Saudi Film ‘Norah’ Makes History as Kingdom’s First Film Nominated for Cannes
The Saudi film “Nourah” achieved a historic achievement by being selected to participate in the official list of the 77th session of the Cannes Film Festival, scheduled to be held from May 14 to 25, 2024.
“Nourah” is the first Saudi film to participate in the “Un Certain Regard” screening section dedicated to distinguished films from around the world. This achievement confirms the development of Saudi cinema and its rapid growth on the global scene.
The film’s participation in the Cannes Film Festival confirms the artistic talent of Saudi director Tawfiq Al-Zaidi, and also reflects the effective role of the Red Sea Film Foundation in empowering emerging cinematic talents in the region.
On his part, Director of the Cannes Film Festival Thierry Fremaux praised, during the announcement of the seventy-seventh session, the important role that the Red Sea International Film Festival plays in the film scene in the region, adding that this is evidence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s interest in the film industry.
In the same vein, Jumana Rashid Al-Rashed, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Red Sea Film Foundation, said: “The selection of Noura’s film to participate in the Cannes Film Festival is an acknowledgment of Saudi Arabia’s richness in cinematic talent, and it also reflects the pivotal role of our foundation in supporting these creators.”
“This recognition represents a historic moment for Saudi cinema and the global film community,” said the foundation’s CEO, Mohammed Al-Turki. “We are very proud of Tawfiq Al-Zaidi, and we celebrate this historic selection on behalf of all Saudis who can now see their stories and culture welcomed on the global stage.”
It is noteworthy that the feature film “Nourah” was shown for the first time at the third session of the Red Sea Film Festival; it won the AlUla Award for Best Saudi Feature Film. Its events take place in the Kingdom during the nineties, and it was filmed entirely in the historical city of AlUla, between its deserts and ancient valleys. It brings together stars such as Yacoub, Al-Farhan, Maria Bahrawi and Abdullah Al-Sadhan. The film is directed, written and produced by Tawfiq Al-Zaidi.
This achievement confirms the role of the Red Sea Film Foundation in supporting pioneering cinematic projects, through various programmes, most notably the Red Sea Fund, which has provided support to more than 250 films since its establishment in 2021.
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