Ƶ FIFA World Cup, Manga Arabia to publish ‘Road To 2034’ special manga
Ƶ FIFA World Cup, Manga Arabia to publish ‘Road To 2034’ special manga/node/2574764/art-culture
Ƶ FIFA World Cup, Manga Arabia to publish ‘Road To 2034’ special manga
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The manga will be available in Japanese, English and Arabic. (Supplied)
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The manga will be available in Japanese, English and Arabic. (Supplied)
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Updated 10 October 2024
Arab News Japan
Ƶ FIFA World Cup, Manga Arabia to publish ‘Road To 2034’ special manga
Special edition manga is part of SAFF’s efforts to build on the excitement as the Kingdom prepares to host the first 48-team FIFA World Cup held in a single nation
Partnership highlights Ƶ’s ambition to celebrate its culture and legacy as part of its FIFA World Cup bid
Updated 10 October 2024
Arab News Japan
DUBAI: The Ƶ 2034 FIFA World Cup has entered a partnership with Saudi Research and Media Group’s Manga Arabia to release a special edition manga titled “Road to 2034” which aims to capture the imagination of young football fans and manga enthusiasts around the world.
The manga is a part of the Saudi Football Federation’s efforts to build on the excitement as the Kingdom prepares to host the first 48-team FIFA World Cup held in a single nation. Available in Japanese, English, and Arabic, it will be released both in print and digitally.
The partnership highlights Ƶ’s ambition to celebrate its culture and legacy as part of its FIFA World Cup bid, offering an opportunity to connect with youth across the world.
The collaboration also emphasizes the desire to inspire the next generation of young footballers to pursue their dreams through the powerful medium of storytelling.
The announcement falls on the same day as the World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Ƶ and Japan, which is taking place at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
“Our bid unites our nation through a passion for the beautiful game and is powered by the dreams and ambitions of over 32 million people,” Hammad Albalawi, head of the Ƶ FIFA World Cup, said. “Through this manga, we are showing how our dream towards hosting the FIFA World Cup in ten years’ time is about inspiring future generations.
“We want to ensure we leave behind a lasting legacy. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to engaging our young population — 63 percent of which are under 30 — in ways that resonate with their interests while also showcasing and utilizing Ƶ’s rich cultural heritage on the global stage,” he added.
Rashid Al-Rashed, CEO of SRMG, also emphasized the importance of the partnership, saying it resonates with future generations, empowers local talents and promotes storytelling.
Manga Arabia’s General Manager and Editor-in-Chief Essam Bukhary shared that the partnership highlights the Kingdom’s position in sports globally with the help of young Saudi talents, adding that the manga industry plays a huge role in society as it inspires future generations.
Star-studded Gaza fundraiser to take place at London’s Wembley Arena
Updated 17 September 2025
Arab News
DUBAI: A fundraising concert for Gaza will be held tomorrow at London’s Wembley Arena, organized by Together For Palestine and produced by British musician Brian Eno.
The event, described as “a gathering of artists, musicians and people for whom silence feels impossible,” will be livestreamed exclusively on YouTube.
The concert, the largest Gaza fundraiser ever staged in the UK, features an extensive lineup of international names including Paul Weller, Damon Albarn, Portishead, Nadine Shah, Neneh Cherry, PinkPantheress, Bastille, Jamie xx and James Blake. Actors Guy Pearce, Benedict Cumberbatch, Florence Pugh, Jameela Jamil, Riz Ahmed and Ruth Negga are also scheduled to appear, alongside former footballer Eric Cantona and presenter Amelia Dimoldenberg.
Several Palestinian artists will take part as well, among them Elyanna, Saint Levant and El Far3i.
Proceeds will go to Palestinian-led organizations including Taawon, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and the Palestine Medical Relief Service.
Bukhara Biennial 2025 — reconnecting a city through craft and conversation
Updated 17 September 2025
Jasmine Bager
BUKHARA: In the heart of Uzbekistan’s ancient city, where the Silk Road once carried ideas as easily as the fabric that gives it its name, Bukhara Biennial 2025 is sparking a new kind of connection.
