Saudi Film Commission Participates in 74th Berlin International Film Festival

The Saudi Film Commission logo
The Saudi Film Commission logo
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Saudi Film Commission Participates in 74th Berlin International Film Festival

The Saudi Film Commission logo
The Saudi Film Commission logo

The Saudi Film Commission is participating in the 74th Berlin International Film Festival scheduled to be held from February 15 to 25 in Berlin.
The commission's participation aims to introduce the Kingdom's efforts to enhance the film industry, develop film production, and support local talents by encouraging them to participate in international festivals as part of the Kingdom's efforts to become a global destination for filmmaking.
The Saudi Film Commission's pavilion in the 74th Berlin International Film Festival will be in partnership with Film AlUla, Cultural Development Fund, NEOM, "Invest Saudi" Initiative, Red Sea International Film Festival, and the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra).
CEO of the Saudi Film Commission Eng. Abdullah Al-Eyyaf noted that the participation in the Berlin International Film Festival reflects the commission's commitment to supporting the film industry by encouraging worldwide producers to explore Saudi Arabia's inspiring filming locations.

"Our participation goes beyond marketing film production in the Kingdom, as it aims to present local talent on the global stage, to create opportunities for cultural exchange of knowledge, and present the outstanding local efforts and stories of the Saudi film industry,” he said.



Chinese Lion Dance Troupe Shrugs off Patriarchal Past 

This photo taken on January 22, 2025 shows members of a lion dance troupe playing drums and percussions during a lion dance practice session in Shantou, in southern China's Guangdong province. (AFP)
This photo taken on January 22, 2025 shows members of a lion dance troupe playing drums and percussions during a lion dance practice session in Shantou, in southern China's Guangdong province. (AFP)
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Chinese Lion Dance Troupe Shrugs off Patriarchal Past 

This photo taken on January 22, 2025 shows members of a lion dance troupe playing drums and percussions during a lion dance practice session in Shantou, in southern China's Guangdong province. (AFP)
This photo taken on January 22, 2025 shows members of a lion dance troupe playing drums and percussions during a lion dance practice session in Shantou, in southern China's Guangdong province. (AFP)

Flinging her male teammate into the air, performer Lin Xinmeng practices China's world-famous lion dance with a troupe that is shrugging off centuries of patriarchal norms.

Mixing acrobatics, martial arts and theater, lion dancing is believed to bring prosperity and protection from evil spirits.

Performed across China and around the world, at weddings or during business openings, it is a mainstay of Lunar New Year celebrations, which begin on Wednesday.

"I discovered this dance one day by chance in the street. I found it super graceful," Lin, 18, told AFP in a courtyard in the southern Chinese city of Shantou, where her troupe trains.

"The tenacity of the dancers, their ability to perform these movements, impressed me. I wanted to become like them," she said.

Inside a costume consisting of a large, colorful lion head and a long, silky piece of fabric representing the body, dancers must work in tandem to bring the animal to life.

It can be tough on dancers' bodies, with one performer often required to lift the other by the waist to simulate the beast jumping on its hind legs.

That physical exertion, coupled with deep-rooted patriarchal attitudes, has long resulted in women being excluded from the tradition.

But Lin Likun -- the troupe's 31-year-old coach -- said the presence of women made the lion dancing show more "enjoyable" and means more people can pass on "this intangible heritage".

"We are constantly looking for ways to innovate, to breathe new vitality into lion dance," he said.

"It also allows us to reflect women's aspirations," he added, even if some give up along the way because of the physical demands.

- Rejecting patriarchy -

The troupe, called Lingdong, counts about 80 members aged between 13 to 33, most of them school students.

Around 20 of them are women.

While the presence of young women in the troupe elicits "mostly positive" feedback, Lin acknowledges that there has been some "mockery" and "negative reactions".

"Some old-timers think that women should stay at home and do housework. But our generation has a different view," he said.

"We believe in equality between men and women."

A growing number of Chinese women are rejecting the rigidity of traditional obligations imposed by their parents, who expect them to marry and have children young.

The cultural shift has been accompanied by the stardom of tennis player Zheng Qinwen, a champion at last year's Paris Olympics, and the critical success of the Chinese film "Her Story", which addresses gender inequality in contemporary society.

"Some say that a girl can't lead a lion. But it's my passion and it's up to me alone to take it on," said performer Lin Xinmeng.

"I want to surpass myself, to show that girls are not necessarily less good than boys," she explained.

- 'Masculine strength, feminine grace' -

Lin goes jogging, squats and weight trains to prepare herself for the most physically demanding parts of the dance.

She sees the participation of women and girls as a way "to combine masculine strength and feminine grace".

Another girl in the troupe, Dong Zidan, has 45,000 followers on the social network Douyin, China's version of TikTok, where she regularly shares content about lion dancing.

"I hope to encourage more girls to participate in our customs and pass on this intangible heritage," she said.

Coach Lin's next project is to have as many girls as boys in his team.

He will then try to create an all-women troupe -- a distant goal given the challenges that persist.

"The facts will prove that girls can assert themselves just as much as men," he insisted.

"Whether in lion dancing or in daily life."