The second day of Joy Forum 2025, one of Riyadh Season’s flagship events, featured a panel titled “Stage Architects: Nations × Festivals × Awards × Media,” bringing together Eng. Faisal Bafarat, CEO of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), and Iris Knobloch, President of the Cannes Film Festival, in a conversation moderated by global media personality Ryan Seacrest. The speakers discussed major transformations within the entertainment industry and the role of Saudi Arabia and global festivals in shaping the new international landscape.
During the session, Faisal Bafarat stated that Saudi Vision 2030 has helped build a world-class entertainment industry rooted in the Kingdom, noting that entertainment has become a universal language shared by people everywhere. “From East to West, the emotions people seek are the same,” he said.
He added that the COVID-19 pandemic was a major turning point, unifying standards and expectations worldwide and making audiences more connected through digital platforms. He explained that GEA focused during that period on developing infrastructure and organizing an annual events calendar to provide entertainment for all, which positioned Saudi Arabia to enter a new era of growth and global openness after the pandemic.
Bafarat also highlighted Riyadh Season’s evolution into a leading destination that attracts top global events and IPs, revealing that around 70% of its events are planned before launch, while the remaining 30% are added during the season in response to global partnerships and innovative ideas. He further noted that over 80% of upcoming seasons’ events will be entirely new and original.
For her part, Iris Knobloch emphasized that entertainment and cinema know no borders, describing the Cannes Film Festival as a global platform for discovery and visibility, and “the cradle of talent, films, and filmmakers.” She stated that the festival relies on two pillars, the Film Market—the largest in the world, where production projects begin, and the Discovery Phase—when films are officially selected and spotlighted before a global audience.
Knobloch said Cannes offers a unique model in turning small films into global phenomena, citing the example of “Anora,” winner of the Palme d’Or in 2024, which went on to win over 80 international awards and reach both the Oscars and Golden Globes. “This example reflects the true power of Cannes,” she said.
She added that the festival does not control film distribution or marketing, leaving that to distributors and theaters, but it holds something more powerful—cultural and media impact that turns films into global sensations shared through conversation and excitement.
The session concluded by affirming that emotion is the common foundation of global entertainment, and that major platforms such as Riyadh Season and the Cannes Film Festival serve as bridges connecting East and West through art, creativity, and innovation.
In a following session titled “The Founder Operators: Entrepreneurship in the Entertainment Economy,” moderated by renowned British broadcaster Piers Morgan, two of the world’s most influential entrepreneurs, Gary Vaynerchuk and Daymond John, shared inspiring insights blending real-world experience with a future vision for entrepreneurship in the creative economy.
Morgan opened the session by introducing his guests as two of the most important entrepreneurial minds of the past three decades, noting that their presence at the forum aims to share the lessons they learned from both success and failure with the ambitious youth of Saudi Arabia.
During the conversation, Morgan recalled an emotional story of Vaynerchuk’s interaction with his son years ago, when he gave him a simple piece of advice that changed his life:
“Start from zero, and build something small on your own.”
This advice became the core of Gary’s message during the session. He stressed that success does not come from shortcuts or quick social media fame, but from real work and continuous experimentation.
He said: “Every great achievement takes time. Businesses are built with patience and commitment, not luck.”
Vaynerchuk explained his entrepreneurial philosophy through his “Macro & Micro” principle, saying every entrepreneur must combine long-term vision with mastery of daily details.
“You have to get your hands dirty,” he said. “And you must keep up with changes in your field. Success today means knowing how to tell your story differently on every digital platform.”
Daymond John then shared his journey in building his iconic brand FUBU, saying trusting his intuition was the most important factor in his success despite obstacles and skepticism from others.
He said: “Intuition doesn’t need justification. It’s your inner voice that shows the right direction. You may fail many times, but you only need one win to change your path.”
John praised the entrepreneurial momentum in Saudi Arabia, saying Saudi youth possess exceptional qualities: ambition and fast learning.
He predicted that Saudi Arabia will exceed the goals of Vision 2030 ahead of schedule, saying:
“With this momentum and spirit, I believe you’ll reach your goals by 2028.”
In a heartfelt segment, Vaynerchuk spoke about his roots as an immigrant from the Soviet Union, and how that shaped his view of work and family. He emphasized that building a future for the family first is the best investment any young person can make.
He said: “The best bet I ever made was working 100 hours a week to build my father’s business before building my own.”
In the closing part of the session, both speakers offered practical advice to aspiring entrepreneurs.
Daymond John stressed the importance of field research, identifying the audience accurately, and testing the product gradually.
Gary Vaynerchuk emphasized understanding consumer behavior and adapting quickly to change, comparing modern business strategy to the boxing style of Floyd Mayweather, who “wins with intelligence, adapting to his opponent—not through reckless offense.”
Piers Morgan concluded the session with a famous quote from Mike Tyson:
“Everyone has a plan… until they get punched in the face.”
He added that resilience after the hit is what creates real leaders and inspiring entrepreneurs.