Breaking news about a new Saudi film… that will never be seen in Saudi Arabia? From the BBC:

A film launched at the Cannes Film Festival this week is, say its producers, the first Saudi Arabian feature-film - although it was actually filmed in Dubai.

Although? Although:

At the moment public cinemas and theatres are banned in Saudi Arabia. …

Not only are there no public cinemas in the kingdom, but there is only a small film-making industry, concentrating on short films and documentaries. …

The lack of Saudi cinemas means that when it is released after the Cannes publicity machine the film will be seen only in other Middle Eastern nations and on DVD. …

There is a long-term desire to get more film into the kingdom and a belief that Saudi society may finally be ready to accept cinema-going as a social activity.

And those behind the film also clearly hope it will help loosen some of the social restrictions in this highly conservative nation.

We’ll see…