Saudi And Mideast Students Shine At Cannes Graduation Ceremony

MBC Academy recently celebrated the graduation of its latest cohort of talented students at a grand ceremony held during the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival. The event took place at the Université Côte d'Azur’s Campus Georges Méliès and honored 30 students from MBC Academy's prestigious scholarship program. These students, consisting of 15 acting students and 15 filmmaking students from the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, have completed their intensive training in the heart of the film industry.

The graduation ceremony was a momentous occasion that included the screening of a year-in-review video showcasing the students' work, including BTS footage, showreels, adverts, and short films. Various representatives also delivered speeches during the event. To conclude the celebration, a cocktail reception and gala dinner were held at the Pullman Cannes Mandelieu.

Zeinab Abu Alsamh, General Manager of MBC Studios KSA and CEO of MBC Academy, expressed her delight in celebrating the achievements of these talented individuals. She emphasized their passion and dedication and highlighted the incredible opportunity they had to be present at the Cannes Film Festival 2024. Abu Alsamh expressed confidence in the graduates' ability to make the most of this experience by forging connections and pursuing potential opportunities for exciting collaborations and successful projects in the future.

Abu Alsamh also acknowledged the support of MBC Academy's partners, ESRA and Generation 2030. These organizations played a crucial role in nurturing the students by offering top-quality training, guidance, and project development and facilitation. Abu Alsamh expressed optimism that some of these students would present their work at future Cannes Film Festivals.

MBC Academy's latest scholarship program received over 400 applicants, from which 30 exceptional students were selected. These students embarked on an enriching journey that culminated in their graduation ceremony, marking a significant milestone in their professional careers.ESRA (École Supérieure de Réalisation Audiovisuelle) and Generation 2030 were MBC Academy's partners for this round of graduates. ESRA Group, founded in 1972, is Europe's leading private institution in film education. With campuses in various locations and partnerships worldwide, ESRA has nurtured numerous industry professionals among its current students and alumni. The collaboration with ESRA provided MBC Academy students with unparalleled access to top-tier resources and mentorship.

Thierry Collard, Director of ESRA Côte d'Azur, expressed his privilege in welcoming 30 Saudi students in Acting and Filmmaking to Cannes. He praised the creativity and tenacity of these young Saudi actors and filmmakers and highlighted the strengthening of ties between France and Saudi Arabia through this collaboration.

Generation 2030, established in 2019, aims to foster cultural and social bridges between France and Saudi Arabia by bringing together young talents from diverse backgrounds. Through various training programs, Generation 2030 has organized projects involving over 120 trainees since 2022. Their support was instrumental in the success of the MBC Academy scholarship program.

MBC Academy has been offering specialized training programs since its launch in 2022. In addition to disciplines such as 3D character animation, the academy expanded its offerings to include acting and filmmaking for the 2023/2024 academic year. Notable alumni include Reham Yashar, who is now a character creator at a game development company, Muzoon Albogomi, who authored a story animated by MBC Academy for the "Hakawati Nation" show, and Hussain Alqurrous, who created the short animation film "Do It" featured in international film festivals.

MBC Group, the parent organization of MBC Academy, is the largest and leading media organization in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The success of MBC Academy's scholarship program further solidifies MBC Group's commitment to nurturing talent and supporting the growth of the film industry in the region.