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Riyadh to Host 4th Gulf Film Festival in April

The logo of the Saudi Film Commission
The logo of the Saudi Film Commission
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Riyadh to Host 4th Gulf Film Festival in April

The logo of the Saudi Film Commission
The logo of the Saudi Film Commission

The city of Riyadh will host the fourth annual Gulf Film Festival (GFF) under the patronage of Saudi Minister of Culture and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Film Commission Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al-Saud.

The festival, which is organized by the Film Commission in cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) General Secretariat, will be held over five days, from April 14 to 18.

The festival serves a dual purpose: supporting the regional film industry and fostering artistic exchange on a global scale. The ultimate aim is to cultivate a thriving Gulf film industry that empowers local talent, celebrates Gulf values, and strengthens cultural identity.

The GFF will not only showcase a competitive selection of 29 films from all GCC countries, but also honor veteran actors for their contributions to Gulf cinema. Additionally, the festival offers a platform for learning and development through three training workshops and six educational seminars focused on fostering artistic dialogue and raising awareness of cinema's social impact.

Filmmakers will vie for prestigious awards across various filmmaking categories, including short films, feature films, screenplays, soundtracks, and acting. These awards serve as a testament to the Film Commission's dedication to nurturing Gulf cinematic talent and propelling the region's film industry forward.

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Pharrell Advocates for Reviving Arts Competitions for 2028 Olympics at Louis Vuitton Event 

Pharrell Williams upon arrival at the Louis Vuitton Foundation on the eve of Paris Olympics opening ceremony, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP)
Pharrell Williams upon arrival at the Louis Vuitton Foundation on the eve of Paris Olympics opening ceremony, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP)
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Pharrell Advocates for Reviving Arts Competitions for 2028 Olympics at Louis Vuitton Event 

Pharrell Williams upon arrival at the Louis Vuitton Foundation on the eve of Paris Olympics opening ceremony, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP)
Pharrell Williams upon arrival at the Louis Vuitton Foundation on the eve of Paris Olympics opening ceremony, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP)

If given the chance, Pharrell Williams would reintroduce arts competition into the Olympics, reviving a tradition that's been missing for nearly 80 years.

Williams is aiming to reinstate arts competitions back on the world's biggest sports stage, starting with raising awareness through his star-studded Louis Vuitton event Thursday in Paris. He passionately shared his goal to see the tradition revived by the Olympics in 2028 the night before the Games’ opening ceremony.

“We get to remind people that at one point, the Olympics actually had the arts as a section that ran all these competitions,” Williams before the event. “Sculpture, architecture, visual arts. The idea we get to put the arts back in. ... Why not take this moment to bring awareness?”

Art competitions first came into fruition at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm with medals awarded in five categories: architecture, literature, music, painting and sculpture. However, the International Olympic Committee ended the competitions in the 1948 games. An attempt to bring it back was denied four years later.

Williams, the musician-turned-designer, hosted the ritzy A-list event at the Louis Vuitton Foundation building. Attendees included popular figures such as LeBron James, Steven Spielberg, Mick Jagger, Zendaya, Anna Wintour, Charlize Theron, Serena Williams, Rosalía, Snoop Dogg, Queen Latifah and Zac Efron.

Williams called the inside of the event like an “indoor carnival.” He curated a select group of world-renowned artists including KAWS, Daniel Arsham and Derek Fordjour to design interactive art installations.

Some of the sports represented at the event included archery, tennis, basketball and equestrianism along with carnival games. “The game will begin on the inside tonight,” he said.

Through donations, Williams said he wanted the event to support Olympic hopefuls as well as 36 athletes across 11 different countries who are competing on the Refugee Olympic Team this year.

“We get to raise money for the other athletes who don't have the means to get the gear or proper training equipment,” said Williams, who added that he spoke about creating music for the games with Thomas Bach, the president of the IOC.

The famed producer said he recorded a track called “Triumph is Cosmos.”

“This is like the victory lap around the solar system,” he said.