Saudi Arabia Launches 'Film Deposit' Initiative To Preserve Kingdom's Cinematic Heritage

Saudi Arabia has launched the "Film Deposit" initiative through the National Film Archive as part of collecting and archiving Saudi films to preserve and ensure their sustainability for future generations. The initiative was announced by the Saudi Film Commission.

According to the press release issued by the Saudi Film Commission, the objective of the initiative is to gather Saudi films from various sources, such as companies and filmmakers, securely deposit and preserve them at a designated headquarters. The project also aims to document the country's cinematic history and capture its cultural and artistic dimensions, reported the Saudi Press Agency. 

The "Film Deposit" initiative began with establishing the Saudi Film Registry, which contains data on over 1,000 films, including feature films and documentaries, both long and short. Notably, the initiative ensures the preservation and representation of national cultural heritage through three paths. This includes deposit for secure storage, deposit with research access for scholarly study, and deposit with public availability for general access. The project marks a significant step in enhancing access for those interested in films that constitute landmarks in local cinematic history.