Jeddah's Historic District hosts literary gathering featuring leading Saudi screenwriters

Arab News

a day ago

JEDDAH: The literary gathering Writers' Night was held on Thursday at Cinema Al-Balad in Jeddah, where leading Saudi screenwriters Afnan Linjawi, Dahlia Baeshen, and Dania Al-Tayeb shared their experiences and insights on creativity.
Organized by Maflam, which offers comprehensive training in filmmaking, the evening attracted literature and cinema enthusiasts eager to explore the craft of writing.
The session was moderated by media personality Reham Farrash.
Danya Al-Hamrani, co-founder and chief creative officer of Maflam, said: 'It's a pleasure to bring together such talented scriptwriters under one roof. Events like this reflect Maflam's mission to spark meaningful dialogue and inspire the next generation of creatives.'
The event opened a candid dialogue around the challenges and inspirations shaping Saudi scriptwriters today.
Linjawi said: 'My journey as a writer has been long and wonderful all at once. I have experimented with many forms of creative writing, from poetry to stage play to screenwriting. I have also grown from writing (for) myself to writing for others.'
She emphasized that her goal for the evening was to 'have an open discussion with the audience' and to 'demystify the writing process for others,' highlighting the varied and wide-ranging routes to becoming a writer.
Likewise, Al-Tayeb shared her deep connection to storytelling, saying: 'Real-life conversations and events fuel my writing, but what truly drives the process is curiosity and a tiny bit of emotional masochism.
'My stories aim to hold up a mirror without offering easy answers because today's audiences crave honesty and emotional truth. Inspiration often strikes like lightning, yet the real creative work happens in the quiet, unglamorous struggles behind the scenes, self-doubt, late nights, and the occasional existential crisis. These challenges seep into my characters, who carry pieces of my own fears, obsessions, and heartbreaks, living in better lighting through my writing.'
Cinema Al-Balad, established by director Abdullah Saharti and producer Waheed Jamjoum, has rapidly become a cultural landmark in Jeddah's historic district, part of the Ministry of Culture's initiative to position Historic Jeddah as a global cultural and heritage destination.
Saharti explained the significance of the collaboration: 'This artistic cinema combines carefully curated film screenings with artistic workshops. Through it, we revive the memories once created by Cinema Hosh Jamjoum, the first cinematic courtyard in Jeddah, by introducing modern concepts and unique contemporary creativity that reflects the environment in which art and literature originated.'
He described Writers' Night as 'an important evening to empower Saudi filmmakers in the industry' and highlighted Cinema Al-Balad's role in supporting the local film industry.
He shared plans for an exciting lineup of events: 'Our program includes screenings, or 'Arab Film Nights,' every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, featuring carefully selected award-winning films from global and Arab film festivals. Every Sunday, we host filmmaking workshops.
Mondays are dedicated to classic Arabic and international films, while Tuesdays provide a platform to showcase Saudi filmmakers. On Wednesdays, in collaboration with Maflam, we present a special night dedicated to Saudi filmmakers, with artistic sessions that enrich the community of cinema creators and lovers of the seventh art.'