After a ban on cinema for over 30 years, Saudi Arabia is now allowing the public screening of selected movies, including a small number of Saudi ones.
The Kingdom had movie theaters in the 1960s and 1970s. These were, however, shut down by the authorities, something that forces Saudi moviegoers to travel to neighboring countries such as Bahrain to see movies on the widescreen.
The movie industry in Saudi Arabia is relatively small. With no cinemas, most Saudis watch films via satellite television or on DVDs. “Keif Al-Hal” (How Are You?) is considered Saudi Arabia’s first-ever film even though it was not filmed in the Kingdom but in the United Arab Emirates and its lead actress is a Jordanian acting as a Saudi.
As expected, “Keif Al-Hal” — which was produced by the Rotana Entertainment Group — has caused much debate in the Kingdom. Likewise, a short documentary entitled “Cinema 500km” and directed by Abdullah Al-Eyaf discussed the issue of banning cinema in the Kingdom when it first premiered in 2006.
The film documents the experience of Tariq Al-Husaini, a 21-year-old Saudi movie fan who applies for a passport and travels 500 km to Bahrain to see a movie in a cinema hall for the first time in his life.
Along with “Keif Al-Hal,” Rotana also produced another hit movie entitled Menahi. Menahi was shown in Jeddah in early December during the Eid Al-Adha holidays.
“A movie could possibly be acceptable if it serves good and is suitable Islamically,” said Ibrahim Al-Gaith, head of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.
This year also saw the first annual Saudi Film Competition which took place at the auditorium of the Saudi Society of Arts and Culture in Dammam. The five-day event was a huge success. The auditorium was filled with more than 650 people in the men’s section. Women were also invited to attend and provided seats in a separate hall. The event was organized by the Dammam Literary Club in cooperation with the Saudi Society of Arts.
There have been short documentaries and more informal movie screenings in recent years.
