The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) has announced Jamal Kutbi as the recipient of its prestigious 50,000 SAR award during the Red Sea Souk Awards ceremony at the 4th Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) in Jeddah. Recognized for his short film Hadd, Kutbi’s work was chosen from a shortlist of four by a panel led by Feras Almusharria, Cultural Programs Specialist and Cinema Programs Developer at Ithra.
Hadd tells a compelling story of family honour, exploring cultural narratives in Saudi Arabia’s evolving film industry. The award highlights Ithra’s commitment to nurturing local filmmaking talent. Since 2018, Ithra has produced 37 films, showcased at over 100 global festivals, and continues to support the Kingdom’s cinematic growth through initiatives like the annual Saudi Film Festival.
Feras Almusharria celebrated the milestone, stating, “At Ithra, we take pride in advancing Saudi cinema, offering opportunities to spotlight our people’s stories on both national and global stages.”
This win underscores the increasing prominence of Saudi filmmakers and the growing impact of the Red Sea International Film Festival as a global cultural platform.
