CANNES - Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud met with a group of Saudi filmmakers and industry professionals during his visit to the Kingdom’s pavilion at the 75th edition of the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday.
The minister expressed his pride and support for the Saudi film sector, which has witnessed remarkable growth and achievements in recent years. He also praised the efforts of the Saudi Film Commission, which organized the pavilion and showcased the best of Saudi cinema to the international audience.
The minister was accompanied by the CEO of the Film Commission, Abdullah Al-Eyaf, and the CEO of the Red Sea International Film Festival, Mohammed Al-Turki. They toured the pavilion and interacted with the Saudi and international guests, who included filmmakers, actors, producers, distributors, and festival directors.
The Saudi pavilion, which was launched on Tuesday, aims to create a space for dialogue and discussion with film industry leaders from around the world, and to enable Saudi filmmaking companies to meet and exchange ideas with global filmmakers. The pavilion also features a screening room, where a selection of Saudi short films and documentaries are being shown throughout the festivals.
The pavilion is part of the Kingdom’s efforts to promote its film sector and attract investments and partnerships. The Cultural Development Fund recently announced a historic $100 million film investment fund for local and international investors, as well as a separate $80 million fund that will target local film and media production, distribution and infrastructure.
The Cannes Film Festival, which runs until July 17, is one of the most prestigious and influential events in the global film industry. Saudi Arabia is participating for the second time in its history, after its debut in 2018.
