Riyadh: The 2024 Cannes Film Festival unveiled its official program, which includes the Saudi film “Norah” in its “Un Certain Regard” section.
It is the first time a Saudi film has been selected for the prestigious festival, known as a leading platform for international cinema.
“Norah”, written and directed by Tawfiq Al-Zaidi, benefitted from the Film Commission’s “Daw Film Support” program, which champions Saudi filmmakers and bolsters local productions, in line with Vision 2030, which focuses on fostering domestic talent and creative industries.
The film further secured support from the Quality of Life Program, AlUla Film, the Red Sea Film Festival, and Generation 2030.
Set in a remote Saudi village in the 1990s, “Norah” explores a captivating story of self-discovery and artistic expression. The narrative follows Norah, who lives at a distance from village life. Two individuals find solace in each other, igniting a creative spark within themselves.
The film stars Maria Bahrawi and Yaqoub Al-Farhan, wit
h Abdullah Al-Sadhan in a supporting role.
This selection is a landmark achievement for Saudi cinema. Inclusion in Cannes is proof of the film’s artistic merit, as only carefully chosen works are presented to specialized juries.
The festival fosters valuable connections and exchange of knowledge among global directors and filmmakers.
The Film Commission’s “Daw” program to support films plays a pivotal role in strengthening Saudi Arabia’s creative content. It empowers filmmakers to produce high-caliber short and feature films that compete on the international stage.
The program fosters opportunities for production companies and institutions to create original local content by providing financial backing and other forms of support.
Source: Saudi Press Agency