Saudi production designer Ahmed Baageel is sparking cultural crossovers at the Beijing International Film Festival this week, aiming to bridge Saudi and Chinese storytelling through cinema. 💫
'Films are like magic carpets – they let us fly into each other’s worlds,' Baageel told audiences after the screening of Saudi drama Norah, which drew enthusiastic crowds including Arabic-language students. 🎞️ Fans lit up when they recognized the Saudi dialect they’d studied – a moment Baageel called 'the pure joy of cross-cultural connection.'
The designer, now binge-watching Chinese films for inspiration, says he's obsessed with using visual storytelling to decode traditions. 'Imagine Saudi directors working with Zhang Yimou’s cinematographers, or Chinese dramas filmed in AlUla’s desert landscapes – that’s how we turn curiosity into common ground,' he shared with 🔥 passion.
Industry watchers say this marks growing momentum for East-West creative partnerships, with streaming platforms hungry for fresh narratives. Could K-pop style fandoms emerge for Arabic-Chinese collabs? 👀 Stay tuned!
