Saudi students will help to shape the future of Kingdom’s entertainment industry, says NYFA president

Updated 21 March 2018
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Saudi students will help to shape the future of Kingdom’s entertainment industry, says NYFA president

JEDDAH: As a long-standing supporter of Saudi Arabia’s creative community, the New York Film Academy (NYFA) is excited and inspired by the many talented young Saudi filmmakers it has educated over the past seven years.
NYFA recently hosted the second annual Young Saudi Film Festival (YSFF) in Los Angeles, California, in order to showcase a number of Saudi filmmakers including NYFA screenwriting student Meshal Al-Jasser, the recent Qomra award-winner for his film “Under Concrete.”
The highly anticipated event was attended by NYFA students and alumni, local Saudis, producer, and film distributor Diane Taren, and representatives from the Kuwaiti and Emirati consulates.
Speaking to Arab News, NYFA President Michael Young said: “NYFA is a global institution that annually brings students from nearly 100 countries to learn, create, and share the richness of their cultures together. The academy’s Saudi students are highly motivated to tell their stories and undoubtedly they will help shape the future of the Kingdom’s entertainment industry.”
Tami Alexander, NYFA’s dean of enrolment services, regularly visits the Kingdom. Recently she oversaw workshops in partnership with the Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz Philanthropic Foundation (MiSK) and Colors of Saudi under the guidance of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH).
Alexander consistently holds events including auditions, portfolio reviews and information sessions around the Kingdom. “In my role at NYFA, I have visited many cities including Riyadh, Taif and Dammam to scout the most talented Saudi nationals, encourage them to pursue their passion and come and study at the Academy,” she said.
“As Saudi Arabia opens its cinemas in 2018, I am extraordinarily excited for the days when I will be sitting in movie theaters in the Kingdom watching local Saudi films, many of which I expect will be made by graduates of NYFA.”
She added that NYFA looks forward to being a part of the future of Saudi Arabia’s expansion of entertainment and a burgeoning film industry, and hopes to continue to provide training for the region’s industry-standard media and entertainment professionals.
“We have had over 300 Saudi students study with us at many different levels,” she said.
Other successful Saudi NYFA alumni include Fahad Al-Joudi, who has won various awards for his film “Arabian Swan,” and Ahd Kamel, currently starring in the Netflix show “Collateral.” Aymen Khoja premiered his first feature film, “Arabian Warrior,” which was shot during his final semester at NYFA, in Dubai on March 12. He told Arab News: “I wouldn’t have been able to achieve what I did without the knowledge I gained from NYFA. I look forward to seeing my film in cinemas in Saudi Arabia very soon.”
And there is Almotaz Al-Jefri, who alongside the New Media Center at the Ministry of Culture and Information, directed and produced “Wahi 360,” a virtual-reality project about Makkah that was screened last year during King Salman’s visit to Russia.
Talking about the welcoming attitude of NYFA’s faculty, Al-Jefri said: “NYFA has offered me the experience and enhanced my level of knowledge through observational and practical opportunities. These opportunities and experiences have given me the confidence to create projects combining culture and production.”
Many other NYFA alumni have been involved in the Kingdom’s local film and television industries.
This year the YSFF festival grew in audience and scope, receiving more than 80 submissions and featuring eight outstanding films that told stories ranging from comedy to tragedy.
With the ban on movie theaters lifted in Saudi Arabia, it is a great time to showcase the next generation of Saudi filmmakers.
On March 1, Saudi Arabia started issuing licenses for cinema operators in the Kingdom.
Cinema is one of several new avenues for Saudi women, who can now take part in sport, attend soccer matches and, in a few months, will be allowed to drive cars.
By 2030, the Saudi authorities are expecting to open 300 cinemas with 2,000 screens around the Kingdom. By creating opportunities for youngsters they aim to build a huge industry that will contribute more than SR90 billion ($24 billion) to the economy and create 30,000 jobs.




