“Everything is about to change.”
It was only two months ago that Saudi Arabia saw its first public cinema screening in 35 years, but already, the Kingdom’s film industry is growing.
In fact, this weekend sees the release of a Saudi-American joint production. Students at the Kingdom’s only film school are ready to move into the spotlight.
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Jeddah’s Effat University students are now able to film off-campus for the first time, Reuters reported.
Sama Kinsara is in her first year of the women-only course, and says that “everything is about to change.”
Fellow student Qurratulain Waheb said attitudes were changing in terms of access.
“Before… we were not allowed to enter the malls [with cameras] but things are getting smoother now when we have access,” she told Reuters.
“When we have permissions it gets easier, it gets better and people are more accepting. They want to see what we’re doing.”
Their teacher, department head Mohamed Ghazala, said the young women were breaking barriers.
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“A girl carrying a camera and shooting in the streets is pushing boundaries,” he told Reuters.
The students may find some encouragement in the release of The Arabian Warrior, a Saudi-American coming-of-age story set to hit screens this weekend.
Director Aymen Khoja told Gulf News that it’s a universal story of family and individuality. The film’s main character faces a choice between staying in the USA and following his dreams of professional football, or returning to Saudi Arabia as his father wishes.
“The soccer and the coach were just there to take us into the journey, which is about the father and the son, the racism and acceptance,” the director explained.
Here’s the trailer:
This week also saw a panel discussion of film in the Kingdom, held in Jeddah by the Saudi Art Council.
There, Gulf News reported, young filmmakers were encouraged to be persistent.
“If you know what you want, you should go after that immediately, because not a lot of people usually know what they want,” panelist Anu Valia said.
“Be open to failures and don’t hesitate to express yourself,” added Jasim Al Saady.
Wise words for all creative types, we’d say.
Images: Getty
