These films represent some of the best of Saudi filmmaking, reflecting the creativity, culture, and humor of the Saudi people. We want to bring these films to American audiences who are intrigued yet often misinformed by the media about Saudi life and values. These filmmakers represent the future of Saudi film and offer a look at its independent film scene American audiences would otherwise not be privy to.
These films were all screened as part of past editions of the Arab Film Festival presented by the Arab Film and Media Institute with the exception of NOUR SHAMS which is a new film highlighted as part of this event.
The Girls Who Burned The Night
On an engagement night, a denied request pushes two sisters to their edge. Salsabel, a 13-year-old Saudi girl who fights to go to the grocery shop in a city where it is socially unacceptable, experiences hardship in her relationship with her older sister Wasan, who fears the night's darkness and refuses to go. Later that day, the two sisters find a way to fulfill their desires by burning the night.
Festival and Awards
Winner, Best Live Action Short Over 15 Minutes, Palm Springs International ShortFest, United States, 2021
Cairo International Film Festival, Egypt, 2020
Red Sea Film Festival, Saudi Arabia, 2020
About the filmmaker
Sara Mesfer is a Saudi director based in Saudi Arabia. She has a Bachelor's degree in cinematic art from Effat University. In 2016, she joined forces with a group of independent filmmakers in Saudi Arabia and started making short and feature films that vary in story, style, and role, some of which have made it to local and international film festivals. She also worked as an assistant director for commercials and music videos and as second assistant director and script supervisor on some TV projects. The first short film she produced Sadeya Left Sultan won the Jury Prize at the Saudi Film Festival in 2018 and was screened at Malmo Arab Film Festival and other regional festivals. In 2019, she wrote and produced the short film Quareer, Chapter Three as part of "Quareer" Collective Feature Film, which highlights five different stages of a woman's life in Saudi Arabia. In addition to her films, Sara was part of the writing team for the first immersive theater in Saudi Arabia, Bait Al Dahaleesi and participated in the production as assistant director. Mesfer wrote and directed the short film The Girls Who Burned The Night, which won the Special Mention Award at Palm Spring international ShortFest 2021 and the Special Mention Award from the Jury at Cairo International Film Festival's 42nd Edition.
- Year2020
- Runtime27 minutes
- LanguageArabic
- CountrySaudi Arabia
- DirectorSara Mesfer
- ScreenwriterSara Mesfer
- ProducerJawaher Alamri
- Co-ProducerRaghad Bajabaa
- CastJana Gomri, Haya Maraabi, Zain
- CinematographerRawan Namngani
- EditorBashayer Alsomali
- Production DesignEthar Ba'Amer
- Sound DesignAhmed Elbaba
These films represent some of the best of Saudi filmmaking, reflecting the creativity, culture, and humor of the Saudi people. We want to bring these films to American audiences who are intrigued yet often misinformed by the media about Saudi life and values. These filmmakers represent the future of Saudi film and offer a look at its independent film scene American audiences would otherwise not be privy to.
These films were all screened as part of past editions of the Arab Film Festival presented by the Arab Film and Media Institute with the exception of NOUR SHAMS which is a new film highlighted as part of this event.
The Girls Who Burned The Night
On an engagement night, a denied request pushes two sisters to their edge. Salsabel, a 13-year-old Saudi girl who fights to go to the grocery shop in a city where it is socially unacceptable, experiences hardship in her relationship with her older sister Wasan, who fears the night's darkness and refuses to go. Later that day, the two sisters find a way to fulfill their desires by burning the night.
Festival and Awards
Winner, Best Live Action Short Over 15 Minutes, Palm Springs International ShortFest, United States, 2021
Cairo International Film Festival, Egypt, 2020
Red Sea Film Festival, Saudi Arabia, 2020
About the filmmaker
Sara Mesfer is a Saudi director based in Saudi Arabia. She has a Bachelor's degree in cinematic art from Effat University. In 2016, she joined forces with a group of independent filmmakers in Saudi Arabia and started making short and feature films that vary in story, style, and role, some of which have made it to local and international film festivals. She also worked as an assistant director for commercials and music videos and as second assistant director and script supervisor on some TV projects. The first short film she produced Sadeya Left Sultan won the Jury Prize at the Saudi Film Festival in 2018 and was screened at Malmo Arab Film Festival and other regional festivals. In 2019, she wrote and produced the short film Quareer, Chapter Three as part of "Quareer" Collective Feature Film, which highlights five different stages of a woman's life in Saudi Arabia. In addition to her films, Sara was part of the writing team for the first immersive theater in Saudi Arabia, Bait Al Dahaleesi and participated in the production as assistant director. Mesfer wrote and directed the short film The Girls Who Burned The Night, which won the Special Mention Award at Palm Spring international ShortFest 2021 and the Special Mention Award from the Jury at Cairo International Film Festival's 42nd Edition.
- Year2020
- Runtime27 minutes
- LanguageArabic
- CountrySaudi Arabia
- DirectorSara Mesfer
- ScreenwriterSara Mesfer
- ProducerJawaher Alamri
- Co-ProducerRaghad Bajabaa
- CastJana Gomri, Haya Maraabi, Zain
- CinematographerRawan Namngani
- EditorBashayer Alsomali
- Production DesignEthar Ba'Amer
- Sound DesignAhmed Elbaba