Fast rising Saudi studio Telefaz11 – the label behind record-breaking wrestling comedy “Sattar” – is set to make an ambitious concept comedy titled “Alzarfa” that will combine the heist movie and film-within-a-film genres.
“Alzarfa” is being lead produced by Telfaz11 studio founder and creative director Ibraheem Alkhairallah, a comedian, actor, writer and producer who wrote and starred in “Sattar” (pictured) the tale of a man pursuing his childhood dream of becoming a freestyle wrestler. Last year the film scored more than $10 million at the home box office becoming the kingdom’s highest grossing local title since Saudi Arabia revoked a 35-year ban on the operation of commercial movie theaters in Dec. 2017.
“Alzarfa” is about three friends who end up behind bars after a failed heist attempt. Having absconded from the slammer, they subsequently wind up in a movie being bankrolled by a wealthy Saudi tycoon about his family’s history that is set in the same locations that they tried to rob.
“With plenty of laughs and a hint of drama, ‘Alzarfa’ takes audiences on a wild adventure filled with heists, escapes and unexpected turns,” says the provided synopsis.
Just like “Sattar,” “Alzarfa” is being produced under Telfaz11’s Shimaisi Films label which is “focused on bringing premium commercial content to the screen,” the company’s head of studio Telfaz Wael Abo Mansour said. “After the success of ‘Sattar’ we all said: what’s next on the slate? How can Shimaisi elevate what happened and extend its audience reach?” he added, speaking on the sidelines of the Cannes Film Festival.
As for the concept behind “Alzarfa” the Telfaz11 studio chief underlined that “The fact that these characters find themselves on a film set where they are manoeuvring to try and dig for a treasure is telling,” noting that it the emergence of moviemaking in Saudi “is what is reflected here.”
The plan is for “Alzarfa” to start shooting this summer. The film’s director and cast are still being kept under wraps.
Source Agencies
