Saudi Arabia Scores First Cannes Official Selection Slot With Drama ‘Norah,’ Set When Art Was Banned
Saudi Arabia has landed its first film in the Cannes Film Festival official selection with “Norah,” a drama by pioneering director Tawfik Alzaidi set in 1990s Saudi, when conservatism was at its height and all forms of art and painting were banned for religion-related reasons.
“Norah,” which premiered locally in December at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah, will be launching internationally from Cannes’ prestigious Un Certain Regard section, marking the first Saudi film to screen in Cannes and becoming a symbol of the kingdom’s rapidly growing moviemaking ambitions since Saudi Arabia lifted its 35-year-old religion-related ban on cinema in 2017.
The film’s titular character, played by Saudi newcomer Maria Bahrawi, is an illiterate orphaned young woman who lives in a remote village where she faces an arranged marriage in which she will be trapped and has a need for self expression. She intersects with an artist named Nader,...
“Norah,” which premiered locally in December at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah, will be launching internationally from Cannes’ prestigious Un Certain Regard section, marking the first Saudi film to screen in Cannes and becoming a symbol of the kingdom’s rapidly growing moviemaking ambitions since Saudi Arabia lifted its 35-year-old religion-related ban on cinema in 2017.
The film’s titular character, played by Saudi newcomer Maria Bahrawi, is an illiterate orphaned young woman who lives in a remote village where she faces an arranged marriage in which she will be trapped and has a need for self expression. She intersects with an artist named Nader,...
- 4/11/2024
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Front Row Takes Mena Distribution for Saudi Drama ‘Norah’ in Competition at Red Sea Fest (Exclusive)
Dubai-based distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment has acquired Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region distribution rights to groundbreaking Saudi drama “Norah,” which world premiered in competition at the Red Sea Film Festival.
Directed by pioneering Saudi director Tawfik Alzaidi, making his feature film debut, “Norah” is set in 1990s Saudi Arabia, when conservatism was at its height and all forms of art and painting were banned for religion-related reasons.
The film’s titular character, played by Saudi newcomer Maria Bahrawi, is an illiterate orphaned young woman who lives in a remote village where she faces an arranged marriage in which she will be trapped and has a need for self expression. She intersects with an artist named Nader, played by Saudi star Yaqoub Alfarhan (“Rashash”), who has given up painting and moved to the village to be a schoolteacher. This chaste encounter unleashes in “Norah” a passion for art and,...
Directed by pioneering Saudi director Tawfik Alzaidi, making his feature film debut, “Norah” is set in 1990s Saudi Arabia, when conservatism was at its height and all forms of art and painting were banned for religion-related reasons.
The film’s titular character, played by Saudi newcomer Maria Bahrawi, is an illiterate orphaned young woman who lives in a remote village where she faces an arranged marriage in which she will be trapped and has a need for self expression. She intersects with an artist named Nader, played by Saudi star Yaqoub Alfarhan (“Rashash”), who has given up painting and moved to the village to be a schoolteacher. This chaste encounter unleashes in “Norah” a passion for art and,...
- 12/6/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
The Saudi Film Commission (Sfc) has announced that four feature film project that are winners of its Daw Film Competition to discover new local talent and champion the next generation of filmmakers have finished principal photography.
These works, which are likely to surface on the festival circuit, are a tangible sign that Saudi Arabia’s nascent local industry is fostering local films with potential to travel as well as to play for local audiences.
The films are:
“Within Sand,” a first work by Moe Alatawi inspired by the true story of a 23-year-old tobacco merchant ambushed by thieves in the desert who leave him to fend for himself with only a dagger. The film, produced by Reem Alatawi and Riyadh-based Alsarid Films, features an all-Saudi cast, while 70 of its film crew hails from Saudi Arabia. This is the first homegrown production to shoot in the unique landscapes of Neom, the...
These works, which are likely to surface on the festival circuit, are a tangible sign that Saudi Arabia’s nascent local industry is fostering local films with potential to travel as well as to play for local audiences.
