Saudi Film Festival Highlights Similarities between Saudi, Japanese Cinema
The 11th Saudi Film Festival has highlighted the cinematic parallels and connections between Japan and Saudi Arabia during a significant panel, according to Arab News.
The panel witnessed the participation of US-based Japanese director and photographer Ken Ochiai, Oscar-nominated Japanese animator Koji Yamamura, and Ithra's Japanese-fluent Saudi film expert Majed Z. Samman.
Moderated by Zohra Ait El-Jamar, head of Hayy Jameel Cinema, the discussion played a pivotal role in strengthening cultural exchange. Yamamura Saudi Film Festival
Oscar-nominated Japanese director Koji Yamamura provided animation lovers with an exclusive masterclass about his career.
Titled 'Giving Shape to Invisible Light,' the masterclass captured the attention of animation enthusiasts on Saturday, April 19.
During the event, the Japanese director and filmmaker showcased his process and offered attendees fruitful insights into his unique approach.
'I'm very interested in Arabic culture. It is my first time in Saudi Arabia — I would like to sketch it. I think the landscape is very different from Japan,' Yamamura told Arab News after the session. Saudi Film Festival
Meanwhile, Ochiai commended the Saudi film 'Hobal', highlighting the similarities between Japanese and Saudi cultural expressions in cinema.
'Less is good, if you can convey feelings through facial expressions,' Ochiai said.
Apart from this, Samman stated that Saudi audiences have admired three main film categories for decades: 'Hollywood, Bollywood, and anime.'
'Saudis grew up on anime that was mostly dubbed into Arabic. If you're not into it (Japanese storytelling style), or if you're not going to research it, you might think it's stupid or cheesy — or, what's happening here? I think we need to bridge that gap between the culture and the visual language,' he said. Differences between Hollywood & Japanese Cinema Saudi Film Festival
As for the differences between Hollywood and Japanese cinema, Ochiai noted that in Hollywood, several takes are shot, and editing comes later. However, Japanese filmmakers usually tend to edit in real time in order to minimize extra work.
'What we really need to focus on is the message of the film. How you learn is not on YouTube, but how you learn is from the past, like the movies from the past, because everything is coming from the top,' Ochiai added. Saudi Film Festival
Importantly, the Japanese cinema adopts a deep minimalist sensibility that may sound confusing to foreign audiences. This is basically due to the fact that Japan's film industry has traditionally focused on domestic audience, without paying attention to background details that international audiences need to know.
'Art is a copy of something. So, if you copy the copy of the copy of the copy, it just gets watered down — the quality — so you should learn the history of the cinema so that you can also bring something new to the table,' he said.
Related Topics:
Japanese Yamamura Holds Masterclass at Saudi Film Festival
Ithra: Saudi Film Festival to Feature Screenings, Workshops, Networking Forums
10th Saudi Film Festival Begins in Tehran
Short link :
Post Views: 5
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leaders
a day ago
- Leaders
Jeddah Hosts Drama Therapy Workshop on Power of Self-Expression
Cinema Al-Balad in Jeddah has recently hosted an inspiring drama therapy workshop to highlight the role of drama therapy in creative work and even in daily life, according to Arab News. Themed 'In drama we find the power to express, and in expression we find the power to heal,' the workshop was organized in collaboration with both Lujain Faqerah, senior psychologist and creative arts supervisor, and Abdul Al-Shareef, actor and screenwriter. How Can Drama Support Healing? During the event, the attendees had an interesting opportunity to explore how drama can be a source of support for emotional awareness, healing as well as connection. 'Drama is integrated naturally in our daily responses and situations. In a therapeutic setting, it helps us observe these interactions and reflect on a deeper level of our unconscious body gestures and movements that might reveal a lot about our personalities,' Faqerah said. Through the participation of therapists, creatives and others, the workshop focused on how the therapeutic techniques that depend on drama can help people connect with unconscious behaviors. Meanwhile, such techniques also boost self-expression and promote several skills such as acting and screenwriting. Interestingly, Faqerah noted that drama therapy is not about the performance; it is mainly about the expression that truly exists in emotions, memories, or internal conflicts. 'The word drama has a negative connotation to the extent that people reject it before trying. Drama therapy does not depend on acting skills or previous experience, but more on your self-expression and the challenges you experience,' she added. Meanwhile, Al-Shareef illustrated that many people may think that drama therapy is only for artists, but it is not. It is a tool that help people learn several practices to enhance the quality of their lives. Related Topics: Saudi Cinema Revenues Hit SR845.6 Million in 2024 Saudi Film Festival Highlights Similarities between Saudi, Japanese Cinema Short link : Post Views: 107
Leaders
3 days ago
- Leaders
Ithra Celebrates Eid Al-Adha with 31 Festivities
The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) is set to celebrate Eid Al-Adha through 31 events over three days, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Ithra will provide visitors of all ages with a vast array of entertaining and cultural activities such as music, storytelling, games and workshops. Several activities will be in Arabic but are accessible to all people under the theme of 'Ribbons of Giving.' Ithra Interestingly, the center will host a concert at Ithra Theater by Egyptian oud virtuoso Islam Al-Qasabgy, who is known for mixing classical Arabic music with modern styles. Meanwhile, Ithra Cinema will display the Japanese manga character Chibi Maruko-chan and the Japanese animated fantasy movie 'Kiki's Delivery Service' with Arabic subtitles. Moreover, visitors will have an unmissable opportunity to visit various stunning exhibitions at Ithra Museum, which focus on handicrafts and align with the 'Year of Handicrafts'. Ithra Other festive offerings involve a 96 km trek along the historic Hajj trail that shares many stories about persistence and generosity across generations. Visitors can also enjoy an interactive show titled 'A Melody from Every Land' which celebrates the cultural diversity of the Islamic world and reflects the different traditions of Eid Al-Adha. Guests can enter Ithra from 4 to 11 p.m. during the Eid celebrations for free. Only certain events are ticketed. Related Topics: Ithra Celebrates Gargee'an with Fun and Festivities Eid Al-Adha 2025: Saudi Arabia Announces 4-Day Holiday for Private Sector Ithra Showcases Magnificent Artworks at Art Week Riyadh Short link : Post Views: 33 Related Stories
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia's Ithra Unveils Cultural Events for Eid al-Adha
The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) in Dhahran will host 31 cultural and artistic events to celebrate Eid al-Adha. The events will take place from June 7 to 9 and are tailored to engage all family members, combining entertainment, education, and cultural enrichment. Highlights of the program include 'Eid Stories' at the Ithra Library and 'Celebration in Every Tune,' a vibrant interactive show that celebrates the rich cultural diversity of the Islamic world through music and storytelling. The Ithra Museum will also feature exhibitions spotlighting traditional handicrafts, aligning with the national Year of Handicrafts initiative. Programs will also include interactive educational experiences, film screenings, and art installations reflecting local culture. Workshops for both children and adults will focus on various forms of giving.
