Jasmine Bager
DHAHRAN: The red carpet was rolled out for the 11th edition of the Saudi Film Festival on Thursday, as the event confirmed its role as a cornerstone of the Kingdom’s burgeoning movie culture.
Hosted by the dynamic duo — Saudi actors Aixa Kay and Khaled Saqer — the celebration at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) in Dhahran was brimming with glamor and drama.
Saudi opera singer Mohammed Khayran Al-Zahrani and renowned French soprano Fabienne Conrad serenaded the crowd, while a live orchestra performed a medley of classical renditions of popular film scores under the direction of maestro Gevorg Sargsyan.
The event was organized by the Cinema Association in strategic partnership with Ithra — an Aramco initiative — and was supported by the Saudi Film Commission of the Ministry of Culture.
This year’s festival, with the theme “Cinema of Identity,” delves into the power of storytelling to reflect and shape cultural, personal and collective narratives.
At the opening, Cinema Association chairwoman Hana Al-Omair emphasized the theme’s significance.
“We present this year’s edition at a time when Saudi film production is undergoing noticeable growth. Saudi films are no longer rare appearances; they are now competing for prime slots in Arab cinemas. This reflects an artistic momentum worth pausing and reflecting upon,” she said.
She also highlighted the festival’s special focus.
“In addition to the usual festival activities, we are shining a spotlight on the Japanese cinema experience, which has had a profound impact on world cinema, thanks to its artistic schools, rich experience and global history,” she said.
Opening night saw visitors treated to the premiere of “Siwar” by Osama Al-Khuraiji.
The program, which runs until April 23, is packed with events including a steady stream of stars, film screenings, seminars, workshops, masterclasses and the coveted Golden Palm awards.
Since its founding in 2008, the Saudi Film Festival has become the Kingdom’s longest-running cinematic event.
This year, 36 out of 68 screenings are Saudi and Gulf films, comprising eight narrative features, 21 shorts and seven documentaries. Parts of the proceedings, and some other festival events, are being live-streamed.
For more information about buying tickets, visit the Ithra website.