Ajyal

Three generations of Saudi women reflect on their lives through the decades of dramatic regional cultural, political and religious changes. Ajyal (Generations) begins when Saudi Arabia launched its first school for girls in 1960 and continues through the post-9/11 era.

| ar

Fahrenheit 9/11

Michael Moore's view on how the Bush administration allegedly used the tragic events on 9/11 to push forward its agenda for unjust wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

2004-06-25 | en

Saudi Solutions

How to combine modernity and fundamentalist Islam. "Saudi Solutions" is a unique and revealing documentary about the lifestyles and attitudes of ambitious career womenin conservative Saudi Arabia - the only country in the Arabworld where women are obliged to cover themselves inabayas and aren't allowed to drive cars. Because of the strong influence of fundamentalist Islam on society, filmingis severely restricted in Saudi Arabia. With unique access to the Kingdom, Backlight had the opportunity to film the daily routines of Saudi working women. This documentaryfeatures a top gyneacologist, a TV news anchor woman, a photographer, and a university professor. It also introducesthe wealthy Prince Al-Waleed, who passionately promotes the acceptance of women into the workforce. He kindly invitesBacklight to his luxury desert camp, but there are no women to be found - only thousands of men.

2006-04-16 | en

The Notorious Mr. Bout

Viktor Bout was a war profiteer, an entrepreneur, an aviation tycoon, an arms dealer, and—strangest of all—a documentary filmmaker. The Notorious Mr. Bout is the ultimate rags-to-riches-to-prison memoir, documented by the last man you'd expect to be holding the camera.

2014-01-17 | en

Karama Has No Walls

'Karama has no walls' is set amidst Yemen's 2011 uprising. The film illustrates the nature of the Yemeni revolution in stark contrast to the gross violations of human rights that took place on Friday, March 18th 2011. Juma'at El-Karama (Friday of Dignity) marks a turning point in the Yemeni revolution as the tragic events that took place on this day -when pro-government snipers shot dead 53 protestors - shook the nation and propelled hundreds of thousands more to flock to the square in solidarity with their fellow citizens. Through the lenses of two cameramen and the accounts of two fathers, the film retells the story of the people behind the statistics and news reports, encapsulating the tragic events of the day as they unfolded.

2012-03-01 | en

Covid and War

A pandemic, a warzone, and a government in denial

| en

Animals of the Ocean Desert

For two-thirds of the year, the Little Rann is a desert. Suddenly, in August, monsoon winds whip up the Arabian Sea and carry it 100 km inland. The desert and these mounds soon become islands and homes to high concentrations of rarely-seen, endangered and spectacular wildlife.

2001-06-21 | en

The Oath

Tells the story of two men, Abu Jandal and Salim Ahmed Hamdan, whose fateful encounter in 1996 set them on a course of events that led them to Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden, 9/11, Guantanamo, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

2010-05-09 | en

Saudi Women's Driving School

An unprecedented access to a number of Saudi women in the capital city of Riyadh as they embrace the freedom that comes from being behind the wheel.The Saudi Women’s Driving School is said to be the world's largest driving school, which caters exclusively to women since the ban on female drivers was lifted in 2017.

2019-10-24 | en

The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia

One year after the murder of columnist Jamal Khashoggi, a two-hour FRONTLINE documentary investigates the rise and rule of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia (MBS). Correspondent Martin Smith, who has covered the Middle East for FRONTLINE for 20 years, examines the crown prince’s vision for the future, his handling of dissent, his relationship with the United States — and his ties to Khashoggi’s killing. This Episode can be watched Online at (last Update 18th Oct 24): https://www.pbs.org/video/crown-prince-saudi-arabia-1jt2ey

2019-10-01 | en

Expédition Pétra : sur la piste des Nabatéens

2022-09-21 | fr

Matt Shepard Is a Friend of Mine

An intimate portrait of Matthew Shepard, the gay young man murdered in one of the most notorious hate crimes in U.S. history. Framed through a personal lens, it's the story of loss, love, and courage in the face of unspeakable tragedy.

2014-10-07 | en

The Poetess

The story of Hissa Hilal, a Saudi woman who used her reality-television fame to speak against religious extremism.

2017-08-23 | de

Arabian Flavours

Join world renowned chefs, Pierre Sang & Cédric Grolet, as they travel Saudi Arabia experiencing new flavours, meeting other chefs and learning Arabic cooking techniques.

2022-06-01 | fr

Bitter Rivals: Iran and Saudi Arabia

Bitter Rivals illuminates the essential history - and profound ripple effect - of Iran and Saudi Arabia's power struggle. It draws on scores of interviews with political, religious and military leaders, militia commanders, diplomats, and policy experts, painting American television's most comprehensive picture of a feud that has reshaped the Middle East.

2018-02-27 | en

Portraits de Voyages Yémen : Les Maisons tours

Visit to a famous Sana'a tower house with an architect

2013-07-24 | en

Joud

Using an experimental structure derived from a pre-Islamic poetic form known as the Qasida (ode), this is an ancient poem for modern times. This epic tale traverses the reaches of the Kingdom, taking in 15 distinctive regions and terrains, including Jeddah, Tabuk, Mecca, and Ha’il. An immersive journey across diverse walks of Saudi life, the film sheds light on cultural and geographic treasures, including archeological histories and contemporary realities. Produced by the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), the film brings together award-winning Australian director and composer Andrew Lancaster, with co-director Osama Alkhurayji – a Saudi documentary filmmaker, whose timeless and unique narrative draws on the sheer power of sound and image. Free of dialogue, the film is an immersive experience through culture, music, and natural landscape, vibrantly illustrating the dramatic transformations that have forged the Kingdom.

2018-01-10 | en

Shadow World

A detailed investigation into the political and economic interests that, since the beginning of the 20th century, have pulled the strings of the arms trade, hidden in the shadows, feeding the shameful corruption of politicians and government officials and promoting a state of permanent war throughout the world, while they cynically asked for a lasting and universal peace.

2016-10-14 | en

Al-Awja 17:47

Inspired by a true event, the film tells the story of a Saudi Tornado aircraft that suffered a sudden technical failure while returning from an operational mission on January 7, 2018. In the heart of the combat zone, as risks escalate, a search and rescue operation is launched to save the crew—a mission that embodies courage and dedication.

2025-02-22 | ar

Horizon

From the turtles of the Farasan Islands to the ibex that dot the Asir Mountains, this documentary captures Saudi Arabia's diverse wildlife and scenery.

2024-01-04 | ar