The six-day event, organized in association with the King Abdul Aziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), is part of an initiative to recognize and nurture talented filmmakers in the country SASCA chairman and general supervisor of the festival, Omar bin Abdulaziz Al-Saif, said this year’s gathering would include a number of unique programs to support creative young talent JEDDAH: Up-and-coming filmmakers are being urged to book their places for a popular festival celebrating Saudi’s silver screen. The Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts (SASCA) in the city of Dammam, has announced the opening of online registration for the fifth Saudi Film Festival to be held in March. The six-day event, organized in association with the King Abdul Aziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), is part of an initiative to recognize and nurture talented filmmakers in the country. SASCA chairman and general supervisor of the festival, Omar bin Abdulaziz Al-Saif, said this year’s gathering would include a number of unique programs to support creative young talent while also promoting and developing the Kingdom’s film industry. Al-Saif told Arab News that one of the main aims of the SASCA was to preserve Saudi culture, and he hoped the event would encourage the exchange of forward-thinking ideas among young movie enthusiasts. The festival is part of a year-round drive to give filmmakers the opportunity to learn directly from experienced local and international industry experts, while providing them with a stage to showcase their work. Ithra Director Ali Al-Mutairi said that the festival had a key role to play in developing the Saudi film industry. Producers and actors will among the delegates at the festival, which will include 10 training workshops and 10 seminars. Omani, Emirati, Kuwaiti and Bahraini movies will be screened during the event and prizes awarded for best narrative, best documentary, best scriptwriting and best student film.