Saudi director Hamzah Jamjoom shone at the 9th Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF). His short film, “Factory of Lies” was screened in the presence of a large and prominent audience and received rave reviews. 

Jamjoom was born and raised in the Kingdom but moved to the US to study computer graphics and animation. He earned two master degrees, one in general film studies and the other degree in writing and directing. His impressive resume includes directing a number of video clips and advertisements in the US. Moreover, he is also the first to film a full documentary in the Kingdom entitled “IMAX Arabia 3D.”

Jamjoom chose to film “Factory of Lies” in Chicago instead of his home country due to logistical reasons and the ease of shooting movies in the US. The film narrates a true story that occurred in Saudi Arabia a few years ago, seasoned with some elements of the director’s Hollywood-acquired-dramatic flare. The storyline of the film revolves around a Saudi jewelry shop owner who sends his grandson away from the shop due to his prodding, only to be visited by a group of ominous customers who conspire against the shop-owner and make him believe he is about to die.

“When the movie ended I thought that’s it? I really wanted to know what was going to happen next with the shop owner. I guess we’re going to have to wait until the whole movie is out,” said Salma Al-Sherief, one of the audience members. 

Tarik Azeem who also watched the screening of the movie said, “I was really surprised with the great quality of picture. I must say it is the best quality in the whole festival, the sound was very clear and the picture was perfect. I salute you Jamjoom.” 

The 15 minutes of the film that was featured at DIFF was just a synopsis of the one-hour and a half film that Jamjoom will be filming within the next year. 

“The long film will narrate the story of a Saudi man who comes to the US and becomes involved in a company takeover. “The idea is to allow the western audience a taste of what Saudi Arabia’s culture is all about and then the rest of the movie will take place in the US so we can see how a Saudi man can deal with the western culture. It’s your typical fish out of the water story,” added Jamjoom.