Wikipedia

Meshal Aljaser

Meshal Aljaser is a Saudi Arabian filmmaker, most notable for fast cutting, and topics that address the clash of Saudi culture, and musings at religious belief and the afterlife. His made a mini-series Folaim Ya Gholaim,[1] and a short film Arabian Alien which premiered in the Sundance Film Festival in 2019. His short film Is Sumyati Going to Hell? tackles issues of religion, culture, and injustice towards maids in Saudi Arabia. It is told from the eyes of a young protagonist who questions her family's beliefs. It is featured as part of Netflix's six windows in the desert.[2][3][4] He has often tried to push the cultural boundaries through provocative videos, such as when he features a Saudi man licking an American woman's face on his music video "Fadayeh" [scandals].[5]

Aljaser's style is often satirical, experimental and fast-paced. He has won numerous awards such as Ahmad Al Shugairi's program Qomrah 2, for creating the film "Under Concrete" addressing the issues of Refugees of the Syrian civil war and homelessness.[6][7][8]

His film Arabian Alien is considered a genre of science fiction, and addresses the marriage between a couple who finds himself an alien.[9] It features Saudi comedian Abu Hamdan, and the music of Saudi-American R&B musician Tamtam.[10][11][12][13] It premiered at Sundance Film Festival, won best short film at Atlanta Film Festival, making it eligible for best short film at the Oscars.[14][15][16]

His debut feature comedy-thriller film, Naga, premiered in the midnight madness section at Toronto International Film Festival, and stars Saudi American actress Adwa Bader (who was also selected for TIFF Rising Stars.[17][18] The film tells the story of a Saudi woman who breaks the curfew imposed by her conservative father to go on a date, but finds herself stranded in the desert with creepy men and a rabid camel.[19][20]

Early life and education

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He is a New York Film Academy Screenplay graduate.[21]

References

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  1. ^ Fahmy, Nadine. "YouTube to Sundance: How Young Saudi Filmmaker Meshal AlJaser is Making it Big with Social Satire". SceneArabia. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  2. ^ "The Saudi filmmakers who made a splash at Cannes". Arab News. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  3. ^ White, Peter (12 February 2020). "Netflix Nabs Short Films From Saudi Arabia Start-Up Telfaz11 Studios". Deadline. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Cultural board celebrates Saudi Arabia's talents at Cannes festival". Arab News. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Why did this Saudi comedian lick an American girl's face?". Al Arabiya English. 21 November 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  6. ^ "Saudi students will help to shape the future of Kingdom's entertainment industry, says NYFA president". Arab News. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  7. ^ الشريف, صلاح (5 November 2017). «تحت الإسمنت» يفوز بجائزة «قمرة 2» [Under Cement wins Qomrah 2]. الرياض (in Arabic).
  8. ^ "Qomrah | Under concrete". The One Club for Creativity. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  9. ^ Hernandez, Darian. "From Arabia to the world: A universal message in "Arabian Alien"". The Hawkeye. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  10. ^ "Meshal Al Jaser's 'Arabian Alien' Step into the World of Music with Debut Single Ft. Tamtam". www.scenenoise.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  11. ^ Saeed, Saeed (26 April 2021). "Saudi singer Tamtam on building bridges with the West through music: 'It doesn't need translation'". The National. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Saudi Singer TamTam's New Song Steals Our Hearts". About Her. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  13. ^ "TamTam's New Video Features Arabian Alien Filmmakers and Sayda Word". 16 September 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  14. ^ Saeed, Saeed (26 April 2021). "Saudi singer Tamtam on building bridges with the West through music: 'It doesn't need translation'". The National. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  15. ^ "Filmmaker Hadi Ghandour's diary of Cannes Film Festival". Arab News. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  16. ^ "Saudi Film Arabian Alien Is Being Considered For The Oscars". GQ Middle East. 20 December 2020.
  17. ^ "Industry - Rising Stars". TIFF. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  18. ^ "Saudi rising star Adwa Bader receives recognition at TIFF 2023". Arab News. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  19. ^ Lipsett, Joe (13 September 2023). "'NAGA' TIFF Review – A Tense Thriller With a Terrifying Creature Feature Set Piece". Bloody Disgusting!. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  20. ^ "NAGA". Toronto International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 7 August 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  21. ^ "Meshal Al Jaser". Alumni | New York Film Academy. Retrieved 24 December 2022.


 

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