KSA's First flick is The Emoji Movie, Facepalm.
WHAT?...! Yes.. At the first event of its kind since the government announced last year on December 11 lifting of a 35-year-old ban on the public screening of films, the Saudis chose for their first flick The Emoji Movie, which was presented in a small makeshift cinema on Sunday.“Until now, there [was] no infrastructure for movie theatres, so we are trying to take advantage of [alternative] venues to approximate the cinematic form,”"We decided to show animation films so they are suitable for families," said Mamdouh Salem, CEO of Cinema 70, a Saudi movie producer and distributor, and the organizer of the festival. "There is also acceptance of such movies as the first to be screened since the decision to allow cinemas."
.credits:cinema70 The move is part of an ongoing liberal moment for the conservative Islamic nation, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in an effort to broaden the economy, Reuters reports. Permanent movie theaters are expected to be opened from March.The authorities plan to open 300 cinemas with 2000 screens by 2030.Sultan al-Otaibi “It’s more comfortable, more fun to have a change of scenery and an activity on the weekend,” he said. “It is a step that was very late in coming but thank God it’s happening now.” When the animated comedy got released in July, the critically ridiculed flick scored a mere 9% on Rotten Tomatoes — and that was quite generous one might say.
NewsSources: The newyork post,Cnn.