Hollywood legends and international celebrities gathered in Riyadh for the fifth edition of Saudi Arabia's Joy Awards, where Morgan Freeman received a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award presented by fellow screen icon Anthony Hopkins.
The star-studded ceremony, part of the Riyadh Season cultural festival, celebrated achievements across film, television, and music. Freeman, known for his acclaimed roles in "The Shawshank Redemption" and "Million Dollar Baby," headlined an impressive list of honorees that included composer Hans Zimmer and director Guy Richie.
Matthew McConaughey took home the Personality of the Year Award at the event, which featured spectacular performances by an array of international artists. Christina Aguilera, Michael Bublé, Andrea Bocelli, and Saudi singer Mohammed Abdo were among those who took to the stage.
The ceremony drew an impressive roster of Hollywood talent, including Forest Whitaker, Amanda Seyfried, and Cuba Gooding Jr. International stars from India, Turkey, and the Arab world also graced the event, highlighting its global reach.
In the awards categories, Egyptian cinema dominated with "Sons of Risk 3" winning Favorite Movie and its director Tarek Alarian claiming Favorite Film Director. Hannah El Zahed and Hesham Maged won top acting honors in the film category.
Television awards recognized excellence across different regions, with "Firecrackers Youth" winning Favorite Gulf Series and "AlRawabi School for Girls" taking home Favorite Levant Series.
The Joy Awards, overseen by Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, are determined by public voting and celebrate talent from the Gulf region, Arab world, and international entertainment industry. The ceremony has become a notable fixture in the global entertainment calendar, bringing together artists from diverse cultural backgrounds.
In the music category, Iraqi artist Majid Al Mohandis' "El Jaw" won Favorite Song, while Saudi singer Ayed and Syria's Assala were recognized as Favorite Male and Female Singers respectively.