The inaugural biennial, which runs until Nov. 20, brings together local and international artists to celebrate the city’s heritage while fostering cultural and intellectual exchange.
The event’s creative director of architecture, Wael Al-Awar, told Arab News: “What we’re talking about is what excites me most in Bukhara; I think the biennial, to me, is an instigator of connections — reconnecting Bukhara to the world; not based on tourism, but reconnecting through craft and the exchange of ideas.”
The contemporary art event is taking place across newly restored historic landmarks in the city of Bukhara, a UNESCO Creative City of Craft & Folk Art. (Supplied)
Talking about the city’s history and younger members of the population, he said: “We need to show them the value of their history, identity and craft — they don’t know it.”
When it comes to the value of traditional crafts, Al-Awar cites local and global examples.
“I give the example of Murano glass,” he said. “At some point, it just became ‘glass for tourists’ and that craft is making a lot of money.”
There was a lively mix of both locals and tourists at the launch of the event. (Supplied)
He also highlighted local Suzani dressmakers, whose painstaking handwork has long been undervalued: “Today, they’re starting to realize that value.” He described one artisan whose hand-stitched dress took over a month to complete, initially priced too low. “They didn’t think anyone would pay more for it,” he said.
There was a lively mix of both locals and tourists at the launch of the event.
“At the opening, I saw the people coming — the locals mingling with the tourists,” said Al-Awar, praising Bukhara’s historically immersive culture: “They are used to talking to people; they’re not ‘the introverted society.’ We’re bringing the world to them, but what’s important is intellectual discourse,” he said, emphasizing the biennial was about more than tourism.
The contemporary art event is taking place across newly restored historic landmarks in the city of Bukhara, a UNESCO Creative City of Craft & Folk Art.
Cate Blanchett to be honored at El Gouna Film Festival
Updated 16 September 2025
Arab News
DUBAI: Australian actress and producer Cate Blanchett will be honored at the eighth edition of Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival (GFF), set to run from Oct. 16 to 24.
She will serve as this year’s guest of honor and will receive the Champion of Humanity Award.
“From her iconic roles in ‘Elizabeth,’ ‘Blue Jasmine’ and ‘TÁR,’ to her remarkable collaborations with the world’s most celebrated directors, Cate Blanchett has left an indelible mark on global cinema,” an Instagram post by the festival read.
“Beyond her artistry, she continues to champion urgent humanitarian causes as a UNHCR Global Goodwill Ambassador, echoing the festival’s guiding vision: ‘Cinema for Humanity,’” the statement added. “To honor her work in centering the voices of refugees and those forcibly displaced, Blanchett will be receiving the Champion of Humanity Award by El Gouna Film Festival.”
Blanchett is also known for her stage work, having served as co-artistic director of the Sydney Theatre Company, and she is the co-founder of Dirty Films, a production company behind several award-winning film and television projects.
Beyond her work as an actress and producer, Blanchett has served as a Global Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, since 2016.
In this role, she has used her platform to raise awareness on refugee issues and encourage support. She has visited refugee camps and host communities in countries including Jordan, Lebanon, Bangladesh, South Sudan, Niger and Brazil to meet displaced people and highlight their circumstances.
In 2018, she received the Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum in recognition of her efforts.
Amr Mansi, founder and executive director of GFF, said in a statement: “It is an immense honor to welcome an artist of Cate Blanchett’s caliber to the El Gouna Film Festival. Her unparalleled talent has captivated audiences for decades, and her dedication to humanitarian causes through her work with UNHCR is truly inspiring.
“The partnership with UNHCR and the Sawiris Foundation, including her visit, perfectly embodies our festival’s core mission of using the power of cinema to drive positive change and support humanity,” he added.
Arab women redefining cinema and TV: Panelists call for funding, genre diversity, equal creative power
International Congress of Arabic and Creative Industries takes place until Sept. 15
Updated 14 September 2025
Shyama Krishna Kumar
ABU DHABI: The International Congress of Arabic and Creative Industries began at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena on Sunday, exploring issues around the Arabic language and its place in culture and media.
