An instructor from the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA) gives a filmmaking lesson to Saudi Arabian filmmakers in Riyadh in November. Courtesy of the Korean Film Council By Baek Byung-yeul Korea and Saudi Arabia are deepening their film industry ties, with young, talented filmmakers from the Middle Eastern country receiving valuable education under the guidance of Korean professionals. The Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA), under the Korean Film Council, said Friday that it successfully concluded the academy’s first-ever KAFA Boot Camp in Saudi Arabia.
The month-long intensive program, which was held from Nov. 3 to 28 in Riyadh, was held in partnership with MBC Academy of Saudi Arabia. Established in 1984, KAFA is widely known for producing prominent directors including Hur Jin-ho, Bong Joon-ho and Choi Dong-hoon.
The institution trains talent in all areas of filmmaking, from pre-production to post-production, and since 2001, it has also incorporated animation. During the program, 18 aspiring Saudi Arabian filmmakers had opportunities to learn about filmmaking, ranging from practical skills to knowledge essential for cinematic storytelling. KAFA said participants were immersed in its renowned filmmaking curriculum over the four weeks.
KAFA professors including Noh Dong-seok (directing), Na Kyeong-chan (producing) and Choi Ju-young (cinematography) taught the participants a wide range of filmmaking topics from script development and pre-production to shooting and post-prod.
