Talking movies… Saudi Arabia holds first film critic forum 

Talking movies… Saudi Arabia holds first film critic forum 
Among the critics who shared their expertise during the conference were Naminata Diabate (left), an associate professor at Cornell University and Book Author of Naked Agency, and Saudi Ruba Al-Sweel, a writer and researcher of arts and culture. (Supplied)
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Updated 31 March 2023

Talking movies… Saudi Arabia holds first film critic forum 

Talking movies… Saudi Arabia holds first film critic forum 
  • Jeddah event organized to boost Kingdom’s industry 
  • Similar forums to be held in five other cities

JEDDAH: Leading film critics discussed the future of Saudi Arabia’s cinema industry at the first Film Criticism Conference held in Jeddah’s Al-Balad district.

The two-day forum was organized by the Saudi Film Commission in partnership with Jeddah’s Islamic Arts Biennale and focused on “Spirituality in Cinema.”

Those in attendance enjoyed workshops that introduced concepts related to media and cinematic awareness and stimulated reading films critically and objectively. 

Among the local and visiting critics sharing their expertise and opinions were Naminata Diabate, Associate Professor at Cornell University and Book Author of Naked Agency, Saudi Ruba Al-Sweel, a writer and researcher of arts and culture, Indian Dr. Syed Haider, lecturer in world cinemas and Portuguese Sergio Dias Branco, a film critic and Assistant Professor of Film Studies at the University of Coimbra.

One of the main guests at the forum who is visiting the Kingdom for the first time, American Joe Kickasola, Professor, Film & Digital Media, Director of the Baylor in New York Program told Arab News that the Saudi Film Commission plays a critical role in forming the whole possibility of film-making within Saudi Arabia.

“It is creating an opportunity, it is creating a framework. The most important thing for film artists is to know the possibilities; otherwise, it is constantly challenging or trying to figure things out, but when you have a higher organization, it will help you out to achieve your goal and that’s the role of the Saudi Film Commission,” he said.

Saudi art expert Al-Sweel presented her recent research of media theory, looking at how platform capitalism and network spirituality breed a specific cultural moment. 

She said: “There has always been brilliant independent attempts at creating a film community that strives to tell stories from a local vantage point — where depth of subject matter matches that of technical knowledge. 

“Now and with the support and structures of institutions such as the Film Commission, we can expect an avalanche of critical films to come out of the country and into the world over the next decade.”

Forums are also to be held in Riyadh, Buraydah, Abha, Tabuk and Dhahran for people interested in the film sector in the Kingdom and abroad, and who specialize in film criticism.

It will also invite academic bodies concerned with local and international cinematic studies and research and local, regional, and international media outlets concerned with the cinema movement in the Kingdom.


Italian pilgrims arrive in Madinah for Hajj

Italian pilgrims arrive in Madinah for Hajj
Updated 16 sec ago

Italian pilgrims arrive in Madinah for Hajj

Italian pilgrims arrive in Madinah for Hajj
  • After landing, the pilgrims were greeted with a welcome ceremony and gifted flower bouquets, dates and Zamzam water bottles
  • The arrival of the first flights of registered pilgrims was fulfilled through the Nusuk electronic platform

RIYADH: The first group of pilgrims using the Nusuk Hajj platform arrived on Thursday at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Airport from Italy.
After landing, the pilgrims were greeted with a welcome ceremony and gifted flower bouquets, dates and Zamzam water bottles.
The arrival of the first flights of registered pilgrims was fulfilled through the Nusuk electronic platform, which was launched by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah four months ago to facilitate entry procedures.
Hajj has seen an increase in the number of pilgrims since the pandemic, the lifting of age restrictions, in addition to the ending of guardianship rules for women.
The Nusuk platform, available in seven languages, allows pilgrims from 67 countries to register and book electronically. Service packages consisting of housing, food, flight guidance, and transportation are available for purchase and booking.
The platform has additional services such as interactive maps, a calendar dedicated to offers and activities, a digital guide, and information and health services.
Nusuk is part of the initiatives launched by one of the Saudi Vision 2030 schemes, the Guests of God Service Program. The program aims to enrich religious and cultural experiences in the Kingdom.


FM: We affirm the strength of Saudi-American relations

FM: We affirm the strength of Saudi-American relations
Updated 3 min 17 sec ago

FM: We affirm the strength of Saudi-American relations

FM: We affirm the strength of Saudi-American relations

RIYADH: “We affirm the strength of Saudi-American relations,” Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Thursday.

Developing 


Saudi film chiefs to stage industry conference, exhibition in Riyadh

Saudi film chiefs to stage industry conference, exhibition in Riyadh
Updated 08 June 2023

Saudi film chiefs to stage industry conference, exhibition in Riyadh

Saudi film chiefs to stage industry conference, exhibition in Riyadh

RIYADH: The Saudi Film Commission is to stage an industry conference and exhibition in Riyadh later this year.

Officials attending the recent Cannes International Film Festival announced that the first edition of the Saudi Film Confex would run from Oct. 1 to 4.

The event, expected to attract movie-sector professionals from around the world, will include film exhibitions, workshops, and conference sessions, with one of the workshops focussing on self-development and skill enhancement.

