Saudi Arabia set to participate in this year’s Cannes Film Festival

Saudi Arabia will participate for the first time in this year's Cannes Film Festival, Arab News reported, citing a source from the Ministry of Culture and Information.

Riyadh is also planning to constitute a film board tasked with regulating and supporting the industry, the daily said, adding, the board will report to the newly formed General Culture Authority.

The Kingdom will open its cinema on April 18 after a hiatus of more than 35 years, with Hollywood blockbuster “Black Panther” being the first film to be screened.

Last week, the ministry said about 350 cinemas with more than 2,500 screens are expected to be in operation by 2030.

The Kingdom expects to become the region’s largest market for cinema operators, with annual ticket sales estimated at $1 billion.

Vision 2030 aims at raising Saudi Arabia’s annual spending on cultural and entertainment activities from 2.9 percent of Saudi family expenditure at present to 6 percent by 2030.