National Film Archive launches Film Deposit Initiative
Initiative will collect films from various sources; from private and public sector institutions as well as filmmakers
By preserving the films, the National Film Archive aims to solidify the Kingdom’s position as a premier hub for movie production
Updated 22 August 2024
Sulafa Alkhunaizi
RIYADH: The National Film Archive has launched the Film Deposit Initiative, which aims to collect and archive more than 1,000 Saudi and Arab films, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
The initiative will collect films from various sources; from private and public sector institutions as well as filmmakers. By preserving the films, the National Film Archive aims to solidify the Kingdom’s position as a premier hub for movie production in the heart of the Middle East.
According to SPA, the Film Deposit Initiative aims to preserve films for future generations and ensure their availability. Its mission extends beyond archiving; aiming for strategic digital transformation, systematic classification, and enhanced engagement with global film communities and cinema audiences.
Anyone can deposit their film by filling out the form and the National Film Archive will guide people through the required stages.
Zallal workshops in Diriyah celebrate calligraphy art
Running through Aug. 30, the event offers interactive and creative experiences for visitors of all ages
Arabic calligraphy workshops have become a popular attraction, offering visitors a unique opportunity to have their names written in a variety of traditional styles
Updated 06 August 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Arabic calligraphy is among the highlights of the Summer of Zallal events, held every Thursday and Friday in the Al-Bujairi District of the Diriyah governorate.
Running through Aug. 30, the event offers interactive and creative experiences for visitors of all ages, according to a Saudi Press Agency report.
The Arabic calligraphy workshops have become a popular attraction, offering visitors a unique opportunity to have their names written in a variety of traditional styles.
Saudi calligrapher Ayman Al-Khadhra said that he inscribed visitors’ names using various artistic styles of Arabic calligraphy, including Thuluth, Jeli Thuluth, and Diwani, as well as historic scripts such as Kufic.
He noted that the enthusiastic engagement from attendees reflects a growing interest in preserving traditional arts, the SPA reported.
The Zallal project stands as one of Diriyah’s most prominent modern developments, covering a total area of more than 53,000 square meters. It features seven contemporary buildings housing upscale restaurants, cafes, and dedicated venues for cultural events and live performances.
Nadine Labaki among stars to headline Abu Dhabi congress on Arabic creativity
Updated 06 August 2025
Arab News
DUBAI: Acclaimed Arab stars including Lebanese actress and director Nadine Labaki, Tunisian Egyptian actress Hend Sabry and Jordanian director and actress Tima Shomali will headline the upcoming Congress of Arabic & Creative Industries in Abu Dhabi from Sept. 14 to 15.
The two-day event, organized by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, aims to explore the evolving role of the language in the region’s fast-growing creative economy. It brings together cultural leaders, global tech voices and rising regional talent.
The celebrity trio will lead a panel titled “Her Narratives: Women Reimagining Arabic Creativity,” which highlights the impact of Arab women in reshaping storytelling across film, literature, media and digital platforms.
Labaki is best known for her Oscar-nominated film “Capernaum,” Sabry for her award-winning roles in Arabic cinema and Netflix’s “Finding Ola,” and Shomali for co-creating and starring in the Netflix series “AlRawabi School for Girls.”
The session will focus on their personal experiences, creative approaches and the challenges they have overcome while influencing Arabic cultural expression.
Hend Sabry is famous for her award-winning roles in Arabic cinema and Netflix’s “Finding Ola.” (Instagram)
Other highlights include “Whose Story Is It?”— a conversation on originality versus adaptation in Arabic television featuring Egyptian screenwriter Mariam Naoum, Syrian author and poet Rami Koussa and OSN executive Rolla Karam.
The session will examine how localized remakes and original content shape identity and creative ownership in an increasingly globalized market.
The congress also brings together major players in technology and media, with partners including Google, AWS, TikTok, Adobe and Sard Writers’ Room.
The agenda spans themes including artificial intelligence, digital publishing, and the business of creativity through a series of curated panels and industry conversations.
In “Creators, Capital, and Control,” executives from Snap, TikTok and Meta will discuss power dynamics in today’s content economy.
Also, “Arabic Language Crisis and the Coming Shift” will examine the tension between Modern Standard Arabic and regional dialects. Panelists include Dr. Ali bin Tamim, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, and language expert Dr. Hanada Taha Thomure.
Saudi craftsman creates inclusive artwork by adding Braille to decorative plaque
Adel Al-Shehri created heritage piece intended to be accessible to all
Using specialized tools, he embossed Braille onto luxury wood
Updated 05 August 2025
Tareq Al-Thaqafi
MAKKAH: Craftsman Adel Al-Shehri has created a unique decorative plaque inspired by Saudi heritage and embossed with Braille writing.
