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Billboard Arabia Music Awards celebrates regional music scene

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Updated 15 December 2024
Rahaf Jambi
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Billboard Arabia Music Awards celebrates regional music scene

Billboard Arabia Music Awards celebrates regional music scene
Updated 15 December 2024
Rahaf Jambi
Follow

RIYADH: The Billboard Arabia Music Awards took place in Riyadh on Wednesday night to honor the most-streamed songs and popular artists in the region, including Palestinian Chilean singer Elyanna who is on a world tour with British rock band Coldplay.

Focusing on digital data from global music and video platforms while spotlighting Arabic music, the event attracted numerous celebrities and music enthusiasts, including Jara, billed as Saudi Arabia's first female rapper.

"Hala Walla! My name is Jara, and I’m thrilled to be at the inaugural Billboard Music Awards in Saudi Arabia. This moment is incredibly special to me, especially as I’m one of the nominees for Best Female Hip Hop Artist in the Middle East. Whether we win or not, I’m just so excited to be part of this celebration today." Jara told Arab News ahead of the ceremony.

The awards saw notable winners, including the Song of the Year award that went to “Tamer Ashour;” the Artist of the Year prize won by Sherine Abdulwahab; the Favorite Artist that was won by Amr Diab; the Best Khaliji Song prize that went to “Ayedh;” the Best Khaliji Artist award that went to Abdulmajeed Abdullah; the Best Khaliji Female Artist award won by Omaima Talib; the Best Egyptian Song nod that went to “Tamer Ashour;” the Best Levantine Song that was won by "Wain;" and the Best Female Artist from the Levant that went to Nancy Ajram. Meanwhile the Best Moroccan Song award went to Saad Al-Mujarrad’s "Guli Mata," and the Best Indie Artist nod that went to Cairokee.

Topics: Billboard Arabia Music Awards

Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Timur Bekmambetov pick eight UAE stories to lead screenlife rollout

Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Timur Bekmambetov pick eight UAE stories to lead screenlife rollout
Updated 29 April 2025
Hams Saleh
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Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Timur Bekmambetov pick eight UAE stories to lead screenlife rollout

Image Nation Abu Dhabi, Timur Bekmambetov pick eight UAE stories to lead screenlife rollout
Updated 29 April 2025
Hams Saleh

ABU DHABI: Ben Ross, CEO of Image Nation Abu Dhabi, joined Kazakh-Russian film director and producer Timur Bekmambetov on Tuesday at the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi to discuss screenlife, a pioneering format developed by Bekmambetov that is coming to the region for the first time.

Screenlife is a style of filmmaking where the entire story takes place on a digital screen — through text messages, video calls, social media and other everyday apps — reflecting how people communicate in today’s tech-driven world. Notable examples include the horror film “Unfriended” (2014) and the mystery thriller “Searching” (2018).

Ben Ross (L) and Timur Bekmambetov (R) at the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi. (AN Photo by Mohamed Fawzy)

In the session, Ross and Bekmambetov announced that they have selected eight stories from UAE filmmakers to bring to life after the launch of the Screenlife Program in June 2024, which aims to help UAE citizens and residents master this new format and create authentic narratives with global resonance.

“We were drawn to it because it is so innovative and so forward-thinking,” Ross told Arab News. “We enjoyed the screenlife movies, and it just felt like a natural step to evolve it into this region.”

Bekmambetov emphasized the universality of digital communication. “The digital world is the same universally. There is a different cultural element … but every family has a WhatsApp chat with hundreds of people on it. My family in Kazakhstan have one, and the internet in Abu Dhabi is the same,” he told Arab News.

He said that the format is “socially very impactful” and can give voice to those often left out of traditional cinema. “Because it costs nothing, you can tell stories about your individual life with no money. It will help us to engage very different storytellers.”

Ross noted that the selected projects reflect a wide range of stories. “Every story that we have chosen ... stood out in its own way. There’s a huge variety being told — it’s not formulaic.”

Bekmambetov also noted that Muslim women lead very different lifestyles, saying, “maybe screenlife will bring their stories to life,” to which Ross added that some of the stories currently in development already do.

Topics: Timur Bekmambetov Ben Ross

Kehlani responds to concert cancellation over ‘anti-Israel sentiments’

Kehlani responds to concert cancellation over ‘anti-Israel sentiments’
Updated 29 April 2025
Arab News
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Kehlani responds to concert cancellation over ‘anti-Israel sentiments’

Kehlani responds to concert cancellation over ‘anti-Israel sentiments’
Updated 29 April 2025
Arab News

DUBAI: US singer Kehlani has taken to social media after her appearance at Cornell University’s annual campus concert was cancelled due to her pro-Palestine stance.

Last week, Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff announced he was withdrawing the R&B singer’s invitation to perform at the event due to what he called “antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Kehlani (@kehlani)

“Unfortunately, although it was not the intention, the selection of Kehlani as this year’s headliner has injected division and discord into Slope Day,” Kotlikoff wrote last week, referring to the concert.

“For that reason, I am rescinding Kehlani’s invitation and expect a new lineup for a great 2025 Slope Day to be announced shortly.”

He continued: “In the days since Kehlani was announced, I have heard grave concerns from our community that many are angry, hurt, and confused that Slope Day would feature a performer who has espoused antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments in performances, videos, and on social media. While any artist has the right in our country to express hateful views, Slope Day is about uniting our community, not dividing it.”

In a new Instagram video responding to the cancellation, Kehlani said: “I am being asked and called to clarify and make a statement yet again for the millionth time, that I am not antisemitic nor anti-Jew. I am anti-genocide, I am anti the actions of the Israeli government, I am anti an extermination of an entire people, I’m anti the bombing of innocent children, men women… that’s what I’m anti.”

