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The National
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Saudi Film Festival concludes with awards ceremony and honours screen veteran
The 11th Saudi Film Festival concluded on Wednesday evening, wrapping up a week-long event with a closing ceremony at the Ithra Theatre. The Golden Palm Awards were presented for the official competitions at the event, accompanied by the screening of a documentary honouring this year's celebrated artist, Ibrahim Al-Hasawi. With a career that spans four decades, Al-Hasawi has appeared in 45 theatre productions, 90 television series and 15 films. Upon receiving the award, Al-Hasawi said it was the 'honour of my career'. He also sang the praises of Saudi cinema and the large strides it has taken over the past 10 years, adding that it will reach global audiences and international acclaim. The theme of this year's festival was 'Stories Seen and Told', placing a strong emphasis on identity cinema. A wide range of films delved into themes of memory, belonging and a sense of place, offering perspectives that were personal, social and artistically rich. In the feature film competition, My Driver & I, directed by Ahd Kamel, took home the Golden Palm for Best Feature Film, standing out among strong contenders such as Hobal by Abdulaziz Al-Shalahi and Siwar by Osama Al Khurayji. The film tells the story of a young woman in Jeddah who forms an unexpected bond with her driver as they connect over shared aspirations. His journey mirrors her own, shaped by the challenges of leaving his family behind in Sudan and navigating the limitations placed on women in Saudi Arabia. The Best Acting award was presented to Meshal Al-Mutairi for his performance in Hobal. Actors Rola Dakhil Allah and Fahid Al-Yami were given honourable mentions. The Iraqi film Songs of Adam, directed by Oday Rasheed, was awarded Best Gulf Feature Film, while Hobal, Siwar and Thuqoub earned honourable mentions. Mera, Mera, Mera by Khalid Zaidan earned the Golden Palm in the short film category, competing against Two Sisters by Waleed Alqahtani and The Last Dismissal by Jawaher Alamari. The Abdullah Al-Muhaisen Award for Best First Film went to Sharshura by Ahmed Alnasser, winning ahead of Gum by Bilal AlBader and Saeed's Day by Mohammed AlZuwairi. Delusion by Issa Salem Hamad Al-Subhi was named the Best Gulf Short Film, while Othman in the Vatican by Yasir bin Ghanem secured the Golden Palm in the documentary film category, surpassing strong entries such as Market Dynamo and Sarih. Othman in the Vatican first screened at Red Sea Film Festival and follows Othman Al-Khozaim, a seasoned Saudi painter who receives a scholarship to study design in Rome. In 2019, he was invited to return to Italy to present Letters without Words, an exhibition of his work visited by Pope Francis. The Jabal Tuwaiq Award was presented to the best film about a Saudi city, and went to Qarn Al-Manazil by Misha'al Al-Thubaiti, while The Dark Side of Japan by Bahraini YouTube star Omar Farooq took home the top prize in the Gulf documentary film category. The judging panels featured filmmakers and critics from both Saudi Arabia and the international community. The feature film jury was chaired by Moroccan-French director Ismael Ferroukhi, with Canadian scholar Laura Marks and Saudi director Walaa Bahefzallah serving as members. The short film jury was led by Japanese director Ken Ochiai, with Saudi writer-director Layaly Badr and Saudi director Musab Al-Omari as jurors. The documentary film jury was headed by Egyptian director Marianne Khoury, with Saudi producer-director Faisal Al-Otaibi and French director Sylvie Ballyot completing the panel. The festival concluded by awarding 40 prizes from 16 sponsors, totalling 2,557,500 Saudi riyals ($681,842). The prizes were distributed among Saudi and Gulf film projects in various stages of development and production. The film Green Corpse won the MBC Academy and Shahid Platform Award, valued at SAR 150,000 ($39,990). Since 2022, the Saudi Film Festival has been organised by the Cinema Association in collaboration with the King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture (Ithra) and with support from the Saudi Film Commission.
Arab News
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
From ‘Tash Ma Tash' to ‘Hobal' — a legacy honored
DHAHRAN: 'I felt an overwhelming sense of pride when I heard the news,' said Ibrahim Alhasawi, the Saudi veteran actor celebrated at this year's Saudi Film Festival. 'Having witnessed the festival since its first edition in 2008, and being recognized alongside many fellow filmmakers I've worked with over the years, is truly an honor,' he told Arab News. The 11th Saudi Film Festival, which concluded on April 23 at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture in Dhahran, honored Alhasawi's nearly four-decade career shaping Saudi cinema. Organized by the Saudi Cinema Association in collaboration with Ithra and supported by the Saudi Film Commission, the festival was held under the theme 'Stories Seen and Told,' with a focus on 'Cinema of Identity' to highlight film's role in expressing personal, cultural and national identity. A cornerstone of Saudi cinema, Alhasawi began in community theater in the 1980s before gaining prominence in television and film, including as producer and director. His notable works include the iconic series 'Tash Ma Tash' as well as recent performances in 'Hajjan' and 'Hobal.' He spoke candidly about the industry's growth, saying: 'The change has been tremendous. Since the founding of the Saudi Film Commission, we've seen a clear rise in both the scale and quality of Saudi productions.' His work is rooted in cultural storytelling. 'Art without identity loses its soul,' he said. 'We're seeing a powerful emergence of Saudi cultural identity through film. With stories like 'Hobal' and 'Hajjan,' we are introducing audiences worldwide to the depth of our heritage.' Alhasawi also highlighted the importance of representing the Kingdom's regional diversity, noting how different areas of Saudi Arabia bring distinctive perspectives and traditions that enrich the national narrative. The festival paid tribute to the actor with a commemorative book, 'From Village Theatre to the Global Screen,' featuring photographs, reflections and testimonials about his journey. He met aspiring filmmakers at festival book signings and discussions, cementing his role as a mentor. Of his acting process, he said: 'I approach each role by exploring the character's physical presence, social background and psychological depth. These layers help bring the performance to life with sincerity and nuance.' The festival showcased 68 films from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, including eight narrative features and 21 shorts, with 'Hobal,' directed by Abdulaziz Alshlahei, standing out for its themes of cultural identity and resilience. Ithra's venues hosted screenings, panels, workshops and red-carpet events, blending film with musical and artistic performances to underscore cinema's place in Saudi cultural life. By celebrating icons such as Alhasawi while amplifying new voices, the festival highlights Saudi cinema's vibrant legacy and its growing global influence.
