{"id":34292,"date":"2025-05-27T12:44:21","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T12:44:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platinumlist.ceo\/guide\/?p=34292"},"modified":"2025-05-27T12:44:21","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T12:44:21","slug":"cinema-al-balad-first-saudi-arabias-open-air-cinema-opens-in-jeddah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/platinumlist.ceo\/guide\/cinema-al-balad-first-saudi-arabias-open-air-cinema-opens-in-jeddah\/","title":{"rendered":"Cinema Al Balad: First Saudi Arabia&#8217;s Open-Air Cinema Opens in Jeddah"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Jeddah has a new spot for film lovers to explore \u2013 <strong>Cinema Al Balad, a venue dedicated to showcasing local, regional, and international cinema<\/strong>. The newly opened art house cinema is breathing new life into the city\u2019s historic relationship with film, offering an experience that blends nostalgia with contemporary storytelling.<\/p>\n<p>Inspired by Saudi Arabia\u2019s first open-air theatre, Al-Jumjum Cinema, <strong>Cinema Al Balad pays tribute to the early days of cinema in Jeddah<\/strong>. Back then, moviegoers would gather in the historic district for open-air screenings. Fast forward to today, and Cinema Al Balad is continuing that legacy in a modern, curated setting.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DJWStqssnVl\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DJWStqssnVl\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by \u0633\u064a\u0646\u0645\u0627 \u0627\u0644\u0628\u0644\u062f (@cinemaalbalad)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The <strong>programme includes shorts, features, and documentaries<\/strong> by both emerging and established filmmakers. Upcoming screenings include Hobal and Thank You for Banking With Us, both set to draw audiences interested in bold, original storytelling.<\/p>\n<p>Cinema Al Balad is designed as a community hub for film lovers. The space will host <strong>talks and workshops featuring industry professionals<\/strong> \u2013 from directors and producers to screenwriters, cinematographers, and composers. The goal is to connect audiences with the people behind the camera, and to give voice to Saudi and regional talent.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DKDcYjgscRD\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DKDcYjgscRD\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by \u0633\u064a\u0646\u0645\u0627 \u0627\u0644\u0628\u0644\u062f (@cinemaalbalad)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>This opening is part of a broader transformation in Saudi Arabia\u2019s film scene. After a 35-year pause, cinemas reopened in 2018 with the premiere of Black Panther. Since then, the <strong>Kingdom has seen a steady rise in cinema culture<\/strong>, with venues ranging from multiplexes to boutique cinemas like this one. Jeddah also hosts the annual Red Sea International Film Festival, welcoming global filmmakers to the city each year.<\/p>\n<p>With Cinema Al Balad, Jeddah continues to position itself as a cultural hub for art house films, offering thoughtful programming and a space to engage with cinema in a meaningful way.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: 0;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d45802.58069918231!2d39.1527598919155!3d21.491560866797432!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x15c3cf00767924af%3A0xb56a3f3d1e864761!2z2LPZitmG2YXYpyDYp9mE2KjZhNivIENpbmVtYSBBbCBCYWxhZA!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sfr!4v1748349321172!5m2!1sen!2sfr\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jeddah has a new spot for film lovers to explore \u2013 Cinema Al Balad, a venue dedicated to showcasing local, regional, and international cinema. The newly opened art house cinema is breathing new life into the city\u2019s historic relationship with film, offering an experience that blends nostalgia with contemporary storytelling. Inspired by Saudi Arabia\u2019s first [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":34293,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-34292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"tags":[{"id":15448,"slug":"news","link":"https:\/\/platinumlist.ceo\/guide\/news\/","title":{"rendered":"Latest News"}}],"countries":[{"id":15507,"slug":"ksa","link":"https:\/\/platinumlist.ceo\/guide\/ksa\/","api_id":215,"title":{"rendered":"Saudi Arabia"}}],"cities":[{"id":15509,"slug":"jeddah","link":"https:\/\/platinumlist.ceo\/guide\/ksa\/jeddah\/","api_id":296,"title":{"rendered":"Jeddah"}}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/platinumlist.ceo\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34292","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/platinumlist.ceo\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/platinumlist.ceo\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platinumlist.ceo\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platinumlist.ceo\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34292"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/platinumlist.ceo\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34292\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platinumlist.ceo\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34293"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/platinumlist.ceo\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}