RIYADH, 24 February 2006 — Young Saudis, thirsty for cinema in a country with no big screens and just the bare bones of a movie industry, are determined to take the Kingdom into the celluloid world.
Seven Saudi movies will take part in a film festival in the United Arab Emirates’ capital Abu Dhabi in March, the strongest showing yet for the nascent Saudi cinema at any festival.
And entertainment firm Rotana — owned by entrepreneur Prince Alwaleed ibn Talal — has said it is producing the first full-length Saudi film, to hit Gulf cinemas this year.
“We’d like to do films that our society likes, that help the rise of cinema, and also get recognition. I’d like our voice to reach the West,” said Abdullah Eyaf, a 28-year-old director who runs a popular website promoting film culture.
His 45-minute documentary “Cinema 500 km” tackles the issue head-on, depicting a Saudi youth who must travel to neighboring Bahrain to sate his appetite for the cinematic experience.
“The film asks the question ‘why is there no cinema here?’ It’s a spark to get people to talk about the subject,” Eyaf said.
“In Bahrain, cinema owners say that during holidays 80 to 90 percent of their customers are Saudis. All the video stores in Riyadh have large memberships.”
