(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Directioners in UAE all geared up to watch movie on October 11 and 12 All in one direction ... the five members of the band One Direction. — Supplied photos
Tickets for the concert film “One Direction: Where We Are – The Concert Film” which is coming to the UAE cinemas for just one weekend on October 11 and 12 are already selling like hot cakes. Both young and old Directioners in the UAE are all geared up to watch the concert film recorded in Milan Italy on June 28.
Cinema officials say they are “not surprised” at the demand. In the first weekend alone movie theatres like VOX Cinemas sold 20 per cent of the full allocation of tickets for the two days of screenings. “As of now we are up to 40 per cent capacity without having done any major promotion apart from announcements on our own social media channels and VOX website” said Michelle Walsh Marketing Director of VOX Cinemas. Along with 75 minutes of concert footage the film will include a 15-minute “never before seen interview with the band cut with exclusive backstage tour footage.”
Walsh added: “We can’t have more dates as globally October 10 and 11 are the only dates that have been approved for a theatrical cinema release but yes if we see the demand continue to grow we will look to programme some more sessions possibly around the peak viewing times.”
“We will be showing the movie across the 11 VOX Cinemas on at least one of the screens at all sites on average we show about 5 to 6 sessions of a movie per day on a cinema screen.”
Fans of the boy-band or ‘Directioners’ in Dubai say they ‘cannot wait’ for the release of the movie. The One Direction concert
Eleven-year-old Omani national Farah Mohammed is a die-hard Directioner. She said on Twitter: “I have already booked my tickets for the movie. I’ve even purchased tickets for their concert in March 2015.”
Another fan and Egyptian national Ganna Ahmad (15) said: “I cannot wait to see them live in Dubai and the movie is the closest thing to the concert. I came across their music two years ago. They are a really nice band and they are very creative and they seem like they really care about their fans. I’m counting days to the concert and I have everything from t-shirts posters and all sort of fan paraphernalia with me.”
Jacques Kruger General Manager of Tanweer VOX Media said: “There are few groups or artists that have a (female teen) following as huge as One Direction and they are probably the number one group appealing to this audience in the world at the moment. What makes their appeal so impressive is the fact that they have managed to cross cultural language gender and even age barriers and have a huge fan base spread all across the planet. The incredible advance sale that has been reported by VoX Cinemas is a testament to the unparalleled popularity One Direction is enjoying at the moment.”
Pakistani national and ardent fan of One Direction Hiba Khan who draws sketches of the band members said: “My mom advised me to stay away from strangers but what she does not know is that five strangers changed my life. For me it is very difficult to choose my favourite band member. I am most definitely going to go watch the concert movie.”
Another fan Maithili Nair said: “I am terribly excited about the release of the movie. I saw the first for about four times in theatres and I’m planning on breaking my record with the second one. Also I’m so glad they finally decided to come to Dubai I’ve been waiting for years.”
Dubai resident and Indian national Nazneen Sharani was one of the fans who stood queue outside Virgin Megastore in Mall of the Emirates to buy tickets for the concert in 2015. “I’ve not yet bought tickets for the concert film but I am definitely going to go for it. I am their biggest fan.”
dhanushakhaleejtimes.com
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