Plans are being mooted for joint filmmaking projects between Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries, it was revealed during the recent Islamic movie week in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. “During our visit to the Kuala Lumpur Islamic Film Festival Week 2009, authorities of several Muslim countries suggested the creation of an Islamic film center, where all Muslim countries can form partnerships to create movies,” said Mamdouh Salem, a filmmaker for Rowad Media Production and Distribution, on his return from Malaysia recently. “The director of the festival Nor Hayati Othman told the Saudi delegation of her desire for cooperation to form partnerships in Islamic filmmaking with Saudi Arabia, to counter anti-Muslim sentiment in the film industry,” he said. Othman told the Saudi delegation that she wanted to show all aspects of Islam to the world, said Salem. Othman also briefed the Saudi delegation on the National Center for the Malaysian film industry “FINAS,” established by the Malaysian Government in 1981 to promote cooperation between the countries' two film industries. Salem said the center has modern and sophisticated studios designed to encourage the development and production of films according to international standards. The center provides a number of services for training, he added. “The provision of equipment and infrastructure is needed for the film industry, as well as advisory services to filmmakers to improve their knowledge and experience,” said Salem. “The Saudi delegation toured the center and was briefed on the latest techniques to create competitive and sustainable film studios in different parts of the world,” he explained. “In the opening speech of the festival, I explained the role of Saudi Arabia in supporting culture and Islam under the guidance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, which now includes the establishment of four new TV channels, on the Qur'an and the Sunnah, culture and the economy. This is meant to enhance the development of Saudi culture at the local and international level,” he said. Salem pointed out that there are initiatives underway to show various facets of Islam. For example, the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC, recently screened the premiere of “Pilgrimage”, which was produced by the King Abdul Aziz Library in Riyadh, in cooperation with the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies. This film showed the history of the building of the Grand Mosque, the Ka'ba and other Islamic sites. It also showed rituals associated with Haj and efforts now being taken by the Saudi government to improve services for pilgrims. The Ministry of Culture and Information, the media and cultural organizations should also play an important role in making films that show the evolution of Islamic civilization, which is the wealth of Saudi Arabia, he said.
