In an attempt to strengthen the budding film industry, the Saudi Film Commission launched its most recent training and development programs at Muvi Cinema, the biggest movie theatre in the country, located on Riyadh Boulevard City. The CEO of the commission, Abdullah Al-Ayyaf, emphasized their commitment to showcasing Saudi films both domestically and internationally, highlighting talent development as the primary strategy.
The commission introduced two significant opportunities during the announcement: the fourth iteration of the Filmmakers Program and the new Kader Film Vocational Training Program. The Filmmakers Program, aiming to train 4,000 individuals, will feature 100 in-person events and 50 online workshops across 13 regions, including prominent areas like Riyadh, Makkah, Asir, Najran, Tabuk, and the Eastern Province. The comprehensive training encompasses masterclasses, covering pre-production, marketing, distribution, scriptwriting, directing, acting, site scouting, sound design, animation, safety procedures, visual effects, and festival administration.
This year's noteworthy addition is the Art Residency program, which gives filmmakers a dedicated area to polish their works, including producing and directing the adaptation of Saudi Arabian novels or books into film scripts. The program will begin 32 in-person sessions in Riyadh, Jeddah, the Eastern Province, and Qasim in January and February, with professionals in the worldwide sector leading them.
The Kader Film Vocational Training Program was introduced by Abduljalil Al-Nasser, the commission's general manager of sector development and investment attraction. Its goal is to establish long-lasting relationships with professional filmmakers throughout the world. Drawing inspiration from the positive outcomes of 15 Saudi filmmakers participating in global productions over the past year, the program facilitates connections with productions worldwide. In addition to being nominated for below-the-line positions in the production and post-production stages (such as camera operation, production design, directing, sound design, and more), participants must have a minimum of two years of experience in the industry in order to be eligible.
Al-Nasser emphasized the program's focus on below-the-line work but expressed openness to providing Saudi actors, actresses, writers, or assistant directors if requested by productions. Both the Filmmakers Program and Kader Film Vocational Training Program are currently open for registration, marking a significant step toward fostering a robust and globally connected film industry in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, Al-Nasser hinted at a forthcoming consulting program to be announced later in the year.
