Saudi Arabia will officially take part in the 71st Cannes Film Festival Hollywood blockbuster “Black Panther” will be the first film shown in Saudi Arabia in 35 years PARIS: Saudi Arabia will officially participate for the first time in the Cannes Film Festival, Arab News has learned from a source at the Kingdom’s Ministry of Culture and Information. Riyadh is also planning to constitute a film board tasked with regulating and supporting the industry. The board will report to the newly formed General Culture Authority. The Kingdom is reopening cinemas on April 18 for the first time in more than 35 years, with Hollywood blockbuster “Black Panther” being the first film shown. Saudi Arabia, with a population of over 32 million most of whom are under 30, is expected to become the region’s largest market for movie theater operators, with annual ticket sales being estimated at up to $1 billion. Experts say Saudi Arabia’s participation in the 71st Cannes Film Festival will give Saudi filmmakers a big opportunity to showcase their talent on the world stage. AMC, the largest cinema operator in the world, was awarded an operating license last week by the Ministry of Culture and Information. About 350 cinemas with more than 2,500 screens are expected to be in operation by 2030. One of the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 is to improve the quality of life by providing additional entertainment opportunities, Dr. Awwad Al-Awwad, the minister of culture and information, said last week. Vision 2030 sets a goal of 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.