Horizons of Arab Cinema · 46th Edition
Anti Cinema
Director
Ali Saeed
Country
Saudi Arabia
Runtime
1 h 56 min
Language
Arabic
Premiere
World Premiere
Synopsis
The film tells the fascinating story of Saudi cinema from within, tracing the generation of Saudi children who grew up in the 1980s with a passion for movies at a time when there were no cinemas in the country. They faced numerous challenges in a society that opposed cinema. The film also uncovers the cinematic life that existed in Saudi Arabia before 1979, investigating the earliest screenings and film productions through an engaging narrative told by the pioneering figures of Saudi cinema. It is a documentary journey spanning five years of research and exploration, offering a living testament to a passion that never faded despite the obstacles.
Screenplay
Ali Saeed
Producers
Hassan Saeed, Ali Saeed, Mohammed Al-Yousef
About the Director
A Saudi filmmaker and writer, he has written and directed many award-winning works, including the films Green Lemon, Compass, and Antidote. His short narrative film An Old Phone Number was selected as the opening film of the Saudi Film Festival in 2022, and won the Best Arab Film Award at the Bahrain International Film Festival in 2023, as well as the Jury Award at the Jerusalem International Film Festival in Gaza in 2022.
Screenings