Saudi Film “Norah” Premieres in Kingdom After Cannes Success

Riyadh, The Gulf Observer: The award-winning Saudi film “Norah” premiered in the Kingdom on Thursday following its international success at the Cannes Film Festival. A special screening was held on Wednesday night at Roshn Front’s Vox Cinema, attended by director Tawfik Al-Zaidi, lead actress Maria Bahrawi, and co-stars Yaqoub Al-Farhan and Abdullah Al-Sadhan.

Yaqoub Al-Farhan expressed pride in the film’s acceptance at Cannes, highlighting the progress of the Saudi film industry. “To be accepted in Cannes indicates the importance of this film and the significant advancements in our film industry,” Al-Farhan told Arab News. “I’m very positive about the future. If this is the beginning, in five or ten years, we’ll see many great films from Saudi.”

“Norah” achieved notable success at the 78th Cannes International Film Festival, where it was selected for the “Un Certain Regard” competition and received a Special Mention from the jury, marking it as the most recognized Saudi film at Cannes.

Set in a remote Saudi village in the 90s, the film follows Norah (Bahrawi) who dreams of exploring beyond her village. Her world begins to open up with the arrival of a new teacher, Nader (Al-Farhan), who introduces her to art, knowledge, and creativity, leading her to discover more about her family’s history.

Bahrawi, reflecting on her first film role, said, “Being chosen for the role two weeks before production was a surprise. But my first role in a film was successful and reached international audiences. I’m proud and excited to see people’s reactions now that it’s in cinemas.”

The film, first screened at the Red Sea International Film Festival where it won “Best Saudi Film,” is now premiering nationwide, reaching its intended Saudi audience.

Al-Zaidi’s inspiration for “Norah” stemmed from a need to express his love for art in all its forms. “I wanted to create these emotions between two people who love art, Norah and Nader. Art is a means of communication and expression,” Al-Zaidi explained.

The film is notable for being the first Saudi feature filmed entirely in AlUla. Bahrawi praised the city’s locations, which complemented the film’s story beautifully.

Al-Farhan, known for his role in the TV mini-series “Rashash,” shared that his character Nader is very personal to him. He spent time with a professional sketch artist to prepare for the role, learning the craft to bring authenticity to his character.

Supported by the Film Commission through the Daw initiative, as well as Film AlUla, the Red Sea Film Fund, and Generation 2030, “Norah” represents a milestone in Saudi cinema. Al-Zaidi expressed confidence in overcoming industry challenges, saying, “Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan … if you believe in yourself, you will get there.”

As Saudi Arabia’s film industry continues to grow, “Norah” serves as a testament to the country’s expanding cinematic horizons and the potential for future successes on the global stage.