The film is supported by the Saudi Film Commission’s Daw Initiative and Neom, which provided incentives and on-the-ground support.
Saudi Arabian director Shahad Ameen, renowned for her debut feature Scales, has been working on her latest cinematic endeavour, Hijra. Following the global success of Scales, which garnered international acclaim and accolades, including an award at the Venice Film Festival and selection as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s official entry for the Oscars, Ameen’s sophomore film promises to be another cinematic gem. It was released in Arab and international cinemas and continues streaming on the Netflix, Shahid, and OSN platforms.
Collaborating with Iraqi filmmaker Mohamed Al-Daradji as producer, Ameen spent three years crafting Hijra. The production boasts a collaboration between Biet Ameen Production, The Iraqi Independent Film Centre, and Ideation Studio by Saudi producer Faisal Baltyuor. Cinewaves, under Baltyuor’s distribution company, is slated to release the film in Saudi Arabia, while Film Clinic Indie Distribution will handle sales and distribution in the Arab world.
Abboud Ayyash and line producer Sayed Abou Haidar, along with their company Three Arts, join forces with veteran Mohamed Hefzy and his company Film Clinic as co-producers of the film.
Supported by the Daw Initiative Saudi Film Commission, Ithra, Neom, and represented for North American sales by CAA, Hijra benefited from production incentives and on-ground support, including significant filming in the historic locales of AlUla in Saudi Arabia’s northwest.
The film receives co-production support from the Red Sea Fund, a programme administered by the Red Sea Film Foundation. Additionally, Film AlUla, the film agency under the Royal Commission for AlUla, contributes to the co-production efforts.
Hijra, which commenced filming in March, is on track to wrap up production by May 24th, spanning 55 shooting days across eight cities in Saudi Arabia. The film follows the journey of a grandmother and her two granddaughters from Taif to Mecca, with the disappearance of the eldest granddaughter prompting a search across the Kingdom’s northern regions. Through this intimate narrative, Ameen weaves the cultural and aesthetic diversity of Saudi Arabia, spotlighting the pivotal role of women across generations in shaping Saudi society.
The film boasts a cast of prominent Saudi actors, including Khairiya Nazmi as Sitti, Nawaf Al-Dhufairi as Ahmed, and Lamar Feddan in a role as Janna. Additionally, Baraa Alam makes a guest appearance.
Internationally renowned editor Hervé de Luz will helm the editing process in Paris, alongside cinematographer Miguel Litten Menz and set designer Chris Richmond, ensuring a seamless blend of international expertise with local talent.
With Ameen at the helm, supported by a diverse team of Saudi and Arab creatives, Hijra promises to be a cinematic experience, merging universal themes with a distinct Saudi identity.
Speaking about the film, Producer Mohamed Al-Daradji said: “Shahad Ameen was able to employ cinema to discover the aesthetics of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the cultural and historical dimension of the Kingdom. Because of this, he believes that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a fertile land possessing many dramatic stories, and through our filmmaking here, we will grow Arab cinema to a new horizon.”
Producer Faisal Baltyuor added: “It was a pleasure to work with Shahad since her first feature Scales when we worked together in the distribution of the film in Saudi Arabia and then preparation to be nominated as the Saudi Oscar candidate in 2020. Since then I have been following Shahad for her next feature and to scale up the collaboration. I have seen how hard she worked in the preparation of Hijra and am amazed by the early drafts of the script. Through her eyes, we will have an international road film and a cinematic discovery journey throughout Saudi Arabia, grabbing very appealing local characters, during one of the most busy seasons in the world.”
Co-producer Mohamed Hefzy stated: “Having collaborated with Shahad on Scales, on which we handled MENA Sales, we feel Shahad is onto something very special and more ambitious with Hijra, and are only proud and eager to complete the journey with her and her producing team.”
Shahad Ameen commented: “Hijra is one of the most difficult films I have worked on, and we are still halfway through. We are filming in eight different cities and remote areas. Still, the team and I fully believe in the importance of this story, which tells the story of Saudi women from different generations. And the conflict that ensues. All of this is in the plot of a road film that highlights the cultural and historical diversity of the Kingdom and stresses that the Kingdom was and still is a refuge for all people who sought safety in this holy land.”
