The second edition of the European Film Festival in Saudi Arabia will kick off this Wednesday in Riyadh, featuring 16 films from Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. The festival, which runs until June 14, is overseen by the European Union mission in Riyadh and supported by the Saudi Film Commission. Its aim is to enhance cultural exchange between Europe and the Kingdom and support communication channels between filmmakers from both sides.
The film program includes works that have competed for or won prestigious global awards, including the Irish film "The Quiet Girl," which was nominated for the Best International Feature Film at the Oscars, and "I Am Zlatan," which recounts the story of Swedish football player Zlatan Ibrahimović. In addition to film screenings, the festival will organize a series of meetings with prominent European directors and producers, including Portuguese Nuno Beato, French Sébastien Tola, and Spanish Isabel Fernández. Actress Zubaida Bolot will give a lecture on the relationship between actors and agents, while Dutch academic Wilhelmina Sanders will talk about storytelling from women's perspectives in films.
European Union Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Patrick Simoné stated, "We are pleased to host the European Film Festival in Saudi Arabia for the second time, as we strive to be part of the Kingdom's thriving cultural scene through various cultural events that enhance cultural exchange and bring Europeans and Saudis together in areas of mutual interest." Saudi Arabia has been working for years to support and develop the entertainment sector, aiming to build around 350 cinemas comprising over 2500 screens by 2030.
Abdul Ilah Al-Ahmari, founder and president of the festival organizing company, mentioned that all possible resources have been provided to ensure the festival reaches its best possible form to meet the demands of the cinema audience in the Kingdom, which is eager to explore all global cinematic schools. The first edition of the festival was held in June 2022 with the participation of 14 films.
