Saudi Arabia’s Groundbreaking Telfaz11 Studio Announces Satirical Film ‘Saify’ Involving Banned Religious Sermons

As a seasoned film enthusiast with a penchant for cinema from diverse cultures, I must say that the upcoming Saudi production “Saify” has piqued my interest immensely. Hailing from the groundbreaking studio Telefaz11, known for their trailblazing work in pushing cultural boundaries, this film promises to be a captivating blend of satire, drama, and suspense. The setting against the backdrop of the 1990s, a time when cinema was banned yet cassette shops thrived selling banned religious sermons, adds an intriguing layer to the narrative.


Telefaz11, the innovative studio responsible for the successful dark comedy “Mandoob” about a man who secretly sells illegal alcohol in Riyadh, is planning to challenge Saudi Arabia’s cultural norms even more by creating a comedic portrayal of the country’s ultra-conservative religious leaders.

Telfaz11 unveiled that their upcoming production is “Saify,” a satirical drama, helmed by studio head Wael Abu Mansour and depicting events during the 1990s, an era where cinemas were unfortunately forbidden.

The story, titled “Saify,” centers around its main character, a man in his 40s, who persists in chasing the dream of instant riches despite his lack of appropriate skills. This determination is evident through his continued operation of his modest cassette store, which specializes in selling sermons that are prohibited by some authorities.

In the 1990s, many stores in Riyadh and other Saudi cities offered cassette tapes containing recorded sermons, which contributed to the rising fame of Islamic preachers. Yet, certain religious speeches were prohibited, including those delivered by significant religious leader Salman al-Odah, who gained prominence for his sermons “Join Us for Jihad” and “The Manufacturing of Death,” which spread on secret audiotapes across Saudi Arabia.

The Telfaz11 “Saify” summary doesn’t clarify if al-Odah plays a role in the movie’s storyline; instead, it hints at an engaging mix of satire, drama, and suspense for viewers.

Saify” is set to be Mansour’s second film, coming after his atmospheric drama “Carnival City,” which premiered at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia back in 2020.

This year, Telfaz11 intends to present the movie “Saify” on the big screens of Saudi cinemas. The film features Osama Alqess, who was previously seen in “Last Visit”, along with Aixa Kay, Baraa Alem, Nour Alkhadra, and Husam AlHarthi.

Following the removal of Saudi Arabia’s ban on cinemas towards the end of 2017, Telfaz11 has become a leading force in the Middle Eastern film industry due to a series of unconventional successful films. Apart from “Mandoob,” this includes movies like “Sattar,” an action-comedy that broke local box office records for domestic productions last year, and “Naga,” directed by Meshal Al Jaser, which revolves around a young woman who goes on a date, takes drugs in the desert, and has gained attention at the 2023 Red Sea Film Festival. It is now available on Netflix.

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2024-09-19 17:46