The best of European cinema will be showcased at a new film festival in Riyadh.
Running from Wednesday until June 22 at The Esplanade, the inaugural European Film Festival will feature 14 films from countries including France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Finland.
Some of the key films to be screened include the acclaimed 2019 French romcom Les Parfums, starring Gregory Montel and Emmanuelle Devos, and the 2016 comedy Welcome to Germany, a box office sensation in Germany that grossed more than $20 million.
French director Gregory Magne and Cypriot filmmaker Marios Piperides will also be on hand to discuss their respective films, Les Parfums and Smuggling Hendrix, after the screenings.
The event also boasts a selection of industry discussions targeted towards aspiring filmmakers and producers.
Alberto Battocchi, the film commissioner of the Italian city Trentino, will discuss best environmental practices when it comes to moviemaking.
Italian screenwriter Giacomo Mazzariol will break down some of the finer aspects of the craft, while US entertainment lawyer Matti Rockenbauch will shed light on the legal elements of filmmaking.
Organised by the Delegation of the European Union in Riyadh and film distribution company Arabia Pictures Group, the festival aims to expose Saudi film enthusiasts to the diversity of European cinema, in addition to acting as a form of cultural exchange between the continent and the kingdom.
“As the EU, we are keen to add to the vibrant cultural scene of Saudi Arabia, facilitating cultural exchange and introducing European culture while also fostering contacts between Europeans and Saudis to enhance mutual understanding,” said Patrick Simonnet, EU Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
Arabian Pictures chief executive Roua Al Madani said the festival aims to further develop the promising Saudi film industry. “This event is a milestone within the kingdom and a bridge between Europe and the rising film industry in Saudi Arabia.”
More information about the festival, including session times and tickets, is available from the official website.
Scroll through the gallery below to see photos of the inaugural Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah
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Saudi actress Fay Fouad arrives on the red carpet during the closing ceremony of the first Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia's coastal city of Jeddah. Photo: Red Sea Film Festival / AFP -
Kurdish actress Avan Jamal. AP Photo -
Tunisian actress Hend Sabry. AP Photo -
Saudi actress Fatima Al Banawi. Photo: Red Sea International Film Festival / AFP -
Egyptian actress Yasmine Sabr. AP Photo -
British actor Ed Westwick. AP Photo -
Saudi actress Sarah Taibah. Photo: Red Sea International Film Festival / AFP -
Saudi actress and director Ahed Kamel chats with Red Sea International Film Festival chairman Mohamed Turki on the red carpet. Photo: Red Sea International Film Festival / AFP -
Indonesian actress Ara Winda Kirana receives her Best Actress award for her role in the film 'Yuni'. Photo: Red Sea International Film Festival / AFP -
Egyptian film director Dina Amer receives the Audience Award for the film 'You Resemble Me' during the closing ceremony of the first edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival. Photo: Red Sea International Film Festival / AFP -
British-Libyan actor Adam Ali, right, receives his Best Actor award for his role in the film 'Europa'. Photo: Red Sea International Film Festival / AFP -
Italian-Iraqi film director Haider Rashid receives his Best Director award for his film 'Europa'. Photo: Red Sea International Film Festival / AFP -
Georgian director Levan Koguashvili, second left, receives the Best Film award. AFP -
From left, Spanish actress Alejandra Onieva, US actor Rob Raco, and Spanish actress Maria Pedraza attend the Red Sea International Film Festival closing ceremony. Photo: Red Sea International Film Festival / AFP -
US-Egyptian film director Dina Amer, second from left; and her teammates - from left, Djino Grimaudo, Ilona Grimaudo and Lorenza Grimaudo pose for a photo after the closing ceremony. Photo: Red Sea International Film Festival / AFP -
Saudi film director Hamzah Jamjoom, producer Aymen Khoja, and actors Fayez Bin Jurays and Sumaya Rida pose with their Best Saudi Film award for 'Rupture'. Photo: Red Sea International Film Festival / AFP -
Kurdish-Swiss film director Mano Khalil posing with his Best Screenplay award for his film 'Neighbours'. Photo: Red Sea International Film Festival / AFP -
Haider Rashid poses with his Best Director award for his film 'Europa'. Photo: Red Sea International Film Festival / AFP -
US-Egyptian film director Dina Amer poses with the Audience Award for 'You Resemble Me'. Photo: Red Sea International Film Festival / AFP -
British-Libyan actor Adam Ali posing with his Best Actor award for his role in the film 'Europa'. Photo: Red Sea International Film Festival / AFP -
Indonesian actress Ara Winda Kirana posing with her Best Actress award for her role in the film 'Yuni'. Photo: Red Sea International Film Festival / AFP -
Jordanian film director Darin Sallam poses with her Special Mention award for the film 'Farha'. Photo: Red Sea International Film Festival / AFP -
Jordanian film director Murad Abu Eisheh posing with his Short Competition Golden Yusr award for his film 'Tala-Vision'. Photo: Red Sea International Film Festival / AFP
