Winners take to stage as curtain falls on 11th Saudi Film Festival
For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @arabnews.lifestyle
The celebration took place after the final films were screened, and featured a selfie-heavy red carpet at which Saudi fans stood waiting for their favorite stars to arrive.
Just as on opening night seven days earlier, Saudi actors Aixa Kay and Khaled Saqer hosted. There were no musical numbers or performances this time around, just awards and heartfelt speeches.
The big winners were invited on stage to collect their Golden Palm Awards — which resembled film strips sprouted in the shape of a palm tree and drenched in gold — after each jury provided a short speech as to why the winner had been chosen.
A post shared by (@saudifilmfestival)
The award for Best Feature Film was given to 'My Driver & I,' directed by Ahd Kamel. It was collected by the film's star — who played teenage Salma — Roula Dakheelallah.
The Golden Palm Award for Best Feature Film (GCC) went to the Iraqi film 'Songs of Adam' by Oday Rasheed. The films 'Hobal,' 'Siwar,' and 'Holes' each received special recognition from the jury for their cinematography.
Meshal Al-Mutairi received the Golden Palm for Best Acting.
'Mera, Mera, Mera' by Khalid Zaidan won the Golden Palm for Best Short Film.
A post shared by (@saudifilmfestival)
The Abdullah Al-Mohaisen Award for a first film was presented to 'Sharshura' (The Hearse) by Ahmed Alnasser, who shared with the audience that he was a volunteer at SFF in 2014 at the second edition, and that he would place his new award next to his baby who was born that morning.
The Golden Palm for Best Short Film (GCC) was awarded to 'Delusion' by Issa Al-Subhi, with 'The Last Dismissal' by Jawaher Alamri earning special recognition from the jury.
'Othman in the Vatican' by Yasir bin Ghaneem won the Golden Palm for Best Documentary Film, while the award in the GCC was awarded to 'The Dark Side of Japan' by Omar Farooq.
Ahmed Al-Mulla, the festival's director, said: 'We are gathered once more for cinema at the 11th edition of the Saudi Film Festival.
'We arrived with stories and dreams in our hearts. In just a few short days we have listened to tales that were not only watched, but deeply felt.
'Each year you return to this space and fill it with warmth — with your hearts and with your creative spirit.
'You move through the rhythm of the festival as if it's a language you've always spoken. We thank everyone — those behind the curtain, those who adjusted the lights, and those who stayed with us until the last shot. Thank you to those who chose to be here — cinema does not call to us in vain.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leaders
3 hours ago
- Leaders
Tar Festival Debuts Today in Riyadh
Riyadh's Abu Bakr Salem Theater in Boulevard City will host the launch of the first-ever Tar Festival today, coinciding with the Esports World Cup. Organized by the Music Commission, the festival runs through August 23 and shines a spotlight on Saudi Arabia's rich musical heritage. At its heart is the tar, a traditional instrument known for its distinctive rhythms and central role in Saudi music. Visitors can look forward to captivating performances, a diverse lineup of artistic showcases, and interactive experiences. The festival also features a marketplace where guests can purchase instruments and watch master craftsmen create them on site. Beyond entertainment, the Tar Festival serves as a cultural platform—supporting local talent, preserving Saudi musical traditions, and elevating them on both national and international stages. It promises an inspiring and immersive journey for audiences from across the Kingdom and around the world. Related Topics: In Photos: Highlights from 1st Week of Cannes Film Festival Saudi Arabia Takes Part in Malmö Arab Film Festival Saudi Film Commission Participates at Beijing International Film Festival Saudi Film Commission Takes Part in Annecy International Animation Film Festival Short link : Post Views: 7 Related Stories
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Al Arabiya
Palestine to be represented at Miss Universe pageant for the first time
Palestine will take part in the Miss Universe pageant for the first time this year, with the representing contestant saying she is stepping onto the global stage to highlight the strength and resilience of her people. Nadine Ayoub, 27, is a certified health and nutrition coach who was crowned Miss Palestine in 2022 and will become the first-ever Palestinian representative at Miss Universe in November 2025. Ayoub was raised across Canada, the United States, and the West Bank and is now based between Dubai and Ramallah. 'I am honored to announce that for the first time ever, Palestine will be represented at Miss Universe,' the contestant said on her official Instagram account. 'Today, I step onto the Miss Universe stage not just with a title – but with a truth,' she added. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nadeen Ayoub (@ 'As Palestine endures heartbreak – especially in Gaza – I carry the voice of a people who refuse to be silenced.' Ayoub said her participation is about more than personal recognition. 'I represent every Palestinian woman and child whose strength the world needs to see,' she said. 'We are more than our suffering – we are resilience, hope, and the heartbeat of a homeland that lives on through us.' The Miss Universe competition, one of the most widely watched international beauty pageants, brings together contestants from more than 80 countries. Palestine's debut adds a symbolic layer to the event, as the conflict in Gaza continues to draw global concern and as many countries stepped up and announced their plans to recognize a Palestinian state. The pageant has long been viewed as a platform where contestants not only showcase beauty and talent but also use their voices to advocate for important causes and represent their national identity.
Saudi Gazette
2 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
'Skibidi' and 'tradwife' among words added to Cambridge Dictionary
LONDON — "Skibidi", "tradwife" and other slang terms popularized on social media are among thousands of new words to be added to the Cambridge Dictionary this year. Skibidi is a gibberish term coined by the creator of a viral animated video series on YouTube, while tradwife is a shortening of "traditional wife" – a married mother who cooks, cleans and posts on social media. More than 6,000 new words are included, including those that relate to remote working and tech giants. "Internet culture is changing the English language and the effect is fascinating to observe and capture in the dictionary," said lexical programme manager Colin McIntosh. Skibidi is defined in the dictionary as "a word that can have different meanings such as 'cool' or 'bad', or can be used with no real meaning as a joke". An example of its use is "What the skibidi are you doing?" Reality TV star Kim Kardashian revealed her familiarity with the phrase when she posted a video on Instagram showing a necklace engraved with "skibidi toilet" – the name of the YouTube well as new phrases, some shortened versions of existing terms have been added, including "delulu" – a play on the word "delusional", with a similar definition: "believing things that are not real or true, usually because you choose to".An increase in remote working since the pandemic has seen "mouse jiggler" – a device or piece of software used to make it seem as though you are working when you are not – gain its place in the composite terms such as "broligarchy" have also been added. Merging "bro" and "oligarchy", it means "a small group of men, especially men owning or involved in a technology business, who are extremely rich and powerful, and who have or want political influence".It was used to describe tech leaders Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg attending Donald Trump's inauguration in January. — BBC
