Submissions are now open for the eighth Saudi Film Festival, which will run from June 2 to 9 at Ithra in Dhahran.
In a press conference, Ahmed Al-Mulla, director of the Saudi Film Festival, and Ashraf Fakih, director of programmes at King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) have announced details of the eighth edition of the event, which will run from June 2-9 at Ithra in Dhahran.
Al-Mulla stressed that the partnership between the Society for Culture and Arts in Dammam and Ithra was one of the deepest cultural partnerships in the Kingdom. Both Al-Mulla and Fakih acknowledged the support of the Film Commission at the Ministry of Culture for its continuous contribution in providing substantial support for Saudi filmmakers.
Under the theme of “poetic cinema,” the event will host screenings of Palme d’Or films, training workshops and seminars. The festival will also cast a spotlight on Chinese cinema by screening a selection of its films.
This year, the festival announced it will honour Khalil bin Ibrahim Al-Rawaf, the first Saudi filmmaker to become a Hollywood actor, and Khaled Al Siddiq, a pioneering Kuwaiti producer, screenwriter and director. His film Bas ya Bahar (Cruel Sea), which he produced and directed in 1972, was the first Kuwaiti film to be submitted to the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Film.
The festival is calling on filmmakers to submit work in three competition categories: Best Feature Film, Best Short Film and Best Script. Those from the Gulf are also invited to apply to compete for the Gulf Film Award, which is being launched this year, according to the festival’s website. All entries are to be made online and the deadline is March 31.
