Najdi Ardah Film

Najdi Ardah Film is a short Saudi documentary that presents introductory, historical, performative, melodic, and rhythmic aspects of this folk art. It delves into the poetry, attire, and occasions of Ardah, along with the poems performed during it, and its relation to the state's leaders, starting from the era of the Founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, up to the present time. The movie hosted specialists to discuss aspects of the Najdi Ardah.

The Film introduces Saudi and foreign audiences to Najdi Ardah, specifically the dance of peace and war, which was historically used as a martial art form performed before and after battles, especially during the unification of the Kingdom. Later, Najdi Ardah became a part of various celebratory occasions. It garnered interest from several Arab writers and historians, including Abbas Mahmoud al-Aqqad, and was included in the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2015.

In 2023, the Film 'Najdi Ardah' won the Tuwayq Mountain Award for Best Saudi City in the ninth edition of the Saudi Film Festival, organized by the Cinema Society in partnership with the King Abdulaziz Cultural Center (Ithra) in Dhahran, with support from the Film Commission. The screenplay for the film 'Najdi Ardah' was written and developed by Dr. Mohammed al-Bashir, and it was directed by Faisal al-Otaibi. The film was jointly produced by the Heritage Commission, the Film Commission, and the Theater and Performing Arts Commission.