The Saudi Film Festival opens tonight with six feature narrative films vying for the top award. The lineup includes a fantasy rom-com, a hajj-themed drama, a thriller, an Iraqi orphan story, a Qatari debut, and an Emirati psychological horror.
'A Matter of Life and Death' by Anas Batheef
Starring Sarah Taibah and Yaqoub Alfarhan, this fantasy-tinged romantic comedy follows Hayat, who believes she is cursed to die on her 30th birthday. She meets Youssef, a brilliant but emotionally detached heart surgeon with an unusually slow heartbeat. Together, they hatch a mad scheme to cheat death, sparking chaos, comedy, and an impossible love racing against time, according to the synopsis. Taibah also wrote the film.
'Hijra' by Shahad Ameen
Set against the backdrop of Hajj, the film follows a grandmother and her two granddaughters traveling from Taif to Makkah. When the eldest girl goes missing, the grandmother sets out with the youngest on a journey across the desert and memory, uncovering family secrets and exploring faith, belonging, and womanhood. Ameen told Arab News in September, 'It's a story of women navigating who they are, and understanding what freedom means to them. It's about the pilgrimage we make toward ourselves, and the cost of that journey.' The cast includes Khairiya Nazmi, Lamar Feddan, and Nawaf Al-Dhufairi.
'Rabsha' by Mohammad Makki
This thriller centers on a young couple celebrating their wedding anniversary at home. When a mysterious guest arrives, the night takes a dark and unexpected turn, revealing secrets that leave both husband and wife questioning trust. Starring Aziz Gharbawi and Najlaa Alabdullah.
'Irkalla: Gilgamesh's Dream' by Mohamed Jabarah Al-Daradji
Nine-year-old orphan Chum-Chum, living on the streets of Baghdad, believes the Tigris River hides a gate to the underworld where he can reunite with his parents. His 13-year-old friend Moody dreams of escaping to the Netherlands but becomes entangled in crime and violence to raise money. The film stars Youssef Husham Al-Thahabi and Hussein Raad Zuwayr.
'Sa3oud Wainah' by Mohammed Al-Ibrahim
Qatari filmmaker Al-Ibrahim's debut feature is a thriller about two brothers who perform a magic trick their father once showed them. One brother vanishes before their friends' eyes, leaving the other unsure if it's a prank or something sinister. A mysterious stranger's arrival suggests the latter. Starring Mishaal Al-Dosari, Abdelaziz Al-Dosari, and Saad Al-Naimi.
'BAAB' by Nayla Al-Khaja
After her twin sister dies, Wahida is haunted by a mysterious rhythm. She journeys into the mountains seeking answers but descends into madness. Emirati filmmaker Al-Khaja told Arab News in June last year that the film continues her fascination with psychological horror and low-light filming. 'You feel like you are pulled like a magnet into a very ethereal, very haunting world,' she said. 'It is just so visually beautiful.'
