Latest news with #AixaKay
Arab News
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Winners take to stage as curtain falls on 11th Saudi Film Festival
DHAHRAN: The 11th Saudi Film Festival, which was hosted at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, concluded with a dazzling showcase on Wednesday following a week of cinema-centric programming. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ 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.'
Arab News
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
11th Saudi Film Festival opens with a night of cinema, culture, stars
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. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ 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.
