Saudi Director Shahad Ameen’s Film “Scales” to Debut in Venice Film Festival
Filmed in the UAE, the Saudi director and writer will debut her fantasy film next month in one of the biggest film festivals in the world. The powerful storyline revolves around the main character, Hayat, and her harsh struggles as a woman. This is not Shadad’s first. She was recognized for her short film “Eye & Mermaid,” which debuted at the Dubai International Film Festival back in 2013.
Shot in Oman, Scales, or Sayidat Al Bahr in Arabic, tells the story of Hayat who rejects her society’s tradition of sacrificing female children to sea creatures. Shahad told The National, “Scales tells a visceral story about growing up as a woman in a patriarchal society, offering an allegorical take on a universal theme that will resonate with audiences around the world.”
Shahad added, “Relying on simple yet powerful storytelling, it is a very visual experience with minimal dialogue – maintaining a timeless, meditative aspect even in its action scenes. I want to immerse viewers in Hayat’s journey from her own point of view, letting them share in her experience as she finds her true self.”
