Saudi director and producer Osama Al Khurayji’s debut feature 'Siwar' has been chosen to open the Saudi Film Festival.
The Saudi Film Festival is set to make its return for its 11th edition from April 17 to 23 at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), with this year’s theme, “Cinema of Identity,” focusing on how cinema reflects and shapes personal, cultural, and national identities.
Organised by the Cinema Association in collaboration with Ithra and with support from the Film Commission, the festival will showcase 68 films from Saudi Arabia, the Gulf region—including Iraq and Yemen—and beyond. The lineup includes seven feature films from Saudi and Gulf filmmakers, 22 short fiction films and seven documentaries, along with 12 parallel screenings of Saudi productions.
Among the narrative features competing this year are Hobal, My Driver and I, Thuqoub, Fakher Al-Suwaidi, Anaashed Adam, Es-aaf, Behind the Mountains and Adjourned. The festival will also honour veteran Saudi actor Ibrahim Al-Hasawi, celebrating his decades-long career across theater, television and cinema, with acclaimed roles in Tash Ma Tash, Bayni Wa Baynak, Zero Distance and Hajjan.
In addition to screenings, the festival will host four panel discussions, four advanced masterclasses and three book signings for the Saudi Cinema Encyclopedia. Filmmakers will also have access to one-on-one “Meet the Expert” sessions and private screenings at Ithra’s plaza and library, offering valuable opportunities for mentorship and feedback.
The festival’s production market will feature 22 booths from regional production entities, giving filmmakers a platform to pitch, develop and promote their projects while building industry connections.
This year also celebrates Japanese cinema, marking 70 years of Saudi-Japan diplomatic relations. Eight Japanese films will be screened, accompanied by expert-led discussions. Highlights from the Japanese selection include River Returns, Blue and White, Toma #2, Kaburagi, Extremely Short and The New World—a diverse showcase of storytelling rooted in tradition, memory, and modern transformation.
