For ten days I was invited to the مهرجان أفلام السعودية Saudi Film Festival (04 to 11 June 2023) as part of the jury for short films from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region. It was a very special time and a unique experience. The people I met were so open, warm-hearted and friendly in a way I could never have imagined. With every encounter, I could feel the joy about the country’s opening. They were eager to socialise and share their experiences.
The festival itself is an enthusiastic and generous host. It is also worth noting that the festival was founded already in 2008, but was held behind closed doors until 2018. Thanks to the visionary passion and bold committment of artistic director Ahmed Al-Mulla and the tireless efforts of his team, the festival now enjoys national and international recognition with up to 500 guests.
The festival took place at Ithra (Arabic for ‘enrichment’), a cultural and creative centre for talent development and cross-cultural experiences. It was opened in 2018 by Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, to, I was told, give back to the people.
Alongside daily film screenings in two cinemas, featuring short, middle or feature length fiction, documentary, and animation films, mostly from Saudi Arabia but also from the Gulf region, people were able to network at the vibrant production market and delve deeper into the various topics at the masterclasses, panel discussions and film talks. In the evenings, guests were taken to the beach resort Braira to enjoy culinary delights at the seaside.
What stays are beautiful memories, new encounters, and an unforgettable experience of a country on the move. I feel inspired to follow the development of this emerging and promising film industry, which definitely has its own signature.
And I’ve learnt an important lesson: don’t let prejudices get in the way until you’ve experienced it for yourself. Thank you Ahmed Al-Mulla and Ali El Kareem for this invitation and your trust.