Not a single cinema hall but Saudis hold their first film festival

by Richard Drewmore | May 22, 2008 at 09:17 am | 243 views | 7 comments

Saudis, known for banning popular Bollywood and Hollywood films, are now organising the country's first ever film festival. Till date, there are no cinema halls in Saudi Arabia. In fact, when Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Black' was screened privately at an exclusive club and the news leaked out, a leading Imam condemned the Indian film for violating Islamic norms. Now, the eastern Saudi city of Dammam is hosting a four-day film festival showcasing the best of Saudi's cinema, writes Pervaiz Alam for India EU Film Initiative.

Saudi Arab's first film festival in Dammam started with a recitation of Quranic verses Tuesday, May 20. The organisers were tense because, according to reports, a few days ago, an Islamic scholar Sheik Abdullah al-Obailan had issued a damning condemnation against a cultural club in the northern city of Hayel for screening an Indian movie, calling its members a 'gangrene in the body' with 'thoughts shrouded by illicit lust'>>> read more
http://www.iefilmi.com/con tent/not-single-cinema-hal l-saudis-hold-their-first-film-festival

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Rob Walker

at 09:57 on May 22nd, 2008

good stuff:

Richard Drewmore, I like this story. It's good stuff.

jordan

at 10:08 on May 22nd, 2008

The next step would be to somehow get these films seen by the public, even by guerrilla screenings in non-cinema spaces.

(I fixed the link at the bottom of the story)

René

at 12:39 on May 22nd, 2008

They let women go? Unattended? even if in a separate hall? Get prepared for propaganda.

René

at 12:43 on May 22nd, 2008

Aren't ALL images of humans and animals forbidden by the Koran? Guess they make exceptions... for TV, newspapers, internet, whatever. and now films, dvds. etc.

Richard Drewmore

at 13:59 on May 22nd, 2008

This is a misconception. Don't drag Islam into a petty debate. Some Mullahs don't like being pictured and some don't mind if others do. As some Christians or Jews have their own orthodox laws. Those who attack a particular religion must always introspect! Thanks.

René

at 15:23 on May 22nd, 2008

A misconception? I don't think this is 'petty'.

The question of the ban on images seems to elicit nothing but contradictions, particularly in the modern Islamic world.

Perhaps even Muslims need to get clear on this subject. And why do you call this question an attack? Maybe you could clarify?

azzayindia

at 12:35 on May 23rd, 2008

good stuff:

Richard Drewmore, I like this story. It's good stuff.

it is indeed wonderful effort whereas in india which is largest producer of films their are only few film festival and most of them are shrouded by egos of the organisers who themselves are either big stars in commercial cinemas so called bollywood where they have teir own agendas which have to be promoted.

good films never make it to these film festivals because they do not follow the ideology of the organisers which ranges from communist to consumerism.