Saudi Film Festival 2024 unveils its celebration of cinema

The Dammam festival includes screenings, seminars and more.

Lights, camera, Saudi. The Saudi Film Festival has unveiled exciting details about its upcoming tenth edition, which will take place from 2 to 9 May. The event has been organised by the Cinema Association and King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) and looks set to be a showstopper.

Saudi Film Festival 2024 takes place at Ithra Center in Dharan, Dammam. This year’s edition will showcase the best of Saudi and international cinema — with a special focus on Science Fiction Cinema. 

The Saudi Film Festival will feature 76 film screenings. 53 titles will compete for 36 awards in several categories, including Film Competition, Unexecuted Screenplay Competition, and Production Market Projects Competition. This year, a new category will honor environmental consciousness: The Golden Palm Awards. It will spotlight the best Saudi documentary about the environment and an animated short film. 

Apart from appreciating the filmmakers and their stories, the Saudi Film Festival will also host 10 training workshops and 13 masterclasses — offering aspiring filmmakers a chance to hone their craft and connect with industry leaders. Additionally, the Festival Museum will feature highlights from the festival’s previous editions. Other activities include a children’s program with interactive elements, a meet and greet with Saudi stars, an Ithra tour and a display of the Saudi Encyclopedia of Cinema.

This year’s Saudi Film Festival will also pay tribute to acclaimed Saudi artist Abdul Mohsen Al-Nimr. His contributions to the local film industry and a plethora of exemplary works such as The Sun, Thobe The Wedding and the latest, Hajjan, prove that the impact he’s had on Saudi cinema is undeniable.

The festival is not just about film screenings. The festival will bring together established and emerging talent. Look out for seminars and workshops, plus networking—okay, mingling—opportunities.

Tickets to the screenings start at SAR 25, so grab them now and settle into your seat for a week of movie magic.

GO: Visit www.ithra.com for more information.