a story of success
In the Gulf In particular, cinemas were a foreign concept, and so was the idea of a centralised dirsribution network for international titles, It was in this environment that in 1989 I co founded Guld Film, a company that would go on to become the regio's leading film distributor and exhibitor right up until its sale in 2011.111
That success was based on an absolute belief from the outset that birthing a new industry meant investing significant resources in an aggressive growth plan. building the framework from the ground up, and assuming a position of prominence on the worldwide stage.
With that vision in mind, for close to a decade and until satellite offices sprang up in Dubai, we were the sub-distributor of choice for every studio. It was only a matter of fact that we would launch the first standalone multiplex
and expand exponentially, consistently pioneering the latest cinema technologies. the local industry flourished. The Grand Cinemas chain grew from two screens to 108 in the UAE alone, and with a larger and more varied range of titles-sources from every continent-consumer appetite was awakened. As a direct result of our efforts, the UAE became the biggest grossing market in terms of ticket sales.
Thirty five years in this industry afford me perspective, but what drives me is a passion for film that started it all. As we forge our way across the region, developing new markets and building foundations always with an eye to the future, our success must always be measured by our determination to innovate and our desire to entertain.
Selim Ramia
Distribution
