Ithra Film Production selects 15 Saudi film projects for development

The Saudi Arabian film-funding program Ithra Film Production (IFP) on May 7 selected 15 winners from 170 submissions received over the past year from emerging Saudi filmmakers vying to take their concepts from the drawing board to silver screens across the globe. 

The announcement comes on the sidelines of the 10th anniversary session of the eight-day Saudi Film Festival currently underway at the King Abdulaziz World Cultural Center (Ithra).

Ithra Film Production plays a vital role in supporting the Kingdom’s fast-growing film industry by nurturing home-grown talent and fostering cinematic content through the provision of commissioning and co-funding opportunities. IFP seeks to highlight Saudi stories and discover new voices and creative storytellers with the ultimate goal of having their films showcased on national and international platforms.

After reviewing an unprecedented number of high-quality submissions, IFP’s selection jury ultimately settled on 11 short films and four feature films that together comprise a wide array of unique untold stories presented by talented storytellers who tapped into Saudi Arabia’s rich culture to craft original film ideas. 

This cycle’s winners include: 

1. “Keys,” a feature film directed by Abdulrahman Jarash that was written by Nawaf Alhoshan and produced by Abdulrahman Jarash and Alhoshan.
2. “Ummi,” a feature film written and directed by Hisham Fageeh and produced by Anas Ba-Tahaf.
3. “Drowning,” a feature film written and directed by Majtaba Saeed and produced by Nadia Eliwat.
4. “Hijrah,” a feature film written and directed by Shahad Ameen, and produced by Mohammed Aldaradji.
5. “My Dear Professor,” a short film written and directed by Lina Mahmood, and produced by Severine Tibi.
6. “Abandoned,” a short film written and directed by Mohammed Ajabreen, and produced by Majeed Saud.
7. “Irtizaz,” a short film written and directed by Sara Balghonaim, and produced by Karen Madar.
8. “Kadi at Omna Hawaa,” a short film written and produced by Jawahre Alamri, and written by Khaleda Bataweel.
9. “Marzoug,” a short film written and directed by Hussain AlMahfooz, and produced by Mohammed Alyousif.
10. “Doubts,” a short film written and directed Ahmed Kurdi, and produced by Fami Farahat.
11. “Rogue,” a short film written and directed Samaher Mously, and produced Maan Bin Abdulrahman.
12. “Lifeless Struggle,” a short film directed by Sultan Rabea, produced by Ziyad Alghamdi, and written by Muhanad Faisal.
13. “Mera, Mera, Mera,” a short film directed by Khaled Zida, produced by Baker Alduhaim, and written by Abdulaziz Alessa.
14. “I Am Sila,” a short film written and directed by Jassem Alsaady, and produced Ghadeer Abbas.
15. “Son Badriyah,” a short film directed by Razan Alsoghayer, produced Jeremie Planque, and written by Rani Nasr.

Over the past six years, IFP has also introduced a range of initiatives aimed at providing platforms for film producers, advancing standards of excellence in filmmaking and empowering new talent. IFP also hosts numerous workshops and seminars in the field of representation and production, writing and directing, among others. 

Since its first film in 2018, IFP has funded 20 titles and produced four which have been showcased at 95 film festivals across the globe winning 34 awards. This includes “Hajjan,” which most recently won three awards at the Gulf Film Festival including Best Feature, Best Actor and Best Cinematography.

For more information about the Ithra Film Production, visit https://www.ithra.com.