Page 7 - LFF
P. 7
DAY 4
19 May 2023
VILLAGE2
INTERNATIONAL
EVERY DAY, A FOCUS ON A PAVILION AT THE VILLAGE
INTERNATIONAL. TODAY, THE SAUDI PAVILION
© DR
4
THE SAUDI FILM COMMISSION COMES TO CANNES WITHIN THE
TCONTEXT OF A THRIVING PRODUCTION INDUSTRY BACK HOME
HE SAUDI Film Arabia is now the fastest growing Top Gun: Maverick in the lead,
Commission (SFC), is box-office in the Middle East and taking more than $20m at the
in Cannes to showcase there is a growing interest in local box office.
and consolidate the stories told through the eyes of our As far as home-grown content is
country’s thriving film new wave of exciting filmmakers. concerned, Abdullah Al-Arak’s
industry, which is experiencing rapid We are here to collaborate on the comedy Sattar, set against the
growth at the box office and a boom international stage, establish world of freestyle wrestling, has
in production. worldwide partnerships and brought considerable attention to
Led by the SFC, The Saudi showcase our offerings for shooting the Saudi film industry, as one of
Pavilion in Cannes brings together in the kingdom. And of course, the top five highest-grossing movies
all film professionals and media to celebrate cinema — its truly in the territory with more than
organisations, including the Red gratifying to see a landmark 900,000 tickets sold and taking
Sea International Film Festival number of filmmakers from the over $10m at the box office.
(RSIFF), Film AlUla, the Ministry Middle East and North Africa Over the last 18 months Saudi
of Investment of Saudi Arabia included in the programme this year.”- Arabia has provided the backdrop
(MISA), Neom Media Industries, The 40% cash rebate scheme, a for high-end productions
the Cultural Development Fund diverse array of filming locations, including: Kandahar, directed by
(CDF), Ithra (King Abdulaziz an increase in skilled crew and Ric Roman Waugh and starring
Center for World Culture) and brand-new world-class Gerard Butler, which releases
the MBC Group. infrastructure has resulted in a worldwide on 26 May; and
The SFC, which oversees the significant growth in film Netflix’s psychological thriller
kingdom’s growing film sector, production activity during the first Matchmaker. Both were shot in
launched its 40% cash rebate quarter of 2023. the spectacular region of AlUla.
programme, Film Saudi, last year Celebrating five years since cinemas During the Festival the SFC will
in Cannes. Designed to attract re-opened, Saudi Arabia has risen host a series of events including:
local, regional and international from a 15% share to accounting for Breakfast with the Kingdom, an
film producers to base their creative more than 40% of the Middle East industry networking event at the
projects in the kingdom, it also revenue. The General Commission Plages des Palmes; round tables
ALL PHOTOS © ÉRIC BONTÉ/1000IMAGES encourages and supports the local of Audiovisual Media, reported dedicated to film financing and
industry to participate on the the final box office total for Saudi how to access the rebate
international stage. cinemas in 2022 was approximately programme; and A Saudi
The Commission’s goal is to $250m, a 9% increase on 2021. Ecosystem, a panel discussion with
become “a global hub for film Some 13 new cinemas opened with Saudi partners at the Marché du
production and talent”, according a further 91 new screens bringing Film “to discuss the country’s film
to Abdullah Al-Eyaf, CEO of the the total to 581 screens. More than friendly ecosystem”.✦
6 Saudi Film Commission. “Saudi 14 million tickets were sold, with
Julian Newby
NEWS 7
19 May 2023
VILLAGE2
INTERNATIONAL
EVERY DAY, A FOCUS ON A PAVILION AT THE VILLAGE
INTERNATIONAL. TODAY, THE SAUDI PAVILION
© DR
4
THE SAUDI FILM COMMISSION COMES TO CANNES WITHIN THE
TCONTEXT OF A THRIVING PRODUCTION INDUSTRY BACK HOME
HE SAUDI Film Arabia is now the fastest growing Top Gun: Maverick in the lead,
Commission (SFC), is box-office in the Middle East and taking more than $20m at the
in Cannes to showcase there is a growing interest in local box office.
and consolidate the stories told through the eyes of our As far as home-grown content is
country’s thriving film new wave of exciting filmmakers. concerned, Abdullah Al-Arak’s
industry, which is experiencing rapid We are here to collaborate on the comedy Sattar, set against the
growth at the box office and a boom international stage, establish world of freestyle wrestling, has
in production. worldwide partnerships and brought considerable attention to
Led by the SFC, The Saudi showcase our offerings for shooting the Saudi film industry, as one of
Pavilion in Cannes brings together in the kingdom. And of course, the top five highest-grossing movies
all film professionals and media to celebrate cinema — its truly in the territory with more than
organisations, including the Red gratifying to see a landmark 900,000 tickets sold and taking
Sea International Film Festival number of filmmakers from the over $10m at the box office.
(RSIFF), Film AlUla, the Ministry Middle East and North Africa Over the last 18 months Saudi
of Investment of Saudi Arabia included in the programme this year.”- Arabia has provided the backdrop
(MISA), Neom Media Industries, The 40% cash rebate scheme, a for high-end productions
the Cultural Development Fund diverse array of filming locations, including: Kandahar, directed by
(CDF), Ithra (King Abdulaziz an increase in skilled crew and Ric Roman Waugh and starring
Center for World Culture) and brand-new world-class Gerard Butler, which releases
the MBC Group. infrastructure has resulted in a worldwide on 26 May; and
The SFC, which oversees the significant growth in film Netflix’s psychological thriller
kingdom’s growing film sector, production activity during the first Matchmaker. Both were shot in
launched its 40% cash rebate quarter of 2023. the spectacular region of AlUla.
programme, Film Saudi, last year Celebrating five years since cinemas During the Festival the SFC will
in Cannes. Designed to attract re-opened, Saudi Arabia has risen host a series of events including:
local, regional and international from a 15% share to accounting for Breakfast with the Kingdom, an
film producers to base their creative more than 40% of the Middle East industry networking event at the
projects in the kingdom, it also revenue. The General Commission Plages des Palmes; round tables
ALL PHOTOS © ÉRIC BONTÉ/1000IMAGES encourages and supports the local of Audiovisual Media, reported dedicated to film financing and
industry to participate on the the final box office total for Saudi how to access the rebate
international stage. cinemas in 2022 was approximately programme; and A Saudi
The Commission’s goal is to $250m, a 9% increase on 2021. Ecosystem, a panel discussion with
become “a global hub for film Some 13 new cinemas opened with Saudi partners at the Marché du
production and talent”, according a further 91 new screens bringing Film “to discuss the country’s film
to Abdullah Al-Eyaf, CEO of the the total to 581 screens. More than friendly ecosystem”.✦
6 Saudi Film Commission. “Saudi 14 million tickets were sold, with
Julian Newby
NEWS 7
