RIYADH: The Saudi Cinerama Club celebrated its first anniversary on Monday with a special screening of Badr Al-Shibani’s “Seven Summits” documentary at the Sard Cultural Center in Riyadh.
“Seven Summits” details Al-Shibani’s journey as he conquers the highest peak on each of the world’s seven continents.
It captures a profound story of perseverance, showcasing the adventurer’s trek across some of the planet’s most challenging terrains and toughest peaks, leading up to his ultimate challenge: Mount Everest.
Dr. Fahad Al-Yahya, Cinerama Club’s founder and president, said: “On March 15, 2025, the Cinerama film club was launched with a mission dedicated to fostering a deeper appreciation for the arts, and to cultivate film culture.
“This year, March 15 coincided with the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, which was then followed by a public holiday. However, we are seizing the opportunity today to celebrate the first anniversary of a club that truly made a monumental impact from day one.”
The club serves as a hub where filmmakers can share insights, showcase their work and help drive the growth of the Saudi film industry.
Spearheading the celebration alongside Al-Yahya were Ali Bawazeer, club director and a key force behind Cinerama, and Walaa Hawari, club manager.
Cinerama’s screening of “Seven Summits” functioned as an educational and interactive event for filmmakers to exchange industry insights and best practices.
Addressing the audience, Al-Shibani shared a few critical notes on the technical and creative steps he took prior to filming.
He said: “When I first shot the film, I shot it by myself. Before shooting it, I went to my brother and beloved Ahmad Al-Shugairi, given that he is the only one I know who is in the filmmaking field.
“I told him, ‘Ahmad, I am climbing Everest, and I want to shoot this film, and I want you to help me with it.’
“He gave me some techniques and told me, ‘You must bring a professional cameraman.’
“So I was fortunate to get Gabriel. Gabriel is a Brazilian cameraman, one of Red Bull’s cameramen who jumps out of planes and swims with sharks.
“If I climbed the mountain once, he climbed the mountain four times. He went ahead of me to film me, came behind me to film me, and flew the drone.”
Al-Shibani explained the process of creating the film, noting that after recording the initial footage, he spent a year searching for the right director to bring the documentary to life.
The final cut incorporates personal notes, interviews and detailed edits to give the audience an intimate look into who the adventurer truly is.
He said: “I met with more than six documentary directors until I was fortunate to meet the director of the film, Amir El-Shenawy.
“Amir specializes in documentaries, (is) an Egyptian director, and it took a year of meetings for him to get to know me better. And after a year he told me, ‘I think I can do something’.”
Cinerama utilizes panel discussions, film screenings, and educational workshops to help broaden the scope of the Saudi film industry.
Founder Al-Yahya’s love for cinema dates back to the mid-1970s during his time as a medical student in Cairo.
After a long career practicing as a psychiatrist, he retired to channel his lifelong passion into creating Cinerama.
Al-Yahya told Arab News: “I knew that it was a different world, that there was creativity in it. There are arts from every aspect; it is truly the seventh art because it contains all the arts.”
His impact in the industry extends well beyond Cinerama as he was involved in establishing the Saudi Cinema Association and helped to form the Saudi Film Association.
Reflecting on Cinerama’s core purpose and the meaning behind its name, the founder highlighted its underlying mission.
He said: “What matters to us is defining our path — which means raising public awareness, elevating artistic and cinematic appreciation, encouraging young talent and developing the future of cinema.”
The next phase of Cinerama will include courses, competitions, and festivals. It will also explore new fields such as AI-generated films.
Attending the anniversary were key figures from local film and cultural communities, including ambassadors, ministers, filmmakers and prominent industry stakeholders.
