Forum for Saudi photographers attracts more than 30,000 visitors

RIYADH: More than 30,000 people attended the sixth Colors of Saudi Arabia Forum, which ended on Saturday. The forum aims to help citizens and residents recognize hidden treasures in different parts of the Kingdom through works presented by young people.

The event, organized by Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) and held at the Riyadh Center for Exhibitions and Conferences, served as a photography and films competition for citizens and residents. This year’s edition was a distinguished one because of the hosting of the New York Film Academy, with a specialized course for photography and a specialized film session every day during the five-day forum.

The director of the Saudi Colors Forum, Bodor Al-Sudairi, said: “(Colors of Saudi Arabia) activities are held throughout the year, with special trips for filmmakers from the Kingdom and the Gulf to explore new and diverse areas of the Kingdom, covering events, festivals and archeological sites. The output of these trips is displayed on the Saudi photo and film library site.”

She said the forum annually visits all regions of the Kingdom in cooperation with the branches of the SCTH in the regions and partners, which show all pictures and films that have won in previous years.

The vice president of marketing and programs at SCTH, Abdullah Al-Morshed, said: “The last five sessions of the forum witnessed 150 workshops, 170,000 visitors, 300 films and displaying of 15,000 pictures. The SCTH-backed New York Film Academy and National Geographic received a lot of attention from specialists and photography enthusiasts.”

Al-Morshed pointed out that the forum establishes a new culture in arts, literature and tourism through the presentation of photographs and films about the Kingdom and how to establish positive images of Saudi society.

The Prince Sultan Bin Salman Award for Photography was awarded to the Kingdom’s senior photographers, including Mohammed bin Abdullah, one of the first photographers in the Kingdom. He began filming in 1977 and participated in international competitions.

The Cultural Heritage Award was awarded to Abdul Aziz Al-Dakhil, founder of the Erth Aerial Photography Team, which documented aspects of the Prophet’s biography and historical, natural and cultural sites in more than 40 locations in the Kingdom and with more than 10,000 pictures.