Saudi filmmakers pose with the NYFA officials at the end of Young Saudi  Film Festivalin Los Angeles, California. (Photo courtesy: NYFA)


In 2015, only one documentary film from Saudi Arabia, about Jeddah, was presented at the International Film Festival Manhattan in New York City. Directed, edited and produced by former NYFA student Jameelah Rose del Prado, “Historic Jeddah” is a multi-part documentary short film that showcased aspects of Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage such as the Dondurma, Rawashin and Rubat.
At that time, Jameelah said this documentary film would contribute to Saudi Arabia’s tourism in the near future. “This country has so much to offer but it is not widely known to the rest of the world.”
In an interview with NYFA in 2016, Jameelah said: “As a pioneer, I hope I am able to contribute to Saudi Arabia’s promising future in the field of cinema. I also hope I can give rise to aspiring Saudi filmmakers to do the impossible, break stereotypes, and to not shy away from adversities.”
In 2016, Jameelah also directed a sequel documentary called “Our Journey to Hijaz” and “Third Culture Kids of Saudi Arabia.”
In 2018, six films from Saudi Arabia became huge successes at YSFF. The short films range from five to 20 minutes in length, and cover a wide range of genres.
During the closing ceremony of YSFF, Director of NYFA’s Los Angeles campus Dan Mackler emphasized how storytelling is a universal means of uniting different cultures: “The New York Film Academy believes that storytelling unites us internationally, across cultures and through perceived differences. We’re very proud of the films we’re screening because they exemplify those ideals.”
Rakan Anneghaimshi, president of the YSFF and student at the New York Film Academy, said: “We try, as much as possible, to reflect society as we see it. We want to see authentic stories coming out of our community.”
“One of the goals of the YSFF was to help bring our global community together. We had comedic films, we had dramatic films, and we had family-oriented films. I couldn’t be more proud.
“In an interview in 2017 on Saudi TV channel 1, I said ‘I am on scholarship now; I study acting at the New York Film Academy because I believe the Kingdom will reopen cinema.’ I saw this coming and I am not surprised by the announcement that cinemas in the Kingdom are reopening.”

He added: “As an actor, it was hard for me to keep myself motivated and positive. I had many people ask me, ‘Why would you study acting for film? There is no cinema in Saudi Arabia.’ Regardless of what the future holds, I wanted to be able to work in Hollywood and had hopes of working in my home country.
“I believe Saudis have the talent and the love of art. I believe that Saudis and non-Saudis should get an opportunity to see us perform our craft and watch our performances. Now that cinema is back again, I look forward to my next movie on a billboard in my lovely country of Saudi Arabia.”
James Rowe, NYFA instructor and one of the judges of the competition, attributed the great stories coming out of Saudi Arabia to a need humans have to share their experiences.
“Great art is born out of urgency,” Rowe said. “There is a burning need to tell stories that have gone untold for some time. There exists a desire to express ideas that have remained unspoken.
“Submissions to this festival have come from all over the world. We were looking for stories and perspectives that surprised us and left us feeling something long after the credits had rolled.”
Rowe added: “All of the films clearly have something to say. They are a reminder that art captivates and compels us most when it feels urgent — as if the artist couldn’t have waited one more moment to tell us their story.”
The short films screening at this year’s festival were: “Bloodline,” written and directed by Saud Al-Moghirah, produced by Javier Olmo; “Eternity,” written and directed by Mohamed Makki, produced by Mohamed Makki and Mohamed Obaidullah; “Hero Complex,” written and directed by Mohamed Al-Yamani, produced by Mohamed Al-Yamani and Douglas Spain; “The Nostalgia,” written by Sarah Lotfy, directed and produced by Moataz Badran; “Piece of Wood,” by Yassin Koptan; “The Scapegoat,” written by Charlie Millen and Stephen Ranieri, directed by Talha B., produced by Maan B; “Spirit of North,” by Mohamed Ali Al-Marhabi; and “Under Concrete,” by Meshal Al-Jaser.
Recently, the Saudi Art Council, in partnership with the American Film Showcase, brought together local and international experts in Jeddah to share their opinions about what needs to be done for the Kingdom’s cinema industry.
The experts agreed that there is a need of law infrastructure for the cinema, so people can be directed in the right direction. “Making films is a process of reducing damage because there is so much that can go wrong,” said Hisham Fageeh, who co-produced “Barakah Meets Barakah,” a film submitted for consideration in the best foreign language film category at the Oscars in 2016.
The NYFA is proud to be listed as a recommended school by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Higher Education. It’s considered the best hands-on film school in the world by many of the industry’s top filmmakers, and its pedagogy is designed for a new generation of 21st-century storytellers.
NYFA programs balance rigorous academics with practical application to train students to tell compelling visual stories and develop their skills to the fullest extent possible.
At NYFA, under the guidance of an esteemed faculty of award-winning filmmakers who are all working industry professionals, many ambitious young Saudi filmmakers learn to operate industry-standard equipment and software while working in the school’s state-of-the-art facilities, including on a major Hollywood studio back lot.


