10th Saudi Film Festival to celebrate sci-fi, Indian cinema

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Press conference panel announcing the upcoming Saudi Film Festival at Ithra. (Supplied)
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Updated 09 March 2024
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10th Saudi Film Festival to celebrate sci-fi, Indian cinema

DHAHRAN: The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture will transform into a film hub from May 2-9 for the Saudi Film Festival’s 10th year of showcasing and celebrating the art of cinema.

The festival features screenings and workshops and will be a place where filmmakers from the Kingdom and the region get the chance to share their love of cinema. The main theme this year will be science fiction, along with special emphasis on Indian cinema.

Ahmed Al-Mulla, the festival’s director, said: “This event is fast developing into a must-attend festival across the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council)  film community. This year’s 10th edition is shaping up to be the biggest and best yet.”

He added that the event will further enable filmmakers within Saudi Arabia to be part of the larger global pivot toward visual storytelling.

Festival Vice President Mansour Al-Badran said: “We have come a long way over the past decade and are pleased to see the Saudi Film Festival’s importance and popularity across the region’s film community growing (with) each passing year.

“Through strategic partnership, the Saudi Film Festival has become a portal for culture exchange and exploration, providing an avenue for cultural openness for the Kingdom and building bridges beyond borders for new programs and experiences.”

This year’s “Spotlight on Indian Cinema” program will feature independent Indian films from beyond Bollywood. Practical workshops and cultural seminars will take place, along with events for children.

Organized by the Cinema Association, in partnership with Ithra, and with the support of Saudi Ministry of Culture’s Film Commission, the festival has had more than 800 entrants for its awards this year.

The SFF has restructured its prize submissions this year. Film and screenplay entries will be nominated through the festival’s technical committee to compete for 37 awards in three categories: film competition, unexecuted screenplay, and production market projects. Golden Palm Awards have been added to recognize the best Saudi documentary about the environment and the best animated short film.

The festival continues its tradition of celebrating the achievements of film pioneers in the Kingdom and across the Gulf. This year the festival honors Saudi actor Abdulmohsen Al-Nemer, who starred in last year’s “Hajjan,” and Syrian director Mohammad Malas.

“Alkhobar Cinematheque” will be launched to serve as the administrative headquarters of the Cinema Association, and will feature dinner parties and curated concerts at select locations across the city throughout the duration of the festival.

For updates and more information, visit ithra.com.


KSrelief completes Syria health initiative, continues in Sudan

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KSrelief completes Syria health initiative, continues in Sudan

  • Eight volunteer surgeons on the medical team in Port Sudan have already performed eight specialized operations

RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian aid agency KSrelief has completed its neurology and urology program in Syria, while continuing a similar initiative in Sudan, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

Eight volunteer surgeons on the medical team in Port Sudan have already performed eight specialized operations.

In Damascus, Syria, the Amal volunteer program has concluded.

Twenty-six volunteers in Damascus examined 285 patients and performed 153 neurology and 162 urology operations.

 


First flights carrying Hajj pilgrims from Turkiye land in Saudi Arabia

Updated 30 April 2025
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First flights carrying Hajj pilgrims from Turkiye land in Saudi Arabia

  • Qualified staff fluent in several languages and equipped with the latest technology will help simplify entry procedures for pilgrims

Madinah: The first flights carrying Hajj pilgrims from Turkiye arrived at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah on Wednesday. The annual Islamic pilgrimage is set to take place this year between June 4 and 9.

Authorities are providing qualified staff who are fluent in several languages and equipped with the latest technology to help simplify entry procedures for pilgrims, the Saudi Press Agency reported, and are ready to assist people arriving by land and sea as well as air.

An estimated 1.8 million pilgrims participated in Hajj last year.


Jeddah communication conference explores anime’s digital evolution

Updated 30 April 2025
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Jeddah communication conference explores anime’s digital evolution

  • The session focused on anime’s shift from traditional television broadcasts and DVDs to digital platforms, including live streaming, instant subtitling and cloud-based production

RIYADH: The eighth session of the Digital Communication Conference, titled “Anime in the Digital Space,” explored the transformation of Japanese anime over the past two decades, highlighting the impact of digital innovation and the internet.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the session focused on anime’s shift from traditional television broadcasts and DVDs to digital platforms, including live streaming, instant subtitling and cloud-based production.

Streaming giants such as Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Funimation were highlighted as pivotal players in the transition, offering translated or dubbed episodes immediately upon release and funding original series such as “Devilman Crybaby” and “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.”

Speakers in the session, including Manga Productions CEO Essam Bukhary, said that social media and online forums have opened the door to unprecedented engagement among fans, as well as community and cultural interaction, since audiences now take part in evaluating episodes.

Concerns were raised that heavy dependence on technology could erode the handcrafted aesthetic that defines traditional anime.

Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning interest in manga and anime, which dates back to the 1970s, is helping to usher in a revolution in cultural production.

Japanese art forms have captivated audiences of all ages, gaining significant popularity in recent years. Their ability to combine entertainment, culture and education has made them of great interest to Saudi society.

To support this interest, the General Entertainment Authority has hosted events like the Saudi Anime Expo, drawing international visitors.

In line with these efforts, the ministries of culture and education launched the Manga Education program to nurture student talent, as well as integrate arts and culture into public education.
 


Muslim World League chief meets UK Islamic leaders in Madinah

Updated 30 April 2025
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Muslim World League chief meets UK Islamic leaders in Madinah

  • Delegation visits International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography
  • Visitors reaffirm support for Palestinian cause, call for end to genocide in Gaza

LONDON: The secretary-general of the Muslim World League, Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, met British Islamic leaders in Madinah on Wednesday to discuss issues facing the UK’s Muslim community.

The visitors praised the MWL’s important role in the Islamic world and among Muslim minorities in Europe and the UK, highlighting its work to preserve cultural and religious identities.

They also noted that King Charles welcomed Al-Issa as the first Arab and Muslim figure from outside the UK to visit Buckingham Palace after his coronation.

The delegation visited the MWL-affiliated International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography, which tells the story of the Prophet Muhammad’s life.

During the talks they reaffirmed their support for the Palestinian cause and called for an “immediate end to the genocide being perpetrated against the people of Gaza by the brutal war machine of the Israeli occupation government.”

Gaza should be a symbol of unity, not division, among Muslim communities, they said, according to an MWL statement.

The delegation commended the 2019 Charter of Makkah, saying it helped foster interaction with non-Muslim audiences and promoted moderation in addressing contemporary issues.


Saudi deputy foreign minister receives Russia’s envoy in Riyadh

Updated 30 April 2025
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Saudi deputy foreign minister receives Russia’s envoy in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Saud Al-Sati received Russian Ambassador Sergey Kozlov in Riyadh on Wednesday.

The pair discussed relations between their countries and other topics of common interest, the Foreign Ministry wrote on X.

Also on Wednesday, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki met Digital Cooperation Organization Secretary-General Deemah Al-Yahya in Islamabad, the diplomat wrote on X.

They discussed the importance of digital transformation and other topics of interest.