The Saudi Pavilion at Cannes, led by the Saudi Film Commission (SFC), is a comprehensive representation of the entire film sector. It encompasses several media organizations including the Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF), Film AlUla, the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA), NEOM Media Industries, the Cultural Development Fund (CDF), Ithra (King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture) and the MBC GROUP. Together, these entities are to unveil a line-up of industry events hosted at the Saudi Pavilion 137, located at the Village International Riviera.
The SFC, which oversees the Kingdom’s evolving film sector, launched the ‘Film Saudi’ program in Cannes last year. This program offers a competitive 40% cash rebate to attract local, regional, and international film producers and encourage them to base their creative projects in the Kingdom and support the development of the screen sector to facilitate participation on the international stage.
CEO of SFC Abdullah Al Eyaf said, “We are thrilled to return to the Cannes Film Festival following a successful year spent developing our local film industry, as we strive to become a global hub for film production and talent. Saudi Arabia is now the fastest-growing box-office in the Middle East amid a growing interest in local stories told through the eyes of our emerging filmmakers. We are here to collaborate on the international stage, establish worldwide partnerships and showcase our offerings for shooting in the kingdom. It is truly gratifying to see a significant number of filmmakers from the Middle East and North Africa included in this year’s program.”
The focus on promoting homegrown content and investing in the burgeoning local filmmaking scene is proving successful.
During the festival, the SFC is to host a series of events including “Breakfast with the Kingdom,” an industry networking event at the Plages des Palmes round tables dedicated to film financing and how to access the rebate program. The events are to also encompass a panel discussion with Saudi partners at the Marché du Film entitled “A Saudi Ecosystem” and centered around the country’s film-friendly ecosystem.
Over the last 18 months, Saudi Arabia has served as the backdrop for high-end productions, including Kandahar directed by Ric Roman Waugh and starring Gerard Butler, which will have a worldwide release on May 26, and Netflix’s psychological thriller Matchmaker, both shot in the spectacular region of AlUla. NEOM, the largest purpose-built, state-of-the-art facility in the region currently features four operational stages with six additional stages set to open by the end of 2023.
NEOM has supported a total of 30 productions over the last 18 months, including Desert Warrior directed by Rupert Wyatt and starring Anthony Mackie, as well as the fantasy-adventure Rise of the Witches, the biggest TV series ever produced with a homegrown Saudi cast and Rajkumar Hirani’s comedy Dunki featuring Shah Rukh Khan. The country hosts two film festivals annually, the Saudi Film Festival, which is currently holding its 9th edition at the Ithra Center in Dhahran and has grown to become a crucial springboard for exciting new voices, and the Red Sea International Film Festival, which enjoyed a successful second edition. The latter was widely applauded for significantly expanding the industry and events program presenting 143 films from 66 countries, including seven new Saudi feature films and 16 local short films.
