DHAHRAN – The International Competition for the 42nd "Clermont-Ferrand" Short Film Festival has selected the Saudi film "Irtidad" among the top 90 nominated movies in the competition wherein nearly 9,000 works are participating, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said Sunday. "Irtidad", produced by the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) speaks about the experience of exploring the Kingdom's local culture through a visit to the rural areas of the Kingdom's southern regions. The festival is scheduled to be held during the period Jan. 31 – Feb. 8, 2020 in the city of Clermont-Ferrand, France. The Director of Theater and Cinema Arts at Ithra Majed Zuhair Samman said that the movie "Irtidad" giving a boost to its producer Muhammad Al-Humood came within the Saudi Movie (Film) Days Competition. It is one of the unique initiatives of "Ithra" that aim to develop and catalyze the movie industry in the Kingdom, enrich its content and support the local cinema product. This is apart from providing platforms for movie producers and directors in the Kingdom, creating space for beginners and professionals and giving a push forward to the cinema industry in the Kingdom by estimating their distinctive capabilities and potentials, as one of the most important and valuable resources, as well as encouraging these talents to ensure that they attain world exposure and recognition. Ithra is working on coming up with new criteria for distinctiveness in the Kingdom in the fields of the film industry. The objective is to develop and present innovated know-how products in addition to creating the required added value via its relations with the partners and visitors by catalyzing the sustainability of creativity and culture in societies. Ithra is participating with its diverse programs and facilities in developing new methods for setting up creativity incubators by supporting and shedding light on national talents, providing an environment that is conducive to stimulating the production and exchange of know-how, in a way respecting diversity and instilling inculcating the various concepts in the sciences and arts.
