Netflix premiered their upcoming film, The Sand Castle, with an exclusive screening at the Red Sea International Film Festival on December 8, 2024, building excitement ahead of its Netflix debut on January 24, 2025.
Director Matty Brown, along with cast members Zain Al Rafeea and Riman Al Rafeea, graced the red carpet alongside the film’s producers. The screening captivated the audience with its gripping and emotional storyline about a family stranded on a picturesque island, where dark secrets are revealed, and tough decisions must be made in a world where reality and illusion blur.

The event attracted a crowd of film industry professionals, media representatives from both regional and local outlets, renowned influencers, and valued partners, all eager for an exclusive first look at The Sand Castle. The powerful performances from Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea and Riman Al Rafeea, paired with Matty Brown’s compelling direction, showcases the remarkable talent behind this film.
Mark your calendars! The Sand Castle will premiere on Netflix on January 24, 2025.

Journalists toured the sprawling festival grounds of Soundstorm 24, gaining exclusive insight into the preparations for the fifth edition of the largest music festival in the Middle East and North Africa. Organized by MDLBEAST, the leading Saudi music entertainment company, Soundstorm 24 is set to light up Riyadh’s Banban area from December 12 to 14, with performances by global superstars and regional, and local icons.
Spanning over 1.2 million square meters, this year’s festival features ten stages, up from eight in 2023, all designed with state-of-the-art audio-visual technologies, immersive light displays, and a focus on sustainability. With more than 250 hours of live music planned, Soundstorm 24 promises a truly unparalleled entertainment experience.
The media was briefed on the VIB lounges, panoramic viewing platforms, and special viewing areas for ladies, a new addition in all festival stages this year, along with special entry lanes for girls at the GA and VIB gates.
The Soudstorm site is fully monitored around the clock with over 100 screens connected with 350 cameras, along with a team of 2,000 security personnel trained in crowd management and rapid response to secure a safe environment for all attendees, using AI facial recognition technology in cameras for the first time this year as part of security and safety preparations.
Spanning over 5,000 square meters, Big Beast Stage, the centerpiece of Soundstorm 24, features LED screens with over 78 million pixels, making it the world’s largest stage. Inspired by the theme of electronic games, the stage boasts a floating cube centerpiece, The sculpture is inspired by the overall gamified theme of the festival with its cubic architecture mimicking a pixelated sculpture that floats over the landscape and can accommodate 66,000 attendees.
Soundstorm 2024 promises to redefine live music experiences with cutting-edge innovations designed to captivate audiences. Highlights include over 1,600 drones choreographed into stunning aerial displays, a fireworks
show featuring more than 1,650 kilograms of pyrotechnics and 4,500 unique elements, and a meticulously planned parking system accommodating over 90,000 vehicles. From the moment attendees arrive to the moment they leave, every detail has been crafted to ensure maximum comfort and an unforgettable journey.
As part of its commitment to environmental stewardship, Soundstorm 24 is implementing innovative sustainability practices. This year, the festival is adopting an efficient system to recycle 36% of waste away from landfills, while the Underground Stages (UG2 and UG3) will operate on biofuel, compared to last year’s energy-powered operation, in addition to a system to recycle 80% of the consumed water through on-site water treatment facilities.
Respect initiative returns for its second year, ensuring a safer and more inclusive experience for all festival-goers through six Respect Centers across the site, operated by a dedicated team of more than 80 trained staff working alongside MDLBEAST’s operational teams to uphold safety and privacy standards for all.
This year’s festival lineup features more than 200 artists, including international icons like Eminem, Linkin Park, Calvin Harris, Camila Cabello, and David Guetta, alongside a stellar roster of Arab stars, such as Abdulmajeed Abdullah, Majid Al Muhandis, Elissa, Ruby, Ahmed Saad, Dalia Mubarak, Nassif Zeytoun, and Hassan Abouelrouss.
Soundstorm 24 is the region’s largest music and cultural event, and a platform for connection, creativity, and transformation. With state-of-the-art stages, a world-class lineup, and groundbreaking sustainability practices, this year’s festival is set to redefine the live music experience in the region.

Cityscape Bahrain, the Kingdom’s most eagerly awaited regional real estate exhibition and conference, has concluded with resounding success, attracting a record number of over 10,000 visitors from across Bahrain and the MENA region. The event showcased over 50 mega real estate projects, collectively valued at billions of dollars, highlighting the Kingdom’s thriving real estate market and its appeal to regional and international investors. Notably, the event catalyzed a remarkable 341 million BD in deals, further underscoring Bahrain’s robust position as a hub for property investment and development .
Cityscape Bahrain 2024 also hosted a highly anticipated conference under the theme ‘Innovate, Elevate & Thrive – Liveability at the Heart of Bahrain’s Vision.’The conference brought together more than 400 attendees, and over 25 distinguished local, regional, and international experts. Proceedings began with a warm welcome and opening remarks by Informa Markets, setting the stage for the insightful discussions and networking opportunities to follow.
In a nod to its dedication to nurturing young talent, Cityscape Bahrain 2024 proudly featured the Architects of Tomorrow competition, which invited students to showcase their innovative visions for enhancing Bahrain’s living standards through thoughtfully designed spaces and infrastructure.Visitors had the chance to explore these creative submissions displayed throughout the event, highlighting the exceptional promise of Bahrain’s next generation of architects.. A panel of esteemed judges reviewed the models and posters, leading to the announcement of the three winning projects: Jovianne Alba and Hussain Hani from the University of Bahrain came in first place and second place respectively, while Amnah Rashid Sabah Alkhalifa and Tia Fadi El Khatib from the Royal University for Women claimed third place. Their exemplary creativity and vision demonstrated the immense potential of Bahrain’s future architects.
Firmly established as the premier platform for luxury real estate in the region, Cityscape Bahrain continues to provide an immersive experience, uniting professionals, investors, and future leaders in the industry.