“Her Narrative: Women Reimagining Arab Creativity” was a panel discussion that featured three trailblazing voices from the region — actor and producer Hend Sabry, filmmaker Tima Shomali, and Cinema Akil founder Butheina Kazim — who spoke on the evolving role of women in Arab cinema and television.
Sabry opened by noting that Arab women still face “the same challenges as before, but with more pressure,” especially when seeking financing or leadership roles. Yet she acknowledged clear progress, adding: “In the last 10 to 15 years, we’ve reached a decent place.”
She emphasized that women must continue to push for control of their narratives, whether as writers, producers, or directors, and urged more investment in female-driven projects.
Shomali highlighted the gains she sees behind the camera, pointing to the rise of women directors and the global success of her own Netflix hit “AlRawabi School for Girls.”
She also bemoaned the persistent need to “prove ourselves at every stage” and the subtle resistance experienced when women make authoritative creative decisions. Shomali said she deliberately hired mostly female department heads on her production, finding the collaboration “smooth and barrier-free,” and she championed opportunities for women in technical fields such as cinematography and sound design.
Kazim offered a historical lens, tracing women’s influence back to early Arab cinema pioneers like Egyptian actor and producer Aziza Amir and Lebanese Egyptian actor and producer Assia Dagher. She challenged the narrative of female exclusion, noting that women make up nearly half the Arab film workforce. For Kazim, independent cinema is a vital incubator for women’s stories and deserves sustained funding and festival support.
The panelists questioned and explored industry myths: that female-led films do not sell, and that television’s popularity among women is accidental. They cited examples like Nadine Labaki’s “Caramel” and the international reach of “AlRawabi School for Girls” to reject the claims. All three agreed that capital remains the central hurdle and that financiers still back men more readily, limiting women’s creative freedom.
Looking forward, Sabry called for more genre diversity, from science fiction to thrillers; Shomali urged a structured, collaborative Arab industry; and Kazim pressed for robust funding policies.
Kazim said: “If I must pick just one thing (as a future goal): more funding opportunities for women’s works at every level — commercial and independent. And perhaps we should be biased toward the alternative-independent sector. People think it’s a niche with a small audience and little importance but I believe the deepest lessons we are discussing come from independent cinema.
“So, revive and support festivals and funding opportunities for alternative cinema here in the UAE and across the region in a healthy way so that they complement one another.”
Who’s who at the Riyadh Comedy Festival /node/2615020/lifestyle
Best known for: The “Good For You” podcast; co-creating “2 Broke Girls.”
She says: “When you get in a room with a bunch of people and no one knows who everyone else is, and they’re all laughing at the same stuff … we’re not that divided. If you go to a comedy show, you’ll see that.” (CleveRock.com)
Appearing: Sept. 26
Maz Jobrani
Maz Jobrani. (AFP)
Who: US stand-up and actor of Iranian heritage.
Best known for: ‘The Axis of Evil,’ tour; the “Minivan Men” podcast; his memoir “I’m Not a Terrorist, but I’ve played one on TV.”
He says: “Throughout my life and throughout my comedy I’ve talked about being Iranian, about being an immigrant. And I am very much in support of immigrants in America.” (CNN)
Appearing: Sept. 26
Dave Chappelle
Dave Chappelle. (AFP)
Who: US stand-up and actor.
Best known for: Multi-million-dollar Netflix comedy-special deal; six Grammy-winning comedy albums; five Emmy wins; the 2019 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
He says: “I'm either gonna be a legend or just that tragic story, but I'm going full throttle; I'm going all the way. I'm eager to find out how this will resolve itself.” (“Inside The Actor’s Studio”)
Appearing: Sept. 27
Kevin Hart
Kevin Hart. (AFP)
Who: This feels redundant — he’s got 177 million Instagram followers.
Best known for: Diminutive-sidekick movie roles; four Grammys; two Emmys; the 2024 Mark Twain Prize.
He says: “I’m giving you an experience through a story that is relatable, and more importantly, I’m saying things that other people just don’t have the heart to say.” (“60 Minutes”)
Appearing: Sept. 28
Aziz Ansari
Aziz Ansari. (AFP)
Who: US actor and comedian of Indian heritage.
