“Between the Sands”… The first Saudi movie to deal with real events, with the support of “NEOM”

Filming of the movie “Between the Sands” was launched in NEOM, the first Saudi movie to receive full logistical support from the media production sector in NEOM. The film was selected and financed by the Saudi Film Authority after winning the “Light for Film Support” competition organized by the authority.

The movie “Between the Sands” is currently being filmed in the “Jeddah” area in Neom, and it is scheduled to be released in November 2022. In its narrative space, the film deals with real events and presents the concept of fatherhood as not just a relationship with another person, but a journey of self-discovery and maturity and as a role model for all. The film is scheduled to be shown at prestigious film festivals around the world, and will also be available in film markets, cinemas and global digital platforms.

The film “Between the Sands” was selected for its script by Torino Lab, which was part of the artistic staff of the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah. It is considered an independent production of the Saudi production company “Al Sard Films” and distributed by the Saudi distribution company “Cine Waves Films”. The film was written and directed by Saudi director Muhammad Al-Atawi, and a distinguished elite of creative and emerging Saudi artistic talents participate, including the hero of the film, actor Raed Al-Shamri, who was chosen from the same environment of the northern community of the Kingdom in which the film’s story revolves. In addition to logistical and technical support, the NEOM media production sector supports the film, which is being filmed in NEOM until mid-April, with five Saudi trainees who will work with the film crew during the production period.

Wayne Borg, director of the media production sector at NEOM, said: “The Saudi film industry is advancing at an accelerated pace in its journey of development and growth. We in NEOM focus on developing this national sector and motivating it to become part of the global industry as part of our endeavors to make NEOM a regional center for the media content industry by providing basic services and technical capabilities, developing youth and qualifying cadres.”

Part of the filming of the sand film in NEOM (Middle East)

Burg added: “We were delighted with the great reactions that accompanied our attraction to produce huge international cinematic works in NEOM, such as the movie (Desert Warrior). We are excited and proud now to support “Between the Sands” as an important Saudi cinematic production.”

For his part, Eng. Abdullah Al-Ayaf Al-Qahtani, CEO of the Saudi Film Authority, explained: “The authority’s initiatives seek to increase locally produced films in terms of quality and number, while benefiting at the same time from the economic and creative cooperation available in Saudi Arabia. The Film Authority is working to build a firm and strong foundation for the artistic content industry in the Kingdom and to secure distribution channels for it at the local, regional and global levels. He continued, “We support the (Between the Sands) team, in cooperation and coordination with NEOM, to recruit and encourage Saudi talents to participate in cinematic works, as well as qualify and empower them to master creative storytelling locally and globally.”

In turn, director Mohamed Al-Atawi considered that the selection of locations is an important step during the filming stages of the film, noting that NEOM is an ideal environment for filming the movie “Between the Sands”, “given the unique landscapes that NEOM is characterized by and in harmony with the story and events of the film.” Al-Atawi pointed out that Saudi Arabia’s history and culture are characterized by inestimable wealth, submerged under the sand, and we seek, through this film, to highlight this treasure.

Al-Atawi added: “The desert is often portrayed as a harsh environment that is not vibrant, but in the movie (Between the Sands) this image will change and show the Arabian desert from a creative perspective that reveals its authenticity, true charm and mysterious beauty.”

Faisal Baltiour, the film’s producer, said: “The first impression I had when I read the script of the movie (Between the Sands) was a wonderful mixture of enthusiasm for telling the story and responsibility, at the same time, because this is done correctly through the proper use of roles away from stereotypes and biases. Our journey in producing the film was a long one and we are grateful for all the support we received from the Film Authority in the Kingdom and NEOM.”

Reem Al-Atawi, who also produced the film, commented: “As Saudi Arabia continues to make progress in achieving its Vision 2030 goals, our stories are a vital tool for connecting with people around the world.

The film highlights the history of Saudi culture and tells a local story from a global perspective that will interest viewers from different cultures around the world. Our goal is to produce a film that will launch a new era of artistic expression in the Kingdom, allowing us to tell our stories to the world.”