Prime Highlights:
- Saudi filmmaker Shahad Ameen returns to Jeddah as her film Hijra premieres at the Red Sea International Film Festival, receiving a warm, celebratory response.
- The film follows a grandmother and her granddaughters on a pilgrimage, exploring family bonds, resilience, and the strength of Arab women.
Key Facts:
- Hijra premiered at the Venice Film Festival, won the Netpac Award for Best Asian Film, and is Saudi Arabia’s official submission for the Best International Feature at the Oscars.
- The film showcases Saudi Arabia’s iconic landscapes, including Taif, Jeddah, Madinah, and Neom, and is supported by all five major national film funding bodies.
Background:
Saudi filmmaker Shahad Ameen made a triumphant return to her hometown of Jeddah this week as her latest film, Hijra, was screened at the Red Sea International Film Festival. The premiere felt like a personal celebration for Ameen, whose main cast also hails from the city.
Ameen said she felt at home in Jeddah, and the screening was cozy, like a gathering with close friends and family.
Hijra tells the story of Sitti (Khairiah Nathmy), a grandmother on a pilgrimage to Makkah with her two granddaughters. The journey changes when one granddaughter, Sarah (Raghad Bokhari), goes missing. Sitti and her younger granddaughter, Janna (Lamar Faden), must leave their pilgrimage to search for her. The film also shows beautiful parts of Saudi Arabia, including Taif, Jeddah, Madinah, and Neom.
The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where it won the Netpac Award for Best Asian Film, and has been selected as Saudi Arabia’s official submission for Best International Feature at the Oscars. It is set for release in the UAE in mid-January.
Ameen notes that Hijra is the first Saudi film supported by all five major national funding bodies, including the Saudi Film Commission, the Red Sea Fund, and Film AlUla.
For actress Khairiah Nathmy, the film underscores the importance of Hajj, the pilgrimage to Makkah central to the story. “This is a pillar of Islam. Sitti’s inability to complete her pilgrimage due to her granddaughter’s disappearance is a source of deep emotional pain,” she explained.
Ameen also hopes Hijra challenges misconceptions about Saudi women. She said that being religious or wearing the niqab does not make women weak, and pointed out that Saudi women are capable and successful in many fields.
The film looks at differences between generations, showing how older family members affect the younger ones, and emphasizes the importance of kindness and understanding. Ameen also talks about migration, explaining that many families in Saudi Arabia have moved from place to place over the years. All the characters in the film are searching for a home.
Hijra not only shows Saudi culture and landscapes but also highlights the strength, resilience, and stories of Arab women on and off the screen.
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