Ithra teams up with the Cinema Society in Dhahran to aid the development of the film sector in Saudi

The Cinema Society in Dhahran and the King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture, commonly known as Ithra, have partnered to launch programmes and initiatives intended to support the growth of the Kingdom's film industry and assist local industry experts in honing their skills.

On the margins of the ninth Saudi Film Festival, Hana Al-Omair, the president of the Cinema Society, and Abdullah Al-Rashed, the director of Ithra, inked a collaboration agreement.

The partnership aims to develop programmes that might assist prospective professionals in the local film industry in honing their abilities through participation in courses taught by seasoned experts. Additionally, it will enable content creators to build chances for skill improvement.

Ithra Director Abdullah Al-Rashed emphasised the significance of the partnership in light of both organisations' crucial positions in the cultural industry.

Hana Al-Omair, president of the Cinema Society, stated that the organization's objectives include fostering the creation of significant and unique cinematic material as well as providing assistance for the cultural sector.

As has been our responsibility and goal since the Cinema Society's founding, Al-Omair added, "We at the Cinema Society are looking forward to providing a meaningful space for the talented and pioneers."

At Ithra, there are movie screenings and associated events as part of the Saudi Film Festival, which started on May 4 and runs until May 11. These include a specialised programme for business executives.

Tickets are available for the public screenings, which are followed by opportunities for audience participation in discussions with the filmmakers. The delights of cinematic virtual reality are also accessible; in this format, films are screened in a completely immersive, 360-degree format with specialised images and sounds to provide a more intense sensory experience.

A production market where business people from the industry may connect is part of the event. Discussions on a variety of subjects pertaining to the film industry in the Kingdom, such as the Red Sea Film Festival, the Film Commission, NEOM, and Film AlUla, are also scheduled.

The following film and script-related topics will be covered in a series of masterclasses given in Arabic and English by international and local industry experts: "Grab Them At Hello," "Creative Writing," "General VFX," "The Perfection of Our Creative Flaws," "Co-Productions in Documentary and Feature Films," "Strategic PR for Festivals," and "Distribution."