The launch of the “Cinema Cinema” event in the historic Jeddah to support creativity in heritage sites

The Ministry of Culture launched the “Cinema Cinema” event in the oppressed neighborhood in the historical Jeddah, as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance the region’s position as a global heritage and cultural destination, and its endeavor to enable the cultural sector to be an economic tributary based on creativity and knowledge, as an extension of what the historical Jeddah was in the 1950s, when it embraced the first popular cinemas in the Kingdom through the “Hosh Al -Jammun cinema” that he founded Fouad Jamjoom.

City cinema

“Cinema Al -Balad” is the first independent artistic film house that starts from the heart of the urban and historical fabric of Jeddah, and provides an integrated cultural model that combines the visual presentation and the authentic heritage experience.
Where the project was designed to keep pace with the spirit of the place in terms of architecture and general atmosphere, and at the same time reflects the contemporary cinematic thought in directing and presenting the content, under the supervision of producer Waheed Jamjoom and director Abdullah Ali Saharti.

The opening ceremony activities

The event falls under the umbrella of the “Country of Art” initiative, which is held annually in historical Jeddah under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, and aims to create an interactive environment that celebrates cinema and revives its connection to society, through selected shows of Saudi and international films, as well as accompanying cultural programs that include training workshops and open meetings with filmmakers and visual artists.

The opening ceremony witnessed the presentation of the short Saudi film “Hadi Al -Eis”, directed by Abdullah Magharti, which is a modern visual experience that inspires the elements of local culture and presented in an emotional and rich cinematic language, as the film shed light on the natural and cultural beauty in the Arabian Peninsula, and the relationship of the people of the region from a heritage and human perspective.
The film was received by a number of important nominations, including the award for the best documentary film and the jury award within the Saudi Film Festival, in addition to mentioning the Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth.

A large number of artists, intellectuals and interested in the field of cinema and arts participated in the event, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Culture and personalities from the creative sector, which reflects the size of societal and cultural interaction with the activities hosted by the historical Jeddah, and confirms its presence as a renewable platform for artistic events that focus on heritage and re -formulate it in the language of the present.

Cinematic offers and different workshops

The “Cinema Cinema” event continues for a period of six weeks in a distinguished heritage location in the Al -Mazloum sailor, and in addition to cinematic shows includes workshops in the fields of photography, filmmaking, visual design and directing, which gives visitors a rich experience that mixes visual knowledge and cultural interaction, in an environment that transports them to the atmosphere of contemporary art within a unique heritage template.

Through this event, the Ministry of Culture affirms its commitment to activating historical sites in the Kingdom and turning them into live platforms for display and cultural production, and enhancing the creative economy by empowering local competencies and expanding the scope of community participation in the artistic scene. The event also comes within the targets of the Kingdom’s 2030 vision, which seeks to make culture a pivotal element in the national development process, by expanding the scope of events, and employing the heritage ingredients of the Kingdom in serving creativity and cultural economy.