The 30-year-old, a frequent collaborator with the Jewish Voice for Peace group, added a caption, stating: “I know you’ve seen Cornell University cancelled my show, and now there are attempts at other cancellations on top of the cancellations I’ve already experienced over the past year. If you want to cancel me from opportunity, stand on it being because of your Zionism. don’t make it anti-Jew. this a played out game. all this because we want people to stop dying. I hope this helps.”

 

‘Bridgerton’ star Nicola Coughlan talks Palestine support

‘Bridgerton’ star Nicola Coughlan talks Palestine support
Updated 29 April 2025
Arab News
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‘Bridgerton’ star Nicola Coughlan talks Palestine support

‘Bridgerton’ star Nicola Coughlan talks Palestine support
Updated 29 April 2025
Arab News

DUBAI: Irish actress Nicola Coughlan – who rose to fame for her role in Netflix hit series “Bridgerton” – was awarded the Commitment Prize by French media company Konbini at Canneseries, where she also gave a career talk.

During the hour-long masterclass, Coughlan spoke in depth about not only her work on shows like “Derry Girls” and “Doctor Who,” but also her support of Palestine. 

“There is a factor of ‘it’s better if you say nothing’ because our job is to entertain you,” said the actor when asked about speaking in support of Palestine, according to a report by Variety. “My dad was in the Irish Army, which is a peacekeeping force. My family lived in Jerusalem and Syria in the 70s, so it’s something that is in my bones. We are talking about right or wrong, about children being bombed in their beds. I wouldn’t accept that anywhere in the world.”

The actor, who was given the award for being a “talent actively making a change well beyond television,” continued by highlighting how there has “always been a connection between Palestine and Ireland,” and that the two countries have “shared ideals and struggles.”

“Any country in the world that was facing this, I would talk about it. It’s not difficult. For me, the killing of innocent people is never right,” she said.

Coughlan just landed her first BAFTA nomination for her role in “Big Mood.”

“I never got to play anyone like her before, because she is quite cool, in a way. It’s a comedy that morphs into a drama. It bends the genre. She’s difficult, she’s funny.”

Topics: Nicola Coughlan Canneseries

Jameela Jamil takes Australia by storm

Jameela Jamil takes Australia by storm
Updated 28 April 2025
Arab News
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Jameela Jamil takes Australia by storm

Jameela Jamil takes Australia by storm
Updated 28 April 2025
Arab News

DUBAI: Actress and body positivity activist Jameela Jamil ended her first speaking tour of Australia last night, during which she took her signature blend of radical honesty, humour and advocacy to packed theatres across the country.

The tour, titled “An Evening with Jameela Jamil,” opened in Sydney on April 26, continued in Brisbane on April 27, with the final stop in Melbourne last night.

After her Brisbane show, Jamil took to Instagram to thank her audience. “These are very new things I’m talking about, some of which I’m finding literally on stage during your Q and A section. It’s where I most learn how I really feel. Which is weird when in front of over a thousand people in PIN DROP silence.

“But I’ve unchained myself from a need to be performative or perfect. So I’m giving you my truest raw form in these talks. It’s the full me showing you my heart and not expecting you to embrace me. The fact that you do, has blown me away every night,” she wrote.

Jamil also took a moment to thank her moderator, April Helene-Horton, a body positivity activist.

“Big, huge thanks to @thebodzilla who stepped out of her comfort zone with me last night and did a smashing job. What a light of a human,” she wrote.

She also shared behind-the-scenes moments and audience interactions, giving fans a glimpse into the tour’s intimate atmosphere.​

In an earlier interview with Marie Claire, she said: “I could not be more excited to have candid, bold and rebellious conversations. I have always felt drawn to the culture, humour and tenacity of Aussies, and look forward to some spirited discussions.”

Known for her breakout role as Tahani Al-Jamil in “The Good Place,” Jamil has since become a leading voice in global conversations about body image and mental health. Her Australian tour offered audiences an unfiltered look into her personal journey — from her struggles with eating disorders and public missteps to her evolution into a fearless advocate for authenticity.

Jamil's tour also highlights her initiative, Move for Your Mind, a reimagining of her earlier I Weigh movement. This project aims to dismantle toxic fitness culture and promote mental well-being, encouraging individuals to prioritize their mental health over societal expectations.

Topics: Jameela Jamil Australia

UAE lands starring role in Hollywood film ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’

UAE lands starring role in Hollywood film ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’
Updated 25 April 2025
Arab News
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UAE lands starring role in Hollywood film ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’

UAE lands starring role in Hollywood film ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’
  • Third installment of popular franchise will be released in November
Updated 25 April 2025
Arab News

DUBAI: The UAE has landed a starring role in the upcoming Hollywood film “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t,” with scenes filmed in the capital city Abu Dhabi.

The production, which will be released in November, wrapped up a 13-day shoot at several of the capital’s landmark locations, according to the Creative Media Authority on Thursday. 

The film, which is packed with high-stakes heist scenes, was shot at destinations including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Bridge, the Liwa Desert, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, CLYMB, Yas Marina Circuit, W Abu Dhabi — Yas Island, and various city streets.

The third installment of the popular franchise, directed by US filmmaker Ruben Fleischer, brings back Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, and Morgan Freeman in their previous roles, joined by an ensemble cast that includes Justice Smith, Dominic Sessa, Ariana Greenblatt, and Rosamund Pike.

Topics: Now You See Me: Now You Don’t Abu Dhabi

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