RIYADH: Officials organizing this year’s Hajj season have staged 20 exhibitions to help further enrich the pilgrimage experience for worshippers.
The religious and cultural displays, put on for the first time by the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, include field events in the Grand Mosque in Makkah and nearby holy sites, and digital, virtual, and mobile exhibitions in Makkah and Jeddah.
Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, president of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, said: “Holding 20 exhibitions during the Hajj season is an unprecedented step, given the huge enriching force they hold and the valuable opportunity they provide pilgrims with, in terms of learning about the success stories of the Two Holy Mosques as well as other heritage and historical monuments.
“It also promotes cultural communication and knowledge enrichment and provides pilgrims with an opportunity to learn about the past and current services offered in the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque,” he added.
More than 40 guides with specialist knowledge have been drafted in to offer help, advice, and detailed information to exhibition visitors.
As well as documenting the history of the Two Holy Mosques, the displays highlight other significant religious monuments, while showcasing Saudi culture and some of the latest technological developments that have taken place in the Kingdom.
20 new Hajj exhibitions highlight history of Two Holy Mosques
https://arab.news/cpxtc
20 new Hajj exhibitions highlight history of Two Holy Mosques
- More than 40 guides with specialist knowledge have been drafted in to offer help, advice, and detailed information to exhibition visitors
Saudi Film Festival to return in April with focus on Korean cinema
- Ahmed Al-Mulla, founder and director of the Saudi Film Festival, said in a statement: “We’re excited to welcome filmmakers to our annual gathering. Our doors are open to all creators, and filmmakers remain at the heart of everything we do
DHAHRAN: The Saudi Film Festival, organized by the Cinema Association in partnership with the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture and supported by the Saudi Film Commission, has announced that it will launch at Ithra in Dhahran between April 23-29.
This year’s festival explores the theme of “Cinema of the Journey,” presenting a selection of Arab and international films, both short and feature-length, that center on journeys and movement as essential storytelling elements.
The program includes road movies, travel narratives and films where physical or emotional journeys drive the narrative.
The theme encourages Saudi filmmakers to explore this subject through their own perspectives. It positions cinema itself as an act of continuous transition, where identity, place, and time converge to shape the human experience.
FASTFACTS
• This year’s Saudi Film Festival will explore the theme of ‘Cinema of the Journey,’ presenting a selection of Arab and international films that center on journeys and movement as essential storytelling elements.
• The program includes road movies, travel narratives and films where physical or emotional journeys drive the narrative.
Following last year’s focus on Japanese cinema, the festival will present a special “Spotlight on Korean Cinema” this year.
Ahmed Al-Mulla, founder and director of the Saudi Film Festival, said in a statement: “We’re excited to welcome filmmakers to our annual gathering. Our doors are open to all creators, and filmmakers remain at the heart of everything we do. This year’s festival creates an atmosphere filled with inspiration, idea exchange, and shared learning. It’s a celebration of cinematic creativity for everyone.”
Tariq Al-Khawaji, deputy director of the festival, added: “At Ithra, we’re proud of our longstanding partnership with the Cinema Association. It has enabled the festival’s growth and thematic diversity year after year, which we see clearly in how we empower filmmakers and create opportunities to engage with global cinema.
“The festival continues to grow across all areas, from preparations and participation to industry expectations locally and regionally. That makes attention to every detail essential.”
Since its launch in 2008, the Saudi Film Festival has played a central role in nurturing local and Gulf cinema. After intermittent early editions, it has now established itself as an annual platform for narrative and documentary competitions, industry programs and project markets.
By bringing together emerging and established filmmakers in Dhahran each year, the festival strengthens Saudi Arabia’s growing presence on the global film stage.
