:
www.abboutproductions.com/abbout.php