"Film criticism" Discusses the role of cities and festivals in shaping awareness

The International Film Criticism2025, organized by Film Commissionat the Palace of Culture in the Embassy District In Riyadh, the activities of its second day included sessions and workshops that dealt with the relationship between place and people in world cinema, confirming that the city is not just a photographic space, but rather a living organism vibrant with memory, symbols, and social transformations.

The philosopher and art curator, Nicolas David, began the day with a workshop entitled "Narrating place and evoking memory: cinematic space in Italian cinema"In which he talked about the philosophical dimension of place in cinematic work, noting that "The place is not just a location for photography, but rather a memory that embodies feelings and reveals features of cultural identity"

He explained that cinematic criticism is the means that preserves this connection between place and man and rereads it over time as one of the pillars of aesthetic understanding of the image.

Urban Transformations

In another session entitled "Beyond Criticism: Reimagining Mexico City – Urban Transformations on Screen from the Golden Age to Family Cinema"The researcher, Dr., explained. Adrena Fernandez that "Mexican cinema provided a realistic reflection of the city’s relationship with people, where scenes of poverty intersect with joy, and wealth is sometimes met with a feeling of unhappiness. However, these works remain close to the conscience of the Mexican people."

She added that reading cities cinematically allows a deeper understanding of social and political transformations, and that criticism of place in cinema is, in essence, a criticism of human consciousness itself, with the feelings, memories, and narrative layers it carries.

A poetic visual experience

This topic concluded with the presentation of the Belgian film. "News from Home" By director Chantal Akerman (1976), who presented a poetic visual experience of alienation, nostalgia, and memory through audio messages and images of New York City in the 1970s, embodying how the place turns into a mirror of the self and the world at the same time.

Cinema Beyond Borders

In the discussion session "Cinema is beyond borders" Moderated by writer and critic Hussein Al-Daw, Arab directors discussed the concept of cinematic identity that transcends geography, and the role of the creator in formulating image memory and representing moving identity.

Director Lamia Qaiqa, director Muhammad Qiblawi, and director Muhammad al-Daraji participated in the session, who presented readings of their creative experiences between belonging and alienation.

Lamia Qaiqa confirmed that "Cinema is parallel to criticism and artistic production outside the country, and it is a hybrid with a diverse identity, which differs according to the number of directors and producing countries. The identity is not fixed, but the director is the most important."

Rich experiences

While Muhammad Qiblawi explained that "Directors of Arab origin residing abroad belong to different generations and have lived rich experiences, and their works carry messages that only Arab citizens can understand, even if they were produced abroad.".

As for Muhammad Al-Daraji, he expressed his view that "Arab directors in the diaspora film their works according to mobile identities governed by memory and nostalgia, and combining anger, criticism, and beauty."

The participants expressed that cross-border cinematic experiences open new spaces for defining belonging, and show how the image can be a common language that transcends geography and evokes common human memory.

Festivals create the audience

The second day concluded with a special dialogue session with the critic and former artistic director of the Berlin International Film Festival, Carlo Chatrian, who spoke in a session entitled "Dialogue about cinema" It was moderated by Abdul Jalil Al Nasser, Director General of Sector Development and Investment Attraction at the Film Authority.

Chatrian confirmed that "Film festivals represent the beating heart of the film industry, and play a crucial role in shaping the artistic taste of societies"explaining that major festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, and Venice affect the spread of films globally, while "Small festivals create real audiences and deepen their relationship with cinema"

He added that festivals are not just a space for display and competition, but rather a living laboratory in which schools and styles converge and aesthetic visions develop.

Enhancing cultural awareness

He pointed out the importance of film journalism in keeping pace with this movement, stressing that professional criticism enriches the dialogue between the audience and filmmakers, and enhances cultural awareness, while expertise and experience contribute to refining creativity and achieving excellence.

He concluded. Today, we affirm that cinema and criticism are partners in reading the contemporary world, and that the image remains the truest means of understanding the transformations of man and place over time, within a global critical scene that consolidates the Kingdom’s position on the map of international cinematic culture.

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