Saudi short films MATCHSTICK and LAILA to release commercially in the welcoming big screen of their home

release date April 18 2024

Two remarkable Saudi short films — Salma Murad's MATCHSTICK and Zakaria Al-Bashir’s LAILA — are set to captivate Saudi audiences when they hit Hayy Cinema in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah, courtesy of MAD Solutions, which is managing their distribution in the Arab World.

Tickets for the screenings are available to purchase through Hayy Cinema official website: https://www.hayycinema.org/movie/laila-matchstick-2022

Both MATCHSTICK and LAILA — the latter of which will be making their commercial debut in the kingdom — offer a unique and insightful portrayal of the profound impact of mental illness on individuals and showcase the talent and originality of Saudi filmmakers who play a vital role in expanding and enriching the cinematic landscape of the country.

Both movies will be screened together on April 18th and will be followed by a lively Q&A session with their respective filmmakers to discuss the inspiration and making of the shorts. The films will then screen again on the 19th, 20th, 21st, 25th, and 26th.

MATCHSTICK, produced by The Orange Attitude, already made waves in the film festival circuit last year, receiving the prestigious Best First Work Award and a cash prize of SAR 30,000 at the Saudi Film Festival.

Before that, it world premiered at the Red Sea International Festival’s New Cinema/New Saudi Section and went on to screen at numerous film festivals, including the Cyprus, Djerba, and Bahrain film festivals.

Written and directed by Salma Murad and starring Naif Al-Daferi and Nawwaf Al-Daferi, the psychological drama delves into the story of Osama — a young man entangled in a conflict between his emotions and memories.

Meanwhile, LAILA is a compelling Saudi-Somali production that explores the challenges faced by a married woman named Laila. This 16-minute drama takes viewers on a journey through Laila's turbulent life as she grapples with marital troubles and searches for solace within her imagination.

Written with finesse by Sahar Sulaiman, Mohamed Bawarith, and Hazem Saleh, and directed by Zakaria Al-Bashir, the film stars Hams Bandar, Ammar Barashir, and Retaj Abdullah.

The film world premiered at the Zanzibar International Film Festival, where it captivated audiences with its emotional depth and compelling performances, and was featured in the Saudi and Sharm El Sheikh film festivals.