Latest news with #MariaBahrawi
Arab News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Saudi stars promote new film 'Al-Gaid' by Telfaz11
DUBAI: Saudi actress Maria Bahrawi took to social media to promote studio Telfaz11's latest film, 'Al-Gaid.' For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ The 18-year-old actress shared a post about the new film on Instagram Stories, featuring several stills from the movie. The film is directed by Hussam Al-Halwa and written by Ahmed Al-Haqil. A post shared by Telfaz11 (@telfaz11) Starring Yaqoub Al-Farhan, Saad Al-Shatti, Khaled Abdel Aziz and Ibtisam Ahmed, the film is set against the backdrop of the 19th-century northern Arabian desert in winter. It was penned by Saudi novelist Ahmed Al-Hokail and blends the revenge genre with Bedouin soap opera tropes, according to Variety. The film '(crafts) a unique narrative tailored for an Arab audience,' according to a Telfaz11 statement. 'Rooted in an authentic Saudi perspective, 'Al-Gaid' aims to revolutionize the landscape of Saudi epic films,' the statement added. Telfaz11 is a homegrown creative and media studio that has been behind successful Saudi projects like 'Sattar,' which became the highest-grossing Saudi movie in the first three months of its release, and 'Mandoob,' which beat 'Wonka' from Warner Bros. on its opening weekend in Saudi Arabia in 2023. Although she does not star in the film, Bahrawi is one of many Saudi stars whipping up excitement over 'Al-Gaid,' with the likes of actress Mila Al-Zahrani and creative director Ahmed Al-Kaabi taking to her comments section to discuss the new movie. No stranger to success herself, Bahrawi starred in 'Norah,' the debut feature of Saudi filmmaker Tawfik Al-Zaidi, which screened in the Cannes Film Festival's Un Certain Regard section in 2024. The film received the Special Mention accolade at the event. The movie, shot entirely in AlUla, is set in 1990s Saudi Arabia when the professional pursuit of all art, including painting, was frowned upon. Besides Bahrawi, the movie also stars Yaqoub Al-Farhan and Abdullah Al-Satian. It follows the story of Norah and failed artist Nader as they encourage each other to realize their creative potential in rural Saudi Arabia. The movie was backed by the Red Sea Fund — one of the Red Sea Film Foundation's programs — and was filmed with an all-Saudi cast and a 40 percent Saudi crew. 'I'm living the dream. Inshallah, I'll reach bigger and higher goals. I have all the opportunities in the world, now it's up to me to take them,' Bahrawi previously told Arab News while discussing the film
Broadcast Pro
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Saudi film ‘Norah' to compete at Malmö Arab Film Festival 2025
'Norah' is the first Saudi feature film to be shot at AlUla with an all-Saudi cast and more than 40% Saudi crew. Malmö Arab Film Festival (MAFF) is set to screen the Saudi film Norah, directed by Tawfik Alzaidi and supported by the Red Sea Fund, on April 30. The screening will be a part of the Feature Film Competition. Norah recently premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, marking the first time a Saudi film has been selected for the festival's official lineup. The film earned a Special Mention from the Cannes jury in the category. The film was shot entirely in the historic city of AlUla in northwest Saudi Arabia. With 40% of the film crew consisting of Saudis, the production showcases the strong local support for the burgeoning Saudi film industry. Norah had its international premiere at the third annual Red Sea International Film Festival in December, where it won the Film AlUla Award for Best Saudi Feature Film. Set in Saudi Arabia in the 1990s, Norah is described as a moving narrative about the transformative power of art in inspiring and changing minds and hearts. Tawfik Alzaidi both penned and directed the film, making it the first Saudi Arabian feature entirely shot in the AlUla region of Saudi Arabia. The film centres around its titular character, portrayed by Saudi newcomer Maria Bahrawi, an illiterate orphaned young woman trapped in a remote village facing an arranged marriage. Her encounter with Nader, an artist turned schoolteacher played by Saudi star Yaqoub Alfarhan, ignites a profound passion for art and a yearning for a life beyond the confines of her village. Shot in AlUla, a vast expanse of Saudi desert and ancient city ruins, Norah received acclaim and financial support from the Saudi Film Commission's Daw Film Competition, an initiative launched in 2019 to nurture Saudi film talent and production. Produced by Alzaidi and US producer Paul Miller, alongside Jordanian producer Sharif Majali, Norah represents a collaborative effort between Saudi production companies Black Sugar Pictures and Nebras Films. Global rights to Norah were secured in December by TwentyOne Entertainment, a new Riyadh-based company launched by former Universal Pictures executive Paul Chesney, underscoring the film's international appeal and the growing recognition of Saudi talent in the global film industry.
