Saudi film ‘Norah’ makes history with Cannes Film Festival screening

“Norah” had its official screening at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. (AN/ Ammar Abd Rabbo)
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Updated 23 May 2024
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Saudi film ‘Norah’ makes history with Cannes Film Festival screening

DUBAI: Saudi film “Norah” had its official screening at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on Thursday, becoming the first film from the Kingdom to screen as part of the official calendar at the event.

The movie, filmed entirely in AlUla and directed by Tawfik Al-Zaidi, is running in the “Un Certain Regard” section of the festival.




The movie is running in the “Un Certain Regard” section of the festival. (AN/ Ammar Abd Rabbo)

The film is set in 1990s Saudi Arabia when conservatism ruled and the prefessional pursuit of all art, including painting, was frowned upon. It stars Maria Bahrawi, Yaqoub Al-Farhan, and Abdullah Al-Satian and follows the story of Norah and failed artist Nader as they encourage each other to realize their artistic potential in rural Saudi Arabia.

“Norah” is in competition with 19 other films from around the world.




The cast, director and CEO and chairwoman of the Red Sea International Film Festival appeared together on the red carpet for French adventure drama film “Le Comte de Monte-Cristo.” (AN/ Ammar Abd Rabbo)

On Wednesday, the cast, director and CEO and chairwoman of the Red Sea International Film Festival Mohammed Al-Turki and Jumana Al-Rashed, respectively, appeared together on the red carpet for French adventure drama film “Le Comte de Monte-Cristo.”

“Norah” was backed by the Red Sea Fund — one of the Red Sea Film Foundation's programs — and was filmed entirely in AlUla in northwest Saudi Arabia with an all-Saudi cast and a 40 percent Saudi crew.


Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week achieves $133 million

Updated 06 December 2025
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Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week achieves $133 million

DUBAI: Auction house Sotheby’s Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Week, which wrapped up on Friday night, achieved $133 million in sales, according to the auction house.

The series of auctions included jewelry, rare timepieces, collectors’ cars and real estate from RM Sotheby’s, and Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions, alongside a museum-quality exhibition of international fine art.

A waterfront estate in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat was sold for $20.1 million. (Supplied)

Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions opened the final evening, with a waterfront estate in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat achieving $20.1 million. The sale of Jane Birkin’s Le Voyageur, a one-of-a-kind black Hermes Birkin owned by the actress, soared to $2.9 million (est. $240,000-$440,000) after a bidding battle lasting more than 10 minutes. It is now the second most valuable handbag sold at auction, surpassed by the original Hermes Birkin created for Birkin in 1985, which achieved a record-breaking $10.1 million earlier this year.

Jane Birkin with her Le Voyageur bag. (Supplied)

Leading the sale of jewellery and watches was the first complete set of the Patek Philippe Star Caliber 2000, which achieved $11.9 million, becoming the second most valuable watch sold at Sotheby’s. Meanwhile, The Desert Rose, the largest Fancy Vivid Orangy Pink diamond in the world, climbed to $8.8 million (est. $5-$7 million) following an almost 20-minute bidding battle among five collectors.

The Desert Rose is the largest Fancy Vivid Orangy Pink diamond in the world. (Supplied)

Participants hailed from 35 countries, with nearly a quarter of buyers from the UAE, according to Sotheby’s.