Palestinian film ‘Thank You for Banking With Us!' screens across Egypt, KSA and UAE
Palestinian filmmaker Laila Abbas's debut feature, Thank You for Banking With Us!, is now running Zawya Cinema – Egypt, Hayy Jameel – Saudi Arabia and Cinema Akil – UAE
The drama explores themes of female empowerment through the story of sisters Mariam and Noura, who, after their father's death, devise a plan to secure a large sum of money he left behind. Their scheme aims to outmanoeuvre their brother, who is legally entitled to half of the inheritance.
Laila Abbas described the film as a narrative about the strength of womanhood and the importance of emotional and physical unity among women. 'It's a story about sisters who, having endured their own tragedies and heartbreaks, come together to become stronger,' she said.
Thank You for Banking With Us! is a joint German-Palestinian production, written, directed and produced by Abbas through her Ramallah-based company Young Oak Productions. Co-produced by Hanna Atallah of Palestine Cinema Days and Roshanak Behesht Nedjad of Berlin's In Good Company Films, the film is being handled for worldwide sales and distribution by MAD World.
MAD Solutions and Lagoonie Film Production, the Cairo and Riyadh-based production entity, have also teamed up to co-produce Thank You for Banking With Us!
Thank You for Banking With Us! has received support thus far from the El Gouna Film Festival in 2018 through four $10,000 grants from ART, Cedars Productions, O Three Productions and Metafora respectively. Moreover, it won the In-Development Award from the CineGouna Platform and was supported by the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture as well as the Doha Film Institute's 2023 edition of the Qumra Initiative.
With additional funding from German film funds (Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, and the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg), and the Hubert Bals Plus Europe of International Film Festival Rotterdam, Thank You for Banking With Us! stands as a testament to the power of collective artistic vision. Notably, it was also among the winners of the Red Sea Fund's third cycle.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fintech News ME
23 minutes ago
- Fintech News ME
Top 7 Fastest-Growing Fintechs in the Middle East and Cyprus
Fintech is rapidly becoming one of the fastest-growing technology sectors in the Middle East and Cyprus. According to global consultancy Deloitte, seven fintech companies are among the top 50 fastest-growing tech firms in the region, reflecting the sector's rising prominence and contribution to the tech ecosystem, and highlighting the strong demand for digital financial services. These companies span verticals including insurtech, digital lending, and digital payments, and represent regional fintech hubs including Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They earned their rankings on the top 50 fastest-growing tech companies list based on revenue growth over the past four years, underscoring the rapid expansion and strong momentum of fintech activity in the Middle East and Cyprus. Arib (Saudi Arabia) – Rank #9 Arib is a Saudi Arabia-based digital platform that connects users to financing offers from banks and finance companies for tailored products across personal loans, home, car, or business financing. Arib is ranked 9th in revenue growth over the past four years. In 2022, the startup raised US$2.3 million after securing a license from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA). Desaisiv (Saudi Arabia) – Rank #12 Desaisiv is a Saudi-Arabia-based insurtech startup providing a business-to-business (B2B) platform for corporates to manage health insurance policies more efficiently. It provides tools for tailoring policies, optimizing benefits and coverage, and predicting emerging diseases and high-risk behaviors. Desaisiv is ranked 12th in the Middle East and Cyprus' tech ecosystem in revenue growth. In early 2024, the company surpassed the SAR 1 billion (US$270 million) mark in health insurance assets under management after securing a US$2 million pre-seed investment. Paysky (Egypt) – Rank #14 Paysky is an Egypt-based payment solutions provider (PSP), offering a range of payment solutions to financial institutions, merchants, enterprises and consumers across 18 countries. The company also operates the Yalla Super App, launched in 2021 in partnership with Visa and providing a wide range of services, including money transfers, electronic payments, shopping, insurance, investment, and 'save now, pay later' options. Paysky is ranked 14th in revenue growth. The company serves over 500 million customers and support more than 2 million businesses. The Yalla Super App, meanwhile, has over 2.7 million users across Egypt and the UAE. eBOS (Cyprus) – Rank #32 eBOS is a Cyprus-based information technology company, offering regtech and fintech solutions that automate risk and compliance management for organizations worldwide. eBOS' core offering, the WiseBOS Suite, is a fully integrated business aligned solution, designed to help manage risk, carry out customer due diligence, and support regulatory compliance. eBOS is ranked 32nd in revenue growth. The company serves a