This is an extremely interesting piece of reportage from NBC News, which answered a lot of my questions about this event: With Hollywood strapped for cash, Saudi Arabia is re-emerging as a key financial backer . Everyone is there because it was ultimately judged financially prudent for them to be so, probably for a variety of reasons. (A few folks here also went to a similar event in Qater, which I suspect also is a pay-for-play attendance event. Take from that what you will.)

[Photos: Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images, Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival]

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