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.
