The annual festival features films from the wider GCC for the very first time at Ithra. The festival is taking place from June 2 to 9.
نجدد في #إثراء استضافة #مهرجان_أفلام_السعودية في دورته الثامنة، حيث نفخر باحتضان مواهب ترفع من قيمة المحتوى الفني والإبداعي في المملكة، لصناعة سينمائية محلية تحلّق في الأفق بفرادتها وتميزها.
— إثراء (@Ithra) May 30, 2022
تعرفوا أكثر على تفاصيل المهرجان: https://t.co/1gjsYNof2e#ألهم_عالمك pic.twitter.com/NnxMA4KuaR
Spanning through eight days, the 8th edition of the Saudi Film Festival starts today. It takes place at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) in Dhahran.

The event is to celebrate Gulf filmmakers, focusing on developing and supporting content and talent.
The annual fest features 80 films from the wider GCC this year. The fest has first-time entries from Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates and submissions from Saudi Arabia.
Recommended: Festive Saudi – The festivals and Celebrations
Out of those, 36 films are participating in this competition. Along with the Palme d’Or (Golden Palm) competition (the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival), films are also going to be screened in two other categories – Gulf and Saudi Films.
Celebrating 2 years, Ithraeyat Magazine is now in its 16th edition themed ‘Gold.’
— إثراء (@Ithra) May 21, 2022
Gold is what we gift others & so we gift this issue to our prestigious guests &public who have been part of our journey.
Enjoy our new digital platform. https://t.co/DypayJGJPo pic.twitter.com/O4gE2rrbVr
The festival will be starting with the film “Ali Saeed’s Old Phone Number.” This is an Ithra co-produced short film recently presented at the Cannes Film Festival Market’s Short Film Corner.
قفز المشهد السينمائي السعودي إلى حدودٍ عالمية مرموقة ومُبشرة.
— إثراء (@Ithra) June 1, 2022
تعرّفوا على إسهامات #إثراء في تطوير وتحفيز صناعة الأفلام في المملكة ودفع صنّاعها نحو العالمية والانتشار في حلقة "صانع الأفلام" من سلسلة إثراء الوثائقية.#ألهم_عالمك
pic.twitter.com/k1Cp2TjSYR
The festival will be honoring Khalil Al-Rawaf, the first Saudi filmmaker to become a Hollywood actor. It will also honor Khalid Al-Siddiq, a pioneering Kuwaiti producer, director, and screenwriter.

This edition of the Saudi Film Festival is expected to be attended by filmmakers and other film professionals, including scriptwriters, producers, actors, programmers, investors, and film lovers.
Through the theme of “poetic cinema,” the event will be hosting a series of programs to showcase, elevate and promote the region’s film industry.
سبعة فصولٍ من الإبداعات السينمائية لـ #مهرجان_أفلام_السعودية وقريبًا نفتح معكم فصلًا جديدًا في #إثراء بعنوان "السينما الشعرية".
— إثراء (@Ithra) May 26, 2022
لتفاصيل أكثر: https://t.co/dE4GMLcITW@SA_FilmFestival @CinemaAssoc_KSA @FilmMOC#ألهم_عالمك pic.twitter.com/eZwVH7Vu3j
Arab, local, and international experts will present master classes, seminars, and workshops. These will be on a range of topics like writing, directing, cinematography, music, production, funding, and marketing.
لا تقتصر مهمة سينما #إثراء على عرض الأفلام وحسب، بل تقدم مختلف البرامج التي تدعم صناعة السينما بالمملكة، والمواهب القائمة عليها، إذ تعد صناعة الأفلام السعودية أحد الأهداف التي يعمل المركز على تحقيقها.
— إثراء (@Ithra) May 25, 2022
تعرفوا عليها: https://t.co/wYgOGtInNI#ألهم_عالمك pic.twitter.com/ewnrbIVQLb
These experts include James Savoca, Habib Attia, Hossam Elouan, and Matti Rockenbauch.