Blacksand Pictures

Last month at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) Awards Night, I had the chance to reflect on my journey in the film industry as the festival celebrated its 15th anniversary alongside some of Bollywood's most iconic filmmakers and talents. About six years ago, I created a short film, shot entirely on a GoPro, to tell a story that mattered deeply to me and so many women in my community. The film was based on the Sydney Siege, a tragic event that the mainstream media often used to push narratives that divided and dehumanised the Muslim community. All we wanted was for our voices and experiences to be seen, heard, and genuinely represented. In 2018, one of the major festivals that selected the film was the IFFM. It was a surreal moment when, despite all the technical challenges of making the film, the festival not only selected our film but awarded it Best Short Film. The IFFM recognised the heart of the story and the voices behind it, offering me a glimmer of hope for a more inclusive industry. That was the true beginning of my journey. I’m incredibly grateful to Mitu Bhowmick Lange AM and the IFFM for their continued support. Here’s to another 15 years of success and celebration! ✨ 🎥 Link to the film: https://lnkd.in/dhwM9Jqr

From Sydney to Melbourne within 2 nights, filming the first Saudi Film Festival in Australia with our incredible Hazen Agency team was brilliant Special thanks to Blacksand Pictures Kauthar Abdulalim and John Gregory for organising everything and your trust, and wonderful to work with the great Faisal Baltyuor from Cinewaves Films This makes me want to have an Iraqi Film Festival someday 😉

Kicked off Screen Queensland’s In The Frame conference with our founder & CEO Kauthar Abdulalim on the ‘All About Online’ panel. Kauthar shared insights on how our online productions have expanded our international audiences, reach and highlighted the importance of exploring markets beyond Australia and our strong presence and collaborations with Saudi Arabia and Kenya.

Thank you to everyone who attended Saudi Film Nights in Melbourne! Swipe to see highlights from the event. #SaudiFilmNights #ThankYou

Thank you to everyone who attended Saudi Film Nights in Sydney! Swipe to see highlights from the event. #SaudiFilmNights #ThankYou

The Saudi film industry is booming, marking a new era of creativity and cultural expression. By 2030, Saudi Arabia aims to produce over 100 films annually, establishing itself as a global hub for cinematic excellence. This ambitious vision is part of the broader Saudi Vision 2030, focusing on diversifying the economy, promoting cultural exchange, and creating job opportunities in the creative sector. Hosting Saudi Film Nights in Australia aligns perfectly with these goals, fostering international collaboration and showcasing the incredible talent emerging from Saudi Arabia. Join us as we celebrate the rise of Saudi cinema at #SaudiFilmNights! 📽️ #Vision2030 #SaudiFilmNights

Here’s the program for Saudi Film Nights! #SaudiFilmNights

Meet the incredible Saudi talent behind our featured films that will be attending Saudi Film Nights in Melbourne and Sydney. In Syndey we will be joined by: Actor, producer, filmmaker, Majed Z. Samman is a computer engineer by profession. During his college years, Majed acted in a few TV commercials, series, and films in Tokyo, Japan. Prior to cinemas officially opening in Saudi Arabia, Majed was part of the original initiative to support Saudi filmmakers by funding their short film projects and enrolling them into a variety of filmmaking workshops. The initiative grew into supporting not only short films, but feature films and developing scripts. To date, Majed has been producing, co-producing, executive produced more than 20 Saudi films. Ibrahim Alhasawi is a Saudi actor and producer Chairman of the Board of Directors of Noon Art for Visual and Auditory Media Production Company Founding and administrative member of the Saudi Cinema Association Founding and administrative member of the Saudi Film Association. Ida Al-Kusay is a Saudi actress who has worked in film, series, and theater. She got her degree in Clinical Psychology from KSU in Riyadh, and double-majored in Marketing and Sign Language from Emerson college between Boston and LA. She wrote her first play “Iris Blooms” when she was 18 years old, which was the first step encouraging her to enter the acting scene. Her acting career started in 2019 by landing a lead role in the feature film “Junoon”, which got her nominated for “Best Actress in a Feature Film” at the London Film Festival. She is also one of the first Saudis to receive professional training in swords, spears, horse riding, fire, and wirework. In Melbourne we will be joined by: Khaled Yeslam is a prominent Saudi actor and writer known for his versatile talent in the film and television industry. He has captivated audiences with standout roles in the TV series "Rashash" and the film "Al-Hamour." Khaled made history by starring in "Roll'em" (2019), the first Saudi film to be commercially released in the Kingdom. His extensive body of work includes numerous short and feature films, and he has made significant appearances at film festivals both locally and internationally, establishing himself as a leading figure in Saudi cinema. Raghad Albarqi, an independent filmmaker and illustrator holding a master's degree in animation from the Royal College of Arts. She is a visionary artist addressing societal issues through diverse artistic mediums. Notable projects include "Social Molds Manual" which screened at Annecy and Animest Bucharest, and "Saleeg" where she was a production designer for the pioneering Saudi independent stop-motion animation. Raghad's work showcases a unique artistic vision that resonates with audiences. She seamlessly blends technical expertise with insightful narratives, aspiring to leave an indelible mark on contemporary visual storytelling.

