Iconic 'City of God' to Grace Gulf Cinemas: Front Row's Theatrical Tribute and 20th Anniversary Celebration

Front Row Filmed Entertainment, a prominent Middle East distributor, is set to release the iconic Oscar-nominated Rio de Janeiro gangland drama, "City of God," across Gulf countries such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Co-directed by Brazilian filmmakers Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund, the film gained attention in 2002 for its authentic portrayal of gang violence in Rio de Janeiro's favelas, featuring a young and unprofessional cast. Front Row, based in Dubai, initially released the film on DVD in the Gulf due to local restrictions. Now, two decades later, the distributor is launching a theatrical release, reflecting the region's evolving cultural landscape.

Scheduled for a February 22 release, coinciding with the 21st anniversary of the movie's 2003 theatrical debut, the initiative aligns with a global re-release on February 23 and marks Front Row's 20th anniversary. Gianluca Chakra, CEO of Front Row, expressed the film's significance, noting it as their first acquisition and highlighting the journey from its DVD release to the upcoming theatrical screening. The distributor aims to celebrate classics in the Gulf region that missed a big-screen presentation initially, with recent re-releases including "Old Boy," "Spirited Away," and "Howl’s Moving Castle."

Co-distributing "City of God" with The Festival Agency, led by Leslie Vuchot, the partnership exemplifies Front Row's commitment to bringing classics and cult films to audiences in the Gulf. The distributor has been active in the Saudi Arabian cinema renaissance following the lifting of a 35-year cinema ban in 2017. "City of God," nominated in four categories at the 76th Academy Awards, has earned a place on critics' lists as one of the top films of all time, securing a #25 ranking on IMDB and a 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.