Saudi Film festival

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Saudi Film Festival

Program Overview

In an exceptional cultural partnership, the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) is proud to host the annual Saudi Film Festival, organized by the Cinema Association and supported by the Film Commission of the Ministry of Culture. Launched in 2008, it is considered to be the oldest-running film festival in the Kingdom, providing local filmmakers with a hub to screen their films, develop their scripts, engage in educational programs, and connect with other filmmakers for future projects.

The festival also provides cinephiles with opportunities to meet key industry parties, as well as access to independent films they otherwise would not be able to watch commercially.

Over the years, it gained a reputation of being the go-to festival for all Saudi and GCC filmmakers who wish to kick off their film career in the region. With Ithra as strategic partner since 2014, the festival was able to put its name among the most prestigious film festivals in the GCC.

Festival in Numbers

Editions

85 +

Publications

688

Participant Films

Accompanying programs

Film Screenings

The Saudi Film Festival presents a selection of Saudi and GCC films with the aim of supporting emerging filmmakers and fostering connections among them.

Production market

The production market is a vibrant platform that brings together filmmakers, producers, financiers and talents from Saudi Arabia and around the world. This market serves as an opportunity for exchanging ideas, networking and marketing film projects.

Master classes

The festival organizes a series of talks with local and global specialized experts who have practical experience in the film industry.

Red Carpet Meet the Celebrities

The festival welcomes guests on the red carpet during the opening and closing ceremonies and celebrates the filmmakers.

Panel Discussions

The festival organizes a series of cultural and educational seminars with film industry experts, representatives from local and global organizations, and movie stars throughout the festival days.

Meet the Experts

Short and timed one-on-one sessions bring together filmmaking experts with filmmakers, producers, distributors, and industry professionals.

Book signings

Dialogue sessions with the authors of the Saudi Cinema Encyclopedia Initiative books, a collection of informative and cultural publications on cinema that enrich the Arabic library, followed by a book signing session.