RIYADH — On March 17, Martina Strong, chargé d’affaires (CDA) of the United States Embassy here, and US Consul General in Jeddah Ryan M. Gliha met with Shivani Pandya, managing director of the Red Sea Film Festival (RSFF), to discuss opportunities for collaboration in the film industry.

CDA Strong expressed strong support for US-Saudi partnerships in the film industry, highlighting the sector’s enormous potential to expand and diversify the Saudi economy in line with Vision 2030 while showcasing the Kingdom’s rich culture and traditions to audiences in the United States and around the world.

She emphasized the potential economic impact, noting that the film industry supports 2.5 million jobs and pays $181 billion in total wages in the United States.

The meeting also explored opportunities to encourage short-term and long-term networking between Saudi content creators and US film companies and other avenues of future cooperation.

“I see opportunities under Vision 2030 for bold initiatives between the United States and Saudi Arabia in creative industries like film and with partners like the Red Sea Film Festival,” CDA Strong noted.

“Strong partnerships between the United States and Saudi Arabia — between our governments, our companies, and our peoples — benefit us all.”

Edouard Waintrop, the advisor to the Red Sea International Film Festival, added, “As Saudi’s Vision 2030 creates a vibrant society in which all citizens can succeed in a thriving economy, plentiful opportunities will open for the film and creative industries in Saudi Arabia and organizations such as Red Sea International Film Festival to partner and act as a cultural bridge with companies, organizations and the dynamic artistic community in the United States — benefiting us all.”

CDA Strong reiterated the US commitment to sustained collaboration with the General Entertainment Authority, the Red Sea Film Festival, and other Saudi film industry stakeholders.

This meeting builds on a recent discussion between the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Entertainment Authority Turki Al-Sheikh and CDA Strong, where similar sentiments were shared.