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New Horror Studio Launched in Dubai
31 Oct
Summary
- Faisal Hashmi launched Spine Drop Pictures for genre films.
- The company's first slate includes three horror features.
- Budget strategy focuses on high-concept, low-cost productions.
Dubai-based director Faisal Hashmi has launched his own production company, Spine Drop Pictures, dedicated to genre filmmaking. The company's initial focus is on horror features, with three projects already unveiled: Off Plan, Cinder, and Latching.
Hashmi aims to produce high-concept, commercially oriented genre films budgeted below $1 million. This strategy is informed by his successful 15-year career directing numerous contained, high-concept shorts that have garnered significant online views and festival recognition. He emphasizes making strong concepts shine, even with limited resources.
The first three films written and directed by Hashmi are Off Plan, an anthology set in Dubai; Cinder, a supernatural thriller expanding on his award-winning short Amber and set in the UAE's mountains; and Latching, a feminist possession-revenge horror film planned for production in Karachi, Pakistan.
Spine Drop Pictures is exploring various financial avenues, including slate investment and co-productions, to support its inaugural features. Hashmi believes this sustainable approach, focusing on commercially viable films with international appeal, is crucial for the growth of independent cinema, particularly in emerging markets like the UAE.
