Latest news with #ThePerfectCandidate
Leaders
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Leaders
Saudi Thriller ‘Al-Majhula' to Premiere at Toronto International Film Festival
Saudi filmmaker Haifaa Al-Mansour's latest film, Al-Majhula, has been chosen to premier at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025. This achievement highlights Saudi Arabia's growing presence on the global cinematic stage. Al-Majhula will screen in the prestigious Centerpiece section, which celebrates bold and unique voices worldwide. The film blends suspense and social commentary, exploring a society undergoing cultural change. A Modern Crime Thriller with a Strong Message The movie follows the investigation of a teenage girl's body found in a remote desert. Nuwaila Al-Suffan, a recently divorced woman passionate about true crime, leads the case. She challenges societal indifference and faces institutional pressure to dismiss the investigation. This film marks Al-Mansour's third feature, after Wadjda (2012) and The Perfect Candidate (2018), with both films gaining international recognition and broke barriers for Saudi cinema. A New Direction in Saudi Cinema Al-Majhula signals a shift toward more mainstream, thriller-driven stories in Saudi filmmaking. Yet, it continues to emphasize themes of female agency and social change. Actress Mila Al-Zahrani, who starred in The Perfect Candidate, returns for this project. The supporting cast includes Shafi Al-Harthi and Aziz Al-Gharbawi. In addition to TIFF, Al-Majhula is expected to feature at other global festivals this fall. The film will also release commercially in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region soon. This selection underscores Saudi cinema's rising influence and commitment to telling impactful, diverse stories. Short link : Post Views: 21
Arab News
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Haifaa Al-Mansour appointed to Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Board of Governors
DUBAI: Pioneering Saudi filmmaker Haifaa Al-Mansour has been appointed to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Board of Governors, the Red Sea Film Foundation announced on Instagram. 'As one of three newly named governors-at-large, Al-Mansour will represent the Directors Branch and bring her singular voice, vision, and global perspective to the Academy's leadership for the 2025–2026 term and beyond,' they captioned the post. A post shared by Red Sea Film Foundation (@redseafilm) 'An incredible milestone for one of Saudi Arabia's most celebrated filmmakers. We're proud to see her continue shaping the future of cinema on a global stage.' In 2012, Al-Mansour made history as she released her first feature film 'Wadjda.' It was the first feature film shot entirely in the Kingdom and the first feature-length film made by a female Saudi director. Over the years, Al-Mansour has also become one of the most in-demand television directors in Hollywood, helming episodes of hit series including 'Archive 81,' 'City of Fire,' 'Tales of the Walking Dead,' and 'Bosch: Legacy.' In 2019, Al-Mansour's feature film 'The Perfect Candidate' was submitted as Saudi Arabia's official entry for the International Feature Film Award at the 92nd Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Academy Board of Governors Adds Haifaa al-Mansour, Effie T. Brown, Annie Chang
Director Haifaa al-Mansour, producer Effie T. Brown and technology executive Annie Chang are joining the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Board of Governors as the three new governors-at-large, the Academy announced on Monday. With the new additions to the board that was created by recent elections in each Academy branch, the makeup of the 55-person board will become 30 women and 25 men, and 17 governors from underrepresented communities. Al-Mansour is a Saudi Arabian director whose films 'Wadjda' and 'The Perfect Candidate' represented Saudi Arabia in the Oscars Best International Feature Film category; the first of those was the first feature film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia and the first made by a female Saudi director. Brown is a producer whose work includes 'Real Woman Have Curves,' 'Rocket Science' and 'Dear White People.' Chang is the vice president of creative technologies at Universal and serves as chair of the Academy's Science and Technology council. The new governors were nominated by Academy President Janet Yang, who is herself a governor-at-large, though term limits are forcing her off the board this year. They were approved by the existing board. While the bulk of the governors are elected by members from the Academy's 19 branches, the governors-at-large are nominated by the Academy president and voted in by the board. The at-large positions were created in 2016 in the aftermath of the #OscarsSoWhite controversy in an attempt to put more diverse voices in positions of authority. Gregory Nava, Jennifer Yuh Nelson and Reginald Hudlin occupied those positions for the first three years, followed by DeVon Franklin, Rodrigo García and Yang for the next six. The post Academy Board of Governors Adds Haifaa al-Mansour, Effie T. Brown, Annie Chang appeared first on TheWrap.
Broadcast Pro
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Red Sea Film Foundation appoints Faisal Baltyuor as CEO
Baltyuor was the first head of Ithra Cinema and the first CEO of the Saudi Film Council. Faisal Baltyuor, a prominent figure in Saudi Arabia's emerging film industry, has been appointed CEO of the Red Sea Foundation, which oversees the Red Sea International Film Festival, the Red Sea Fund and the year-round Red Sea Labs initiative. He will officially assume the role on June 1, taking over from acting CEO Mohammed Asseri. Baltyuor's appointment marks a strategic move for the foundation as it continues to drive Saudi Arabia's cultural and cinematic development. Since the lifting of the kingdom's decades-long cinema ban in 2017, Baltyuor has played a pivotal role in shaping the national film landscape. He previously served as the first head of Ithra Cinema, backed by Saudi Aramco, and later founded CineWaves Films, the leading distributor of Saudi content with the largest library of local films. He also led Muvi Studios, the production arm of the kingdom's largest cinema chain, and most recently opened Riyadh's first arthouse cinema, Cinehouse. As a producer, Baltyuor's portfolio includes some of Saudi Arabia's most groundbreaking titles. He executive-produced Haifaa Al Mansour's acclaimed film The Perfect Candidate, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2019, and the box-office hit Sattar, a locally popular concept comedy. He also produced Netflix's From the Ashes, a Saudi original that ranked in the top 10 most-watched films in over 40 countries, and co-produced Goodbye Julia, directed by Sudanese filmmaker Mohamed Kordofani, which won the Prix de la Liberté at Cannes in 2023. In a statement, Red Sea Film Foundation Chairwoman Jomana Al-Rashid said: 'From its inception, the Red Sea Film Foundation has been driven by a singular mission: to ignite a cinematic renaissance across Saudi Arabia and the broader region.' She added: 'We are delighted to welcome Faisal to this transformative journey. His visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to unlocking the boundless potential of emerging talent will fuel not only artistic excellence but also the sustainable growth of our industry.' Baltyour commented: 'I am deeply honoured to assume the position of CEO at the Red Sea Film Foundation, a leading institution at the forefront of Saudi Arabia's cultural and cinematic evolution. In a remarkably short time, the foundation has secured its place on the global festival map, and we are committed to building on this success. Through our diverse programmes, we will continue to support a thriving film industry both locally and internationally, in line with the ambitions of Vision 2030, which places the creative sector at the heart of national development.' The upcoming fifth edition of the Red Sea Film Festival will run December 4-13 in Jeddah, on the Red Sea's eastern shore.
