Historic!!!

Thrilled to announce that Saudi Arabian filmmaker Ahmed Saad Alnasser won the Mailuki Films Distribution Award for Best Project at the XXIII Tirana International Film Festival in Albania.

The director was thrilled to receive the award, and his first words were for his country.

This is a historic international success for the Saudi Arabian film industry.

The statement’s of the Jury:

For its poetic imagery, emotional depth, universal resonance in portraying love, resiliente and loss, and the excellent pitch and presentation that truly captivated the audience.

The title of the film will be UNDER THE ABAYA and as the winner of the distribution award, it will be included in Mailuki Films’ renowned film catalogue and will participate in the best international film festivals around the world.

Bruno Carnide, a filmmaker twice nominated by the Portuguese Film Academy for the prestigious Sophia Awards, presented the Diploma and Trophy.

Synopsis of UNDER THE ABAYA:

Shihab considers the abaya his only shield in both good and bad times. However, when that abaya suddenly disappears, Shihab finds himself forced to step out of the comfort zone he had feared his entire life.

Director’s Statement:

UNDER THE ABAYA explores the intricate relationship between protection, dependency, and self-discovery through a deeply human and intimate story set in one of the popular neighborhoods in Dammam. The story follows “Shihab,” a young boy who finds safety under his mother’s abaya—a symbolic and literal shield from societal judgment, sun, and rain, as well as his struggle with a rare skin condition. However, when the abaya suddenly disappears following his mother’s death, Shihab is forced to confront the world alone in a poignant journey toward emotional maturity.

What the film explores:
The film addresses the concept of emotional dependency as a common human experience—particularly in conservative communities where symbols like the abaya act as tangible metaphors for protection and comfort. “Under the Abaya” raises a central question: what happens when the protection we depend on is no longer there? This transformation is depicted visually and narratively, especially in the symbolic moment when the rain stops above the mother’s coffin, suggesting a spiritual connection and an internal awakening.

Mailuki Films congratulates this talented author and the Saudi Arabian Audiovisual Industry on this historic achievement.

We would also like to congratulate the Tirana International Film Festival on this wonderful edition, which most of our colleagues at the event considered to be the best edition ever.

Without a doubt, this week, everyone was here.

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