Critics, researchers, filmmakers and film lovers will gather on 5 and 6 November for the fourth edition of the International Film Criticism Conference, organized by the Film Commission. Discussions will focus on how criticism helps audiences read films, its artistic and cultural dimensions, and its changing relationship with viewers as the film sector evolves.

The organizers see reading a film as more than following its plot or judging its technical elements: it means grasping its visual language and unpacking its narratives, symbols and the meanings within its scenes. The conference will therefore look at the variety of critical interpretations and at how critics can enrich the viewing experience.

Its program includes a number of panel discussions and workshops as well as two film screenings. Sessions will examine how digital platforms and artificial intelligence are reshaping critical practice, from analytical tools and forms of expression to the ways critics reach audiences, at a time when Saudi and Arab cinema is becoming more diverse.

From 2023 to 2025, previous editions of the conference and its forums drew more than 29,000 visitors from over 20 countries, involved more than 180 participants, and included over 25 workshops and 30 side events, with 28 sponsors and partners on board.