The screening of films as a major highlight of the Jeddah Summer Festival – Jeddah Ghair (Jeddah is Different) – has been widely welcomed with people expressing hope that the Kingdom might have regular movie theaters in the future. It seems likely that movies will be the biggest crowd-pullers among the more than 250 activities planned during the 35-day festival which begins July 15. The movies will be screened between July 18-22 at the King Abdul Aziz Cultural Center at Abrug Al-Raghama. A highly placed Saudi source expressed the hope that cinemas in Saudi Arabia may become a reality. “But it is up to the Hai'a (anti-vice squad), whose main concern is that the movies might deal with subjects deemed objectionable,” the source told Saudi Gazette on condition of strict anonymity. He said that the issue is not the movies as such but the content, and added that movies are already being shown on television channels. “If they are accepted there, they might be accepted on the big screen as well, and that may pave the way for a cinema house,” he said. According to him, it will take a long time for a commercial movie industry to be established. “That too could happen one day,” he said. He said that film is a good and powerful medium to educate people, spread knowledge and awareness of social issues and matters, and used in that sense and purpose it can be very helpful. Hanan Al-Madani, a well-known Jeddah-based designer, who holds fashion shows in Lebanon, Italy, England and some Gulf countries, including Dubai, said that as a child in the 1970s she used to go to see films with her mother. These were screened, “if I remember correctly, because I was just 6-7 years old,” by a women's society called Al-Jamia Al-Faisaliya. It used to be an all-women affair – from doorwomen to projectionist. “It was very enjoyable. I still enjoy films, but only those with good, strong characters that reflect Saudi culture and traditions in a good way, with good concepts and production,” Al-Madani said. The film festival held in Taif last December marked the return of public cinema after nearly three decades. Following the landmark public showings, the then head of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Ghaith, said, “A movie could possibly be acceptable if it serves good and is suitable under Islam.” Al-Ghaith, who had earlier termed movies “an absolute evil,” explained, “I did not say that we reject all cinema, but I said that we were not consulted during the organization of these movie showings.” The Taif event featured ‘Menahi,' a film produced by Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal's media company Rotana. To meet the huge demand, it reportedly had to be played several times every day over the 10-day period. According to Al-Madani, in the coming years, there will be more films, and even regular cinema houses in the Kingdom. “We have talent, and we have entrepreneurs. There was opposition to radio and even the education of women, but today we have both,” she said. Three years ago, a public cinema hall was opened in Riyadh during the Eid holidays, but it only screened cartoon films for women and children. In 2007, the Shoura Council debated a proposal to allow cinemas in the Kingdom. There were two camps, one backing proposals to build movie theaters while the other opposed it. Ezzuddin A. Hafez, teacher of English, said that there should be movie theaters because these days it is not too expensive to have a home theater as the projector does not cost much. With a home theater, who knows what one may watch, but with a cinema house, only selected and approved films can be shown. Moreover, one likes to watch films with a group, which is possible at home, but is not the same as going to a theater and enjoying an outing with family or friends. He said that going to a movie would be healthier than hanging out in a sheesha (hubble-bubble) café. “People are looking for entertainment, and there should be more screening of films, and eventually a purpose-built theater. I don't see anything wrong in it,” Hafez said, and added, “It is an art form and is a good, creative outlet and platform for young Saudis to use their talents constructively.” He said that some people go to Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and other countries just to see movies on the big screen. Mamdouh Hashim Marzouki, a 35-year-old illusionist, said, “Cinema is one important tool to represent our culture to the world. The Muslim World and Islam is misunderstood and misrepresented all over the world. These days we are putting stress on dialogue among people and interfaith understanding, and cinema is a good medium to promote that.” He said that being made a part of Jeddah Ghair, the platform for movies has become wider, and he hoped that it would eventually also gain more strength. According to Ghada A. Ghazzawi, general manager of a marketing, PR an event management company, a beginning has already been made and there is a future for the movie industry in the Kingdom. It is an “extra means” of entertainment for the family – such as shopping, going to the beach, and eating out. “It is about time that we had good movies. These should be entertaining with good values that teach the young to keep away from violence and bad habits,” she said, and added, “I think, and hope, that there will be cinemas soon in Jeddah. I don't see anything wrong in it.” Not everyone wants either public screenings of movies or movie theaters in the Kingdom. Samar Salama, a photographer, who also designs women's clothes, said it is not necessary because it will involve so much propaganda. “We cannot have that happen,” she said, and added that anyway one can see movies in the privacy of his/her home. Salama said that if at all movies are to be screened in public these should be for children, not adults.
