Saudi Arabia's film renaissance takes center stage after decades of silence

Saudi Arabia is rapidly developing its film industry after lifting a 35-year cinema ban in 2017. The country has since supported local productions and introduced incentives to attract international filmmakers. A new 60% rebate on eligible local spending aims to boost the sector further. The growth of Saudi cinema has seen notable milestones. In 2012, Haifaa Al Mansour made history as the first female director from the country with Wadjda. The film, about a 10-year-old girl entering a Koran recitation competition to buy a bicycle, also became Saudi Arabia’s first Oscar submission for Best Foreign Film. Due to segregation rules at the time, Al Mansour directed much of the film via walkie-talkie from a van.

The Saudi Film Council later backed The Perfect Candidate, released in 2019. Directed by Al Mansour, the film follows a doctor who accidentally registers for a municipal council election to fix a damaged road. Her latest work, Unidentified, is a crime thriller about a woman investigating a teenage girl’s death. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and is now being released in theatres by Sony Pictures Classics on 90 screens. The rebate programme and rising local talent signal Saudi Arabia’s commitment to building a sustainable film industry. With increasing international recognition and domestic support, the country’s cinematic presence is set to expand.