Saudi Arabia to Host Film Criticism Forum Across Three Cities

Saudi Arabia will host the third edition of its annual Film Criticism Conference under the theme 'Cinema: the Art of Place', with events scheduled across three cities: Asir in August, Qatif in October, and Riyadh in November. Organised by the Film Commission, the forum aims to deepen critical dialogue around cinema, moving beyond conventional festival formats to provide a dedicated platform for critics, researchers, filmmakers and Saudi talents.

This year’s theme invites reflection on how cinema portrays “place” not only as a physical setting but as a bearer of identity, narrative, and collective visual memory. The programme will feature a range of lectures, practical workshops, and curated art exhibitions that explore cinematic space as symbol, mirror, or imaginative construction. The event is positioned as a space for philosophical and critical engagement, furthering the Kingdom’s ambitions to become a regional hub for cinematic discourse.

Following a strong showing in 2024, when the conference attracted over 10,000 visitors from more than 30 countries and brought together over 35 participating entities and leading figures from the global and regional film industry, this year’s edition builds on that momentum with expanded programming and broader outreach.