Latest news with #HayyCinema
Broadcast Pro
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Red Sea Film Foundation and Art Jameel bring back ‘Documentary Film Days'
Five Saudi documentary highlighting the Kingdom's heritage will be featured in the programme. The Red Sea Film Foundation, in partnership with Art Jameel, has announced the return of Documentary Film Days, now in its third edition, to be held at Hayy Cinema in Jeddah from May 3 to May 7. Hosted at Saudi Arabia's first independent cinema and audiovisual centre, the event promises to deliver a compelling lineup of global and local documentary films, aimed at deepening cultural dialogue and elevating the Kingdom's cinematic landscape. This year's programme features 11 documentaries from across the world, curated to engage audiences with stories of resilience, heritage and creative expression. Among the international highlights is 4 Little Girls by filmmaker Spike Lee, an examination of the 1963 bombing of a Baptist church in Birmingham, Alabama, which claimed the lives of four African-American girls and became a defining moment in the American civil rights movement. Regional narratives are also at the heart of the showcase. Palestinian filmmaker Areeb Zuaiter presents Yalla Parkour, chronicling the journey of a young athlete navigating life and ambition in Gaza. From Saudi Arabia, Ryan AlBishri's When the Light Shines tells the story of HRH Prince Faisal bin Abdullah and the founding of the Layan Cultural Foundation, emphasising the role of art in preserving Saudi heritage. Other standout Saudi documentaries include Aseer Memory by Saeed Tuhatih, capturing the efforts of Mohammed Abdulmutalli to archive the history of the Asir region through rare artifacts and manuscripts; Othman in the Vatican by Yasser bin Ghanem, following the artistic journey of Othman Al-Khuzaim from Al-Kharj to Vatican City; and AlRoshan by Mohammed Ous, which explores the craftsmanship behind traditional roshan windows. The short film Kemokazi by Abdulrahman Batawie delves into the creative conflict of graffiti artist 'Kimo,' caught between conventional and street art forms. The festival also features globally resonant works such as Dahomey by Mati Diop, documenting the repatriation of looted royal treasures from France to Benin; Tell Them About Us by Rand Beiruty, portraying the lives of migrant girls in Germany; and My Way by Thierry Teston and Lisa Azuelos, tracing the legacy of the iconic Frank Sinatra song. Egypt's The Brink of Dreams, directed by Nada Riyadh and Ayman El Amir, follows a group of Coptic women who challenge societal norms by founding an all-female street theatre troupe. Complementing the screenings, the festival will host post-film discussions and Q&A sessions with notable filmmakers such as Spike Lee, Ryan AlBishri, Ahmed Mattar, Yasser bin Ghanem, Mohammed Ous and Saeed Tuhatih. These sessions aim to provide audiences with deeper insights into the filmmaking process and the real-life stories behind the films. The closing weekend will feature a special 'In Conversation' event led by MAFLAM, Saudi Arabia's filmmaking learning platform, focusing on the growing role of women in documentary cinema. With its diverse programming and rich engagement opportunities, this year's Documentary Film Days reaffirms its place as a vital platform for storytelling and cinematic exploration in the Kingdom.
