Arabic Tech Pioneer, Sakhr Founder Biopic in the Works at Katara Studios (Exclusive)

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As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that the upcoming biopic about Mohammed Al-Sharekh is not just another movie to add to the queue. This film promises to be a captivating journey through the life of a true trailblazer who revolutionized technology in the Arab world, making it accessible and understandable for Arabic speakers.

Located in Doha, Qatar, Katara Studios – a content studio focusing on pan-Arab productions – is working on a film about Mohammed Al-Sharekh, a pioneer in Arabic computing. This movie will highlight his significant contribution to the field by introducing computing to Arabic speakers in the 1980s and making technology more accessible for them. Katara Studios refers to this biopic project, which was recently revealed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as “a captivating portrayal of an extraordinary Arab personality, Mr. Mohamed Al Sharekh, whose creation of Sakhr computers left a lasting impact that is still felt today.

Sakhr forms part of a series of four films that Katara will present at a showcase during the fourth installment of the Red Sea International Film Festival, taking place in Saudi Arabia’s second-largest city on Saturday afternoon. The company refers to this event as its initial “content roadshow,” which is viewed as emphasizing their commitment to creating “genuine and universally relatable narratives.

According to Hussein Fakhry, Katara’s top commercial executive, the script for the Sakhr film has been completed. The following stages involve choosing a director and then selecting actors for the roles.

Fakhry points out that this man was truly groundbreaking, as the term ‘pioneer’ implies. He was the one who initiated Arabic programming, a significant milestone. Many homes in the Middle East boasted a Sakhr computer, and if you ask anyone around here aged 40 or 50, they would instantly recognize Sakhr. There’s a sense of nostalgia attached to it.

In what way does the project align with Katara’s vision? The executive emphasizes that it perfectly represents our studio’s goals. Specifically, we aim to share genuine Arab narratives with a broader community. Moreover, this is an inspiring tale about an individual who significantly impacted computing and technology in this region.

As a gamer, I’d say if Mohammed Al-Sharekh were around today, he’d be like the Arabic version of Bill Gates – a trailblazer in tech. If his path hadn’t been interrupted by legal issues involving Microsoft and others, we might have had an entire generation of Arab programmers and coders thriving just as Silicon Valley does. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned due to that court case. However, the movie will delve into Al-Sharekh’s incredible journey, detailing how he founded Sakhr, the hurdles he faced during the first Gulf War in Kuwait, and the subsequent legal troubles – a tale filled with inspiration.

The business partner from Kuwait for this project is Piston Marketing & Production, who had connections with the Al-Sharekh family. “We quickly got on board with it,” Fakhry explained. “We assigned two writers to create the script, and they’ve done an exceptional job with it.” They took a trip to spend a week with Mohammed Al-Sharekh (who unfortunately passed away in March) and his family to truly grasp their struggles and experiences. This is where we emphasize authenticity. His son is also contributing as an executive producer. When projects are carried out with sincerity and authenticity, they have a higher probability of success.

As a gamer, I’ve been part of some pretty amazing projects that have graced various screens. For instance, I helped bring the gripping sci-fi fantasy series “Medinah” to life on Starzplay. I also contributed to the nail-biting sci-fi drama “The Pact,” which aired on The Roku Channel. If sports are more your thing, then you might have caught my work in the inspiring docu-drama “Chasing Dreams,” available on Shahid.

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2024-12-07 12:24