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Red Sea Film Foundation Partners with Diriyah Biennale to Present 'Cinema Nights'

Red Sea Film Foundation Partners with Diriyah Biennale to Present 'Cinema Nights'
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Red Sea Film Foundation Partners with Diriyah Biennale to Present 'Cinema Nights'

Red Sea Film Foundation Partners with Diriyah Biennale to Present 'Cinema Nights'

The Red Sea Film Foundation announced on Wednesday that it will partner with the Diriyah Biennale Foundation to launch the “Cinema Nights” series that will be held on the sidelines of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2024 in the JAX District in Diriyah from March 7 to May 23.

This partnership aims to enrich the cinematic and cultural landscape by providing a platform for dialogue through a series of exclusive screenings of local and international films and discussions with filmmakers, "offering a unique opportunity for art and culture enthusiasts to dive into captivating narrative worlds and explore unique cinematic horizons," the Red Sea Film Foundation said in a statement.

The “Cinema Nights” program will present a selected series of exclusive film screenings, including the Saudi film “Hajjan,” by director Abu Bakr Shawky, which tells the story of a boy named Omar and his relationship with his camel “Haffara” that develops over the days. The film highlights a collection of intricately designed scenes against the backdrop of Saudi Arabia’s expansive deserts, starring several stars such as Azzam Namr, Abdulmohsen Alnemer, and rising talent Omar Atawi.

Visitors can watch the anticipated Saudi film “Noura” by Saudi director and writer Tawfiq Al-Zaidi, starring Saudi Arabia’s Yaqoub Alfarhan, and the esteemed Abdullah Al-Sadhan in his first big-screen appearance.

The event will also host a series of international cinematic screenings, including the Japanese film “Evil Does Not Exist” and “Behind the Mountains” by Tunisian director Mohamed Ben Attia, along with many international and local short films.

Red Sea Film Foundation CEO Mohammed Al Turki said: “We are proud of this partnership with the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, which reflects our dedication at the Red Sea Film Foundation to enriching the cultural and cinematic scene in the Kingdom. It also highlights our continuous commitment to fostering partnerships with cultural entities that align with our shared objectives."

He added: “Cinema Nights is not just a cinematic event, but also a cultural platform that celebrates storytelling and creativity and enhances the cultural exchange between peoples.”

Diriyah Biennale Foundation CEO Aya Al-Bakree said: “We are excited to partner with the Red Sea Film Foundation to offer a rich cinematic experience to our visitors. We strongly believe in the role that film plays in highlighting unique stories and igniting new dialogue between different cultures and generations.”

“Through our second edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale we aim to create a thought-provoking, immersive, and multi-sensory cultural journey for visitors of all ages and backgrounds, and we believe our collaboration with the Red Sea Film Foundation is an important step in achieving that goal,” she added.

The program offers a curated selection of ten feature films every Thursday from March 7 to May 23. Furthermore, local and international short films will be shown on May 10 and 11 at the Diriyah Biennale Foundation in Riyadh, providing visitors with an immersive cinematic experience using the latest sound and image technologies. Arabic and English subtitles are available for all the scheduled film screenings.

“This partnership between the Red Sea Film Foundation and the Diriyah Biennale Foundation reflects a shared commitment to enhancing the cultural and cinematic landscape in the Kingdom, and to fostering artistic and creative expression through platforms that attract promising artistic and cinematic talents," said the statement.

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‘Comeback’ Queen Demi Moore ‘Has Always Been Here,’ Says Director

US actress Demi Moore poses with the Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy award for "The Substance" in the press room during the 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on January 5, 2025. (AFP)
US actress Demi Moore poses with the Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy award for "The Substance" in the press room during the 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on January 5, 2025. (AFP)
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‘Comeback’ Queen Demi Moore ‘Has Always Been Here,’ Says Director

US actress Demi Moore poses with the Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy award for "The Substance" in the press room during the 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on January 5, 2025. (AFP)
US actress Demi Moore poses with the Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy award for "The Substance" in the press room during the 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on January 5, 2025. (AFP)

Demi Moore's Golden Globe best actress win for "The Substance" has, almost overnight, transformed the 1990s megastar into a seemingly unlikely favorite for the Oscars.

In her acceptance speech Sunday, the 62-year-old -- who once generated headlines as much for her love life as for her hit films -- said she had long been dismissed as a "popcorn actress," and had never "won anything as an actor."

But for Coralie Fargeat, the French director who also wrote Moore's new, blood-drenched body horror film, there is nothing surprising about the late-career reappraisal her leading lady is now enjoying.

"It was so moving to see Demi on that stage," Fargeat told AFP, the morning after Moore's big win.

The movie allowed audiences "to see who she is as an actress, and not project any more the stereotype that if you're beautiful, you can't be a good actress."

"It is being called a comeback. But she has always been here," Fargeat added.

Society's obsession with pigeonholing and pinning expiration dates on women is the core premise of "The Substance."

In the film, globally distributed by MUBI, Moore's character Elisabeth is a fading movie star, who is abruptly fired from her hit TV fitness show as she turns 50.

Out of desperation, she injects herself with a mysterious serum which allows her to live in a younger version of her body -- as long as she returns to her older form every week.

Inevitably, the allure of remaining young proves too strong, especially after Elisabeth's stunningly youthful alter ego is catapulted to fame by creepy male executives.

- 'Dream' -

Fargeat had long been a fan of Moore's acting work, which included hits like "Indecent Proposal" and "Ghost," as well as more divisive fare like "G.I. Jane."

"I could like or not like the movies, but I think she always delivered pretty great performances," said the director.

But Moore's real-life career also incarnated "this iconic star" represented by her character in "The Substance."

"Someone who has been totally valued for this dream, this fake promise that if you're young, beautiful, you're going to be happy and successful," said Fargeat.

"And when this goes away, it's like all your life is going away."

Even so, Moore's pitch-perfect casting as Elisabeth nearly did not happen.

Fargeat at first assumed Moore would not be interested in a role requiring countless, grotesque scenes of gore and decay.

But the director picked up a copy of Moore's 2019 memoir "Inside Out," which laid bare the actor's battles with ageism and misogyny, as well as addiction, abuse and very public divorces.

"When I read her book, I really saw that she was ready to take the level of risk that the movie requested," said Fargeat.

"The film is really about women's bodies. I wanted to tell my stories [in] the flesh," recalled Fargeat.

Fargeat also admits she was a demanding and meticulous director on set, requiring "a lot of takes."

Moore has spoken about losing 20 pounds (nine kilos) and contracting shingles due to the intense strain of filming, while co-star Margaret Qualley described being in the movie's prosthetic suits as "torture" that triggered panic attacks.

"If the lead performance isn't ready to go that far, the whole movie falls apart," said Fargeat.

Moore "took the risk to follow the vision of the movie... that's very, very brave and courageous," she said.

- Oscars race -

With the Globes win, more attention will come to "The Substance" -- both from wider audiences, and Oscars voters, who are picking their final nominees on ballots due this week.

Fargeat herself could earn nods for best director and best original screenplay, and "The Substance" is tipped by many pundits to make the best picture list.

But few would now bet against Moore for best actress.

"From the beginning, I believed that this can happen," said Fargeat. "That's what cinema is about -- creating things that people are not expecting."

"I'm just immensely proud to have created this part."