Daw' Film Competition
The Daw’ Film Competition is a periodic Saudi competition that shares its core concept with global talent show contests, though it is non-televised and specialized in creativity within the film sector. It was launched by the Ministry of Culture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and later supervised by the Film Commission. Its first edition began on September 29, 2019, comprising four tracks for participation and awarding winners with grants to support their projects.
Objectives of Daw' Film Competition
Daw' Competition aims to support Saudi filmmakers, both professionals and students specializing in the field, in producing innovative Saudi cinematic content for local and global platforms. It also aligns with the objectives of the Quality of Life Program, one of the programs under Saudi Vision 2030, to highlight, support, and develop local talent, enrich Saudi cinematic content, prepare talents for industry competition, and establish clear careers for those working in filmmaking to ensure the sector’s growth.
Participation in the Daw’ Film Competition
Participation in the Daw’ Film Competition is available through four tracks, as follows:
- Under-Development Scripts: A track designated for incomplete film scripts (feature films), supported through access to field experts and specialists to help develop these incomplete scripts.
- Completed Scripts: A track designated for completed film scripts (short and long films), which receive full or partial financial support to be turned into actual films.
- Completed Films: A track designated for completed (short or long) films that have not yet been screened. Support is provided through a marketing plan, both locally and internationally, to help these films reach local and global platforms in collaboration with distribution companies or festivals.
- Film Student Projects: A track designated for Saudi male and female students studying filmmaking abroad to implement their graduation projects. It offers full or partial funding to produce films with Saudi content and identity, aligned with international standards.
Participations are assessed by a specialized committee through several stages: registration, shortlisting, nomination, and judging, leading to the final results and announcement of the winners.
First edition of Daw’ Film Competition
The first edition of Daw’ Film Competition lasted for about five months and included five stages. The results were announced on February 20, 2020.
Nineteen participants won in the “Completed Scripts” track for long and short films, two won in the “Under-Development Scripts” track, and three in the “Film Student Projects” track. Two participants won in the “Completed Films” track for long films.
In its first edition, the competition provided funding of approximately SAR40 million to the winning projects, to be produced and showcased at local and international festivals.
Production of four films within Daw’ Film Competition
On September 7, 2022, the Film Commission announced the completion of four cinematic projects led by Daw’ Film Competition winners: “Within Sand” written and directed by Mohammed Al-Atawi; “Raven Poem,” directed by Mohammed Al-Salman; “Noura,” written and directed by Tawfik Al-Zaidi; and “My Grandparents’ Village,” directed by Daniah Al-Hamrani. These films wrapped filming in August 2022.
Script Development Program for Daw’ Film Competition winners
The Film Commission launched the first in a series of training programs on March 2, 2021, for Saudi filmmakers who won the Daw’ Film Competition. The program aimed to develop the scripts and screenplays of their winning projects through workshops and lectures involving the winners, along with experts, in screenwriting. The training program covered two tracks: the first dedicated to the “Completed Scripts” category, and the second to “Under-Development Scripts.”
Updated edition of Daw' Film Competition
On December 4, 2022, during the Red Sea Film Festival, the Film Commission announced the launch of the updated edition of the Daw’ Film Competition, in line with a new direction focused on supporting professional Saudi filmmakers by offering non-repayable financial support to Saudi film production companies and institutions.
The Film Commission aims, through this new direction, to enhance the creative content ecosystem in Saudi Arabia by encouraging filmmakers and production companies to produce long and short films that meet international standards. It also seeks to enrich local films by providing financial support, with the condition that all supported and executed films be produced by professionals in long and short film production, whether they are citizens, individuals born in Saudi Arabia, or children of Saudi women.
The updated version consists of two tracks: The first is the long film track, which provides support for films with a minimum duration of forty minutes per film; the second is the short film track, which is dedicated to supporting films with a maximum duration of forty minutes. Both tracks include narrative films, documentary films, and animation films.
The support provided by "Daw’" focuses on Saudi companies and institutions specialized in film production, in addition to foreign production entities partnered with Saudis, to enhance the efficiency of the film industry in Saudi Arabia and create a vibrant, effective, and sustainable private sector.