His creation honors Saudi culture and embraces the concept of inclusivity, driven by a conviction that the decorative piece should be accessible to all, including the visually impaired.
The plaque, titled “My Heritage in Braille,” is designed in a traditional style that reflects the deep-rooted culture of Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi artist hopes that his approach will inspire artists across the Arab world to embrace inclusivity in their work. (Supplied)
It features a globe in its center surrounded by artistic motifs reflecting the concepts of universality.
In an interview with Arab News, Al-Shehri spoke about the inspiration behind his selected materials and design choices.
He crafted the plaque from luxurious walnut and mahogany woods, prized for their durability and rich, elegant grain.
It wasn’t easy, but through countless experiments and careful refinements, I achieved a delicate balance between tactile clarity and visual elegance.
Adel Al-Shehri, Saudi craftsman
He added subtle metal inlays to complement the aesthetics and highlight the geometric details with contemporary flair.
The plaque’s base features a stepped circular design, inspired by the shape of ancient terraces found in historical buildings in the Kingdom.
Incorporating Braille into the design proved to be a challenge for the craftsman. The reading system, which features raised dots that are read by touch, is not easy to recreate on materials like wood and metal.
Braille is usually printed on paper, but adding it to a solid surface requires extreme precision.
Al-Shehri devised a special method to achieve this, using engraving tools that enabled him to shape the Braille dots to the appropriate height (between 0.9 mm and 1.4 mm), while maintaining precise geometric spacing between the dots.
This allowed them to be read by touch without losing their meaning or interfering with the other decorative elements on the plaque.
“This step presented both a technical and aesthetic challenge. How could I create a language that is read by touch and integrate it into a plaque meant to be admired visually?
“It wasn’t easy, but through countless experiments and careful refinements, I achieved a delicate balance between tactile clarity and visual elegance,” he said.
Al-Shehri said that the true purpose of his work is to carry a profound humanitarian message: Art should be accessible to all.
He hopes that his pioneering approach will inspire artists across the Arab world to embrace inclusivity in their work.
Guided by trained facilitators, children made dipped date balls, nut-stuffed dates, and light meals with bread and dates
Workshops focused on nutritious ingredients, simple preparation steps, and creative presentation
Updated 04 August 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: The Chef’s Kitchen corner at the Madinah Book Fair drew strong interest from young visitors, who joined hands-on workshops to prepare healthy recipes using Madinah’s famous dates.
Guided by trained facilitators and with safety in mind, children made dipped date balls, nut-stuffed dates, and light meals with bread and dates.
The workshops focused on nutritious ingredients, simple preparation steps, and creative presentation, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
Beyond cooking, the sessions aimed to boost sensory and motor skills, promote nutritional awareness, and deepen appreciation for local products — especially dates as a key part of Madinah’s culinary heritage.
Meanwhile, the Story Lab corner sparked creativity through interactive storytelling, where children crafted short stories using elements from a digital screen.
Participants tackled literary challenges that developed their storytelling skills in a playful learning environment. The activity also enhanced Arabic vocabulary and fostered pride in the language as a tool for creative expression.
The fair concluded on Aug. 4 at the King Salman International Convention Center with more than 300 local, regional, and international publishers participating.
New international art consultancy launches with Gulf focus
New Perspective Art Partners marks a collaboration between leading figures in the art world to advise top-tier clients with a special focus on the Middle East
Updated 04 August 2025
REBECCA ANN PROCTOR
DUBAI: A new art consultancy with a focus on the Middle East region has been created with four of the art market’s leading players.
Called New Perspective Art Partners, the new advisory is launching with a mission to work with clients in a way that offers a new model bridging cross-continental advisory services with bespoke services to top-tier collectors and institutions.
The dedicated focus on the Middle East reflects the growing ambitions of collectors and institutions in the region.
The new advisory is comprised of Ed Dolman, the former executive chairman of Phillips auction house; Brett Gorvy, a co-founder and partner of Levy Gorvy gallery and the former chairman of postwar and contemporary art at Christie’s; and Patti Wong of the Hong Kong-based company Patti Wong & Associates, who previously worked at Sotheby’s for 15 years as the head of the private client services department before being appointed as chairman of Sotheby’s Asia in 2004.
Alex Dolman, Ed’s son, who recently launched the advisory firm Dolman Partners with his father, will also be part of the group.
“New Perspectives Art Partners is oriented around those operating at the very top of the international art world, which includes numerous collectors and institutions in the Middle East,” Dolman told Arab News.
“Our team has extensive experience in the region — supporting both collectors and institutions who have been operating for decades, and those who have more recently invested in the culture space,” he said.
“We understand the unique requirements of clients in the region and can bring them the international experience necessary to help them realize their ambitions.”
