PARIS: There was a strong turnout at the third edition of Saudi Cinema Night at the Institut du Monde Arabe (Arab World Institute) in Paris on Monday, organized by Generation 2030, an association that gathers young talents from Saudi Arabia and France to collaborate on various projects.
The program included screenings of short films as well as discussions between the audience of film enthusiasts and the directors themselves, or other talents who worked on the films.
The program included screenings of three short films. (IMA)
“Me & Aydarous” by Sara Balghonaim, “Othman” by Khaled Zidan, and “VHS Tape Replaced” by Maha Al-Saati were screened at the IMA. The films all prompted audience members to reflect on gender equality issues and question the concept of masculinity more broadly.
Jack Lang, president of the IMA, spoke to Arab News en Francais about Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning film industry.
He expressed admiration for the Kingdom’s role in “training creators, sending young filmmakers, for example, to Paris, to film school, encouraging production, opening cinemas, and this extraordinary festival in Jeddah (Red Sea International Film Festival).”
Interviewed by Arab News en Francais a few minutes before the screening of their films, the lead actor of the film “Othman,” the star of “Me & Aydarous” and the young director of “VHS Tape Replaced” expressed a mix of emotions.
“It is a mix of emotions and pride that we feel today,” Ida Alkusay, who stars in the short film “Me & Aydarous,” told Arab News.
The eight-minute film tells the story of a young woman who confronts her driver as she goes to a discreet rendezvous. It was also screened at the Aspen Shortsfest in April 2023.
As for the 35-minute film “Othman,” its lead actor Ahmed Yaqoub said that the film had a “special flavor” as it allowed him to “make the leap from theater to cinema.” The short film tells the story of Othman, a security officer in a government hospital parking lot, who lives a monotonous life with his cousin Fahd. But soon, an event occurs that will disrupt his routine and force him to face reality.
“VHS Tape Replaced,” with a runtime of 17 minutes, tells the story of a young Black Saudi man who tries to win over the love of his life by imitating Crown, his favorite artist from the 1980s. Saudi director Maha Al-Saati explores the absurdities of life and addresses themes of femininity and gender roles in the Arab world.
