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Leaders
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Leaders
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
Arab News
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Saudi Film Festival panel explores parallels between Japanese, Saudi cinema
DHAHRAN: From Tokyo to Dhahran, audience members at the 11th Saudi Film Festival were treated to a rich cross-cultural exchange during a panel this week that explored the cinematic parallels and connections between Japan and Saudi Arabia. Moderated by Zohra Ait El-Jamar, head of Hayy Jameel Cinema, the panel featured 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. Yamamura, who has had a career spanning 45 years and teaches at Tokyo University of the Arts, said: 'What I make is more artistic films, not commercial ones.' The globally acclaimed animator offered a masterclass earlier in the festival. Ochiai, who viewed the Saudi film 'Hobal' at the festival, noted striking similarities between Japanese and Saudi cultural expressions in cinema. He praised 'Hobal,' pointing to the strong emphasis on cinematography, concise dialogue, and captivating narrative. 'Less is good, if you can convey feelings through facial expressions,' he said. The panel encouraged the audience to watch more foreign films 'to broaden your perspective.' Samman said that Saudi audiences have favored three main film categories for decades: 'Hollywood, Bollywood, and anime.' He said that his love of cinema began while studying in Tokyo. 'Saudis grew up on anime that was mostly dubbed into Arabic,' he said, adding that many popular films, such as 'Inception,' were based on Japanese originals. Japanese films often require a bit of homework beforehand, Samman said. '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. Ochiai explained the differing approaches to film editing, saying that in Hollywood, several takes are shot, and editing happens later. In contrast, Japanese filmmakers often prefer to edit in real time, based on a meticulously planned storyboard, in order to minimize extra work. While Japanese films can sometimes feel lacking in context, every country has its own visual language, he said. Japanese cinema's minimalist sensibility resonates deeply within Japan, though it can sometimes feel mysterious or confusing to outside audiences. This is because Japan's film industry has traditionally prioritized domestic viewers, without filling in background details that international audiences might need. Ochiai said that audiences today who focus on trending aesthetics, especially on TikTok, may be looking in the wrong direction. '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. '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.
Broadcast Pro
13-04-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
Palestinian film ‘Thank You for Banking With Us!' now screening at Hayy Jameel Cinema
The film has received significant support, including grants from the El Gouna Film Festival and recognition from the CineGouna Platform. Saudi Arabia's Hayy Jameel Cinema is now screening Thank You for Banking With Us!, the debut feature by Palestinian filmmaker Laila Abbas. The drama explores themes of female empowerment through the story of sisters Mariam and Noura, who, after their father's death, devise a plan to secure a large sum of money he left behind. Their scheme aims to outmanoeuvre their brother, who is legally entitled to half of the inheritance. Laila Abbas described the film as a narrative about the strength of womanhood and the importance of emotional and physical unity among women. 'It's a story about sisters who, having endured their own tragedies and heartbreaks, come together to become stronger,' she said. Thank You for Banking With Us! is a joint German-Palestinian production, written, directed and produced by Abbas through her Ramallah-based company Young Oak Productions. Co-produced by Hanna Atallah of Palestine Cinema Days and Roshanak Behesht Nedjad of Berlin's In Good Company Films, the film is being handled for worldwide sales and distribution by MAD World. MAD Solutions and Lagoonie Film Production, the Cairo and Riyadh-based production entity, have also teamed up to co-produce Thank You for Banking With Us! Thank You for Banking With Us! has received support thus far from the El Gouna Film Festival in 2018 through four $10,000 grants from ART, Cedars Productions, O Three Productions and Metafora respectively. Moreover, it won the In-Development Award from the CineGouna Platform and was supported by the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture as well as the Doha Film Institute's 2023 edition of the Qumra Initiative. With additional funding from German film funds (Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, and the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg), and the Hubert Bals Plus Europe of International Film Festival Rotterdam, Thank You for Banking With Us! stands as a testament to the power of collective artistic vision. Notably, it was also among the winners of the Red Sea Fund's third cycle.
