With film shoots, star-studded festivals and modern studios, the conservative kingdom of Saudi Arabia is sparing no expense to become a land of cinema. Showcasing the wonders of Saudi Arabia on the big screen also helps attract tourists and project a modern image of the country, which is usually better known for its serious attacks on personal freedoms.

A special program of films by Ukrainian directors will be screened in different German cities. The curators also pay tribute to their country's filmmaking tradition.

We look at reactions in France to a possible alliance between the socialists and the far left in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Also, the sports pages are buzzing after Real Madrid's thrilling victory brings the team into the Champions League final. Also, Basic Instinct was released here in France almost 30 years ago to the day. We look at how the film changed cinema. Finally, is this the future - an artificial intelligence wine critic?

It’s been more than two years in the making: the Cannes Film Festival has opened after a pandemic-prompted hiatus in 2020.

Critic Lisa Nesselson joins us to discuss the importance of France's annual "Fête du Cinéma". We also talk about "Charlatan", the latest feature from Polish director Agnieszka Holland. In her fact-inspired drama, a Czech man who has devoted his life to diagnosing and healing people with plants faces the wrath of the Czech government.

Londoners braved the chill on Thursday for an outdoor cinema screening with a touch of Hollywood sparkle: a red carpet for the screening of "Wonder Woman 1984". An action spectacle starring Gal Gadot, "Wonder Woman 1984" had originally been scheduled to reach cinemas in June 2020.

The friendship between Temi Ami-Williams and Cynthia Ebijie is reminiscent of their on-screen characters, the sister's Rosa Temi Ami-Williams and Grace Cynthia Ebijie in the film Eyimofe.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Two sisters struggling to survive the harsh realities of Nigeria, all they have is themselves and their hope for a better future by seeking greener pastures. The characters of Rosa and Grace as sisters have obviously transcended beyond the screens to reality.⁣⁣

Set in Lagos, Nigeria Eyimofe (This is My Desire) follows the stories of Mofe, a factory technician, and Rosa, a hairdresser, on their quest for what they believe will be a better life on foreign shores. A passport, photos and a visa form recurring elements. The characters’ misfortunes are part of their everyday life and they are sketching out the need to leave Nigeria at the same time. At the bottom of the socio-economic ladder, status, money, gender, skin colour and family structures are inextricably connected. The longing for another life is but one thread in this complex mesh, a promise that floats above things at once near and far away. #EYIMOFE

Here are a few reasons to pick up a copy of The Guardian on Thursday. Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on Thursday.⁣⁣

In 1995 "La Haine" rocked French cinema to its core, and the shockwaves were felt across society, from artistic circles to the underprivileged suburbs it depicted. One bittersweet phrase from the film's script sums up its dark sense of humour: "jusqu'ici tout va bien" (or "so far, so good"). That catchphrase is now the title of an exhibition in Paris which is showcasing the achievements of the Kourtrajmé collective which started in the suburbs at that time.

Dozens of people attend a drive-in cinema that began operating at the racetrack that usually hosts the Mexican Formula 1 Grand Prix, suspended this year because of the pandemic.

France is known around the world for its culture. Some go so far as to say it’s exceptional! Literature, cinema, music and art are seen as precious things that must be protected and promoted. The state therefore invests a lot of money in the country’s cultural output. This costly policy - known as the "cultural exception" - has a good return on investment in terms of economic growth, but isn't without controversy. Genie Godula and Florence Villeminot take a closer look in this episode of French Connections Plus.