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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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Billy Idol on His First Album in over a Decade, the Rock Hall and More

Billy Idol performs during the Vive Latino music festival in Mexico City, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP)
Billy Idol performs during the Vive Latino music festival in Mexico City, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP)
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Billy Idol on His First Album in over a Decade, the Rock Hall and More

Billy Idol performs during the Vive Latino music festival in Mexico City, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP)
Billy Idol performs during the Vive Latino music festival in Mexico City, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP)

When Billy Idol first entered American consciousness in the early '80s, leather-clad and bleached hair in tow, he not only brought a punk rock sound to the mainstream. The Englishman brought a new attitude, a new, rebellious way of being.

In the time since, songs like “White Wedding,” “Rebel Yell” and “Eyes Without a Face” have become instant classics — for those who've worn a spiky jacket and those who've only imagined what it might be like.

Now, over four decades later, he's got the wisdom to reflect. It's led to a new documentary about his life, “Billy Idol Should Be Dead,” which will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival — and a new album, the polished punk-pop of “Dream Into It.”

“It was a gradual process, really,” he said of the 11-year span between albums. “It wasn’t so much that we didn’t want to make an album, it was more like we were building up to doing this.”

Idol discussed with The Associated Press this week his new album and forthcoming documentary, his past struggles with addiction, his first-ever Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination and more.

Remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity.

AP: You've described “Dream Into It” as autobiographical. I thought your last album, 2014's “Kings & Queens of the Underground,” pulled from your life as well.

IDOL: Being this age, in particular, 69, when you look back, you can really see your whole life, how it plays out. And maybe it’s also having grandchildren. My children are having children.

You sort of reach this vantage point where you can really look back and see all the sort of different eras of my life. And you can sing about it. And I think I didn’t go deep enough with the songs I did on “Kings and Queens.” I thought lyrically I could go deeper. That’s one of those regrets I had about the last album. So I really went for it, and I went for more imagery, (on ‘Dream Into It,’ in the) way of talking about my life. I’m not spelling it out exactly.

AP: There are a lot of rock ‘n’ roll women on the album. Joan Jett, Avril Lavigne and The Kills' Alison Mosshart are all featured.

IDOL: (Mosshart's) voice is just incredible. And of course, Joan Jett, I’ve known since 1978 after a Germs/Dead Kennedys concert. We hung out in Los Angeles. I was on a Generation X promotion tour for the first album. And then Avril, I mean, I’ve just been watching her career forever and she’s fantastic. So, it was just great.

AP: The documentary has an evocative title, “Billy Idol Should Be Dead.” It sounds like it may dive into your past struggles with addiction.

IDOL: There was a point in my life when I was living like every day, like, “Live every day as if it’s your last.” One day, you’re going to be right.

In the '70s, in England, you know, young people, we had this feeling that we were being completely ignored. You were even being told that you had no future. And so, we just didn’t think beyond the day-to-day existence. It was probably only when I really started having children and stuff like that, I really starting to realize I (should) try start to give up drugs and things.

I’ve always flirted with death, in a way. Even riding motorcycles, you’re staring at the concrete. It’s right there, you can come off that thing and get horribly messed up. And I’ve done it. It’s horrible. You find out how human you are, how vulnerable. There’s lots of things about my life that, yeah, I did kind of call death at times. Not really mean to, but you just were living like that.

Imagine if it was today. If I was doing what I was back then today, I would be dead because I would have run into fentanyl.

AP: You're nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for the first time. Do you think your younger punk rock self would be excited?

IDOL: I do sort of think about Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry and Little Richard. “And what? Are you going to be in something with those guys?” You know, Buddy Holly. These are some of the seminal people who turned on the people that turned me on, you know? Somewhere down the road, it led to punk rock.

Also, my motorcycle has been in the Rock & Roll of Fame for like five years. So I might as well be in it, too.