JEDDAH: Three short films from Saudi Arabia have been selected to screen to a global audience at the first Small Screen, Big Film festival in April
The official shortlist for the festival has been announced, featuring 12 short films created on smartphones by young people across the GCC. The festival takes place via the British Council’s YouTube channel between April 24 and May 4, 2018, when all shortlisted works can be viewed across the globe.
Four standout smartphone filmmakers will be chosen at the end of the festival for a one-to-one mentorship program with a British filmmaker, courtesy of the London Film School.
Three of the shortlisted films were created by talented young people from KSA: “Do it” by Eman Aldweikh; “Fake Life” by Abdullah Zia; and “The Taxi Driver” by Faisal Musa.
Emirati filmmaker and jury member Abdulla Al Kaabi said: “Film is a medium of self-expression and we saw some incredible viewpoints from a hugely diverse group of young people in the Gulf.
“What’s unique about the Small Screen, Big Film Festival is that all entries are created using smartphones. This not only made it easier for more young filmmakers to share their story, but also challenged their creativity to tell a story in three minutes or less.”
Rehana Mughal, senior program manager for culture and sport at the British Council, said: “The Small Screen, Big Film festival has helped us to connect with the themes and topics that interest youth in the Gulf. There is clearly a passion for filmmaking among young people, and we would encourage everyone to experience this for themselves by watching the films online during the Festival.”
Three short films from Saudi Arabia selected for global audience in festival
Three short films from Saudi Arabia selected for global audience in festival
Rare exhibits on display at King Abdulaziz Palace
- The piece reflects the precision of traditional craftsmanship and its social symbolism tied to strength and horsemanship
RIYADH: Exhibits on display at the King Abdulaziz Palace in the historic village of Laynah highlight rich aspects of human history and environmental change in the Arabian Peninsula as part of a series of palace activation events organized by the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve Development Authority during the Darb Zubaida Winter Season.
The exhibits feature rare historical artifacts carrying cultural and scientific significance that document different lifestyles and environmental shifts in the region over the centuries.
Among the most notable pieces is a traditional rifle crafted from natural wood and fitted with a handwoven leather strap, historically used for hunting and protection.
The piece reflects the precision of traditional craftsmanship and its social symbolism tied to strength and horsemanship.
The authority stated that the palace welcomes visitors daily until Feb. 15, from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., as part of unified tourism programs aimed at organizing visitor flow and providing opportunities to explore historical sites in a safe and engaging environment.
