Winners announced for inaugural AlUla Creates Film Programme
On Tuesday 10 October, Film AlUla announced the winners for the first ever AlUla Creates Film Programme, celebrating creativity and empowering future generations in film. With a decision making panel including Saudi industry talent, Vertigo Films and Film AlUla representatives, the winners include Hana Alfasi, Maram Taibah and sisters Raneem and Dana Almohandes.
“A new generation of talent is on the rise in Saudi Arabia; they have the drive, perspective and potential to take the Saudi industry to the global level. AlUla Creates, as a programme, facilitates that,” said Charlene Deleon-Jones, Executive Director, Film AlUla. “By bringing together established talent with emerging Saudi filmmakers, we are enabling an exchange of experiences and knowledge. It is a two-way process of learning that will have a long-lasting impact on the trajectories of these filmmaker’s careers. By anchoring our programme in AlUla, we are setting their creative discussions in a place of inspiration and connection.”
Following 85 submissions, Film AlUla and the chosen selction committee made their decision. The inaugural selection committee included Saudi director Haidaa Al Mansour (The Perfect Candidate, Wadjda), James Richardson and Jane Moore of Vertigo Films (Monsters, Britannia, Bronson) and Roua Almadani of Film AlUla. Coming out on top for their 10 minute short film creations were Hana Alfasi, Maram Taibah and sisters Raneem and Dana Almohandes.
Mentor and Saudi filmmaker Haifaa Al Mansour said: “Spending the past week with the extremely talented winning filmmakers of the AlUla Creates: Film Programme has been insightful and rewarding. Since I started my career, we have witnessed a massive shift, and I have seen the Saudi film industry opening up and flourishing. As it continues to grow, it’s important to provide opportunities and guidance for local creatives to carve out their career on their own terms. The support, whether that is practical guidance, networking, or bouncing ideas around, alongside the valuable financial support from Film AlUla, will hopefully enable the filmmakers to not only create beautiful short films that can be showcased on an international platform, but also gain invaluable insights into the film industry and how productions from across the globe operate.”
James Richardson and Jane Moore, Vertigo Films, added: “Through the judging process we have had a front row seat to the incredible talent of up-and-coming Saudi filmmakers. We had some extremely difficult decisions to make, but the winning filmmakers all blew us away with the ambition and quality of their storytelling. Working with the filmmakers this week, against the breathtaking backdrop of AlUla, has inspired everyone and we look forward to continuing to support them through the development and production process.”
The winners features topical themes including conversations surrounding mental health like Alfasi explores, the Almohandes sisters’ commentary on human identity through a live action musical, or Taibah’s approach to female empowerment and independence through the lens of magical realism. Led by Al Mansour, Richardson and Moore, the first part of the mentorship saw the selected filmmakers receive grants of USD 20,000 each from Film AlUla for their 10 minute projects. They will also have the opportunity to work with Saudi fashion designers selected to be part of the first phase, Alia Abeer Olaif of Atelier Hekayat and Arwas of ArAm.
Images courtesy of Film AlUla
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