Contest launched to finance Saudi films with prizes up to SR40m

The Ministry of Culture launched the Daw’ (Light) Competition on Sunday to support Saudi films as part of the Quality of Life Program 2020 — one of the Saudi Vision 2030 programs — to empower national talents that are active in filmmaking. There will be four tracks, including supporting and developing screenwriting and supporting film production and films of Saudi students majoring in filmmaking at international institutes and universities.

Filmmakers from screenwriters to producers wishing to participate in the competition can apply online through the link https:// engage.moc.gov.sa/film for a period of three months, from Sept. 29 until Dec. 29.

All entries will be assessed by juries specializing in choosing winning film projects for every track, and the results will be announced on Feb. 20, 2020.

The ministry aims to support Saudi talents majoring in filmmaking and provide a funding platform and logistic support to produce Saudi movies with prizes of up to SR40 million ($10.6 million), in accordance with a professional working program that includes pre-production and post-production phases.

The competition will support filmmakers, provide all the necessary assistance to produce their films in accordance with recognized standards and bolster local movie production, which will help create a production infrastructure and clear career paths for people of different specializations in the filmmaking sector.

The Daw’ Competition will be divided into four main tracks: A complete text which will provide full or partial support to produce the film; a script under development which will provide support for writing the full script and produce the movie; a track for filmmaking students which aims to support Saudi students who major in filmmaking abroad; finally complete films, the fourth track which supports produced Saudi films that need help in distribution, presentation and local and international participations.

This competition is the biggest of its kind to support Saudi films with prize money that will support 35 Saudi cinematic projects from short and long movies which will be produced after the competition.