Saudi from Within

Ithra celebrates the brilliant work of Saudi Cinema by screening a collection of short documentary films directed and produced by Saudi filmmakers that show Saudi from within.

Aseer Memory:
This short documentary narrates the story of a man whose passion for knowledge drives him to collect antiques and document landmarks. He builds up a rich library of rare manuscripts, which, through both word and image, document the history of the Aseer region.

KHAYYALAH:  
Abrar Al-Abdulqader is the first Saudi female equestrian in the sport of endurance. In this film, she tells how she rose, largely by mere coincidence, to become one of the world's leading women and the only Saudi female in her field.

The Menace from above:  
Happy-go-lucky Zahra the fish is taking a stroll in a colorful Red Sea, when she runs into a monstrous plastic bag eating up a jellyfish. While panic and scared at first, Zahra musters up the courage to help the jellyfish, risking her life. Heroically, she attacks the plastic monster, knocking the jellyfish to the ground. The monster is now engulfing Zahra, suffocating her. After a struggle, Zahra is free, and runs around the Red Sea warning other fish about the fish-eating monster. It’s not long before the plastic bag heads towards its next target, a human baby swimming in the shallow water. Zahra struggles to get the baby’s attention and warn him against the attacking monster. But before the baby responds, the plastic monster arrives at the scene and gets into a brawling fight with the fish. The fight ends with Zahra triumphantly beating the monster, and trapping it underneath the weight of a seashell. Just as Zahra is about to celebrate her victory, the human baby throws a plastic candy wrapper into the water, shocking and disappointing our fish.