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Your next movie ticket could cost you less: The board of the Film Commission approved imposing a lower sales tax on the sale of tickets at the local box office, state news agency SPA reported. It said the move will help encourage private cinema operators to reduce ticket prices and drive demand. The goal: More cinemas nationwide and more local films playing on the big screen.
In context: The average price of movie tickets ranges somewhere between SAR 45 to SAR 70 depending on whether the ticket is standard or VIP. Over 61 mn tickets were sold across cinemas in the Kingdom in the six years since a 35-year cinema ban was lifted in 2018, Saudi Gazette reported, citing data from the General Authority for Media Regulation. This has brought in some SAR 3.7 bn in revenues by the end of March this year, according to the authority.
And more: The board also approved slashing licensing fees levied on operators to run permanent, temporary and specialized cinemas, it said. Those looking to operate permanent cinemas will pay somewhere between SAR 5k to SAR 25k depending on cities (think small and big cities), according to Saudi Gazette. This is down from a previous range of SAR 84k to SAR 210k for permanent cinemas. The cost for temporary cinemas will now come in at SAR 5k to SAR 15k, down from a previous range of SAR 42k to SAR 105k.
REMEMBER- Saudi has made big strides to become one of the region’s leading film production markets. There’s a Muvi on every street corner, production houses are setting up shop, investment is pouring in, more film festivals are shining a spotlight on local talent, and the industry regularly makes the pages of Variety.
Want to dig deeper? See our explainer here.
GULF CINEMA WRAP-UP
Speaking of movies: The Riyadh-hosted Gulf Cinema Festival wrapped up on Saturday. Here’s a list of the folks taking home awards:
- Saudi film Hajjan earned best feature film;
- Omar Al Atawi went home with best actor for his part in Hajjan;
- Jerry Fassbender’s work on Hajjan secured best photography;
- Bahraini artist Maryam Zeman was named best actress for her role in May Ward;
- Oman’s Clouds snatched the best short film prize;
- UAE’s Swim 62 was recognized as the best documentary;
- Ziad Al-Hussein was named best director for his film Shiabni Hani;
- Khaled Al Kammar was awarded the best original soundtrack prize for his work on Saudi film Hwjn.
ALSO- Hajjan and Hwjn will be screened at the Malmö Arab Film Festival taking place today through Sunday, 28 April, state news agency SPA reported yesterday.