An enduring bond: A Jordanian photographer has turned his focus on two of the Arab world’s most beloved creatures

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An enduring bond: A Jordanian photographer has turned his focus on two of the Arab world’s most beloved creatures

  • Tariq Dajani’s first photographic exhibition of the horse and falcon series is on display at Ahlam Gallery in Al-Olaya, Riyadh
  • Arabian horses have been the subject of songs and poetry praising their individual and physical qualities down through the ages

RIYADH: The Arabian horse and hunting falcon are important historical and cultural symbols for the Arab world, both ancient and modern.

Now a Riyadh gallery is highlighting this enduring bond with a series of portrait studies of both creatures by Tariq Dajani, a Jordanian photographer and printmaker.

Arabian horses have been the subject of songs and poetry praising their individual and physical qualities down through the ages.

However, Dajani, an owner of Arabians, chose to reflect his love of these creatures through photography and artworks.

Arabian horses have been the subject of songs and poetry praising their individual and physical qualities down through the ages. (Supplied)

Over the years he spent many sessions photographing horses in his native Jordan, as well as the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Later, toward the end of the project, he added the hunting falcon, another symbol of cultural heritage and pride among Arabs.

Dajani’s first photographic exhibition of the horse and falcon series is on display at Ahlam Gallery in Al-Olaya, Riyadh. 

Entitled “Drinkers of the Wind,” the exhibition is the result of 16 years’ work creating portraits of these magnificent creatures.

Tariq Dajani's exhibition at Ahlam Gallery, entitled “Drinkers of the Wind,” is the result of 16 years’ work. (Supplied)

Dajani told Arab News that he is delighted to be able to display his work in Saudi Arabia, “a country that is deeply connected to the horse and the falcon.”

Ahlam Gallery is the perfect place to showcase these artworks, he added.

Dajani’s treatment of his subjects is not in the usual natural or romantic manner. Instead, and this is partly what sets his art apart, he uses a studio portrait approach, where he takes his studio to the stables or falcon sheds, and spends time carefully working on portrait studies of the creatures.

“My aim is to find a connection of sorts with the horse or the birds,” he said. “I am not interested in documenting the creature; I try to go deeper, to express something emotionally if I can.

“I was living in Sweden when I decided to photograph the Arabian horse. So I had to return to the Middle East, and I started with Jordan, my home country.

“The way I approach the work is to present the horse on a backdrop where all my focus — and thus the viewers of the final picture — will be on the animal itself and not on the environment that it is in.”

Tariq Dajani's exhibition at Ahlam Gallery, entitled “Drinkers of the Wind,” is the result of 16 years’ work. (Supplied)

While photographing in Jordan, Dajani met Princess Alia Al-Hussein, eldest daughter of the late King Hussein of Jordan. He presented some of his work to her, and received her enthusiastic approval. 

Princess Alia gave him permission to photograph the horses of the Royal Jordanian Stud, and has continued to support his work over the years, opening his first two exhibitions in Jordan.

“I had access to some of the most beautiful horses in Jordan when I first started my project. My first exhibition solely of Jordanian Arabians was a great success,” Dajani said.

“Encouraged by the reception, and by now totally absorbed in this project, I went to Dubai, then Abu Dhabi, then Saudi Arabia, where I was presented with some of the most magnificent Arabian horses to photograph. Along the way, I introduced portrait studies of the hunting falcon. They, too, are strikingly beautiful and have a special place in Arab culture and heritage.

“I will always remain very grateful to Princess Alia for her initial support, and to many others for encouraging the work and opening doors for me along the way.”

Arabian horses have been the subject of songs and poetry praising their individual and physical qualities down through the ages. (Supplied)

One of his most striking photographs shows two mares bringing their heads together in a gentle greeting.

“This incredible and totally unanticipated greeting happened while I was photographing at the King Abdulaziz Arabian Horse Center in Dirab, south of Riyadh. The two mares were led out onto my backdrop studio space from opposite sides, and when they approached each other, they gently and courteously touched their heads as if to say hello,” he said.

“It was so special. No one had ever witnessed this before. We all held our breath as we watched in amazement. I frequently think that it would be nice if these sensitive, clever creatures could teach us humans a little bit of gentleness and respect.”

Dajani’s exhibition features high-quality photographic color prints, and a smaller collection of photogravure prints, produced by manually pulling an inked metal plate, engraved with the photographic image, through a traditional printing press — a slow and difficult process that produces prints with a special feel and texture.
 


