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Saudi Film Commission Highlights Archiving, Restoration at Lumière Film Festival 2025

Saudi Film Commission Highlights Archiving, Restoration at Lumière Film Festival 2025
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Saudi Film Commission Highlights Archiving, Restoration at Lumière Film Festival 2025

Saudi Film Commission Highlights Archiving, Restoration at Lumière Film Festival 2025

The Saudi Film Commission is participating in the International Classic Film Market at Lumière Film Festival 2025, taking place from October 11-19 in Lyon, France.

The commission’s participation highlights Saudi Arabia’s dedication to preserving film heritage and fostering cultural exchange through cinema, SPA reported.

Founded by the Institut Lumière, the Lumière Film Festival is one of the world’s most respected celebrations of classic cinema. Held annually in Lyon, it brings together film professionals, historians, and enthusiasts to showcase restored works and rediscover timeless films.

As part of the Lumière Film Festival, the Marché International du Film Classique (MIFC) is considered one of the world’s most significant gatherings for film archiving, restoration, and distribution, bringing together specialists from more than 30 countries, including distributors, film associations, rights holders, and restoration laboratories.

The Film Commission’s pavilion, located within the MIFC, will spotlight the Kingdom’s initiatives in film preservation, restoration, and digitization, offering visitors a more comprehensive look at the nation’s archival infrastructure.

The showcase will also feature restored Saudi film classics, highlighting the importance of safeguarding cultural heritage and passing cinematic history to future generations.

Through its participation, the Film Commission reaffirms its commitment to preserving heritage, cultural exchange, and collaboration.

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Culture

Makkah Quran Museum Displays Rare ‘Blue Quran’ Manuscript

The Blue Quran is regarded as one of the rarest and most luxurious mushafs in Islamic civilization. (SPA)
The Blue Quran is regarded as one of the rarest and most luxurious mushafs in Islamic civilization. (SPA)
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Makkah Quran Museum Displays Rare ‘Blue Quran’ Manuscript

The Blue Quran is regarded as one of the rarest and most luxurious mushafs in Islamic civilization. (SPA)
The Blue Quran is regarded as one of the rarest and most luxurious mushafs in Islamic civilization. (SPA)

The Holy Quran Museum in the Hira Cultural District in Makkah is displaying a rare folio from the famed “Al-Muṣḥaf Al-Azraq” (Blue Quran), featuring verses from Surah Al-Baqarah, from the end of verse 37 to the beginning of verse 42, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Monday.

The exhibit highlights the richness of Islamic Quranic heritage and its ancient artistic legacy.

The Blue Quran is regarded as one of the rarest and most luxurious mushafs in Islamic civilization. It was written in pure gold ink in early Kufic script on a deep blue background, reflecting a distinctive artistic style that underscores early Muslims’ reverence for the Quranic text and their dedication to the aesthetics of its calligraphy.

Dating back to the 9th century, the manuscript holds exceptional historical and scholarly value. It stands as a testament to the development of Arabic calligraphy and illumination during the early Islamic period.

Surviving pages of the Blue Quran are extremely rare and are now dispersed among a limited number of museums and private collections worldwide.

The display forms part of the museum’s efforts to introduce visitors to the history of the mushaf and the artistic stages of its transcription, offering access to extraordinary examples of Quranic manuscripts.

The initiative aims to deepen cultural awareness and enrich the experience of visitors to the Hira Cultural District from within the Kingdom and abroad.

The Holy Quran Museum serves as a cultural and educational landmark, highlighting the history of the Quran and its journey since the revelation. It houses rare manuscripts and historic copies of the Quran, alongside interactive exhibits and modern technologies that reflect Muslims’ enduring devotion to the Quran throughout the centuries, in a location closely associated with the dawn of the Islamic message.

Culture

Riyadh Art Unveils Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026

The exhibition site on Tahlia Street was strategically chosen for its historical legacy of innovation to provide a conceptual framework for the works. SPA
The exhibition site on Tahlia Street was strategically chosen for its historical legacy of innovation to provide a conceptual framework for the works. SPA
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Riyadh Art Unveils Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026

The exhibition site on Tahlia Street was strategically chosen for its historical legacy of innovation to provide a conceptual framework for the works. SPA
The exhibition site on Tahlia Street was strategically chosen for its historical legacy of innovation to provide a conceptual framework for the works. SPA

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City, via its Riyadh Art program, has launched the Tuwaiq Sculpture 2026 exhibition on Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Street (Tahlia).

Open to the public from February 9 to 22, the exhibition showcases 25 new artworks themed "Traces of What Will Be," exploring transformation and urban renewal.

The sculptures were crafted during a live phase from January 10 to February 5, during which artists from 18 countries used local stone and recycled metals, allowing the public to witness the creative process firsthand.

The exhibition site on Tahlia Street was strategically chosen for its historical legacy of innovation to provide a conceptual framework for the works.

Overseen by a panel of international experts, the exhibition serves as an interactive cultural platform featuring workshops and panel discussions to foster community engagement.

All 2026 pieces will join Riyadh Art's permanent collection, which has hosted over 170 artists since 2019 and already installed more than 60 sculptures across the city to integrate contemporary art into Riyadh's urban fabric.

Culture

Syrian Culture Minister Applauds Saudi Pavilion at Damascus Book Fair

The 2026 Damascus International Book Fair is held from February 6 to 16 - SPA
The 2026 Damascus International Book Fair is held from February 6 to 16 - SPA
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Syrian Culture Minister Applauds Saudi Pavilion at Damascus Book Fair

The 2026 Damascus International Book Fair is held from February 6 to 16 - SPA
The 2026 Damascus International Book Fair is held from February 6 to 16 - SPA

Syrian Minister of Culture Mohammed Yassin Saleh visited the Kingdom’s pavilion at the 2026 Damascus International Book Fair, held from February 6 to 16, where the Kingdom is serving as the Guest of Honor.

He commended the efforts of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission in showcasing the rich diversity of the Saudi cultural and literary scene. The pavilion features exhibitions of manuscripts, a Saudi fashion corner, and archaeological replicas, SPA reported.

The minister reviewed the commission's Tarjim translation initiative and Saudi literature comics.

This participation at the 2026 Damascus International Book Fair showcases Saudi creativity and fosters cultural dialogue, supporting Saudi Vision 2030’s goals of knowledge exchange and cultural leadership.