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DUBAI: Director Annemarie Jacir’s “Palestine 36” premiered this week at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival at a gala screening.

The film was partially funded by ��������’s Red Sea Film Fund. 

Set on the outskirts of Jerusalem, “Palestine 36” tells the story of the Arab uprising against the British mandate.

The official logline reads: “In 1936, as villages across Mandatory Palestine rise against British colonial rule, Yusuf drifts between his rural home and the restless energy of Jerusalem, longing for a future beyond the growing unrest.

“But history is relentless. With rising numbers of Jewish immigrants escaping antisemitism in Europe, and the Palestinian population uniting in the largest and longest uprising against Britain’s 30-year dominion, all sides spiral toward inevitable collision in a decisive moment for the British Empire and the future of the entire region.”

The film features an ensemble cast, including Oscar-winner Jeremy Irons, “Game of Thrones” star Liam Cunningham, and Tunisian actor Dhafer L’Abidine, alongside Palestinian talents Hiam Abbass, Yasmine Al-Massri, Kamel El Basha, and Saleh Bakri.

The premier was attended by British actors Billy Howle and Robert Aramayo, Palestinian actor Karim Daoud Anaya, and Palestinian Jordanian film producer Ossama Bawardi, as well as Jacir, Bakri, Al-Massri and Abbass. 

Jacir, whose previous credits include “Salt of the Sea,” “When I Saw You,” “Wajib” and episodes of “Ramy,” began work on the project before the global pandemic.

RIYADH: The Royal Commission for Riyadh City, in collaboration with the China National Opera House, on Thursday night staged Georges Bizet’s world-renowned opera “Carmen” at the King Fahad Cultural Center in Riyadh, the very first time the masterpiece has been performed in the Kingdom. 

The event is being held as part of the Saudi-China Cultural Year, commemorating the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The opening night drew more than 2,500 guests and dignitaries.

Audience members expressed their appreciation for the historic performance. Thomas Dang, who works in Riyadh, described the evening as remarkable. “It was extraordinary — a Chinese cast performing an opera by a French composer about a story set in Spain, all here in ��������. That cultural blend was amazing. It was a wonderful night, and I truly enjoyed it,” he said.

Directed and presented by the CNOH team, the performance brought Bizet’s timeless tale of passion, jealousy, and fate to life through vibrant costumes and a distinguished international cast.

Since its Paris premiere in 1875, “Carmen” has stood as one of the most celebrated works in operatic history, enchanting generations of audiences worldwide. Its debut in Riyadh represents a significant step in the Kingdom’s growing cultural movement, underscoring ��������’s increasing engagement with global arts and commitment to enriching the local cultural scene with world-class productions.

Huixian, a Chinese resident in Riyadh, said: “This is my first time attending an opera in ��������, and also my first time watching ‘Carmen’ performed in Chinese. The performance was very good, though I felt the singing could have been more powerful at times. Still, it was a memorable evening and a unique experience.”

“Carmen” will continue at the King Fahad Cultural Center through Sept. 6, 2025, offering audiences the rare opportunity to witness one of the world’s most memorable operas on stage in Riyadh.

According to the RCRC, “this first-time performance demonstrates RCRC’s ongoing commitment to enriching Riyadh’s art and culture offerings through a series of world-class events, featuring both classical and contemporary pieces, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.”