We are excited to announce the films screening for the upcoming 'Saudi Film Nights' which include: SYDNEY: HAJJAN by Abu Bakr Shawky: “Hajjan is a love letter to the desert, the rich culture of the Bedouins and the wondrous world of camel racing.” - Abu Bakr Shawky. Abu Bakr “A.B.” Shawky is an Egyptian-Austrian writer and director. His first feature film, Yomeddine, was selected to participate in the 2018 Cannes Film Festival and was screened in the Main Competition section to compete for the Palme d'Or. ME & AYDAROUS by Sara Balghonaim: A gutsy young woman sneaks off for a date onlyto butt heads with her chaperoning chauffeur. Sara Balghonaim is a Saudi filmmaker with a Masters in Fine Arts in Film and Television production from New York University. Sara’s directorial debut “Me & Aydarous” got selected to premiere at the Aspen Shortsfest and it was in Official Selection at the Palm Springs International Shortfest, The Hamptons International Film Festival, NewFilmmakers LA, and the Red Sea International Film Festival in 2023. It won the Wasserman Award in 2022. Sara also recently produced "Sweet Refuge”, winner of the Director’s Guild of America Student Award. MELBOURNE: ALHAMOUR H.A by Abdulelah Alqurashi: A security guard who quickly rises to the top and makes billions, where he and his partners convince people into suspicious investments with the promise of doubling their money in no time. Abdulelah Alqurashi began his career working in the public and private sectors, then moved to Los Angeles to obtain a master's degree in filmmaking. In addition to writing, producing, and directing, he worked as an actor in several films. Since his return from Los Angeles at the beginning of 2017, he began working independently to transfer Roll'em, his first feature film, from paper to screen. He presented Roll'em in cinemas and theaters in Saudi Arabia and the world as the first Saudi Film screened in Saudi theatres. Roll’em received the Best Pictures Award from Alain Film Festival and was honored to be screened at the Arabian Film Festival in Tubingen, Germany. Alqurashi believes in his ability to establish a local industry for filmmaking in Saudi Arabia and to create Saudi films to be presented to the world.In 2020 Joined SELA as Head Of Film. SALEEG by Afnan Bawyan: An elderly woman feels lonely after her family and friends left Old Town Jeddah, when an incident in the kitchen forces her to communicate with her foreign neighbors after her entire house is flooded with Saleeg. Afnan Bawyan is a Saudi director and screenwriter. She worked on several Saudi feature-length live-action films that were produced by Ithra Center for World Culture, the Red Sea International Film Festival, and Netflix. 'Saleeg' (2023) is her debut film, she is currently developing her first feature film 'Photographer of Madina'.

In a significant move for cross-cultural cinema, #Saudi #Film #Nights are set to take place in #Sydney and #Melbourne from June 26-28. This event is a result of a #partnership between Blacksand Pictures and the Saudi Film Commission. The showcase will feature four Saudi films providing #Australian audiences with a unique glimpse into Saudi #storytelling and #filmmaking. ▪️The primary aim of Saudi Film Nights is to foster #cultural #exchange and open doors for collaboration between the Australian and Saudi film industries. Beyond this, the event seeks to highlight the #growing #opportunities for filmmakers outside of traditional markets like #Europe and #NorthAmerica. There's a strong anticipation that this initiative will pave the way for future co-productions, distribution partnerships, and potentially even a formal co-production agreement between the two countries. ▪️The Saudi film industry has experienced remarkable growth, reaching nearly $1 billion in value since 2018. With over 600 screens across 22 cities, the industry is rapidly expanding and gaining international recognition. The collaboration with #Australia marks a significant step in showcasing Saudi #talent and stories to a global audience, while also fostering mutually beneficial partnerships in the film sector. #SaudiArabia