CANNES: Gahwa took the place of caf茅 au lait on the Croisette yesterday as the Saudi Film Council began welcoming guests to its pavilion at the 71st Cannes Film Festival.
More than 40 delegates from 黑料社区, including the council鈥檚 CEO Faisal Baltyuor, are in France this week to showcase the Kingdom鈥檚 movie industry at the March茅 du Film, the festival鈥檚 industry market. It is the first time the country has participated in Cannes, one of the world鈥檚 most prestigious festivals.聽
鈥淭he Kingdom has looked forward to its debut presence here, celebrating and supporting the diversity of talent and opportunities within the Saudi film industry,鈥 said Ahmad Al-Maziad, CEO of the General Culture Authority, which oversees the Saudi Film Council.
The delegation has organized a series of panels that will begin in the pavilion on Thursday and run until Tuesday. Topics range from 鈥満诹仙缜: The Next Frontier of Filming Locations鈥 to 鈥淕roundbreaking Women in Film in 黑料社区 and the MENA Region.鈥
Nine short films by young Saudi directors will screen as part of the Short Film Corner on May 14 and 15, including 鈥淚s Sumiyati Going to Hell?鈥 by Meshal Aljaser, about a maid working for racist employers, and 鈥淎lkaif鈥 by Seba Alluqmani, about the country鈥檚 coffee tradition.聽
鈥淲ith a rich tradition of storytelling, 黑料社区 is embarking on the development of a sustainable and dynamic industry that supports and encourages our local talent,鈥 Al-Maziad said.
On top of a daily majlis, the pavilion will host a media breakfast on Friday and an industry lunch on Sunday.聽
The Saudi Film Council was launched in March by the General Culture Authority as part of Vision 2030鈥檚 goal to diversify the economy through industries such as tourism and culture. The invite-only festival runs until May 19.
The nine Saudi short films screening:
- Don鈥檛 Go Too Far by Maram Taibah
- The Scapegoat by Talha B
- Wasati by Ali Alkalthami
- Al-Qatt by Faisal Alotaibi
- Coexistence by Musab Alamri
- Film School Musical by Maan B and Talha B
- The Darkness Is a Color by Mutjaba Saeed
- Alkaif by Seba Alluqmani
- Is Sumiyati Going to Hell? by Meshal Aljaser
