Ahd Kamel, a female Saudi film director living in the United States, said here recently that being chosen as judge for a top international short film festival, shows there is greater appreciation for Saudi cinema in the world. Kamel was selected as a judge for Tropfest Arabia, which was held in Abu Dhabi earlier this month. Kamel said there is a bright future ahead for Saudi cinema. The proof of this is that she and fellow Saudi, Mamdouh Salem, were chosen to be on the Tropfest Arabia judge's panel. “This reflects the growing appreciation for Saudi films which have been shown at a number of Arab and international festivals.” Kamel went to study in the United States when she was 17 and decided to stay there to fulfill her dream of becoming a film director. She married an American actor and has worked with a number of famous directors. Her film, “The Shoemaker”, won the gold medal at the Beirut International Cinema Festival last year. “Because I was starting my career, Amro Wakid, the star of the film, did not ask for money. He decided to act in it because he liked the story and believed that it would add to his career.” The film was shot in Egypt over three days and was shown in American movie theaters and several parts of the world. Kamel said that the film will soon be shown in the Kingdom. She is currently working on two new cinema projects, one called “Smile, you're in Jeddah” and another yet unnamed project. “The second film is about wedding singers of the Hijaz region in the mid-twentieth century.” She has acted in several movies, including “Razan”, but is more interested in directing. “I love acting and directing. Today I'm thinking seriously about returning to my country and living in Jeddah. The Kingdom has become more active in terms of movie-making. I believe I can make films that cost less to produce.” __
