NEOM collaborates with the Korean Film Council to cultivate future Saudi filmmakers

NEOM Media Industries and the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) have unveiled a partnership to mentor and develop emerging filmmakers in the industry.

This collaboration involves comprehensive training from the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA), South Korea's leading national film school managed by KOFIC, which will be provided to the up-and-coming filmmakers at NEOM.

Training and developmental resources from KAFA will be accessible to new and seasoned film and television content creators, ensuring they are well-equipped to handle local, regional, and international projects.

The partnership will offer myriad training areas, encompassing workshops, masterclasses, and programs for multiple filmmaking roles – from producers and directors to screenwriters, cinematographers, and sound designers.

The initial program is set to launch in the first quarter of 2024, beginning with a directing masterclass and workshop set to be hosted at the Media Hub at NEOM, the region's largest dedicated screen production facility.

Expressing his thoughts on the collaboration, Wayne Borg, the managing director of media industries, entertainment, and culture at NEOM, underscored it as "a crucial opportunity for mutual development and intensified collaboration."

Borg elaborated: "Utilizing South Korea's notable successes in the global film sphere, alongside the substantial insights gained through this alliance, we envision a tremendous opportunity to elevate production standards, expedite ecosystem evolution, expand international market access, cultivate talent, facilitate co-productions, and herald a novel chapter of storytelling."
He further emphasized that the collaboration resonates with their commitment to talent development as a pivotal aspect of their strategic vision to nourish a multifaceted and proficient workforce.

KOFIC's Chair, Park Ki-Yong, shared his enthusiasm: "We are thrilled to collaborate with NEOM in cultivating Saudi filmmakers for the future of global cinema."

Park also highlighted that KAFA's venture into Saudi Arabia in 2024 will mark KOFIC's third international collaboration, following KAFA in Kazakhstan in 2022 and KAFA in Vietnam in 2023.

"We foresee this partnership paving the way for enhanced cooperation between our two nations and film industries in the future," he added.

Both nations, South Korea and Saudi Arabia, have witnessed a rising tide of skilled young filmmakers who are progressively shaping the global media scene.