The curtains closed on the 11th edition of the Saudi Film Festival on April 23, 2025, in a vibrant celebration of cinematic achievement, storytelling, and cultural artistry. Organised by the Cinema Association in partnership with the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), and supported by the Film Commission of the Ministry of Culture, this year’s festival continued its mission of uplifting the burgeoning Saudi film industry.
Among the highlights of the closing ceremony was the awarding of the coveted Golden Palm Awards, which recognized outstanding contributions in filmmaking across a variety of categories.
Ahd Kamel’s “My Driver and I” (2024) took home the Golden Palm for Best Narrative Feature Film, beating out strong contenders including “Hobal” (2024) by Abdulaziz Alshlahei and “Siwar” (2025) by Osama Alkhurayji. In the acting category, Meshal Al-Mutairi was honored with the Best Actor award for his roles in both Hobal and Holes (2024), recognized for his emotional range and powerful screen presence.
The festival also spotlighted regional talent, with Iraqi director Oudai Rashid’s “Songs of Adam” (2024) winning Best Feature Narrative GCC Film, while other films such as Siwar, Hobal, and Holes earned special mentions for their compelling visual and narrative execution.
In the Best Short Film category, “Mera Mera Mera” (2024) by Khalid Zaidan stood out from a competitive shortlist to claim the top prize, while Ahmed Al-Nasr’s “Sharshoura” (2025) received the Abdullah Al-Muhsin Award for First Film, acknowledging emerging voices in Saudi cinema.
For documentaries, “Othman in the Vatican” (2024) by Yasser bin Ghanem won Best Documentary Film, praised for its historical depth and cinematic quality. The Jabal Tuwaiq Award, recognizing the best film about a Saudi city, went to “Qarn Almnazil” by Meshal Suheim Althobiti, while “The Dark Side of Japan” by Omar Farooq won Best GCC Documentary.
A poignant highlight of the festival was the screening of a special documentary honoring legendary Saudi actor and poet Ibrahim Al-Hasawi, the cultural icon to whom this year’s edition was dedicated.
Reflecting on the success of the event, Festival Vice President Mansour Al-Badran commended the winners and participants, noting how the festival has grown into a vital platform for creative exchange, audience engagement, and industry development. “This year’s edition showcased the diverse and evolving voices of Saudi cinema,” Al-Badran said, “and reaffirmed our commitment to nurturing the next generation of storytellers.”
With an impressive range of screenings, panels, and celebratory moments, the 11th Saudi Film Festival concluded with both pride in the present and a forward-looking vision for the future of filmmaking in the Kingdom.
