Shitaiwi Al-Ghaithi Okaz One of our major cultural travesties is that most of our cultural output comes from outside our country. This phenomenon is particularly evident when it comes to the publishing of cultural books. The majority of these books are issued by non-Saudi publishing houses or at best by Saudi publishing homes based in Beirut, Dubai or other cities. The reason behind this may be the narrow-minded social and intellectual pressures that impede many of our cultural projects. This phenomenon is also conspicuous in movies. Though a number of young Saudis have produced good films, these productions are yet to be screened inside the Kingdom. Saudi films have received wide acclaim worldwide especially in the Arab world and the GCC region. The Saudi movie film Aayesh (alive), directed by Abdullah Al-Ayaf, has won a number of prizes in the Gulf region but the majority of the Saudi people could not watch it inside their own country, which has no movie theaters. The public could not also watch Wajda, the Oscar-nominated film produced and directed by Haifa Al-Mansour. This film has become an international success. The relationship between our society and the arts is not one of peaceful coexistence. It is rather like a difficult delivery or complicated birth-giving. The Saudi cinema culture is present outside and tackles local issues. Paradoxically, our Saudi films are in most cases spectacular productions. It is obvious that difficulties usually breed creativity and ingenuity.