Join us for the jury screening of the 3rd edition of “Kef Hayyak?” cohort’s films!

“Kef Hayyak?” is a unique documentary filmmaking challenge that invites aspiring filmmakers to capture the essence of their neighborhoods in Jeddah through their own lens—using only their phones.

Building on the success of its first two editions, the programme launched an open call for its third edition in December 2025, selecting 13 projects for development based on the quality and originality of their creative proposals. The participants attended an Introduction to Documentary Filmmaking workshop, where they learned about documentary genres, terminology, techniques, and watched a selection of documentary examples. The workshop was led by filmmaker and Hayy Cinema’s Programming Coordinator, Lama Jamjoom. The participants were trained and mentored in the basics of storytelling and documentary filmmaking.

The films will be presented at Hayy Cinema with the attendance of a professional jury from the international and Saudi film industry who will select three winners with awards to be announced on the screening night.

Cinephiles, filmmakers, and fans of local representation are invited to join the screening and witness how the vibrant spirit of Jeddah’s neighborhoods has been captured!

Date: June 18, 2026. Doors open at 7pm.

The event is free to attend, but RSVP is required.

Jury Members

Zohra Ait El Jamar

Head of Cinema at Art Jameel

Zohra was previously working in cultural diplomacy for the French Embassy – as the Audiovisual & Creative Industries Attaché to the GCC, including Saudi and before being based in Abu Dhabi, in a similar role at the Consulate in Jerusalem and Palestine. She started her studies in Psychology and holds a Master’s degree in Political Science specialized in Media and Audience from French Institute of Press, Paris and Creative Industries from University Vincennes Saint-Denis, Paris.

Emad Eskander

Producer & Head of The Red Sea Fund

Emad Eskandar is a Saudi storyteller and filmmaker. Eskandar’s journey took him through the corridors of ad agencies and multinational giants like  Unilever and P&G. Driven by an ardent love for films in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the region, Emad transitioned from the corporate world to a more creative role within local film production houses. In 2019, he founded “Blue Bus Entertainment,” a conceptualizing and writing studio that made significant strides in its first year. Emad Eskandar brings a wealth of experience and a fervent commitment to fostering creativity in the film industry.

Wael Abumansour

Head of Telfaz11 Studios

Wael Abumansour is a Saudi writer, director, and producer. He began his filmmaking career in 2012 and has since directed and produced a range of fiction and documentary projects, including Carnival City (2021), which premiered at the inaugural Red Sea International Film Festival, Mozmarji (2017), and The Qanadil of Uncle Salem (2013). His latest feature film, Saify (2024), has screened internationally. Prior to filmmaking, he spent over 15 years working as a journalist with Al-Watan, Asharq Al-Awsat, and AFP.

Mentorship for this cycle of the programme

Jassim AlSaady

With over 22 years of experience, Jassim Alsaady has worked on 80+ projects across commercials, documentaries, and film. An award-winning director and two-time Robert Bosch Award recipient, he has collaborated with filmmakers including Morgan Spurlock and Tom Tykwer, and worked on productions for Netflix, HBO, and IMAX. He is also the founder of Cinema Mirkaz, Jeddah’s first arthouse cinema club, and is currently developing his debut feature film.

Selected Projects

A Search For A Flower by Anas Al Tamimi

Neighborhood: Al Tayseer, Jeddah

A person who prefers isolation and solitude goes on a journey where we see how he comes to uncover certain truths about himself. Along the way, he encounters a rose, which becomes a kind of guide, teaching him how to coexist with others in one way or another.

Gateway to Jeddah by Shahad Almskti

Neighborhood:  AlBawadi, Jeddah

After moving to Jeddah, a filmmaker finds an unexpected opportunity to rediscover her relationship with her mother, as their new beginning in the city reveals emotional connections they had never uncovered before.

To Live and Die in AlHamadaniyyah by Omar Abusamak

Neighborhood:  AlHamdaniyyah, Jeddah

As his father searches for a new home north of Al Haramain Road, driven by unspoken financial pressures, a young boy struggles with a deep rejection of his neighborhood; Al Hamdaniyyah. In his father’s absence, his inner world turns into a silent conflict between fear, alienation, and his strained relationship with his father, haunted by the growing sense that something unsettling lies behind the decision.

Her Magnum Opus by Mohammed Hussen

Neighborhood: : AlRawdah, Jeddah

When a struggling photographer begins to lose faith in both his craft and his city, he wanders through Jeddah searching for the color that once defined it.

The Sieves of Jinn by Kareem Najm

Neighborhood: Alawali, Makkah

In a neighborhood weighed down by rumors until its name becomes synonymous with fear, a generation grows up raised on stories of jinn and superstition. But over time, the mystery begins to fade. They discover that what once terrified them was nothing more than tales woven by people; out of fear, boredom, or escape from reality. 

A Neighborhood That Didn’t Die by Mshari AlHarbi

Neighborhood:  AlJamea, Jeddah

When the place changes, the question remains: do we begin again, or hold on to what’s left behind? And can memories truly be born in a new place?

New Neighborhood by Anas Alhuthali

Neighborhood:  AlSulaimaniah

Anas documents the places in his neighborhood he can never forget, offering a personal view of Al Sulaimaniyah through his own lens

Reflection by Nada Eid

Neighborhood: AlKhaldiyyah

A filmmaker, Nada, embarks on a personal journey to document her father’s old neighborhood through her own perspective. Accompanied by her father, the film unfolds revealing a subtle yet profound similarity between her father’s determination to live life on his own terms and Nada’s own insistence on seeing the world through her lens.

On the Rooftop by Rashid Gabriel & Hisham Ibrahim

Neighborhood: AlThaghr, Jeddah

In the southern neighborhoods of Jeddah, a young man who has spent years confined inside his aunt’s house finally escapes, encountering the world for the first time. By chance, he finds his sister at a volunteer initiative, and begins a fragile journey toward understanding life, belonging, and himself.

Conflict by Ahmad Alfarra & Shatha AlWafi

Neighborhood:  AlRuwais

Ahmed returns to his old neighborhood, and during the journey, his memory

drifts back to a passing incident that once took place on one of its streets.

Last Memory by Tala Haidar Majhoom & Raghad AlOtaibi

Neighborhood:  AlHamraa

A young girl’s attempt to find her lost cat takes her on a search that is complicated by multiple obstacles such as people’s lack of help, the exhaustion of the search itself, and the passage of time. The cat represents a memory of her late father, turning the search into something far deeper than simply finding a lost pet.

Triathlete by Eyas Mohammed & Yasseen Khiary

Neighborhood: Al-Nasseem, Jeddah

A triathlete from Al-Naseem sees the sport as more than competition, but a way of life built on discipline and endurance, as he pursues his ambition within an unexpected environment.