Written by Kianna Best on Sep 9, 2022. Posted in Production News

Saudi Arabia presents four features from Daw competition winners

On 8 Septemebr 2022, the Saudi Film Commission announced the conclusion to four feature film productions. Led by winners of the Daw Film Competition, the films include Within Sand, Raven Song, Norah and Derat Ajdadi.

 

Celebrating and supporting the talents of the visual industry in Saudi Arabia, the Daw Film competition came into fruition in 2019. The recent finishing of the projects from the four winners is the product of the nation’s investment into developing emerging creatives and strengthening the industry on a whole.

 

 

“We launched the Daw Film Competition to discover new local talent and empower creative storytelling, talent development is of strategic significance to our industry and is central to achieving our goals,” commented  Abdullah Al-Eyaf, CEO of the Saudi Film Commission. “The competition aims to share authentic Saudi stories and films with the rest of the world, helping us to create a thriving film industry in Saudi Arabia. We are proud of these four filmmakers, and we look forward to creating more quality productions in the future.”

 

Within Sand, written and directed by Moe Alatawi is a historical drama inspired by the true story of  23-year old tobacco merchant. The directorial debut form Alatawi makes use of an all-Saudi cast and 70% Saudi crew. Scheduled for release late 2022, the feature is produced by Reem Alatawi and Riadh-based Alsaird Films. Within Sand was also shot in the unique landscapes of NEOM.

 

 

Written and directed by Tawfik Alzaidi and produced by Black Sugar Pictures and Nebras Films in partnership with Paul Miller and Sharif Majali, Norah is a 90’s Saudi Arabia throwback. Following the relationship of artistic discovery between a young woman and a local artist, Tawkfik makes his directorial debut also. Shooting in the AIUIa area, the film makes use of the region’s awe-worthy sceneries. The film stars Yagoun Alfarhan and Maria Bahrawi, along with an all- Saudi cast.

 

 

Raven Song, produced by Ahmed Mousa and Telfaz 11 is a comedy shot in the city of Riyadh. Main character Nasar leads the audience on a coming of age story facing the conflict of not being understood by his father and battling affairs of the heart. His infatuation with a mystery girl leads him to seek the ill-informed advice of his best friend and deal with the consequences of such.

 

 

Directed by Danya Alhmrani and produced by Dania Nassif, Derat Ajdadi is a documentary with focus on the six lives of individuals living with an intellectual disability over the course of a year. The documentary consists of interviews of loved ones to bring underrepresented stories to the forefront of media. Jeddah serves as a background to the documentary.

 

 

The Saudi Film industry is continuing to establish its status in the global visual sector beyond its expansive locations. With talents constantly in development, The Saudi Film Commission attended the 79^th Venice Film Festival to draw the attention of international film professionals from across the world to the local advancements of the Saudi industry.

Images courtesy of The Saudi Film Commission