diversified portfolio of clients include banks, governments, as well as businesses, and has a presence in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Codebase Technologies (UAE) – Rank #36 Codebase Technologies is an UAE-based open application programming interface (API) digital banking infrastructure provider. Codebase Technologies' core offering, Digibanc, is a cloud-enabled, API-first, and highly adaptable digital banking platform allowing institutions to deliver innovative digital financial services. Codebase is ranked 36th in revenue growth. The company has secured a string of industry partnerships in the Middle East, including deals with Capital Bank of Jordan, UAE-based Ajman Bank and Network International, as well as Pakistan's Raqami Islamic Digital Bank. LazyWait is a Saudi Arabia-based provider of point-of-sale (POS) systems and related technologies. The company offers a POS solution that includes features such as loyalty programs, quick response (QR) menu integration, short message service (SMS) payment options, and accounting system integrations. LazyWait is ranked 45th in revenue growth. The company claims over 20,000 downloads and more than 55 million transactions across 32 countries. NETinfo (Cyprus) – Rank #46 NETinfo, based in Cyprus, supports banks and financial institutions of all sizes across all geographies, empowering their digital transformation strategies. NETinfo's digital banking solutions allow banks to deliver seamless, customer-centric experiences across a variety of channels, equipping financial institutions with the tools they need to engage customers more effectively, streamline operations, and remain agile in a rapidly evolving market. NETinfo is ranked 46th in revenue growth. The company claims a total of 20 million users in 30 countries. Tech leaders in the Middle East and Cyprus These seven fintech companies were named among the top 50 fastest-growing tech companies in the Middle East and Cyprus, selected from over 200 applications and ranked by revenue growth. The winners span a wide and diverse range of verticals, including e-commerce, media, and cybersecurity, with software (31%) and fintech (22%) being the most represented verticals. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Cyprus led in the number of applications, contributing 30%, 28% and 16% of applications, respectively. Together, these 50 companies posted an average revenue growth of 8,823% over the past four year, more than quadruple the 1,906% average in the 2024 edition. The largest growth was experienced by Municorn, a software company development consumer applications from Cyprus, which achieved a remarkable 20,164% revenue growth rate. In total, 29 companies achieved a growth of 1,000% or over. Deloitte also highlighted the ~50 'Rising Stars', recognizing the young companies across the Middle East and Cyprus that are showing great potential but which have been trading for less than three years. In this category, fintech was again dominant, with 15 companies (32.6%) featured. Notable names include Fuze, a digital assets infrastructure platform from the UAE; Beyon Money, a Bahrain money app; Pemo, a Dubai-based spend management platform; and Stake, a Dubai-based digital real estate investment platform.
Arabian Post
25 minutes ago
- Arabian Post
ADIA Expands Portfolio with Stake in NSDL
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, a prominent sovereign wealth fund, has bolstered its investment in India with the acquisition of a 1.17% stake in the National Securities Depository Limited, the country's oldest central depository. This move comes as part of NSDL's initial public offering, which has garnered significant attention within the Indian financial sector. The deal positions ADIA as one of the key anchor investors in NSDL's IPO, valued at ₹40.12 billion. The IPO officially opened for subscription today, marking a critical phase for both the company and the broader investment landscape. ADIA's involvement is seen as a strong endorsement of NSDL's role within the Indian financial ecosystem and reflects the UAE-based fund's growing confidence in India's capital markets. ADVERTISEMENT ADIA has acquired 174,996 equity shares in NSDL at ₹800 per share, amounting to an investment of ₹140 million. This participation places ADIA among the notable institutional investors backing the public offering, signalling the strategic importance of NSDL in India's burgeoning financial sector. The sovereign wealth fund's move is likely to strengthen its position in the Indian market, where it has been increasing its footprint over the past several years. The IPO has attracted substantial attention from institutional investors, with the Life Insurance Corporation of India securing the largest anchor allotment. LIC holds an 11.99% stake, underscoring its significant role in India's financial services landscape. Following closely is the Smallcap World Fund, which has committed to an 8.33% stake, further highlighting the appeal of NSDL as a viable investment proposition for large-scale financial institutions. NSDL, which plays a pivotal role in the clearing, settlement, and dematerialisation of securities in India, has been integral to the functioning of the Indian stock markets