Saudi Arabia launches movie fund for international filmmakers

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) Film Productions in Saudi Arabia has launched a fund to attract international filmmakers to shoot fully financed movies in Saudi Arabia.

The fund aims to finance five films per year. 

During a panel discussion at Cannes Film Festival, Majed Samman, head of performing arts and cinema at Ithra, said: "We invite international filmmakers to collaborate with filmmakers in the Kingdom and join us on our journey to accelerate talent and sector development in Saudi.

"By working with local crews, we hope to facilitate an organic process of knowledge transfer and cross-cultural exchange that would elevate the local industry and enrich the global cinematic landscape," he added.

The deadline for Ithra’s open call for film proposals is August 4.

The projects will be selected by a panel of Arab filmmakers that are yet to be revealed.