Saudi Film Festival Brightens Future of Cinema in the Kingdom

 King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture's Ithra Hall, Dammam
King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture's Ithra Hall, Dammam
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Saudi Film Festival Brightens Future of Cinema in the Kingdom

 King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture's Ithra Hall, Dammam
King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture's Ithra Hall, Dammam

The 7th edition of the Saudi Film Festival has kicked off on Friday and will run until July 7. The event is managed and organized by Ahmed Al Mulla.

The Saudi Film Festival is one of two cinema-related events in the Kingdom. The other is the Red Sea International Film Festival, and it's scheduled for November. The first is dedicated to Saudi cinema and aims at developing the movie industry, and enhancing the cultural activity in the country, by sponsoring all sorts of cinema-related activities, movies, forums, and books.

The festival is set to screen a large number of works including short, small, narrative, and non-narrative films, aiming at offering "opportunities for Saudi young talents interested in movie making, and celebrating them."

The jury is composed of five members: Saudi Ali Alkalthami (head of the jury), Egyptian actress Bushra, Tunisian director Kawthar bin Haniyeh, Jordanian producer Monzer al-Rayahneh, and American critic Deborah Young.

The festival also organizes a scriptwriting contest featuring 254 participants, 14 of them already reached the finals (six long film scenarios, and eight short films scenarios). The jury of this contest is composed of Saad al-Dossari (president), and members Mohammed al-Bashir, and Raja Sayer Al-Mutairi.

The festival celebrates two cinema stars, Maamoun Hassan (who was head of production at the British Film Institute for several years), and Bahraini director Bassam al-Thawadi.

The Saudi Film Festival was launched in 2008, but its second edition was held in 2015, followed by two successive editions in 2016 and 2017, and then it returned in a sophisticated edition in 2019. Last year, the event went virtual due to the coronavirus pandemic.

This year, the Saudi Film Festival is back with more momentum, purpose, and a team that insists on maintaining progress. It is held in the same location as the past years, at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture's Ithra Hall, Dammam. A large, beautifully designed venue surrounded by vast gardens, and housing a massive library, two screening halls, and a conference hall that could accommodate a wide audience.

The festival's manager, Ahmed Al Mulla has given special attention to the health measures imposed by the concerned authorities. In a conference he attended a few days ago, he discussed health concerns, and praised "the huge efforts the wise leadership and concerned authorities made to combat the pandemic, enabling the center to organize the event, and host a large audience with all the necessary health precautions."

This is not all. In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Al Mulla answered six questions and revealed further details about the festival and the importance of this edition for the Saudi cinema.

• When you look at the past editions and the current one, how do you see the progress? And does it meet your aspirations?

The Saudi Film Festival has faced many challenges since its launch in 2008, especially the compulsive interruption that separated its first and second editions. The festival has faced many challenges, and the pandemic was the latest but not the last one. We didn't give up, and we redesigned its programs virtually. The digital edition was an adventure, but it achieved remarkable success and reach, which enhanced the plans of the current edition. This year, we managed to organize a live event with a huge audience and keep the virtual platform to ensure that the largest number of spectators watch the festival.

Yes, we dreamed of a wide prospect, we hoped to receive a merited appreciation, and called for support…and our dreams have become true. Our biggest goal was to make a Saudi film with an artistic value that highlights the aesthetics of the country, heritage, and history. In this edition, I feel I am closer to this dream, and I see it approaching for the first time.

• The festival is growing quickly. I attended the 5th edition, and I noticed great organization and planning that I didn't see in other Arab festivals. This makes me ask: What are your ambitions for the coming editions?

My ambition is to see the festival maintain the focus on its main goal: Competition and Saudi movies. I want it to include more diverse programs that inspire movie makers. This will help the movie industry keep growing with constant leaps, similar to those we saw since its debut. I hope the festival will always be a knowledge platform that inspires art and beauty.

• How did the festival benefit moviemakers in the Kingdom so far?

Moviemakers can speak better about the benefits they gained from the festival. For me, the ultimate gain is their gathering at the same place and time in an environment where they can exchange views, and enhance connections. Then there is motivation, decent competition, and development of tools through rich programs providing workshops, forums, books, and regular discussions.

• How did the festival come to light? And who was behind the idea and its implementation?

