Saudi Arabia Offers Excellence Trainings for Young and Talented Movie Makers

Saudi Arabia seeks to make every effort to catch up its delay in the cinema field. As the country reopened its cinemas in 2018 after a 35-year ban, local authorities are now seeking partnerships with the world’s leading art institutions to train young Sadaoudians in film production.

2 foreign cinema schools

Therefore, the Saudi Film Council (SFC) has opened two courses in the kingdom, in partnership with foreign film schools. The first one, in narration, will be delivered by the School of Cinematic Arts of the University of South Carolina in Jeddah. The second training, scriptwriting, is hosted by the Independent Film organization.

At the same time, and in order to promote Saudi talents, the General Authority of Culture has announced a 35% minimum financing of any shooting taking place on Saudi soil, as well as the funding of 50% of the wages of any Saudi citizen employed by a foreign production studio in the kingdom.

In line with the Vision 2030

These initiatives stand in line with the Vision 2030 plan, the country aims to open more than 300 cinemas in the coming years and to develop a solid film industry that could bring 30,000 job opportunities in the sector. By offering Saudi young talents trainings in the best tools and techniques in the world’s most renowned schools, Saudi Arabia seems aware of the challenges in a such demanding sector.

Nevertheless, sticking to its aspirations by giving itself the means to achieve them, proves a very strong desire to make it true. The country wants, by 2030, to make itself a place of choice in the film and contents production and to become a high-level platform with a worldwide reputation towards cinematic creation.