2nd European Film Festival Kicks off in Riyadh
16 European films at VOX Cinemas Sahara Mall from 7-14 June
Riyadh – Asdaf News:
The 2nd edition of the European Film Festival kicked off in VOX Cinema Riyadh Front, Wednesday. The festival is held by The Delegation of the European Union in Riyadh, in cooperation with the Embassies of the EU Member States and the Arabia Pictures Entertainment.
The Festival will run from 7-14 June at VOX Cinemas Sahara Mall and entail a screening of 16 European films from different European countries. These include Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
The lineup of films includes ‘Quiet Girl’, which is up for an Oscar for Best International Feature Film, ‘I Am Zlatan’, directed by Jens Sjogren and based on the life of the famous Swedish footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovi, and ‘Sugar and Stars’, which will have its Arab World Premiere at the Festival in Riyadh.
H.E. Mr. Patrick Simonnet, EU Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, commented: “We are very happy to host, for the second time, the European Film Festival in Saudi Arabia. As the EU, we are keen to be part of the growing cultural scene of Saudi Arabia through various cultural events that foster cultural exchange and engage Europeans and Saudis on aspects of mutual interest such as film in this instance. People-to-people engagement is notably also an important pillar of EU’s Strategic Partnership with the Gulf.”
In the ceremony opening speech Ambassador Simonnet welcomed guests and said: “I like to always recall that it was the Europeans who pioneered the motion picture industry, with several innovative engineers and artists making an impact. Over time, the industry has changed dramatically but the essence of it remains the same – film is about telling stories.
“European cinema is known for its simple, artistic, ironic, and metaphorical storytelling. The characters and stories you find in European cinema are nuanced, with their own strengths and weaknesses, hopes and dreams. In short, they are human.
“To me, European cinema is story-telling at its finest. And I hope that throughout this upcoming week of the European Film Festival, you will be inspired, empowered and moved by these characters and stories.”
Ambassador Simonnet also commented that it is a celebration of the friendship between Europe and Saudi Arabia. As the EU, we are keen to be part of the growing cultural scene in the Kingdom. People-to-people engagement remains an important pillar of EU’s Strategic Partnership with the Gulf.
Abdulelah Al Ahmary, Founder of Arabia Pictures Entertainment, added: “Our company is privileged to organize the European Film Festival in Saudi Arabia for the second year in a row. Arabia Pictures Entertainment will continue to support the event with all the necessary tools to make it a special cinematic experience for all the film buffs in Saudi Arabia.”
The Festival, which aims to promote European cinema and facilitate cultural interaction, will also promote relationships between European and Saudi filmmakers by hosting specialized side events. Nuno Beato, Sebastien Tulard, and Isabel Fernández, three film directors from Portugal, France, and Spain, respectively, will be among the visitors. They will interact with the audience and hold an open discussion with other filmmakers and movie fans. Other activities include a panel discussion on the interaction between agents and performers led by Willemien Sanders from the Netherlands and an actress named Zübeyde Bulut who plays in the German movie “Sisters Apart” that is being screened at the Festival.
The VOX Cinemas Sahara Mall will be the site of all screenings and related activities. Along with the Cames Institute, Alliance Française, Goethe Institute, and the embassies of France, the Netherlands, and Portugal, VOX Cinemas is a sponsor of the event.
Tickets to all film screenings are 35 SAR. For further information about the Festival’s schedule and for purchasing tickets, please visit: https://arabiapictures.sa/EuroFest or https://ksa.voxcinemas.com.