In 2006, I was a member of the literary club in the Eastern Province and its executive manager. I was also responsible for the events it organizes. Driven by my interest in cinema, I suggested organizing a weekly cinema night, and I chose the movies that were screened during it. The idea lured a great audience of young Saudis who formed a team of movie fans (some opposed the idea). After a lot of negotiations, the club and the Culture and Arts Association in Dammam agreed to organize the first festival. Those who participated in the organization were many, but I won't say names because I don't want to forget anyone.

• Did other Arab film festivals support Saudi films? And how?

Of course, they did. Before, within, and after the Saudi Film Festival, every Saudi movie that partakes in an Arab or international contest will bring many advantages for moviemakers and colleagues. It would contribute to developing the content, encourage others, mark a presence in other festivals, and leave a beautiful trace in the audience's imagination about the Saudi movie.

• A number of Saudi movies will be screened at the Red Sea International Film Festival. How do the Saudi Movie Festival, and moviemakers benefit from this participation?

The Red Sea International Film Festival is an important platform that plays a major role in Saudi Arabia's aspirations for the future because it seeks to fulfill Arab and international ambitions and motivate Saudi movie makers to exert more effort. The festival has already launched several support and development programs, along with its upcoming edition in November. I believe the integration between the two festivals is possible and is actually happening.



Tom Cruise Is Finally Getting an Oscar as Will Dolly Parton, Debbie Allen and Wynn Thomas 

Tom Cruise appears at the premiere of "Top Gun: Maverick" at the 75th international film festival, Cannes, southern France on May 18, 2022. (AP) 
Tom Cruise appears at the premiere of "Top Gun: Maverick" at the 75th international film festival, Cannes, southern France on May 18, 2022. (AP) 
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Tom Cruise Is Finally Getting an Oscar as Will Dolly Parton, Debbie Allen and Wynn Thomas 

Tom Cruise appears at the premiere of "Top Gun: Maverick" at the 75th international film festival, Cannes, southern France on May 18, 2022. (AP) 
Tom Cruise appears at the premiere of "Top Gun: Maverick" at the 75th international film festival, Cannes, southern France on May 18, 2022. (AP) 

Twenty-five years after Tom Cruise received his first Oscar nomination, he’s finally getting a trophy. It’s not for his death-defying stunts, either. At least, not exclusively.

Cruise, choreographer Debbie Allen and “Do The Right Thing” production designer Wynn Thomas have all been selected to receive honorary Oscar statuettes at the annual Governors Awards, the film academy said Tuesday. Dolly Parton will also be recognized with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her decades-long charitable work in literacy and education.

“This year’s Governors Awards will celebrate four legendary individuals whose extraordinary careers and commitment to our filmmaking community continue to leave a lasting impact,” Academy President Janet Yang said in a statement.

Most recipients of the prize historically have not yet won a competitive Oscar themselves. Cruise, 62, has been nominated four times, twice for best actor in “Born on the Fourth of July” and “Jerry Maguire,” once for supporting actor in “Magnolia” and once for best picture with “Top Gun: Maverick.” He’s also championed theatrical moviegoing and big-scale Hollywood production through the coronavirus pandemic.

Yang spotlighted Cruise’s “incredible commitment to our filmmaking community, to the theatrical experience, and to the stunts community.”

Allen, 75, has never been nominated for an Oscar. But the multi-hyphenate entertainer — she also acts and produces — has played an integral role in the Oscars show, having choreographed seven ceremonies over the years. Four of those were nominated for prime-time Emmy awards.

A nomination had also eluded Thomas, a leading production designer whose films have often gone on to best picture nominations and even one win, for Ron Howard’s “A Beautiful Mind.” Thomas is most known for his long-term collaboration with filmmaker Spike Lee, from “She’s Gotta Have It” and “Malcolm X” through “Da 5 Bloods.”

Parton has been nominated twice for best original song, for “9 to 5” and, in 2006, “Travelin’ Thru” from the film “Transamerica.” But her honor celebrates her humanitarian efforts over the years, through organizations like the Dollywood Foundation and the literary program “Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.”

Yang said Parton “exemplifies the spirit” of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

The awards will be handed out during an untelevised ceremony on Nov. 16 at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles. Last year’s recipients included the late Quincy Jones, Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, filmmaker Richard Curtis and casting director Juliet Taylor.

Recipients of the prizes, which honor lifetime achievement, contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences and service to the academy are selected by the film academy’s board of governors.