Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — Producer and writer Khaled Al-Rajeh has confirmed that the Saudi cinemas will receive his next film Najd. In a statement to Al-Madina, Al-Rajeh said that the team is in the final stages of completing the film. He also refuted claim in a section of the press that actress Shams is being part of the cast. "We are currently working on completion of the film, produced and directed by Samir Aref in a number of heritage areas, including the Sodos and the Al-Aynah areas, as well as some places in Kuwait," Al-Rajeh said.
Al-Rajeh added that the film Najd produced by the Saudi company Location Production began preparations two years ago. Work began after the approval of the General Authority for Entertainment and the decision to allow opening of Saudi cinemas. "We worked hard to produce a purely Saudi piece, but I found most artists already engaged with other work. Therefore, I started looking at other Gulf names. The first one I was introduced to was Hayat Al Fahad, who read the text and agreed immediately after expressing her admiration for it."
Al-Rajah pointed out that he used the Association of Culture and Arts in Riyadh and the Union of Producers to attract some young talents to act in the film. "Indeed, some of the names were signed, and I wished there were some technical institutes that would polish those talents the Kingdom has," he added.
The film revolves around Najd and the Masmak Palace. The story is about a love affair in the popular market. The events and the story develop between the 1950s and the modern era in 2018 with the Vision of 2030.
Al-Rajeh said details of the film will be revealed at a press conference in Riyadh that will be attended by the cast of the film and prominent names in the Ministry of Culture and Information, the General Entertainment Authority, and the Audiovisual Authority.
Hayat Al-Fahad, Ali Al-Sab'a, Amira Mohammed, Zahra Al-Kharji, Majed Matarab, Mohammed Al-Kanhal, Emtanan Mohammed, Nasser Al-Rabian, and Mohammed Haridi form the cast of the film.
