The Cultural Development Fund (CDF) wrapped up its participation in the 10th annual Saudi Film Festival (SFF). The Fund’s third consecutive sponsorship of the Saudi Film Festival has come to solidify its role as a key supporter and financial enabler to enrich and stimulate the growth of a vibrant Saudi film sector.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the festival was organized by the Saudi Cinema Association in collaboration with the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) and with the support of the Film Commission and took place from May 2nd to May 9th in Dhahran.
The Fund’s active participation in the eight-day Festival featured a pavilion within the Production Market Exhibition, welcoming guests and film enthusiasts and showcasing its financing and non-financing solutions.
Leading the conversation was the "Film Sector Financing Program", a cornerstone initiative through which the Fund supports entities across the film sector, encompassing everything from film and TV content development to infrastructure, heavy equipment, filming equipment, sound, makeup, and more. Additionally, the Fund showcased its suite of non-financing solutions, including its "Consultations" and “Vouchers” services, which enable creatives to enhance their projects’ readiness.
As an integral part of its participation in the Production Market, the CDF engaged in a thought-provoking dialogue session titled "Saudi Support Funds", alongside Ithra and the Red Sea Fund. Faris Alaskar, the Fund's representative, took center stage, shedding light on the comprehensive support extended by the Film Sector Financing Program to industry businesses while exploring the promising opportunities within the Kingdom's burgeoning film industry.
The Market's closing ceremony witnessed a tribute to the Cultural Development Fund, acknowledging its invaluable sponsorship of the festival and its pivotal role in championing and supporting the film industry.
The Saudi Film Festival is an annual prominent event that features and celebrates a diverse array of films and screenplays that have witnessed remarkable development over the years. In this year’s edition the film funded by CDF titled "Ahlam Alasr", a cinematic creation by the talented Godus Brothers, competed in the "Feature Film" category, captivating audiences as part of the festival's film screenings schedule.
The Cultural Development Fund was founded in 2021 with the aim of further enhancing the cultural landscape within Saudi Arabia. Organizationally linked to the National Development Fund, to promote the development of a self-reliant cultural sector. The Fund actively supports a variety of cultural activities and projects, facilitates investment, and seeks to improve the domestic cultural sector's profitability in alignment with the National Culture Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030.
