Saudi Arabia held a private screening of the Hollywood blockbuster Black Panther to herald the launch of cinemas in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia held a private screening of the Hollywood blockbuster Black Panther to herald the launch of cinemas in the kingdom. “This is a landmark moment in the transformation of Saudi Arabia into a more vibrant economy and society,” Saudi Minister of Culture and Information Awwad Alawwad said before the screening. Over the past few years, Saudi Arabia has gradually been loosening restrictions on movie screenings, with local film festivals and screenings in makeshift theatres. By 2013, the film Wadjda made history by becoming the first Academy Award entry for Saudi Arabia.

Source: Irish Independent April 18, 2018 19:32 UTC