The Cinamaa website is a platform for aspiring filmmakers, critics and enthusiasts to access articles, research, discussions, workshops and short films, while sharing their own work and learning about film.
Saudi Film Commission, represented by the National Film Archives, has officially launched the “Cinemaa” initiative at the Culture Palace in Riyadh. The programme is designed to enrich cinematic knowledge and stimulate critical and cultural discourse around film in both local and regional contexts.
The initiative seeks to produce and distribute cinematic content across written, audio and visual platforms, aiming to deepen public understanding of the film industry and its associated critical and academic fields. It also intends to support research, foster community dialogue and nurture emerging talent, while enhancing the visibility of local cinema platforms.
Abdullah Al-Qahtani, CEO of Saudi Film Commission, said that the initiative marks a significant step forward in strengthening Saudi Arabia’s cinematic landscape. He noted that the programme will provide rich, educational content and cultivate an environment of interactive dialogue, positioning cinema as a tool for education, culture and art.
As part of the launch, the Film Commission signed a cooperation agreement with the Radio and Television Corporation. This partnership aims to unify efforts to promote national cinematic content, empower emerging talents, and safeguard the Kingdom’s cinematic heritage.
Additionally, a collaboration was announced with the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), aimed at advancing film criticism in Saudi Arabia. This agreement will enable local critics to engage with their international counterparts, exchange expertise and participate in global industry events.
In a major development for the country’s film criticism landscape, the Film Critics Association was established as Saudi Arabia’s first independent professional body dedicated to film criticism. The association will focus on empowering critics and fostering a vibrant critical community both domestically and internationally.
The National Film Archive also showcased its current projects, including the Film Deposit Initiative, the Saudi Film Registry, the Oral History of the Arab Screen series, and programmes dedicated to the documentation, preservation and digitisation of Saudi Arabia’s cinematic and cultural history.
These efforts align with the archive’s broader mission to serve as a national hub for filmmakers and a custodian of Arab and Saudi film heritage.
