Infant Saudi film industry struggles for financing

Members of the burgeoning Saudi film industry said they have the talent to produce more substantial scripts even though the industry is considered to be in its infancy.
“Saudi Arabia has immense talent in artistic spheres and has the potential to produce more scripts on topics of social importance if it is accorded decent picturization and sound financial backing,” said Heba Farahat, a mixed media artist born to a Saudi father and a German mother working in Riyadh.
“Wadjda, “Haifa Al-Mansour’s 98-minute narrative that garnered an entry in the category of best foreign language film at the Oscars, is the first feature film to be shot entirely in Saudi Arabia with a Saudi cast. Al-Mansour is also Saudi Arabia’s first female filmmaker, writer and director.
Yet Saudi filmmakers lack financial backing.
Saudi filmmaker and CEO of Rowad Media, Mamdouh Salem, said, “We have talent, but we need training and practical application, in addition to financial support, so that we can make better feature films and documentaries.”
“Directors today have to finance their own projects, which affects production quality,” said Salem during the eight-week Rotana Film Festival last May.
In a country where the public exhibition of films is restricted, Saudis grew up watching Western movies at home.
“We understand that there are movies and films that are not suitable for our culture, so careful editing is necessary to avoiding causing religious or cultural offense,” said Saad Al-Zaamil, a young filmmaker who recently visited South Africa along with his team to shoot a documentary.
“It would serve our culture better to have more home-based productions coming from our own country, as there is always demand for decent movies which both old and young can enjoy. It is particularly important for youth to have some form of substantial entertainment,” Saad said.
The embryonic industry has come a long way with the introduction of the annual Jeddah Film Festival and the Rotana Film Festival.
Though it does not compare to international standards, the Saudi film industry has created more than 300 Saudi films in the last 50 years.
The Rotana Film Festival began in 2012 under the supervision of film directors Mamdouh Salem and Hana Al-Umair and broadcaster Mujahid Omari.
More than 48 short pieces of fiction, documentaries and animated works were telecasted during this year's event. In addition, 24 short films, eight documentaries and three feature films were up in the running at this year’s festival.
“The main aim of these festivals is to promote Saudi films and filmmakers to a large audience so they have a chance to showcase their talent to the world,” said Salem during the Rotana Fim Festival.
Haifa’s award-winning documentary, entitled “Women Without Shadows,” also won a Saudi National Award in July 2007 during the Second Jeddah film Festival.
Movies like “Wadjda,” which made their mark on the international scene, have paved the way for women to ride bicycles and quadbikes at recreation areas and parks.
The film took five years to make due to issues of financing and permission, and because Mansour insisted on shooting “Wadjda” in Riyadh to make the film as authentic as possible.
Promoted and sponsored by Rotana in cooperation with two German broadcasters, Wadjda won several awards at film festivals across the world, from the Venice Film Festival 2012 to the Los Angeles Film Festival 2013.
The Saudi-German co-production was also released in the US this week.
The film depicts the life of 10-year-old Wadjda, who, growing up in Riyadh, dreams of riding a green bicycle and who goes on to win a Qur’an recital competition.
“Wadjda” has cleared the nation’s censors and will be telecast on television.