Gwyneth Paltrow joins Saudi Arabian movie mogul Mohammed Al Turki at The Red Sea Film Festival in the Middle East amid 'arts-washing' row

Gwyneth Paltrow attended the closing ceremony of The Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia on Thursday after she was drawn into the centre of an ‘arts-washing’ row.

The 51-year-old Oscar-winning actress dazzled onlookers in a voluminous yellow dress as she posed alongside CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation, Mohammed Al Turki.

But critics have condemned wellness guru and Goop founder Paltrow for ignoring the country’s ‘egregious human rights record’ while attending the prestigious event.

Human rights campaigners have said that The Red Sea Film Festival is another example of the regime’s ‘arts-washing’ and ‘sports-washing’ campaign, whereby glamorous international events are hosted in a country to distract from its immoral behaviour.

Inside the oil-rich kingdom homosexuality remains a crime punishable by death and women still do not have equal rights and are considered the property of their fathers or husbands.

Critics of the regime are regularly imprisoned and in 2018 dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed by agents of the Saudi Government at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.

Paltrow’s attendance was especially surprising as, outside of her role as Pepper Potts in Marvel films, she has not had a leading role in a film since Mortdecai in 2015.

But it is rumoured that A-list celebrities including Johnny Depp and Will Smith were offered around $1 million to walk the red carpet in Jeddah.

Puck news website claimed that: ‘$1 million was the standing offer that went around the talent agencies for major stars to walk the carpet… Will Smith may even have gotten more than that.’

Fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to criticise Paltrow's involvement, with one sharing: 'Can see Will because he is toast in Hollywood, but Paltrow does she need the million dollars or Sharon Stone what about support for LGBTQ community'.

A second penned: 'I like each of these actors, for different reasons, including projects they've done. But personally would have nothing to do with Saudis in any form for cruelty & brutality they do to women and men who oppose them.' 

A third chimed: 'More like a true reflection on these people who will do anything for money. Have no principles.' 

Another added: 'On brand I guess...' 

A spokesman for Paltrow did not respond to requests for comment about her specific fee for attending.

Paltrow was joined on Thursday’s red carpet at the festival’s closing ceremony by a number of other A-list celebrities.

James Bond star Halle Berry, 57, stunned in an ornate gold and black high-necked gown with a keyhole cut out.

Meanwhile Spiderman actor Andrew Garfield, 40 looked suave in a white open collared shirt and black suit as he ironically made a peace sign with his fingers in front of photographers.

A spokesperson for Human Rights Watch earlier this year said: ‘The Saudi government has been using this high-profile Festival as a means by which to draw attention from its egregious human rights record.

‘The human rights record in the country is only getting worse.

‘It is deeply concerning that this Festival is engaging powerful artists and performers and celebrities who have made use of freedom of expression through their art and yet are participating in a Festival which is hosted by the government which does not tolerate freedom.’

The chair of the jury this year is the Elvis and Moulin Rouge! Director Baz Luhrmann who has also spoken warmly about Saudi Arabia.

Luhrmann said he came to Saudi before accepting the role. 'I came in a quiet way to do my own investigation… For 30 years there was no cinema and then, all of a sudden, movies are being seen. 

'I got to know the studios but what I was really struck by was the young, emerging filmmakers and how hungry they are to tell their story. That's why I am here. At a time when politics fails us, storytellers have to be heard and that's what we're here to support.'

Speaking at the festival last week Will Smith – rebuilding his reputation after the Oscars slap in 2022, said he was keen to work in the Kingdom, saying he had ambitions to make: 'A movie with Denzel – yes! A movie with Denzel Washington in Saudi!'

He added: 'You know, I think that right now the thing I'm really excited about is the transfer of knowledge. I really want to teach. I really want to teach filmmaking. I want to work with people on big movies.

'And so what's exciting to me about Saudi is it's a it's a brand new film community. So it's brand new filmmakers. And there's a style of global storytelling that I've traveled the world and I understand tiny little adjustments that make things global - to be able to take local stories and make them global.

'So I'm excited to travel the world and collaborate and be able to teach and build build global storytelling community. I have a deep faith in the power of sharing our stories with one another, to help heal wounds; to help learn about each other.

'I feel like this next phase of my life is going to be working in global collaboration to create an exchange of our stories that creates bridges. I just don't feel like politics will necessarily create the change so I'm putting the burden on myself and on global artists. Absolutely. I love it here. Someone tell me where my house needs to be!'

This film festival has been organised by a foundation chaired by the Saudi culture minister.

Cinema had been banned in the kingdom until six years ago. Now the country is investing millions into the film industry as part of its strategy to move the economy away from oil dependency.