The eighth edition of the Saudi Film Festival -- Ithra, which opened on June 2 and will conclude tomorrow, runs under the theme “poetic cinema” has been a celebration of regional filmmakers and movies.
Held at the King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture the event honours director Khalid Al Siddiq from Kuwait, as well as Sheikh Khalil Al Rawaf, the first-ever Arab star to transcend boundaries and make a name for himself in Hollywood.
In line with the remit of this year’s event, the festival is holding several workshops and events to empower and educate filmmakers from the Gulf. Expectedly, the event screened several films from the region which were divided into two categories – regional and Saudi.
The festival was attended by several celebrities from the Gulf including actors, directors, scriptwriters, producers and even investors who were seeking creative film projects to invest in. The participants were able to pitch their ideas in person, as well as virtually.
The festival, which is organised by the Cinema Association and the Saudi Film Commission, saw the entry of several films produced across the GCC, including those from Oman, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
There were several up and coming filmmakers, as well as seasoned professionals at the festival. Among the various releases at the event was Khalid Fahad’s Valley Road, while the opening saw the screening of Old Phone Number, as a film dedicated to this year’s edition of the Saudi Film Festival. Overall, as many as 30 regional films were screened at the event.
