LONDON: Saudi film stars Hisham Fageeh and Fatima Al-Banawi said the arrival of cinema in the Kingdom will help open up society and “share our narrative’’ with the world.
The pair — who are well-known for their roles in successful Saudi comedy “Barakah Meets Barakah,” an Oscar submission for 2016’s Best Foreign Language Film — were speaking during a gathering at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, hosted by the Saudi British Society.
Set in Jeddah, the production was the first award-winning romantic comedy to come out of the Kingdom and became Saudi Arabia’s first film on Netflix.
Al-Banawi, who recently co-starred in the OSN series “Bashar,” emphasized the scope of cinema to “break stereotypes’’ by telling the stories of real people.
“We’re such a private society,” she said. “It’s important to share our narratives.’’
Fageeh, an actor and producer-director who made a name as a stand-up comedian on YouTube, said people in Saudi Arabia were hungry to tell their own stories.
He said many are interested in “taking back our narrative’’ and not having Western institutions dictate the direction of Saudi Arabia’s evolving film landscape, which he described as a “gorilla industry” at this stage.
“In Saudi Arabia, if you want somebody who’s a lighting guy, you get an electrician. You want an actor, you go ask somebody who’s got liberal parents,” he said.
“The more sophisticated our art will be, the more sophisticated the viewer can become.”
Opening the discussion, Alistair Burt, the UK minister for international development and the Middle East, described Saudi Arabia’s recent move to lift the ban on cinemas as “another exciting development in the Kingdom.’’
Praising the success of “Barakah Meets Barakah,” and confessing a preference for romantic comedies including “Sleepless in Seattle” and “You’ve Got Mail,” the minister said that such films “tell us something very special about a society.’’
“Changing perceptions of the Islamic world is important,” he added. “Anything that helps build our relationships is very welcome.”
‘Barakah Meets Barakah’ stars say cinema move will help bring Saudi stories to world
‘Barakah Meets Barakah’ stars say cinema move will help bring Saudi stories to world
Amira Al-Zuhair stars in Dolce & Gabbana campaign
DUBAI: Saudi-French model Amira Al-Zuhair stars in a new campaign for Italian luxury label Dolce & Gabbana.
The Ramadan campaign sees the rising model show off a silver, floor-length gown against a backdrop of desert dunes.
It is not the only seasonal campaign the model has starred in as of late — in early February, she took to Instagram to share shots from a Ramadan photoshoot for Italian brand Loro Piana.
Al-Zuhair has begun the year with a series of high-profile appearances. In addition to the Loro Piana campaign, she walked the runway at Jacquemus’ Fall/Winter 2026 “Le Palmier” show in Paris last month.
The event, staged at the Musee National Picasso, brought Simon Porte Jacquemus’ latest co-ed collection to life with playful yet sculptural silhouettes, blending mid-century couture references and 1990s sensibilities.
“Merci infiniment Simon. It was an honor to be part of this iconic show with such an amazing team, congratulations! Thank you for having me,” posted Al-Zuhair.
The model closed a segment of the show in an ensemble that captured the collection’s nod to both elegant simplicity and bold form.
She wore a black midi skirt with a structured blazer top with cutout detail at the back, cinched at the waist with a wide belt. The look was completed with a wide-brimmed hat that added a touch of drama.
The Jacquemus presentation, which also acted as the finale of Paris Men’s Fashion Week, wove together confetti-like motifs, geometric forms and a celebration of joie de vivre, encapsulating Jacquemus’ irreverent yet refined vision ahead of the upcoming couture season.
Al-Zuhair, born in Paris to a French mother and Saudi father, has appeared on the runway for renowned fashion houses.
She has walked for Missoni, Maison Alaia, Brunello Cucinelli, Balmain, Dolce & Gabbana, Giambattista Valli, Giorgio Armani, Elie Saab and more.
In addition to her runway appearances, Al-Zuhair has featured in campaigns for brands including Prada, Chanel and Carolina Herrera.
