The fourth edition of the Saudi Film Festival in Dhahran is treating audiences to a host of creative films on various socio-cultural issues.
As crowds gather to explore the country鈥檚 filmmaking talent, Arab News caught up with Ali Al-Kalthami, the director behind the film 鈥淲asati.鈥�
The movie was screened in Los Angeles in 2016 during the two-day Saudi Film Days event and addresses Saudi culture.
鈥淭he movie addresses some of the stereotypes people might have about 抖阴短视频 and the people here,鈥� Al-Kalthami told Arab News.
Wasati is based on real-life events that happened during the performance of a play in Riyadh 10 years ago. The play was called 鈥淲asati bela Wastiah,鈥� which roughly translates to 鈥淎 Moderate Without a Middle-Ground,鈥� and during one of its performances, a group of extremists attacked the theater.
That story made headlines and shook Saudi society and now, Al-Kalthami is recounting the events from a different perspective, using dark humor to get the message across to the audience.
When asked if he envisions widespread acceptance of the movie in 抖阴短视频, Al-Kalthami said: 鈥淭his is an important story for film enthusiasts, for artists and for real people.鈥�
Al-Kalthami is a director, producer, actor and co-founder of entertainment production and distribution companies C3Films and Telfaz11.
The Saudi Film Festival is screening a slew of movies dedicated to discussing pressing issues in the country.
On the second day of the event, the following movies were screened at 4 p.m.:
鈥淛aber鈥� (drama, social), 鈥淚nvasion鈥� (fantasy), 鈥淪hells鈥� (stop motion, social), 鈥淭he Story of the Sword鈥� (fantasy, thriller), 鈥淭he Right Helmet鈥� (drama, comedy), 鈥淲hy do people listen to Shailaat?鈥� (creative documentary, musical), 鈥淗umanization of the Cities鈥� (documentary) and 鈥淪adaqa Jariah鈥� (drama, comedy).
During the second session, which ran at 6:30 p.m., the following movies were screened:
鈥淭ongue鈥� (drama, thriller), 鈥淭he Music Box Dancer鈥� (psychodrama, social), 鈥淭awq鈥� (psychodrama) and 鈥淎 matter of trust鈥� (drama).
During the third session, which ran at 8:00 p.m., the screened movies included:
鈥淚 Can鈥檛 Kiss Myself鈥� (mystery, fantasy), 鈥淩efuge鈥� (drama, thriller), 鈥淭he Wedding Dress鈥� (drama), 鈥淶aina鈥檚 Cake鈥� (drama, romance).
During the outdoor movies session, which ran at 9:00 p.m., Hungarian film 鈥淪ing鈥� and Spanish film 鈥淚鈥檝e Just had a Dream鈥� were shown.