A DAY to world premiere at Saudi Film Festival

Ahmed Akbar’s short flick A DAY is poised to make its world premiere at the upcoming Saudi Film Festival, which is scheduled to run from May 2nd to the 9th.

Organized by the Cinema Association in partnership with Ithra, the 10th edition of the Saudi Film Festival is held with the support of the Saudi Ministry of Culture’s Film Commission in collaboration with The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture.

Written and directed by Bahraini filmmaker Ahmed Akbar, A DAY follows an old man who, upon turning 70, feels incredibly alone and unimportant in his community. He considers his history while observing the changes in society around him. But as his memories steadily fade, he becomes more and more wounded with every loss.

Produced by Mohamed Fareed (Blu Steel Films), A DAY stars Yehya Abdalrasool, Mohammed Al-Saeed, Mosa Jaffar, and Ali Al-Ghais. Meanwhile, MAD Solutions handles the film’s global distribution.

Regarding his participation in Saudi Film Festival, Ahmed Akbar commented: “I’m honored to be a part of one of the most distinguished film festivals in the Arab world. It has always been a dream of mine to share my film with the global and the Saudi audience… In A DAY, I wanted to highlight how we encounter numerous struggles as we mature, believing that peace will accompany aging. However, the hardships of elderly life prove to be unbearable. Living in a world that no longer resembles you, a world that grows increasingly unfamiliar with each passing moment, strips away everything that defines you. Little by little, you lose everything, and along with it, you lose yourself.”

Ahmed Akbar is a Bahraini filmmaker and editor who garnered numerous accolades both domestically and internationally throughout his career. Influenced by acclaimed directors such as Wong Kar-Wai, Abbas Kiarostami, Krzysztof Kieslowski, and Michael Haneke, Ahmed’s approach to filmmaking has been shaped by a rich tapestry of directorial styles.

Among Ahmed’s notable works are three short films — CALENDAR (2018); WINDOW (2019), which received a grant from the Made with Passion Festival; and SALAM (2021), which was awarded a grant from the French Embassy in Bahrain. Additionally, he has lent his editing expertise to several short films originating from Bahrain.