Saudi Film Commission cuts cinema, ticket fees

Riyadh city

The Film Commission’s board of directors, chaired by Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Minister of Culture and Board Chairman, approved reducing the financial compensation for Film Commission licenses.

This includes licenses to practice the activity of operatinf permanent and temporary cinemas, licenses to operate cinemas for specialist needs, and licenses to operate permanent and temporary cinemas, as well as cinemas for specialist needs.

The board decided to transfer licensing the operation of production studios, the licensing of audiovisual content production, the licensing of film retrieval and distribution, and the non-objection license for cinematic filming to the Film Commission, the state-owned SPA reported.

It also decided to start receiving license applications through the Abde’a Cultural Licenses Platform.

The Film Commission board also approved the activation of discounts for cinema revenues and ticket fees, to stimulate the private sector to cut ticket prices and offer attractive promotions to the audience.

This initiative contributes to the expansion and opening of more cinema screens, as well as wider screenings of Saudi films in the local box office.

Abdullah Al-Qahtani, CEO of the Film Commission, said that the authority is working to stimulate the film industry by encouraging private sector companies operating cinemas in the Kingdom to offer discounts and promotional offers to cinema audiences, with the aim of promoting film culture in the Kingdom.

The Commission is also intensively working to enhance the presence of Saudi films by promoting the screening of Saudi films in various cinemas."

The reduction in the financial compensation for cinema licenses and ticket fees aims to be in line with international rates and to support cinema companies in achieving sustainability and growth in the sector.