Behind the Scenes: The Origins and Outlook of Saudi Arabia’s Film Industry

On September 4, AGSIW hosted a discussion on the past, present, and future of Saudi film.

Speakers
Musab Alamri, Filmmaker, Educator, and Scholar
Fatima AlBanawi, Director, Producer, Actor
Abdulrahman Alghannam, Educator and Scholar
Aymen Khoja, Producer and Director
Alia Yunis, Visiting Scholar, AGSIW (Moderator)

Saudi Arabia is emerging as a new center for Gulf and Arab film. While public cinemas only opened in the kingdom in 2018, grassroots and state-led film and television production was seeded earlier, with pioneering directors and young creatives building audiences through internet platforms, such as YouTube. Today Saudi films and shows are produced or distributed through regional and global streaming platforms. Saudis take part in international festivals and welcome global stars at the annual Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah. The hundreds of movie theaters across the country have generated nearly $1 billion in revenue since 2018.

What genres of narrative and documentary film are being produced today in contrast to the pre-cinema days? Which state institutions, public programs, and private organizations anchor the country’s film industry and creative ecosystem? How are educational institutions adapting to shape the next generation of Saudi filmmakers and critics? How do cinemas and moviegoing impact public attitudes and social life in the kingdom?