The films are:
“Within Sand,” a first work by Moe Alatawi inspired by the true story of a 23-year-old tobacco merchant ambushed by thieves in the desert who leave him to fend for himself with only a dagger. The film, produced by Reem Alatawi and Riyadh-based Alsarid Films, features an all-Saudi cast, while 70 of its film crew hails from Saudi Arabia. This is the first homegrown production to shoot in the unique landscapes of Neom, the...
- 9/6/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Rising Saudi Arabian star Yaqoub Alfarhan, who plays the titular role in hit Mbc TV series “Rashash,” is attached to star in “Norah” a groundbreaking drama written and directed by Tawfik Alzaidi that is currently shooting in AlUla the sprawling area of Saudi desert and giant boulders that boasts an ancient city.
Set in 1990s Saudi Arabia, when conservatism was at its height and all forms of art and painting were banned for religion-related reasons, “Norah” sees Alfarhan (pictured) play an artist named Nader who has given up painting and moved to a remote village to be a schoolteacher. There he intersects with the film’s titular “Norah,” an illiterate orphaned young woman who is facing an arranged marriage in which she will be trapped and has a need for self expression. She records her thoughts and memories into an old cassette recorder. This encounter unleashes the protagonist’s passion for art and,...
Set in 1990s Saudi Arabia, when conservatism was at its height and all forms of art and painting were banned for religion-related reasons, “Norah” sees Alfarhan (pictured) play an artist named Nader who has given up painting and moved to a remote village to be a schoolteacher. There he intersects with the film’s titular “Norah,” an illiterate orphaned young woman who is facing an arranged marriage in which she will be trapped and has a need for self expression. She records her thoughts and memories into an old cassette recorder. This encounter unleashes the protagonist’s passion for art and,...
- 6/17/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
World heritage site in northwestern Saudi Arabia has previously hosted international productions Kandahar and Cherry.
Film AlUla, the film commission overseeing Saudi Arabia’s rising filming location of AlUla, has announced the arrival of the first homegrown production to shoot there.
Saudi director Tawfik Alzaidi’s debut feature is currently in preparation and is due to start filming next month. It is produced by Saudi production companies Black Sugar Pictures and Nebras Films.
Also attached are UK producer Paul Miller and Jordanian producer Sharif Majali, who both have extensive experience working on productions in the Middle East and North Africa.
Film AlUla, the film commission overseeing Saudi Arabia’s rising filming location of AlUla, has announced the arrival of the first homegrown production to shoot there.
Saudi director Tawfik Alzaidi’s debut feature is currently in preparation and is due to start filming next month. It is produced by Saudi production companies Black Sugar Pictures and Nebras Films.
Also attached are UK producer Paul Miller and Jordanian producer Sharif Majali, who both have extensive experience working on productions in the Middle East and North Africa.
- 5/11/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
World heritage site in northwestern Saudi Arabia has previously hosted international productions Kandahar and Cherry.
Film AlUla, the film commission overseeing Saudi Arabia’s rising filming location of AlUla, has announced the arrival of the first homegrown production to shoot there.
Saudi director Tawfik Alzaidi’s debut feature is currently in preparation and is due to start filming next month. It is produced by Saudi production companies Black Sugar Pictures and Nebras Films.
Also attached are UK producer Paul Miller and Jordanian producer Sharif Majali, who both have extensive experience working on productions in the Middle East and North Africa.
Film AlUla, the film commission overseeing Saudi Arabia’s rising filming location of AlUla, has announced the arrival of the first homegrown production to shoot there.
Saudi director Tawfik Alzaidi’s debut feature is currently in preparation and is due to start filming next month. It is produced by Saudi production companies Black Sugar Pictures and Nebras Films.
Also attached are UK producer Paul Miller and Jordanian producer Sharif Majali, who both have extensive experience working on productions in the Middle East and North Africa.
- 5/11/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
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