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- Written by: Meres J. Weche
- Category: Film
Perfectly time with Saudi Arabia's designation of 2024 as "The Year of the Camel" and the UN's declaration of 2024 as the International Year of Camelids, the film Hajjan, which had its world premiere this September at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, is a powerful tale about the ancient and enduring bond between humans and camels. Beautifully shot in the enchanting desert landscapes of Saudi Arabia's northwestern region by Egyptian-Austrian writer and director Abu Bakr Shawky, the film offers an unprecedented cinematic journey into the world of camel racing.
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- Written by: Meres J. Weche
- Category: Film
Dark comedy thrillers aren't usually the first genre attributed, in most people's minds, to films coming out of Saudi Arabia. But Saudi filmmaker and director Ali Kalthami's Mandoob, which had its world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, offers a surprisingly candid and eye-opening foray into Riyadh's rarely explored illicit underworld. The Kingdom's capital is portrayed as the ultra-modern global metropolis that is, along with its active nightlife and affluent home parties. Basically, it's not the Riyadh of your '90s imagination.
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- Written by: Meres J. Weche
- Category: Film
As the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) approaches in less than two weeks, I look forward to attending this magical celebration of some of the best films on the global cinema stage.
One of the most captivating stories in cinema currently is the rapid growth of the film sector in Saudi Arabia. Celebrating five years since cinemas reopened, Saudi Arabia is out in front as the top Middle East market as its screens and customer base grow. It has already risen from a 15% share to accounting for more than 40% of the Middle East revenue.
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- Written by: Meres J. Weche
- Category: Film
"What's the difference between a dream and reality?" That's the question viewers of Saudi film director Mohamed Al Salman's film Raven Song ask themselves. Recently premiering at the second annual Red Sea International Film Festival, Al Salman set the story in a bygone era of Riyadh two decades ago.
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- Written by: Meres J. Weche
- Category: Film
As part of an intimate and, at times, emotional conversation during the second annual Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, American actress Sharon Stone candidly shared the story of her sudden and unexpected entry into the world of stardom.
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- Written by: Meres J. Weche
- Category: Design & Creativity
An interview with Miri Rodriguez, Senior Storyteller Future of Work at Microsoft. We discuss how applying design thinking principles to storytelling helps brands be more empathetic and connect more humanly with their target audience.
Do you believe the current rapid advances of Artificial Intelligence will lead to a time in the future where a robot will write a New York Times best-selling novel about a great love story?
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- Written by: Meres J. Weche
- Category: Science & Technology
An interview with Canada's Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault. We discussed his trip to Ghana to announce a $20 million fund over four years to support four West African countries—Ghana, Liberia, The Gambia, and Togo—with data systems needed to fight climate change.
From May 21-24, 2022, Canada's Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, travelled to Ghana to announce a $20 million fund over four years to support four West African countries—Ghana, Liberia, The Gambia, and Togo—with data systems needed to fight climate change.
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- Written by: Meres J. Weche
- Category: Science & Technology
An interview with French scientist and explorer Éric Brossier who, aboard his polar expedition boat, the Vagabond, conducts scientific experiments with his wife France in the Arctic while raising their two daughters on board as they sail the world.
Since purchasing an expedition boat in 1999 and leaving his career as a geophysicist behind, French scientist and explorer Éric Brossier set out, the following year, to retrofit the 47-foot-long sailing boat, aptly named Vagabond, to make it suitable for ice sailing and serve as a floating and moving base camp for scientific explorations.
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- Written by: Meres J. Weche
- Category: Science & Technology
An interview with Anthony Morgan, a molecular research scientist, entrepreneur and guest host of CBC's Chef Secrets: The Science of Cooking. The documentary is a real eye-opener about how science enhances cooking and helps us solve some fundamental food mysteries.
Anthony Morgan is a molecular research scientist, entrepreneur and guest host of Chef Secrets: The Science of Cooking—which had its World Premiere Broadcast on January 7th and now can be seen on CBC GEM.
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- Written by: Meres J. Weche
- Category: Design & Creativity
An interview with Cris Romento, visual storyteller, editor, filmmaker and founder of Big Aloha Pictures. We discuss the business of living as a creative, as well as the importance of telling genuine stories and amplifying BIPOC voices.
Cristina Romento, or simply Cris, is the founder and director of Big Aloha Pictures. Her production company develops doc-style creative videos and films telling authentic stories. She works with brands, non-profits, artists, musicians and other visionaries in various fields such as holistic health, yoga, conscious living and the environment.
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- Written by: Meres J. Weche
- Category: Design & Creativity
An interview with Emmy Award-winning San Francisco-based motion graphics designer and illustrator Donavon Brutus.
Emmy-award-nominated Haitian-American artist Donavon Brutus is a motion design and illustration artist based in San Francisco, California. His wide-ranging professional experience includes working as an animator, illustrator and designer. He's used his award-winning motion graphics skills both through in-house studio settings and freelancing in various sectors such as education and science outreach.
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About me
Meres J. Weche
Expat and digital maven with a passion for telling stories in words & images. Lived & worked in four continents.
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