JEDDAH: Saudi director Mohammed Salman’s Arabic film “Ghari” won the Best Short Film Award at the Scandinavian Film Festival in Finland on Friday.
This is the sixth international award the movie won at international film festivals.
The premiere of the film was held at the Saudi Film Festival in 2015, after which Salman participated in several Arab and international festivals, including Palm Springs Festival in the US, where contestants compete for Oscar nominations.
The film is about the story of a family that depends on “Ghari” (a vehicle) in its daily life; each member of the family uses the vehicle according to his/her needs: to transport goods, as an ambulance or as a race car.
The non-stereotypical narrative distinguishes the film from others where the director chooses a car to be the star of the movie.
Salman said in an interview with a local publication that the real prize is to have a Saudi film reach a wider world audience.
“We highlight a human dimension which emphasizes the beauty of Saudi culture, and perhaps the most important award was obtained at the Saudi Film Festival in Dammam, where the film was shown to Saudis thirsty for a cinematic identity of Saudi Arabia,” said Salman.
The filmmaker is a graduate of art education at King Saud University. He has worked in several artistic fields since 1995, such as photography, music, theater and film.
He produced several films, including “The Bicycle,” in 2012, for scriptwriter Abbas Al-Hayek. He won the Best Director Award at the Saudi film festival “Rotana 2013.”
The documentary film “Yellow” won the Golden Palm award at the Saudi Film Festival in 2016, as well as the Silver Palm in the script category.
Saudi film wins gold at Finland fest
Saudi film wins gold at Finland fest
Buraidah’s Klaija Festival features local, global flavors
- The festival has helped transform Klaija from a traditional pastry into a recognized cultural and economic symbol
BURAIDAH: The 17th Klaija Festival in Buraidah is featuring culture and cuisine from Morocco, Turkiye and Egypt, as well as the region’s signature pastry.
Representatives of these nations have been sharing their most renowned dishes and culinary traditions, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The festival, which runs until Jan. 17 at the King Khalid Cultural Center, is also featuring live cooking by expert chefs.
A special tent dedicated to organic agricultural and animal products showcases ghee, date syrup, whole wheat, natural honey, and grains, which are key ingredients of Klaija.
Launched 17 years ago by Qassim Gov. Prince Faisal bin Mishaal, the festival has evolved from showcasing a single local product into a major annual event reflecting the region’s cultural identity.
The festival has helped transform Klaija from a traditional pastry into a recognized cultural and economic symbol by empowering producer families and artisans, and turning heritage-based skills into sustainable income sources.
The Culinary Arts Commission has adopted Klaija as the signature popular product of the Qassim region, affirming its cultural value and role in representing the region’s food identity.
