Dubai-based distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment has taken global distribution rights for two Saudi Arabian short films premiering at the Red Sea International Film Festival that were developed under Film AlUla’s AlUla Creates program.
The small but significant distribution deal will give global visibility to the shorts, respectively titled “Malika” by Maram Taibah and “When The Shelves Hymn” by Hanaa Saleh Alfassi, the latter of which is also produced by Front Row, “underscoring the company’s commitment to supporting regional voices in filmmaking,” according to a Front Row statement.
“The creativity coming from Saudi Arabia’s filmmakers is inspiring,” said Gianluca Chakra, CEO of Front Row Filmed Entertainment, in the statement. Acquiring “Malika” and “When The Shelves Hymn” aligns with our mission to amplify regional voices and bring their stories to global audiences,” he added.
The Film AlUla shorts germinated from the AlUla Creates program at Film AlUla, the film commission for the swathe of northwest Saudi Arabia roughly the size of Belgium that also comprises a lush oasis and vast sandstone canyons. The program provides funding, mentorship and networking opportunities for Saudi filmmakers and fashion designers.
“Malika,” which is directed by Maram Taibah and was first unveiled in Cannes, is a short fantasy film about a little girl searching for the crown of her dying grandmother.
“When the Shelves Hymn,” directed by Hanaa Saleh Alfassi, is about a mother and son’s journey to AlUla to sell their family’s antique shop, a toigh decision driven by the absence of the family’s patriarch.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the worldwide distribution of “Malika” and “When The Shelves Hymn,” two incredible films born from the passion and creativity of the talented filmmakers in our AlUla Creates program,” said Zaid Shaker, acting executive director, Film AlUla.
The Gulf region is seeing a surge in production and consumption of short films, with regional festivals increasingly showcasing short-form content.
Segueing from Red Sea, both “Malika” and “When The Shelves Hymn” will now embark on regional and international festival runs, according to Front Row.