Arab News
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Kef Hayyak? Seeing Saudi neighborhoods through the eyes of emerging filmmakers
JEDDAH: Eighteen aspiring filmmakers have taken to the streets of their neighborhoods armed with nothing but their phones and a vision for the grassroots documentary challenge, 'Kef Hayyak?' The project, initiated by Art Jameel in collaboration with the Red Sea International Film Festival, invited participants to reflect the spirit of their communities in short documentaries. Months after the February 2025 open call, the winners have been announced, and their films will premiere as part of the Red Sea Documentary Days this May at Hayy Cinema. A post shared by Hayy Cinema | سينما حي (@hayycinema) The program, which began as a concept in 2021 and has since grown into an annual platform, continues to break down barriers in filmmaking by expanding access to wider creative communities across Saudi Arabia. For the first time, the 2025 event also welcomed participants from Makkah, with one of the city's filmmakers making it to the jury-selected top three. The initiative culminates in a public screening at Hayy Cinema, featuring the three jury-selected winners — Eyad Al-Zahrani's 'Between,' Asia Lajam & Nad's 'A World Between Buildings,' and Alisha Khan's 'Nam Ghar, Jeddah' — alongside two audience favorites, 'Hay Alakaber' by Amal Al-Zahrani and Othoub Al-Bedaiwi, and 'From the Olives to the Sea' by Haya Al-Bhaisi and Mohammed Khalid. A jury, comprising head of Hayy Cinema, Zohra Ait El-Jamar, director and actress, Fatima Al-Banawi, and director and actress, Ophelie Legris — evaluated the films based on creativity, relevance and narrative strength. El-Jamar told Arab News: ''Kef Hayyak?' draws its essence from the name of Hayy Jameel and reflects our ongoing mission to connect with new audiences in meaningful ways. The project was first imagined in 2021, and after the success of its first edition, it has grown into an annual platform that empowers emerging filmmakers. 'Through this short documentary film competition, we invite aspiring talents to explore their neighborhoods using just their phones. I created the concept with the vision of breaking down barriers in filmmaking and expanding access to a wider creative community. It's also a powerful way to document the ever-changing urban fabric of Jeddah — and now Makkah. 'We see this as a powerful launchpad for emerging talent, and we're actively working to expand the program with deeper mentorship and professional opportunities in the years to come,' she added. Audience Choice Award winner, Al-Zahrani, who hails from Makkah, said: 'The movie covers a neighborhood that lacks identity and how it affects me and the residents in our day-to-day lives. Winning was such a heartwarming experience, seeing my work acknowledged and the story of my people and neighborhood embraced and loved. I plan to keep improving my documentary skills and hope to release a movie about a lawyer later this year.' Khan's winning documentary explores the Musrefah neighborhood of Jeddah and its vibrant Desi (Pakistani and Indian) community. 'My film 'Naam Ghar, Jeddah' is a documentary film which acts as a time capsule for me to look back on not only my neighborhood but the people living in it, especially the often-overlooked Desi community in Jeddah, where even the people themselves think the outer world is not interested in them,' Khan said. 'It aims to explore their dreams, identities and quiet resilience through simple, human questions, like what is your favorite color or what gives you happiness.' Khan believes in the power of cinema to humanize and connect communities, emphasizing how platforms such as Hayy Jameel empower storytellers like herself. Her goal is to keep documenting life in Jeddah, capturing its present for future generations. Al-Bhaisi told Arab News: ''From the Olives to the Sea' is a short documentary that explores the contrast and emotional connection between two places — Jeddah, where I feel a deep sense of belonging, and Gaza, the place I'm originally from but never fully connected with. 'Winning the Audience Choice Award honestly means the world to us. It shows that people connected with our story, and that's all we ever wanted — to be heard, and to make others feel something real.'
CairoScene
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Red Sea Documentary Film Days Returns to Hayy Cinema This May
From May 3rd to the 5th, Hayy Cinema invites audiences into a lineup of documentaries spotlighting untold global perspectives. Hayy Cinema is partnering with Art Jameel for the 2025 edition of Red Sea Documentary Film Days. Running from May 3rd to the 5th, the program highlights regional and global docu-features that dive into deeply personal, political, and spiritual territory across a range of cultures and filmmaking styles. The lineup includes '4 Little Girls' by Spike Lee, 'Dahomey' by Mati Diop, and 'My Way' by Thierry Teston and Lisa Azuelos. The lineup also features 'Tell Them About Us' by Rand Beiruty, 'Yalla Parkour' by Areeb Zuaiter, 'When the Light Shines' by Ryan Al Bishri, 'Othman in the Vatican' by Yasir Bin Ghanem, 'Alroshan' by Mohammed Ous, 'Kemokazi' by Abdulrahman Batawie, 'Aseer Memory' by Saad Tahaitah, and 'The Brink of Dreams' by Nada Riyadh and Ayman El Amir. Red Sea Documentary Film Days is part of an expanding slate of programming supported by the Red Sea Film Foundation, launched in 2019. Ticketing details and screening times will be available soon on the Hayy Cinema website and app.