since its inception in 1996. The company provides critical infrastructure that supports the trading of securities and facilitates the electronic transfer of ownership. Its IPO is seen as a major milestone, not only for the company but for the broader development of the Indian financial market. As the oldest depository in the country, NSDL has witnessed the rapid expansion of India's financial markets over the past few decades. The company's role in streamlining the trading of securities has been a key enabler of the country's financial growth, positioning it as a leader in the sector. The funds raised through the IPO will be used to further enhance its technological infrastructure and expand its range of services, including the digitalisation of securities. The growing interest from global institutional investors, such as ADIA, underscores the attractiveness of India's financial market. Despite global economic uncertainty, India's stock exchanges continue to attract significant foreign investments, bolstered by the country's large consumer base, robust economic growth, and ongoing reforms aimed at improving market liquidity and transparency. ADIA, which has been active in the Indian market for several years, has diversified its portfolio across various sectors, including infrastructure, real estate, and technology. The sovereign wealth fund has shown a particular interest in India's financial services sector, making strategic investments in leading financial institutions and companies with strong growth potential. NSDL's IPO marks a significant step in the company's journey, with the funds raised providing a boost to its expansion and digitalisation efforts. For ADIA, this investment represents a continuation of its strategy to capitalise on India's growing financial sector and enhance its portfolio through carefully selected high-potential opportunities.
Tahawul Tech
an hour ago
- Tahawul Tech
UAE enterprises prioritise cloud, cyber skills to unlock AI transformation, says Coursera
AI adoption is accelerating, and UAE tech leaders are turning to cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and continuous learning as the cornerstones of future-ready enterprises. Technology executives in the United Arab Emirates are making bold strides toward digital maturity, underpinned by strategic investments in cloud and cybersecurity capabilities. The Coursera From Cloud to AI 2025 survey, conducted in partnership with AWS, highlights how UAE companies are aligning skill development with transformation goals to unlock the full potential of AI. Kais Zribi, Coursera's General Manager for the Middle East and Africa, said: 'While automation is vital to transforming teams, workflows, and business operations, the UAE data reveal that strategic investments in human capital through upskilling and reskilling will be crucial to driving innovation. As organizations look to fully harness the potential of cloud and AI, investing equally in technology and people will be foundational to building a future-ready workforce. 'This report delivers a clear mandate for technology leaders: investing in skills development must be a cornerstone of every transformation strategy.' According to the report, which surveyed over 750 senior technology leaders across six global markets, UAE-based organisations allocate an average of 12.4% of team budgets to skills development, placing them among the top global investors in upskilling. The average annual revenue of participating UAE companies stood at $21.6 billion, signalling strong institutional capacity to lead technological change. Keeping pace with innovation has emerged as the top driver for workforce development, cited by 61% of UAE technology leaders, followed closely by the need to stay ahead of security threats (60%). This dual focus reflects a region-wide awareness that technological advancement and resilience must go hand in hand. While cloud transformation and generative AI (GenAI) are both flagged as critical business priorities over the next three years, UAE leaders are deliberately sequencing their efforts. Foundational skills—particularly in cloud architecture, data governance, and cybersecurity—are seen as prerequisites for deploying AI effectively at scale. Human talent remains central to this vision. The report notes that 88% of technology leaders globally—and in the UAE—believe AI initiatives will fail without robust investments in skills development. Practical learning, real-world simulations, and customised training environments are considered essential to bridging the AI capability gap. Rather than relying solely on new hires, UAE organisations are investing in their existing workforce. This approach supports institutional continuity while fostering innovation from within. Leaders also acknowledge the importance of aligning training with workplace challenges, ensuring employees can immediately apply new tools and frameworks. The UAE's strategic prioritisation of infrastructure, security, and human capital places it in a strong position to lead in a rapidly evolving digital economy. Enterprises that embed continuous learning into their transformation roadmaps are more likely to generate sustainable competitive advantage in an AI-driven future.
