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Saudi Film Commission Set to Participate in the Shanghai International Film Festival 2024

Saudi Film Commission Set to Participate in the Shanghai International Film Festival 2024
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Saudi Film Commission Set to Participate in the Shanghai International Film Festival 2024

Saudi Film Commission Set to Participate in the Shanghai International Film Festival 2024

The Saudi Film Commission (SFC) has announced its participation in the Shanghai International Film Festival 2024, taking place from June 13 to 22 in Shanghai, China. Established in October 1993, the festival has been a cornerstone in the global film industry and is the only Chinese film festival accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF), SPA reported.
SFC’s participation is a strategic move to establish the Kingdom as a global cinematic hub. The Commission aims to enhance the international presence and representation of the Saudi film industry while promoting the vast potential of Saudi filmmaking. At the festival, SFC will feature a pavilion showcasing its vision, goals, and strategies for sector development, highlighting the remarkable capabilities of the Saudi film industry, offering support and resources for potential investors, and raising awareness of the Kingdom’s cinematic achievements. This initiative fosters cultural exchange and cooperation. Additionally, the Red Sea Film Foundation, a private sector partner in the film industry, will also participate in the Saudi pavilion.
The festival is renowned for its diverse array of film screenings, workshops, and professional training sessions. It also hosts numerous industry discussions, connecting artists from around the world to celebrate the art of cinema and exchange invaluable experiences. Among its highlights, the festival will premiere several new films, adding to its vibrant lineup of events.
Saudi Arabia’s participation in the Shanghai International Film Festival represents an opportunity to solidify its presence on the global cinematic map. This engagement aligns with the significant renaissance in the Chinese film industry, underscoring the Kingdom’s ambition to become a leading cinematic destination. By interacting and collaborating with major creative centers, the Kingdom aims to enhance cultural and artistic communication with China, positively impacting the development of its film industry and expanding its horizons both locally and internationally.

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First Radioactive Rhino Horns to Curb Poaching in South Africa

A sedated rhinoceros lies unconscious as professor James Larkin (R) from the University of the Witwatersrand's Radiation and Health Physics Unit (RHPU) uses a can of identification spray (DataDot) after carefully implanting dosed and calculated radioisotopes into its horns along with other Rhisotope Project members at an undisclosed location in the Waterbury UNESCO biosphere in Mokopane on June 25, 2024. (Photo by EMMANUEL CROSET / AFP)
A sedated rhinoceros lies unconscious as professor James Larkin (R) from the University of the Witwatersrand's Radiation and Health Physics Unit (RHPU) uses a can of identification spray (DataDot) after carefully implanting dosed and calculated radioisotopes into its horns along with other Rhisotope Project members at an undisclosed location in the Waterbury UNESCO biosphere in Mokopane on June 25, 2024. (Photo by EMMANUEL CROSET / AFP)
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First Radioactive Rhino Horns to Curb Poaching in South Africa

A sedated rhinoceros lies unconscious as professor James Larkin (R) from the University of the Witwatersrand's Radiation and Health Physics Unit (RHPU) uses a can of identification spray (DataDot) after carefully implanting dosed and calculated radioisotopes into its horns along with other Rhisotope Project members at an undisclosed location in the Waterbury UNESCO biosphere in Mokopane on June 25, 2024. (Photo by EMMANUEL CROSET / AFP)
A sedated rhinoceros lies unconscious as professor James Larkin (R) from the University of the Witwatersrand's Radiation and Health Physics Unit (RHPU) uses a can of identification spray (DataDot) after carefully implanting dosed and calculated radioisotopes into its horns along with other Rhisotope Project members at an undisclosed location in the Waterbury UNESCO biosphere in Mokopane on June 25, 2024. (Photo by EMMANUEL CROSET / AFP)

South African scientists on Tuesday injected radioactive material into live rhino horns to make them easier to detect at border posts in a pioneering project aimed at curbing poaching.

The country is home to a large majority of the world's rhinos and as such is a hotspot for poaching driven by demand from Asia, where horns are used in traditional medicine for their supposed therapeutic effect.

At the Limpopo rhino orphanage in the Waterberg area, in the country's northeast, a few of the thick-skinned herbivores grazed in the low savannah.

James Larkin, director of the University of the Witwatersrand's radiation and health physics unit who spearheaded the initiative, told AFP he had put "two tiny little radioactive chips in the horn" as he administered the radioisotopes on one of the large animals' horns.

The radioactive material would "render the horn useless... essentially poisonous for human consumption" added Nithaya Chetty, professor and dean of science at the same university.

The dusty rhino, put to sleep and crouched on the ground, did not feel any pain, Larkin said.

The radioactive material's dose was so low it would not impact the animal's health or the environment in any way, he said.

In February the environment ministry said that, despite government efforts to tackle the illicit trade, 499 of the giant mammals were killed in 2023, mostly in state-run parks. This represents an 11 percent increase over the 2022 figures.

Twenty live rhinos in total would be part of the pilot Rhisotope project whereby they would be administered a dose "strong enough to set off detectors that are installed globally" at international border posts originally installed "to prevent nuclear terrorism", a pleased Larkin said, sporting a green hat and a khaki shirt.

Border agents often have handheld radiation detectors which can detect contraband in addition to thousands of radiation detectors installed at ports and airports, the scientists said.