Saudi Film Festival to stream 54 films on YouTube in online event

The sixth session of the festival will begin on September 1

A picture taken on March 27, 2017 shows a general view of the opening ceremony of the fourth Saudi Film Festival held in Dammam City, 400 kilometers east from Saudi capital Riyadh. - This year's festival is the first since the kingdom began last year a cautious push to introduce entertainment, despite opposition from Muslim hardliners. (Photo by STR / AFP)
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The sixth Saudi Film Festival, which aims to support and promote the work of Saudi filmmakers, will take place for the first time as an online event set to run from September 1 to 6.

The festival will bring 54 films to audiences, its organising committee has announced.

Streaming live daily on the festival's YouTube channel, the festival will air its programme from 6pm to 11pm to include film screenings, seminars and talks with filmmakers. The event will also include workshops featuring Lebanese film director Michel Kammoun and music trainer Ghia Al Rashidat.

An independent international jury will also give awards in four major categories: Best Feature Film, Best Documentary Film, Best Student Film and Best Script for Film Under Development. Audience awards will also be handed out for Best Feature, Best Documentary and Best Student Film.

The event is organised by the Culture and Arts Association in Dammam and in partnership with the King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture (Ithra), as well as the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts and is supported by the Saudi Film Commission. In addition to the festival's YouTube channel, the event will also be streamed across Ithra's social platforms.

For more information, visit saudifilmfestival.org 

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