Focus on emerging filmmakers at 11th Showreel Effat International Student Film Festival

Updated 8 min 37 sec ago
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Focus on emerging filmmakers at 11th Showreel Effat International Student Film Festival

  • The event included films by young Saudis and their peers from around the world, plus seminars and workshops presented by industry insiders

JEDDAH: Effat University’s School of Cinematic Arts in Jeddah welcomed aspiring filmmakers and cinephiles to the 11th Showreel Effat International Student Film Festival this week.

The theme for the three-day event, which concluded on Thursday, was “Behind the Seen,” reflecting the aim of organizers to shed light on the creative process and less-visible aspects of filmmaking. The program included a diverse range of cinematic offerings celebrating the work and talent of student filmmakers, not only those studying at the school but also their peers around the globe.

Mohammed Ghazala, head of the School of Cinema Arts, set the scene with an overview of the works featured during the festival, at the heart of which were films created by students and graduates of the school, which has been a pioneer in film and animation education in the Kingdom.

Alongside the home-grown talent, the festival provided a showcase for an impressive selection of international student films. These were carefully curated from a pool of 2,150 submissions from more than 115 countries, which were whittled down to a final selection of 57 exceptional works from 27 nations: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia, Yemen, Morocco, Turkey, France, Belgium, Japan, Italy, Estonia, the Czech Republic, the US, China, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, Taiwan, Russia, Greece, Spain, Poland, India, Indonesia, Mexico and Pakistan.

The chosen films competed for awards in seven categories, including Best Saudi Feature Film, Best International Animated Film, and the prestigious Audience Award.

In addition to providing a platform for emerging filmmakers to showcase their talent and creativity, organizers said the festival also aims to foster cultural exchanges and celebrate the art of cinema on a global scale.

Integral to this is a commitment to nurturing talent and encouraging dialogue within the industry, which was reflected in a series of seminars and workshops led by industry professionals. Effat University lecturer and festival coordinator Marina Ivanseva gave an overview of the sessions, which offered insights into a wide spectrum of topics key to the craft.

They included sessions on a creative cinematic post-production workshop supported by video-streaming service Netflix, cinematography workshops conducted by film camera manufacturer ARRI, and a visual effects workshop backed by specialist studio VFX Mojo.

They were presented by renowned figures and industry insiders such as Saudi artist Sarah Taibah, Oscar-winning German director Thomas Stelmach, British professor Rut Luxemburg, American visual effects artist Matt Beck, and cinematographer James Niehaus.

There were also lectures on animation and experimental film presented by the Royal College of Arts in London, while Stellmach offered insights into his professional journey that led to the Oscars. Saudi producer Nadia Malaika shared valuable career insights, Egyptian lawyer Khaled Al-Arabi discussed legal rights in filmmaking, and Mohammed Sobeih looked at the creation of animated films using Toon Boom software. The festival concluded with a session focusing on animated cinema presented by Synergy University.

“We were thrilled to welcome numerous local and international guests who shared their cinematic experiences with us … during the 11th Showreel Effat International Student Film Festival,” said Asmaa Ibrahim, the dean of Effat College of Architecture and Design.

“Students from Dar Alhekma, King Abdulaziz, and Princess Noura (universities) in Riyadh joined us in celebration. It was a delight to host guests from prestigious institutions such as the Royal College of Art, Netflix, Maflam, Film Association and VFX Mojo, who conducted exceptional workshops. The interactive discussions were engaging and we appreciate the participation of everyone.”

Karim Sahai, a visual effects professional from France, said: “I’m proud to have been a part of this incredible festival, with such a fantastic audience and remarkable guests from all over.

“The quality of their engagement and the depth of their questions during my workshop surpassed my expectations. I truly believe I’ll return to bask in this energy once more; it’s truly inspiring.”

Beyond artistic appreciation, organizers said another aim of the festival is to help forge academic and strategic partnerships, and Effat University has built alliances with institutions such as the University of Southern California and the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation with the goal of fostering collaboration and exchange of knowledge on a global scale.


Investigation clears coalition on claims of rights violations at Yemen sites

Updated 27 min 34 sec ago
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Investigation clears coalition on claims of rights violations at Yemen sites

  • Report details three incidents, including claims that coalition forces targeted two houses in the Sha’aban area, a civilian house in Al-Hudaydah governorate, and Al-Ghail Health Center
  • Investigation concluded that the coalition carried out an air mission on a military target, 4.5 km away from the coordinates of the claimed two houses, using one guided bomb that hit its target

RIYADH: The Joint Incident Assessment Team held a conference in Riyadh on Wednesday to announce the results of investigations into allegations against coalition forces in Yemen. 

