As the Cannes Film Festival wraps up its 74th edition on Saturday, many of those following the international event turned their attention to Saudi Arabia, which participated actively and remarkably.
Saudi Arabia participated in the Cannes Film Festival through an integrated Saudi pavilion, with wide participation from a number of government agencies, and the private sector.
The activities were organized upon the directions of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman Abdelaziz, as part of his continuous support for the Kingdom’s cultural sector.
While Saudi Arabia had taken part in the 71st edition, this year was different.
The public sector played a role alongside the private sector, and participated at an unprecedented scale, with the participation of the Film Commission, Ministry of Investment, Royal Commission for AlUla, Red Sea International Film Festival, the MBC channel group, Ithraa, NEOM Company, Nebras Films, Cinewaves films, and Arabian Pictures Group, in addition to a group of filmmakers and other Saudi institutions.
During the festival, the Saudi pavilion also acted as a platform for open dialogue among Saudi and Arab filmmakers and investors with their international counterparts.
The Saudi pavilion succeeded in confirming the position of Saudi Arabia as an incubator for the Arab film industry, and a significant and influential market in the Middle East, where aspirations of investors from around the world meet.
