Saudi Film Festival Brightens Future of Cinema in the Kingdom

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.

When Billy Idol first entered American consciousness in the early '80s, leather-clad and bleached hair in tow, he not only brought a punk rock sound to the mainstream. The Englishman brought a new attitude, a new, rebellious way of being.

In the time since, songs like “White Wedding,” “Rebel Yell” and “Eyes Without a Face” have become instant classics — for those who've worn a spiky jacket and those who've only imagined what it might be like.

Now, over four decades later, he's got the wisdom to reflect. It's led to a new documentary about his life, “Billy Idol Should Be Dead,” which will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival — and a new album, the polished punk-pop of “Dream Into It.”

“It was a gradual process, really,” he said of the 11-year span between albums. “It wasn’t so much that we didn’t want to make an album, it was more like we were building up to doing this.”

Idol discussed with The Associated Press this week his new album and forthcoming documentary, his past struggles with addiction, his first-ever Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination and more.

Remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity.

AP: You've described “Dream Into It” as autobiographical. I thought your last album, 2014's “Kings & Queens of the Underground,” pulled from your life as well.

IDOL: Being this age, in particular, 69, when you look back, you can really see your whole life, how it plays out. And maybe it’s also having grandchildren. My children are having children.

You sort of reach this vantage point where you can really look back and see all the sort of different eras of my life. And you can sing about it. And I think I didn’t go deep enough with the songs I did on “Kings and Queens.” I thought lyrically I could go deeper. That’s one of those regrets I had about the last album. So I really went for it, and I went for more imagery, (on ‘Dream Into It,’ in the) way of talking about my life. I’m not spelling it out exactly.

AP: There are a lot of rock ‘n’ roll women on the album. Joan Jett, Avril Lavigne and The Kills' Alison Mosshart are all featured.

IDOL: (Mosshart's) voice is just incredible. And of course, Joan Jett, I’ve known since 1978 after a Germs/Dead Kennedys concert. We hung out in Los Angeles. I was on a Generation X promotion tour for the first album. And then Avril, I mean, I’ve just been watching her career forever and she’s fantastic. So, it was just great.

AP: The documentary has an evocative title, “Billy Idol Should Be Dead.” It sounds like it may dive into your past struggles with addiction.

IDOL: There was a point in my life when I was living like every day, like, “Live every day as if it’s your last.” One day, you’re going to be right.

In the '70s, in England, you know, young people, we had this feeling that we were being completely ignored. You were even being told that you had no future. And so, we just didn’t think beyond the day-to-day existence. It was probably only when I really started having children and stuff like that, I really starting to realize I (should) try start to give up drugs and things.

I’ve always flirted with death, in a way. Even riding motorcycles, you’re staring at the concrete. It’s right there, you can come off that thing and get horribly messed up. And I’ve done it. It’s horrible. You find out how human you are, how vulnerable. There’s lots of things about my life that, yeah, I did kind of call death at times. Not really mean to, but you just were living like that.

Imagine if it was today. If I was doing what I was back then today, I would be dead because I would have run into fentanyl.

AP: You're nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for the first time. Do you think your younger punk rock self would be excited?

IDOL: I do sort of think about Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry and Little Richard. “And what? Are you going to be in something with those guys?” You know, Buddy Holly. These are some of the seminal people who turned on the people that turned me on, you know? Somewhere down the road, it led to punk rock.

Also, my motorcycle has been in the Rock & Roll of Fame for like five years. So I might as well be in it, too.

Saudi Film Festival Brightens Future of Cinema in the Kingdom