The 12th Saudi Film Festival wrapped up on Thursday night in Dhahran with a star-studded closing ceremony at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra). The week-long event, which featured red carpet appearances, workshops, and screenings, culminated in the presentation of the Golden Palm Awards, symbolizing gold-colored palm trees with film strip fronds.
Top Winners Announced
The Ithra-backed feature film "Hijra," directed by Shahad Ameen, won the Golden Palm Award for Best Feature Film. In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) category, "Irkalla: Gilgamesh's Dream" by Mohammed Al-Daraji took the Golden Palm for Best GCC Feature Film. The Saudi film "A Matter of Life and Death," directed by Anas Ba-Tahaf and now playing in cinemas across the Kingdom, received a Special Mention from the jury, while its lead actress Sarah Taibah earned the Golden Palm for Best Acting.
Short and Documentary Film Awards
In the Short Film Competition, "Unknown" by Ibrahim Al-Bukairi won the Golden Palm for Best Short Film. Lujain Salaam's "Scream of an Ant" received the Abdullah Al-Muhaisen Award for First Film. The Golden Palm for Best GCC Short Film went to "Seed" by Salman Yousif, with a Special Mention granted to "Assutur" by Rulan Hasan and Sara Masry. For documentaries, Badr Yousef's "Fariha" won the Golden Palm for Best GCC Documentary Film.
Production Market and Industry Growth
The festival's Production Market concluded with 51 financial and service-based awards valued at over SR4 million, a significant increase from SR2.5 million in 2025. The closing ceremony was hosted by actor Faisal Al-Dokhi and media personality Suha Al-Waal. Festival Director and founder Ahmed Al-Mulla delivered a closing address, noting that "50 films crossed the darkness of the theaters, carrying the concerns of their makers and questions that did not end when the screenings did." He also announced the formation of the festival's Higher Advisory Committee and the appointment of Abdulmohsen Al-Dhabaan as Artistic Director for the 13th edition in 2027.
Event Organization
The 12th Saudi Film Festival was organized by the Cinema Association in partnership with Ithra and supported by the Saudi Film Commission. The week included workshops, book signings, networking sessions, and film screenings. For a complete list of winners, the festival's website and social media channels provide further details.
