The 12th Saudi Film Festival drew to a close at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) in Dhahran, celebrating the winners of the Golden Palm awards and offering a glimpse into its upcoming 13th edition. The event underscored the festival’s pivotal role in driving the growth of Saudi and Gulf cinema.
Shahad Ameen’s Hijra emerged as the night’s big winner, securing the Golden Palm for Best Narrative Feature. In the regional categories, the Iraqi feature Irkala: Gilgamesh’s Dream took home the Best Gulf Narrative Feature award. Additionally, A Matter of Life or Death earned a Special Jury Mention, with its lead, Sara Taibah, scooping the Best Actress award.
In the short film lineup, Ibrahim Al-Bukairi’s Unknown was named Best Short Film. Director Lujain Salam received the Abdullah Al-Mhaisen Award for Best Debut Film for An Ant’s Cry, while Bahrain’s Seed clinched the Best Gulf Short Film title.
Documentaries also shared the spotlight, with Saad Tuhaitah’s Gunpowder Fog winning Best Documentary and Yemen’s Fariha walking away with the Best Gulf Documentary prize.
Looking ahead, Festival Director Ahmed Al-Mulla announced the formation of a new supreme advisory board. In a move designed to refine the festival’s creative trajectory, filmmaker and critic Abdulmohsen Al-Dhabaan has been appointed Artistic Director for the next edition.
On the industry front, the festival’s production market broke records by breaking out 51 funding and service grants totaling over 4.09 million SAR. This marks a massive 60% surge from last year, reflecting the booming financial support pouring into Saudi and Gulf cinematic ventures.
The closing ceremony concluded a dynamic week of screenings, industry panels, and cultural initiatives, solidifying the festival’s standing as the premier incubator for regional talent and a major catalyst for Saudi cinema on the global stage.
