Promotion of Arab culture in general and Saudi customs and traditions through films is the focus of four-day 3rd film Festival starting here from July 22. The festival, organized by Rowad Media for Media Production and Distribution, is part of the summer festival beginning July 1. The film festival will be at the Theatre of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry daily from 5 P.M. to 1 A.M. Consolidating cinema culture and support for the local film industry are the prime objectives of the festival that also aims at promoting Saudi culture, media and providing moral support to young talents.“Our aim is to provide platform to the young Saudis interested in film and media to promote our Saudi, Arab and Islamic culture through movies,” said Mamdouh Salem, executive director of documentary films at Rowad Media for Media Production and Distribution. The festival will cover Gulf, Arab and Islamic countries. The inauguration ceremony will see ambassadors, consuls general, business leaders, writers and artists from the Arab World. The festival will include documentaries, fictions and cartoons. Prizes will be awarded to best short film, best film, best actor, best director, best editing, best photography and best scenario. The best documentary film will also receive an award. All participants and sponsors of the festival will also be honored. Media sponsors of the festival include Okaz Arabic newspaper and MBC. The organizers are designing a website for the festival and also publishing an informative booklet. Various categories of the festival will be Film competition Saudi Arabia, Panorama Gulf, Panorama global, cartoons etc. said Mamdouh. On the sidelines of the festival there will be cultural lectures and symposia, workshop in professional photography, exhibition of digital techniques and tourists visit to the city of Jeddah. __
