The Red Sea International Film Festival hosted an exceptional dialogue session on December 5th, featuring prominent Saudi director and writer Ali Al-Kalthami . The discussion, moderated by film critic Ahmed Al-Ayyad, took place before a large audience and media presence. This session highlighted the rapid developments in Saudi cinema , which has achieved a distinguished position on the international stage.
The Saudi public: The greatest soft power in the region
In a statement reflecting the current state of the film market, Al-Kalthami affirmed during the session that the Saudi audience is currently the largest and most influential in the Middle East in terms of following artistic works and supporting box office revenue. This statement is based on tangible facts, as recent statistics indicate tremendous growth in Saudi box office revenue, making it the fastest-growing market in the region. This reinforces the importance of local productions, which have become competitive with international films on their home turf.
From YouTube to Global: The Journey of TV11
Al-Kalthami began his talk by reviewing his artistic journey, thanking his partners in success. He spoke proudly about his foundational experience on YouTube through Telfaz11 , describing that period as a "real school" where he learned the fundamentals of the industry directly in front of an audience. He pointed out that this period was crucial in shaping the artistic identity of an entire generation of Saudi filmmakers who found in the digital space an outlet for self-expression at a time when cinemas were absent, thus paving the way for current cinematic successes.
“Moderate”... A victory for art over extremism
Al-Kalthami touched upon a pivotal moment in his career: his 2016 film "Wasati." The film is based on true events that occurred in 2006 during a performance of the play "Wasati Bila Wasatiyya" in Riyadh, when a group of extremists stormed the theater to stop the show. Al-Kalthami commented, "We triumphed over extremist ideologies the moment the film was screened at the same venue." This work holds significant historical symbolism, documenting a period of social and cultural transformation in the Kingdom. This success culminated in the film winning the Best Director and Best Foreign Film awards at the Williamsburg Independent Film Festival in 2017.
"The Night Representative" and the consolidation of Saudi cinema
In discussing the qualitative shift in feature films, Al-Kalthami addressed the success of his latest film, "The Night Representative," which garnered critical acclaim and achieved record-breaking box office numbers, in addition to its screening at prestigious international festivals such as the Toronto International Film Festival. He explained that this film, along with works like the "Mixer" series and "Khambala," contributed to shaping a contemporary voice for Saudi cinema that expresses the reality of society with honesty and transparency.
Al-Kalthami concluded by emphasizing that the audience of “Telfaz 11” is a key partner in the production process, noting that audience interaction, whether positive or negative, is the primary driver for content development. Through his leadership role, Al-Kalthami continues to nurture a new generation of creative talent, placing authentic Saudi narratives on the global cinematic map.
