2024-04-14 21:21:11
Celebrating the pioneers of art… Al-Nabhan to Asharq Al-Awsat: Honoring does not mean retirement
In a ceremony that mixed astonishment and creativity, the activities of the fourth session of the Gulf Film Festival began in Riyadh on Sunday evening, which brings together a crowd of art pioneers in the Gulf, who walked on the red carpet before the ceremony, which was performed by Saudi singer Remaz Al-Aqabi with a song that summons the magic of the Gulf in all its corners. Six and its infinite depth.
The ceremony also witnessed the honoring of a group of pioneers of Gulf art. They are the Saudi Mohammed Al-Tawyan, the Kuwaiti Jassim Al-Nabhan, the Omani Ibrahim Al-Zadjali, the Bahraini Hussein Al-Rifai, and the Qatari Ahmed Al-Baker.
Philosophy of honor
Al-Nabhan spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat about this, saying: “This honor means a lot to me, as it is a responsibility, and honor does not mean retirement and staying at home, but rather it encourages giving again.” He added: “You will see new works by Jassim Al-Nabhan and the artists of his generation.” During the coming months.”
When Al-Nabhan was asked about his vision about the future of Gulf cinema, he pointed out that the future is achieved when the artist interested in cinema is supported, and he added: “Cinema is an honest expression that goes along with the word of this day among other societies that are not aware of what our history is, and we must address this history and address our aspirations and stature.” Through it, we will tell them, “Here we are, with our wonderful culture, able to deal with you and reach you with today’s vocabulary.”
Kuwaiti artist Jassim Al-Nabhan talks to Asharq Al-Awsat about his honor at the festival (Photography: Turki Al-Aqili)
Supporting youth
For her part, Bahraini actress Haifa Hussein spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat, saying, “This type of festival is a beautiful gesture to support young filmmakers, especially since we are still trying to provide some cinematic experiences to reach a level that raises society.” She added: “It is It is also nice to witness, in this session, the honoring of Bahraini director Hussein Al-Rifai, as I participated in one of his works that left a mark in the world of cinema, which is the film (Dinner).
Cultural flame
This luxurious cinematic event comes to confirm what Riyadh has come to represent in terms of being the capital of art and creativity in the region, and this is confirmed by the Saudi artist Abdul Ilah Al-Sanani, who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat by saying: “Riyadh has become a cultural torch added to the Arab world and offers new and important things, especially in Cultural work, whether theater or cinema.”
Artist Abdullah Al-Sadhan during his talk to Asharq Al-Awsat (Photography: Turki Al-Aqili)
Global leap
Artist Abdullah Al-Sadhan spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat, expressing his optimism about the future of cinema in Saudi Arabia, through the efforts made by the Ministry of Culture and the Film Authority, as well as supporting bodies such as Al-Ula Film and others. He added: “We are now waiting for the presentation of feature-length cinematic works so that we move away from… About simple jurisprudence.
When asked about the Cannes International Film Festival’s selection of his film “Noura” for official screening during the 77th session, which will be held next month, Al-Sadhan says: “It is not my film alone, but rather the film of all of us, and we are proud of this move.”
Busy programme
The festival includes a number of film screenings, dialogue seminars, and various and integrated training workshops that enable visitors to explore new dimensions of the film industry by looking at it from the perspective of its makers and critics. Over its five days, it displays 29 different films by prominent Gulf producers, across several categories, including feature films and narrative films. Short films and documentaries.
The honored personality from Saudi Arabia, the artist Muhammad Al-Tawyan (Photography: Turki Al-Aqili)
A number of Gulf film experts provide glimpses of their experiences through a number of specialized training workshops for festival visitors, through the workshop “How to Make an Impactful Documentary Film?” Presented by filmmaker Abdel Rahman Sundakji, the workshop “The Relationship of the Music Composer and the Film Director” presented by Mohamed Haddad, and the “Art, Writing and Developing the Script” workshop presented by the writer Mohamed Hassan Ahmed.
The dialogue seminars also address 6 different topics, including “Challenges of producing adapted films,” “Film festivals in the Gulf countries,” “Support funds and joint financing,” “Independent films and small budgets,” and “The experience of exhibition platforms in the Middle East.”
In addition, a number of Gulf filmmakers are competing for the festival’s awards in 9 different categories.
It is worth noting that the Gulf Film Festival is part of the Film Commission’s efforts to enrich the field of cinema nationally and regionally by holding festivals and forums that raise the level of cinematic production and enhance the skills and experiences of those interested in the field of cinema and cultural and knowledge exchange among them, in line with the importance of cinema in the global cultural scene.
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