The report details three incidents, including claims that coalition forces targeted two houses in the Sha’aban area, a civilian house in Al-Hudaydah governorate, and Al-Ghail Health Center in Al-Ghail. 

Team spokesman Mansour Al-Mansour said that “with regards to what was stated in the ninth periodic report on the works of the National Commission to Investigate Alleged violations to Human Rights in Yemen (NCIAVHR) on Dec 11, 2017, the Coalition Forces targeted G.J house and M.J. house in Sha’aban area in Razih directorate of Sa’ada governorate, the targeting resulted in the destruction of the two houses, killing and injuring number of people, and the destruction of two cars.” 

Al-Mansour, said that the investigation had concluded that the coalition forces carried out an air mission on a military target, 4.5 km away from the coordinates of the claimed two houses, using one guided bomb that hit its target. 

Regarding the allegation that the coalition targeted a civilian house in Al-Jirahi directorate of Al-Hudaydah governorate on Dec. 1, 2021, and that one man and two children were injured in the strike, JIAT found that the coalition did not carry out any air missions in the whole of the governorate. 

JIAT also exonerated the coalition over a report issued by Physicians for Human Rights which stated that on Feb. 24, 2016, coalition forces aircraft dropped three munitions on Al-Ghail Health Center in Al-Ghail directorate of Al-Jawf governorate.

At the time, Houthi militia were occupying the site and using it as a military center. The building was partially destroyed in the attack. 

In response to the allegation, JIAT found that coalition forces carried out an air mission on a military target, consisting of a gathering of fighter elements belonging to the Houthi militia, in a vacant area, 2.9 km away from Al-Ghail Health Center, using one guided bomb that hit its target.


Foreign minister of Yemen’s internationally recognized government received by Saudi counterpart

Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan receives his Yemeni counterpart Shaya Mohsin Al-Zindani in Riyadh on Thursday. (SPA)
Updated 43 min 35 sec ago
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Foreign minister of Yemen’s internationally recognized government received by Saudi counterpart

  • Yemen’s internationally recognized Presidential Leadership Council appointed Al-Zindani as foreign minister in late March

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received his Yemeni counterpart Shaya Mohsin Al-Zindani in Riyadh on Thursday.

Prince Faisal congratulated Al-Zindani on his recent appointment as foreign minister by Yemen’s internationally recognized Presidential Leadership Council at the end of March, and wished him success in the role. 

During the meeting, the two ministers reviewed aspects of bilateral relations and ways to strengthen and develop them in various fields. They also discussed topics of common interest.


Saudi Arabia launches witness protection center

Updated 25 April 2024
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Saudi Arabia launches witness protection center

  • Attorney General Sheikh Saud Al-Mojeb approved the establishment in line with Article Four of the Law for the Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims
  • Criminal penalties for those who harm witnesses under protection include up to three years’ imprisonment and fines of up to SR5 million

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has launched a new center to protect whistleblowers and witnesses to crimes that will begin operations in July.

Attorney General Sheikh Saud Al-Mojeb approved the establishment in line with Article Four of the Law for the Protection of Whistleblowers, Witnesses, Experts and Victims.

The center will provide legal protection from threats, danger, or harm through methods stipulated in Article Fourteen of the Law, including security, as well as identity and data anonymization.

Victims can be transferred from their place of work, temporarily or permanently, and provided with alternative employment, as well as legal, psychological and social guidance.

The protection also includes provisions for security escorts and financial assistance.

Witnesses and whistleblowers can submit protection requests according to specific conditions, and can be assisted by the center without requesting help if in imminent danger.

Criminal penalties for those who harm witnesses under protection include up to three years’ imprisonment and fines of up to SR5 million ($1.3 million).

Tariq Al-Suqair, an accredited lawyer, told Arab News: “Each state has a duty to establish procedures that provide measures for the protection of people whose cooperation with the justice system in an investigation may put them at risk of physical harm.”

Saudi Arabia, which ratified the UN organized crime convention in 2005, has domestic laws that mandate protective measures for victims and witnesses of crime, he added.

Al-Suqair said that the Kingdom’s latest measures operate in accordance with Article 24 of the convention, which calls for effective protection for witnesses from retaliation or intimidation.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Prosecution has proposed an executive body to run the center and its witness protection program.

“It is expected that once the program starts, we will witness more effective control to combat sophisticated organized crimes,” Al-Suqair said.