JEDDAH: Effat University has hosted its fifth annual VDP Showreel, a film festival showcasing student productions and media projects.
The Showreel was organized by the university’s visual and digital production department on Monday under the patronage of Vice President of Board of Trustees and General Supervisor of Effat University, Princess Lolwah Al-Faisal.
The Showreel’s slogan was “Creating Cinema, One Frame at a Time.”
Previous Showreels have drawn praise from leading media figures.
“Your films show that you have one of the main tools for the fourth generation’s media wars. I am proud of what I have seen today and I am happy with these amazing young women with their great ability and bright future,” said Osama Haykal, former Egyptian media minister and president of Egyptian Media Production City.
The program included a VDP exhibition, a red carpet, a 90-minute movie screening made by the VDP Effat filmmakers at the Effat Film Theater, and a tribute to guests of honor.
Chairman of the visual and digital production department, Dr. Mohammed Ghazala, praised Princess Lolwah’s vision in founding the film school.
“No one was sure what would happen,” he told Arab News. “But it was a vision that is now a reality, and we have a film school, film students and film graduates.”
The guests of honor were consultant at the Royal Court and pioneering Saudi filmmaker Abdullah Al-Mohaisen; President of the Academy of Arts in Egypt, Dr. Ahlam Younes; Artistic Director of Dubai International Film Festival Masoud Amralla; Saudi producer Saleh Fawzan; Associate Director of the Tisch School in New York University, Patricia Pearson; and Saudi media producer Ahmed Alshugairi.
“We were impressed (by students’) courageousness in pursuing degrees in VDP at a time when there were no cinemas in the Kingdom,” Pearson said.
“VPD students and alumni, you are entering the industry at a very interesting and unique time, when your education and skills are going to be even more relevant and necessary than when you started the program only a few years ago,” she said.
Alshugairi was impressed with students’ work: “It’s a great start to see students who are passionate about this industry, whether animation, filmmaking, directing or scriptwriting — there is a nice variety.”
Saudi cinema’s rising stars in the frame
Saudi cinema’s rising stars in the frame
- 350 cinemas with more than 2,500 screens will be opened by 2030
- “Creating Cinema, One Frame at a Time.”
Kingdom drives global efforts on space debris
- 75 countries gather in Riyadh to address orbital risks, promote sustainable space use
- DebriSolver competition highlights innovative solutions for orbital safety
RIYADH: The Saudi Space Agency will host the second Space Debris Conference in Riyadh on Monday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The two-day event will bring together experts, decision-makers, and representatives from 75 countries, including governments, international organizations, and specialized space companies.
The conference is part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to unify international initiatives addressing the growing challenges of space debris and to promote the sustainable use of outer space as a shared resource.
It aims to protect space activities and orbital infrastructure while supporting the growth of the global space economy, the SPA added.
Held with the support of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs and in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union, the conference highlights the importance of international cooperation and effective governance frameworks to mitigate space debris risks and ensure a safe, sustainable space environment.
The event seeks to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s position as a global hub for space sustainability by enhancing international coordination on space debris issues.
It also highlights the Saudi Space Agency’s role in promoting policies and initiatives that safeguard the future of the space economy, the SPA reported.
Key objectives of the conference include raising global awareness of space debris risks, reviewing related legislation and policies, fostering research and innovation, and developing effective international governance mechanisms to ensure the responsible and sustainable use of orbital environments.
The conference will feature panel discussions and keynote speeches on themes including space sustainability, protection of the global space economy, strengthening international cooperation, and showcasing innovations, partnerships, and operational solutions to address space debris challenges.
A highlight of the event is the DebriSolver competition, an international platform encouraging applied innovation in space debris mitigation.
Leading experts and international judges will evaluate innovative solutions against the highest scientific and technical standards, supporting the transition from research concepts to practical, deployable solutions.
By hosting the conference, Saudi Arabia reaffirms its leading role in supporting international space initiatives, strengthening public-private partnerships, and shaping the future of the global space community.
This aligns with the objectives of Vision 2030, reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as a global hub for the space economy and sustainability, the SPA stated.
The first edition, held in Riyadh in 2024, attracted participants from more than 50 countries, along with international organizations and global companies, and concluded with recommendations to raise awareness of the importance of managing space debris.
