The Saudi Film Festival 2025 will explore identity through cinema

The Saudi Film Festival (SFF), now in its 11th year, will take place from April 17^th to 23^rd, 2025, at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) in Dhahran. This edition of the festival will be centered around the theme Cinema of Identity, inviting filmmakers and audiences to explore the many ways in which film can reflect and shape personal, cultural, and national identities.

The festival will present a selection of 68 films, including 7 Saudi and Gulf feature films, 22 short films, and 7 documentaries. A further 12 short films from Arab and international filmmakers will also be shown, in collaboration with the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival in France. These films are curated to offer a diverse range of perspectives, exploring both the challenges and complexities of identity.

In addition to the screenings, SFF 2025 will host a Japanese Cinema Showcase, in partnership with Japan’s Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia. This program will feature 8 films, offering insight into Japan’s distinct filmmaking style, as well as discussions with Japanese filmmakers and a masterclass on Japanese cinema.

This year’s festival will also see the return of the Production Market, which will be expanded to feature 22 projects from Saudi filmmakers. The Market is designed to provide local filmmakers with the opportunity to connect with industry professionals, production partners, and financiers, helping to support the development of Saudi cinema.

In addition to the screenings and market, the festival will offer seminars, workshops, and script development sessions for filmmakers at all levels. These sessions will allow participants to engage with industry experts, refine their craft, and gain insights into the current state of the global film industry.

The festival will conclude with awards in several categories, with a record number of submissions this year. 285 films, 116 production market entries, and 313 unproduced screenplay submissions will be considered for recognition.

“This year’s festival continues to provide a platform for Saudi filmmakers to showcase their work while engaging with the broader global film community,” said Ahmed Al-Mulla, Director of the Saudi Film Festival. “We look forward to seeing how the theme of identity resonates in the films presented.”

Mansour Al-Badran, Vice President of the Festival, added, “The increasing number of screenings this year reflects the growing interest in Saudi cinema. We are pleased to provide a space where filmmakers can share their work and connect with others in the industry.”