The festival holds numerous events to promote European cinema and foster collaboration between European and Saudi filmmakers.
The second edition of the European Film Festival in Saudi Arabia is being held at Vox Cinemas Sahara Mall in Riyadh, with the screening of 16 films from different countries. The lineup includes films from Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
The film festival is organised in cooperation with the embassies of various EU member states, and Arabia Pictures Entertainment – a media and entertainment company based in Saudi Arabia.
The festival not only promotes European films to Arab audiences, but also highlights local talent to the international market, and provides a platform for European and Saudi filmmakers to connect.
The titles include The Quiet Girl by Irish director Colm Bairéad, I Am Zlatan by Swedish director Jens Sjogren, and Sugar and Stars, by Sébastien Tulard will receive its Arab premiere as the festival.
Among the guests will be Portuguese, French and Spanish directors Nuno Beato, Sebastien Tulard and Isabel Fernandez, who will meet the audience and participate in a discussion with filmmakers and film enthusiasts.
Patrick Simonnet, EU ambassador to KSA, said: “As the EU, we are keen to be part of the growing cultural scene of Saudi Arabia through events that foster cultural exchange and engage Europeans and Saudis on aspects of mutual interest such as film. People-to-people engagement is an important pillar of the EU’s strategic partnership with the Gulf.”
Vox Cinemas Sahara Mall in Riyadh is hosting the film festival until June 14, 2023.
