The Film Norah

The Film Norah is a Saudi feature film produced in 2024 as part of the Daw' competition to support films, an initiative by the Film Commission to support professional Saudi filmmakers.

The film Norah was selected to participate in one of the competitions at the seventy-seventh edition of the Cannes Film Festival, held from May 14 to 25, 2024.

The film Norah received support from several Saudi entities, including the Quality of Life Program, one of the programs of Saudi Vision 2030, Film AlUla, the Red Sea Fund affiliated with the Red Sea Film Foundation, and Generation 2030.

The events of the film Norah revolve around a character named "Norah," who lives in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the 1990s. She spends most of her time away from village life until she meets another character. Together, they find each other and discover the creative and artistic voice within themselves, portrayed in a powerful and emotional drama.

The film explores the generational gap, which is reflected in the choice of complex characters, each with multiple traits, rather than being defined by a single characteristic. Each protagonist in the film represents a different generation, and the film incorporates multiple elements. It is built on a directorial vision that emphasizes the idea that cinema lies in the details.

The film was written, directed, and produced by Tawfik al-Zaidi, with Yaqoub al-Farhan and Maria Bahrawi starring in the lead roles, alongside Abdullah al-Sadhan. The cast and crew consisted of 40 percent Saudis, and the film was shot in the city of art and history in al-Ula, located in the northwest of the Kingdom.

The film Norah was featured in the main lineup of the "Un Certain Regard" competition, which highlights exceptional films from around the world, as part of the Cannes Film Festival 2024. The film was selected for its artistic and creative value. The festival is one of the leading international cinematic platforms, attracting filmmakers and enthusiasts from across the globe.

The film was also showcased at the third edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival, where it won al-Ula Award for Best Saudi Feature Film. The film was released in Saudi and international theaters starting on June 20, 2024.