Women only in country’s only university course on cinema

Although officially not called "cinematography", as public cinemas are banned in Saudi Arabia, the course at Effat University in Jeddah aims at the production of films.

Jeddah (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Although not officially called "cinematography", given that public cinemas are banned in Saudi Arabia, the course at Effat University in Jeddah has the production of films as its goal. There are 150 students enrolled on its 3 year course, all women (pictured). Nothing similar exists for men.

Students and teachers say the curriculum on visual and digital production is developing the nascent field of cinema in Saudi Arabia and the helping process for the opening of cinemas.

On its website, the university says that the course of visual and digital production allows students to prepare "as a director, designer and / or developer and engineer to not only get the necessary creative skills, but also the practical knowledge to ensure your employment in the creative field". The students on the four-year undergraduate degree may also choose to engage in animation, script or interactive media, including gaming and virtual reality.

"I want to make stories that touch people's emotions," says the aspirant producer-director Reem Almodian behind the niqab that covers her face, revealing her interest in making a film about the sensitive issue of juvenile depression. "It will open parents eyes," she adds.

The lack of cinemas, says Namngani Rawan, 21, is not a reason not to "tell the story" that needs to be told in a movie. "Let's start by making the film, then the film will exist".

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• Arabia cinema women