The fifth edition’s public screenings run from 3 to 10 November 2026 at VOX Cinemas Century Corner in Riyadh.
The line-up features 15 films, with Arabic and English subtitles advertised across the programme.
Highlights include Sirāt, Sentimental Value, The Grace and Oscar-winning documentary Mr Nobody Against Putin.
The European Film Festival celebrates cinema, culture and collaboration.
The European Film Festival returns to Riyadh for its fifth edition, taking place at VOX Cinemas in Century Corner from 3 to 10 November 2026. Designed for Saudi film lovers, the programme showcases 16 European films from 15 countries, all screened in their original languages with Arabic and English subtitles.
Organised by the Delegation of the European Union in partnership with Arabia Pictures, the Embassies of EU Member States and VOX Cinemas, the festival aims to build bridges between European and Saudi creatives. It encourages cultural exchange, industry networking and a broader appreciation of European cinema within the Kingdom’s fast-growing film landscape.
Sirāt, Spain
Opening the public screenings, Oliver Laxe’s Cannes Jury Prize winner stars Sergi López and Bruno Núñez as a father and son searching for a missing family member. Their search takes them into Morocco’s underground rave scene and onwards through the desert with a group of partygoers. Screens on Tuesday 3 November at 7pm.
Maria’s Silence, Latvia
Dāvis Sīmanis directs Olga Šepicka as Latvian stage and silent-film actress Maria Leiko. Inspired by her life, the historical drama follows a journey to the Soviet Union in 1937 that leaves her caught between family responsibilities, artistic convictions and Stalinist persecution. Screens on Tuesday 3 November at 9.45pm.
Hold Onto Me, Cyprus
Myrsini Aristidou’s debut feature won the World Cinema Dramatic Audience Award at Sundance in 2026. Maria Petrova plays 11-year-old Iris, who seeks out her estranged father after he returns for a funeral. Christos Passalis plays the reluctant parent as the pair begin an uncertain relationship. Screens on Wednesday 4 November at 7pm.
The Luminous Life, Portugal
João Rosas turns his attention to the uncertainty of young adulthood in this Lisbon-set drama. Francisco Melo plays Nicolau, a 24-year-old struggling with stalled musical ambitions, a lingering heartbreak and life at his parents’ home. New encounters gradually give him reasons to move forward. Screens on Thursday 5 November at 7pm.
13 Days, 13 Nights, France
Director Martin Bourboulon brings the evacuation of civilians from Kabul to the screen in a thriller inspired by real events. Roschdy Zem and Lyna Khoudri star as a commander and a translator navigating a perilous escape after the Taliban take control of the Afghan capital in 2021. Screens on Thursday 5 November at 9.15pm.
Sentimental Value, Norway
Joachim Trier assembles a cast including Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Elle Fanning for this family drama. Two sisters reconnect with their estranged filmmaker father, whose proposed comeback film creates fresh tensions when a Hollywood actress enters the picture. Screens on Friday 6 November at 6pm.
The Grace, Italy
Also known as La Grazia, Paolo Sorrentino’s drama stars Toni Servillo as a fictional Italian president approaching the end of his term. Two requests for presidential pardons force him to confront difficult questions of conscience. Anna Ferzetti also stars, while Servillo’s performance earned Venice’s Volpi Cup for Best Actor in 2025. Screens on Friday 6 November at 8.45pm.
Mr Nobody Against Putin, Denmark
Minghun, Poland
Jan P. Matuszyński directs Marcin Dorociński in a drama about grief and the rituals people turn to after loss. Following his daughter’s death, a father joins his Chinese father-in-law in arranging a posthumous marriage intended to ensure she will not be alone in the afterlife. Screens on Saturday 7 November at 8pm.
Listen to the Land Speak, Ireland
Director Maurice O’Brien follows writer and broadcaster Manchán Magan through Ireland’s landscapes over four seasons. Through encounters with archaeologists, writers and other voices, the documentary explores how mythology and inherited knowledge can help people reconsider their relationship with the natural world. Screens on Sunday 8 November at 7pm.
Ciao Ciao, Malta
Keith Albert Tedesco directs this dark comedy featuring Antonella Axisa. A reunion dinner brings two couples together, but their evening becomes increasingly uncomfortable as tensions surface. An awkward farewell stretches towards sunrise, leaving the characters with plenty more to confront than their table manners. Screens on Sunday 8 November at 8.45pm.
The Last Ambassador, Austria
Natalie Halla’s documentary centres on Manizha Bakhtari, Afghanistan’s ambassador in Vienna. Following the Taliban’s return to power, she continues advocating for Afghan women and girls while facing mounting personal and professional pressures. The film follows her determination to keep their rights on the international agenda. Screens on Monday 9 November at 7pm.
Homecoming, Finland
Also titled Máhccan, this documentary from Suvi West and Anssi Kömi explores the return of Sámi cultural objects held in museums. Through a personal journey into heritage and identity, the filmmakers question who controls the way Indigenous cultures are collected, displayed and understood. Screens on Monday 9 November at 9pm.
Law School Crew, Romania
Mihaela Aniței directs this story of seven students whose friendship faces a serious test. When they try to help a fellow student whose daughter is gravely ill, their efforts create further complications. Tudor Cucu-Dumitrescu features in an ensemble that moves between humour and drama. Screens on Tuesday 10 November at 7pm.
2000 Meters to Andriivka, Ukraine
Mstyslav Chernov, the filmmaker behind 20 Days in Mariupol, follows Ukrainian soldiers attempting to retake the occupied village of Andriivka. Filmed alongside Associated Press colleague Alex Babenko, the documentary records their advance through a heavily fortified forest and the human cost of each step. Screens on Tuesday 10 November at 9pm.
Beyond the cinema seats, the festival includes three side events. Published sessions include Production & Production Management on Friday 6 November at 4.30pm, featuring Bojana Dimitrovska and Afnan Bawyan, and Co-producing with Europe on Saturday 7 November at 4.30pm, led by co-producer Bojan Mastilović. Together, they offer practical insight into the work that brings films to the screen. VOX Cinemas KSA
Tickets for film screenings are priced at SAR 35 per person and can be booked through VOX Cinemas. whatsonsaudiarabia.com
Where: VOX Cinemas Century Corner, Riyadh
When: 3 to 10 November 2026
Contact: ksa.voxcinemas.com