Helmed by British director Owen Harris, the film showcases Saudi Arabia’s transformation to global audiences.
The Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning launched the short film The Story, which was featured at Expo 2020 Dubai, on January 20.
The film’s debut to a global audience, supported by the Ministry of Culture, came on the closing day of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023, following the film’s positive reception at Expo 2020, according to a report on Arab News.
MBC Studios hired British director Owen Harris to bring The Story to life, showcasing Saudi Arabia’s transformation to global audiences.
Saud Altobaishi, General Manager of the Ministry’s Strategic Communications, said: “With one year to go until the launch of Expo 2020 Dubai, the working team from the Ministry of Economy and Planning were tasked in delivering a short film for the Saudi Pavilion cinema.”
He added: “Back then, the Executive Committee leading the design, operations, and delivery of the Saudi Pavilion was led by the Minister of Economy and Planning, Faisal F. Alibrahim, when he was the vice minister of economy and planning, and he assigned me to lead and manage the delivery of the short film stream. With the clock ticking toward the Saudi Pavilion’s opening day and budgets uncertain, we had to improvise.”
The ministry’s team sought to highlight the Kingdom’s transformation, particularly social and economic growth, and diversity.
The script for The Story was developed by Alibrahim and Altobaishi over a single weekend, a few weeks after the creation of the Saudi Pavilion “Cloud Walker” campaign.
Partners in the film creation include the Saudi Tourism Authority and Princess Noura Bint Abdulmohsen of the Diriyah Gate Development Authority, both of whom facilitated the filming and production process.
