The Film Criticism Conference Launches Its First Edition in Riyadh This November

The Saudi Film Commission is organizing the Film Criticism Conference at its in Riyadh on November 7-14. The Conference aims to introduce film criticism to a wider audience and gather critics and cinephiles to exchange perspectives in this field.

The first edition of the conference is expected to explore cinema from its broader perspectives and concepts under the title “Beyond the Frame.” The conference is the culmination of the Film Commission’s efforts in creating a cultural exchange platform for critics, academics and cinephiles to enable them to address film criticism from various points of view.

On the other hand, the CEO of the Film Commission, Eng. Abdullah Al Eyaf, stated, “Through this year’s Film Criticism Conference and Forum Series, the Commission aims to stimulate the criticism movement to complement the rapid growth in the production, exhibition and distribution of Saudi, Arab, and international films in the Kingdom”. Al Eyaf further added, “The film industry’s growth across all its segments contributes to realizing the goals of the National Cultural Strategy, boosts Saudi culture and enhances its presence at international platforms and global events.” Al Eyaf also commended the continuous support and keen interest from the leaders of the cultural ecosystem, represented by His Highness Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, the Minister of Culture, following the wise leadership’s vision of empowering the Kingdom’s cultural presence across all fields.

The conference comprises several discussions, including a talk by director Yousry Nasrallah on “the relation between filmmaking and film criticism.” The conference also features live on-stage dialogues between some of the most prominent figures in the fields of film criticism and filmmaking, including Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho. Professor of English literature Dr. Saad al-Bazai will present on the critical approach between cinema and storytelling, in which he reviews the concepts of transcending illusion in both arts. Additionally, Indian film critic Shubhra Gupta will present a professional course in which she showcases film criticism as a career.

The conference includes an art exhibition that offers exciting interactive experiences and workshops, in addition to screening various international films on the big screen.

The conference’s agenda includes a review of the fundamentals of film criticism and the various experiences that enable critics to observe what is not captured by cameras while recognizing what is symbolized in cinema by implicit connotations and artistic references.

The conference will also discuss 10 films by directors from various countries. These films were chosen for artistic and cinematic analysis based on their rich content. The conference also includes activities, art exhibitions, dedicated panel discussions and workshops that provide the participant with a comprehensive understanding of the various manifestations of arts and culture in cinema, in addition to determining their role in the big picture drawn by the film. The conference comes in collaboration with the Diplomatic Quarter of The Royal Commission for Riyadh City, and a media partnership with Sollywood, the leading news platform for cinema.

Earlier this year, the Commission held five in-depth sessions across Jeddah, Dhahran, Abha, Tabuk and Buraydah, which saw an impressive participation of more than 40 professional film critics besides the attendance of over 1000 filmmakers, academics, cinema lovers and film students.