Arab News
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Review: Watching ‘Hobal' at the Saudi Film Festival was an immersive experience
DHAHRAN: Watching 'Hobal' at the 11th Saudi Film Festival, hosted at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, or Ithra, was cathartic. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ The setting in which the film was screened was significant. The cinema is close to Ithra's Energy Exhibit, which allows visitors to explore the journey behind oil extraction and energy resources in the Kingdom on the very land where black gold was first discovered in 1938. Attentive faces, bathed in the glowing light of the screen sat with popcorn-scented hands. Together, we embarked on a journey — both collective and deeply personal — without moving an inch. 'Hobal' tells the story of a Bedouin family, set in the early 1990s, living in extreme isolation, led by a paranoid patriarch (Ibrahim Al-Hasawi) who believes the end of times is near, and strongly forbids anyone from his family to venture into town. The title, 'Hobal,' is apt. It references a pre-Islamic figure whose word became gospel, offering deeper layers to the film's exploration of power and belief. The family's situation intensifies when Rifa (Amal Sami), the teen girl, falls gravely ill with a highly contagious case of measles and is forced to isolate even further in a tent alone. Her anguished mother (Mila Al-Zahrani) is consumed with worry, but the men, under the strict guidance of the patriarch, refuse to leave the desert to seek medical help. The women — and young teen boy, Assaf — are confronted with a dilemma: Survival or obedience. With the hissing desert winds, surrounded by stubborn tents and the suffocating grip of impending grief and unearthed betrayal, the question arises: Will they stay or will they go? The film's cinematography is a standout. One particularly stunning shot lingers — a mirror leaning into the sand, reflecting Rifa and Assaf in deep conversation seemingly side-by-side but while apart. The desert engulfs them but they seem grounded. It is shatteringly beautiful. The wisest figures seem to be the youngest. Set against the backdrop of the Gulf War, the real battles feel internal. What made watching 'Hobal' even more powerful was experiencing it in a Saudi cinema — not too far, geographically, from where the Gulf War broke out, knowing this was a story entirely brought to life by local talent. There is also a strong Ithra connection. The film was written by Mufarrij Almajfel, who also wrote the award-winning 2023 Ithra film 'Hajjan' (about camels), which also starred Al-Hasawi — honored at this year's festival for his remarkable career. Camels, the symbolic 'ships of the desert,' make several meaningful appearances here too, helping to move the story along. Directed by Abdulaziz Alshlahei and produced by Sharif Almajali (along with Alshlahei and Mohammed Al-Turki as executive producers), 'Hobal' is a collaborative effort between Shaf Studios, Film Clinic and Peninsula Pictures Group. The film had its world premiere at the 2024 Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah and was released in cinemas across the Kingdom in early 2025. Since then, 'Hobal' has grossed an impressive SR21.6 million (about $5.8 million) in its first month, quickly becoming the fastest-growing box office hit in Saudi cinematic history. It is a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
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
20-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Red Sea Film Foundation celebrates Saudi storytelling at Saudi Film Festival
Red Sea Fund to grant two awards of $6662.69 each for Development and Production categories. As part of its ongoing mission to support the rapidly growing film industry in Saudi Arabia, the Red Sea Film Foundation has taken part in the 11th edition of the Saudi Film Festival, running until April 23, 2025, at the King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture (Ithra) in Dhahran. Through its flagship initiative, the Red Sea Fund, the Foundation is awarding two competitive cash prizes—each worth SAR 25,000—for standout Saudi film projects in the Development and Production categories. These awards reflect the Foundation's broader commitment to nurturing emerging talent and elevating high-quality filmmaking across the Kingdom. This year's festival will spotlight three films supported by the Red Sea Fund in its official competition lineup: Hobal by Abdulaziz Alshlahei, Songs of Adam by Oday Rasheed, and My Driver and I by Ahd Kamel. In addition, two Saudi short films, AFEN by Nawaf Alkinani and Hello My Dear by Ahmad Salam, will be featured outside the competition, offering audiences a chance to experience a wide range of creative voices fostered through the Foundation's support. Demonstrating its leadership in strengthening the national film ecosystem, the Red Sea Film Foundation is also hosting a booth at the festival's Production Market. Staffed by representatives from its key programmes—Red Sea Souk, Red Sea Labs and the Red Sea Fund—the booth serves as a resource for filmmakers seeking financial, educational and production-related guidance at all stages of their cinematic journey. Since its establishment in 2019, the Foundation has played an active role in both local and international film festivals, spearheading a range of initiatives in production, distribution, education and training. These efforts are central to the Foundation's mission of cultivating a new generation of filmmakers and building a sustainable and globally competitive film industry across Saudi Arabia, Africa and Asia.
