Malmö Arab Film Festival Honors Saudi Cinema Pioneer Abdullah Al Muhaisen at its 16th Edition
The Malmö Arab Film Festival (MAFF) proudly announces that it will honor renowned Saudi filmmaker Abdullah Al Muheisen during the 16th edition of the festival, which will take place in Malmö, Sweden, from April 10 to 16, 2026.
This tribute recognizes his pioneering cinematic career and his foundational role in the emergence of Saudi cinema.
The official tribute ceremony will be held during the festival’s Opening Ceremony on April 10, 2026, in the presence of distinguished cultural, artistic, and media figures from Sweden and the Arab world.
As part of the program, the festival will present a special screening of Al-Muhaisen’s landmark documentary “Assassination of a City” (1977)—one of his most significant works, reflecting his cinematic vision and his deep engagement with Arab issues and their social and human impact on communities.
Following the screening, the festival will host a Masterclass with Abdullah Al Muhaisen, where he will discuss his extensive artistic journey and cinematic philosophy, as expressed through his major works—from the earliest days of Saudi cinema to the films that marked defining milestones in its history.
On this occasion, Mohamed Keblawi, Founder and President of the Malmö Arab Film Festival, stated:
“It is a great honor for Malmö to celebrate one of the most important pioneers of Saudi and Arab cinema. Abdullah Al-Muhaisen was not merely a filmmaker, but the initiator of an early cinematic and humanistic project that laid the foundations of cinema in the Kingdom. The screening of Assassination of a City and the Masterclass dedicated to his journey offer our audience a rare opportunity to discover an authentic and influential Arab cinematic voice.”
For his part, filmmaker Abdullah Al Muheisen expressed his appreciation for the tribute, saying:
“I am deeply honored by this recognition from the Malmö Arab Film Festival, which has become an important platform for cultural and cinematic dialogue between the Arab world and Europe. Presenting Assassination of a City and reflecting on my journey in the Masterclass is an opportunity to revisit the early beginnings of Saudi cinema and share this experience with a new audience that believes in cinema as a human memory and a civilizational message.”
Through this tribute, the Malmö Arab Film Festival reaffirms its commitment to honoring the pioneers of Arab cinema and highlighting the foundational experiences that contributed to shaping the region’s cinematic history and strengthening its global presence.
About Abdullah Al Muheisen
Pioneer of Saudi Cinema
From an early age, Abdullah Al Muheisen was captivated by ideas, imagery, and vision. He chose to specialize in film and television directing, pursuing his studies at leading international universities. Today, he is widely recognized as the pioneer of Saudi cinema and the Gulf region, being the first Saudi to formally specialize in cinema and laying the groundwork for the Kingdom’s film industry.
Over five decades, he produced and directed numerous films addressing political, humanitarian, national, and developmental issues, leaving a lasting mark on Saudi and Arab cinema.
Born in Makkah in 1947, Al Muhaisen began his primary education in Saudi Arabia and completed his secondary studies in Lebanon before embarking on a cinematic journey that would become a turning point in the history of Saudi film.
His five major cinematic works represent key milestones in his career:
- Development of Riyadh City (1976)
- Assassination of a City (1977)
- Islam… The Bridge of the Future (1982)
- The Shock (1991)
- Shadow of Silence (2006)
Together, these films reflect the essence of Al-Muhaisen’s cinematic philosophy—his belief in cinema as a tool for documentation, cultural expression, and advocacy for human concerns across the Arab world.
