Interview with Denise Parkinson — Creative Women Forum Saudi Arabia 2025

Описание: In this interview, Denise Parkinson — Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Variety — shares her perspective on the evolving global entertainment industry and the role of women in shaping its future, filmed at the Creative Women Forum Saudi Arabia 2025.

Denise works across international markets on Variety, the world’s leading entertainment platform, collaborating with creatives, studios, streamers, and industry leaders to promote films, talent, and storytelling worldwide. She described Variety as a global hub where creators come to amplify their voices and projects across film, television, and media.

Reflecting on industry change, Denise spoke about the many waves of disruption entertainment has experienced — from silent films to talkies, black-and-white to colour, VHS to cinema revival, and now the rise of streaming, social platforms, and short-form vertical content. While the industry continues to evolve, she highlighted how cinema is experiencing renewed excitement in Saudi Arabia, where theatrical movie-going is still a fresh and powerful communal experience.

Discussing women’s leadership, Denise emphasised that women have always played a vital role in entertainment — from early pioneers like Mary Pickford to today’s global executives and filmmakers. She highlighted the growing presence of female directors in Saudi Arabia and internationally, and pointed to women-led leadership across major studios and media organisations.

She also reflected on the forum’s theme — empower, engage, sustain, and women leading initiatives — sharing how initiatives often emerge when women collaborate. At Variety, she works within a leadership team largely led by women, producing influential platforms such as Power of Women, which celebrates female excellence both on and off screen.