Investment and financing solutions, regulatory procedures, infrastructure development, film archiving, and the use of technology will be among conference topics for discussion.

The commission’s chief executive officer, Abdullah Al-Eyaf, told the Saudi Press Agency: “Since the establishment of the Film Commission, we have come a long way in developing the film industry, and we are promised a prosperous future for it, as we continue to attract more production projects to the Kingdom, and we strive to launch the Saudi Film Confex.”


Indian authorities ‘working round the clock’ to facilitate 175,000 Hajj pilgrims

Indian authorities ‘working round the clock’ to facilitate 175,000 Hajj pilgrims
Updated 08 June 2023

Indian authorities ‘working round the clock’ to facilitate 175,000 Hajj pilgrims

Indian authorities ‘working round the clock’ to facilitate 175,000 Hajj pilgrims
  • Special arrangements made for women traveling without mahram
  • Over 25 percent of the Indian Hajj contingent are seniors

NEW DELHI: Indian authorities say they are working “round the clock” to facilitate pilgrims arriving in Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj — New Delhi’s “most extensive logistic operations” outside its homeland.

With over 200 million Indians professing Islam, the Hindu-majority country has the world’s largest Muslim-minority population. Under the 2023 Hajj quota, 175,000 of them are traveling to Saudi Arabia for the spiritual journey that is one of the five pillars of Islam. Special flights for Indian pilgrims started in the last week of May and will end on June 22.

“The Indian Haj Mission works round the clock to deliver the best services for pilgrims,” the Indian Embassy in Riyadh told Arab News on Wednesday, as Ambassador Suhel Ajaz Khan completed a review of the facilities prepared for pilgrims by the country’s consulate in Jeddah and officials in Makkah and Madinah.

“Hajj arrangement is the most extensive logistic operation of the Government of India outside India. The Indian Haj Mission, under (the) Consulate General of India Jeddah, is very crucial for its success.”

What makes the arrangements more complex this year is a new Hajj policy allowing women to apply individually and reach the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah on their own, as Saudi Arabia has lifted a rule that required female pilgrims to be accompanied by a mahram, or male guardian.

India tweaked its Hajj policy accordingly in February, and this year thousands of pilgrims registered in the Ladies Without Mahram category.

“The specialty of this year’s Hajj is female Hajis without mahram. Around 4,000 female pilgrims are using this opportunity,” the embassy said, adding that separate buildings, bus points and attendants have been designated to “facilitate their seamless transportation and accommodation” throughout their stay.

Another set of special arrangements is in place for elder pilgrims as over 25 percent of the Indian contingent are seniors.

Some of them have waited to go since 2019 as, during the coronavirus disease pandemic and afterwards, older pilgrims could not depart due to strict health guidelines.

“This year more than 47,000 pilgrims are of age 60 and above. The Haj Mission has made special arrangements for them with enhanced medical care, wheelchair facilities, and the use of volunteers to help them,” the embassy said.

In Makkah alone the country’s Hajj officials set up three makeshift hospitals that can accommodate 90 patients.

“Both in Madinah and Makkah, pilgrims expressed their satisfaction with the arrangements made,” the embassy said.

“Ambassador Dr. Khan also instructed to the officials to address any grievances and problems faced by the pilgrims immediately.”


Sri Lanka praises Saudi Arabia’s ‘exemplary’ Hajj arrangements

Sri Lanka praises Saudi Arabia’s ‘exemplary’ Hajj arrangements
Updated 08 June 2023

Sri Lanka praises Saudi Arabia’s ‘exemplary’ Hajj arrangements

Sri Lanka praises Saudi Arabia’s ‘exemplary’ Hajj arrangements
  • Around 3,500 Sri Lankans will be performing Hajj in 2023
  • Most pilgrims younger than 50, one-third women

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has praised Saudi Arabia for its Hajj arrangements as thousands of Muslims from the Buddhist-majority island nation arrive in the Kingdom to perform the annual pilgrimage.

Around 3,500 Sri Lankans will be performing Hajj this year — nearly four times more than last year. Most of them are younger than 50 and more than one-third are women.

At least 1,000 Sri Lankan pilgrims have already arrived in Saudi Arabia since Hajj flights from the country commenced on June 4. The final special pilgrimage flight is set to depart for Saudi Arabia on June 22. Hajj is expected to start on June 26.

Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Riyadh, Pakeer Mohideen Amza, told Arab News: “So far the operation in the airport has been very smooth and the transfers to the hotels have also been extremely well-coordinated.”

The envoy said he spoke with Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah just hours before Sri Lanka’s inaugural Hajj flight this year and conveyed his country’s gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “for the excellent arrangement that has been made for the Sri Lankan Hajjis" in the Kingdom.

“We see exemplary arrangements in Jeddah and Makkah, and I’m told the same arrangements have been made in Madinah as well for the welfare of the Hajj pilgrims,” Amza added.

“We pray to almighty Allah the best Hajj for every one of them who are coming.”

Last year, Sri Lanka was able to fulfil only about half of its pilgrim quota when the country was gripped by its worst financial downturn and defaulted on foreign debt repayments.

As the economy has shown signs of improvement, the country will this year meet its entire quota.

Sri Lanka’s inflation rate, that reached a record high of around 70 percent last September, had eased to around 25 percent in May.