Saudi Arabia has a robust presence this year at the Venice Film Festival , where there are six Arab films backed by the Red Sea Film Festival’s foundation on display across various sections, including an industry showcase.

These include Tunisian director Mehdi M. Barsaoui’s drama “Aïcha,” about a woman who flees from her small-town life after miraculously surviving a bus accident, and Egypt’s “Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo,” a first feature by Khaled Mansour about a young man forced to confront his fears. These films got their initial impetus thanks to Red Sea funding programs, which are becoming a major Arab film industry driver.

Variety spoke to Jomana Al-Rashid, who chairs the Red Sea Film Festival International Film Foundation, about nurturing Saudi’s rapidly evolving film scene.

How would you describe the progression of everything film-related in Saudi Arabia since the ban on cinema was lifted in late 2017?

The trajectory of this progress has been truly remarkable. We did not expect it to move so quickly. This year, “Noura” was the first Saudi film chosen for the Cannes Film Festival. “Mandoob” [a groundbreaking Saudi Arabian thriller] has just been released in U.K. cinemas. It’s incredible that now, for the very first time, Saudi films are getting international exposure. But we don’t want it to be just one Saudi film per year; we aim for at least 10 films per year. We need to consider the infrastructure and the entire chain of value being built around the industry. I believe the Red Sea Film Foundation is playing a crucial role in all of this. We are supporting films at all stages, from development to distribution.

The first arthouse cinema will soon open in Riyadh. How do you think the contrast between indie and commercial movies is playing out in Saudi?

For us, it’s about different forms of expression and compelling storytelling, whether it’s independent films or more mainstream movies. If you have a good story, we will support it. We want to collaborate with all genres and types of films. I know that producers and investors always look for a significant return on investment. However, I believe there is a more crucial message that needs to be highlighted, and cinema plays a role in social transformation and portraying a certain reality. Personally, I am a fan of those artistic films.

Can you give an update on festival and foundation’s new headquarters in Jeddah’s historic old town of Al Balad, which served as the backdrop for the fest’s inaugural edition?

Yes, we are incredibly excited about the move. The new headquarters will be ready for the upcoming festival. It’s a thrilling time, and it’s a fantastic venue, which, of course, will be our new hub for cinema. We will be launching new categories and genres and focusing on various aspects that will be announced soon. But our new cultural square where we are relocating will welcome films and people holding labs, master classes, and workshops throughout the year. We don’t want to confine it to just the festival.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Editor’s Note: Besides her Red Sea Foundation role Jomana Al Rashid is also CEO of SRMG, a Saudi Arabian publishing and media company, which is publicly traded and is a minority investor in PMC, Variety ’s parent company.