Best known for: “Parks and Recreation”; “Master of None,” for which he won two Emmys and a Golden Globe.
He says: “Anytime you feel something strong, pain or joy, if you’re a comedian or a writer, then you’ve got to note it and find out what’s creating that strong emotion. What’s beautiful about it is that it’s a common experience.” (The Guardian)
Appearing: Sept. 28
Gabriel Iglesias
Gabriel Iglesias. (AFP)
Who: US comedian and actor of Mexican heritage.
Best known for: The first two “Magic Mike” films; “Mr. Iglesias”; his nickname, “Fluffy” — as in, “I’m not fat, I’m fluffy.”
He says: “I still feel like I have a lot of dues to pay as an actor. I don’t consider myself a seasoned veteran of acting. I do consider myself that as a comic.” (Forbes)
Appearing: Oct. 1
Russell Peters
Russell Peters. (AFP)
Who: Canadian stand-up and actor of Indian heritage.
Best known for: Being the first comedian to get a Netflix special; setting records for ticket sales in several countries.
He says: “Comedians look at everyone else as civilians. You guys are all civilians to us. We have a very dark way of looking at things. … We’ll find something funny about whatever disaster happened.” (Marriska Fernandes)
Appearing: Oct. 2
Chris Tucker
Chris Tucker. (AFP)
Who: US comedian and actor
Best known for: The “Rush Hour” film franchise.
He says: I want everybody to come to my show to laugh, have fun, to learn something — learn about what I’m thinking about — and then what got me to my point in life or success. That’s my whole goal.” (Page Six)
Appearing: Oct. 2
Zarna Garg
Zarna Garg. (AFP)
Who: Indian-American stand-up and screenwriter.
Best known for: “A Nice Indian Boy”; her memoir “This American Woman.”
She says: “I don’t want to change people’s minds. I’m not a political comic. I’m not here to prove to somebody that I’m an artist at this level or that level. I’m here to serve my audience. They’re giving me a very important asset, which is their time, and I take every second seriously, almost to the point of insanity.” (Glamour)
Appearing: Oct. 2
Mark Normand
Mark Normand. (AFP)
Who: US stand-up and actor.
Best known for: Several stand-up specials; his podcasts “Tuesdays with Stories” and “We Might Be Drunk.”
He says: “We (comedians) should all be grateful we get to do this. So enjoy it, don't abuse it, and work hard at it. Make it about the audience, not about you. Try to make them laugh. Entertain them instead of just being indulgent.” (The Comedy Gazelle)
Appearing: Oct. 3
Jimmy Carr
Jimmy Carr. (AFP)
Who: Irish-British comedian and TV host.
Best known for: “Last One Laughing”; “8 out of 10 Cats”; dealing with hecklers; having an annoying laugh.
He says: “There’s nothing more exciting than a new joke that works. The joke doesn’t even exist when it’s just a thought, it only exists when you tell it someone. And that excites me.”
Appearing: Oct. 6
Jo Koy
Jo Koy. (AFP)
Who: US stand-up and actor with part-Filipino heritage.
Best known for: “Easter Sunday”; hosting the 2024 Golden Globes.
He says: “I love the art of storytelling and that's my favorite style of standup and my intentions were always to be able to have you see it when I do it on stage. In your head, you can already visualize it.” (Collider)
Appearing: Oct. 8
Tom Segura
Tom Segura. (AFP)
Who: US stand-up, actor, and podcaster of part-Peruvian heritage.
Best known for: “Bad Thoughts”; his podcasts “Your Mom’s House” and “Two Bears One Cave.”
He says: “My mom finds me funny but absolutely disgusting. And I could not enjoy that more. To get somebody to gasp and laugh, or drop their head and laugh, there’s something in that moment that feels very much like love.” (Vulture)
Appearing: Oct. 8
Sebastian Maniscalco
Sebastian Maniscalco. (AFP)
Who: US stand-up and actor of Italian heritage.
Best known for: “About My Father”; several comedy specials.
He says: “You don’t become a bodybuilder the first day you start lifting weights. Same thing with comedy. You gotta flesh out your joke, your bit. You add and subtract. You see what works.” (Dolce Magazine)
