‘Hijra’ by Shahad Ameen Marks Turning Point for Saudi Cinema

Saudi filmmaker Shahad Ameen continues to make waves on the international stage with her latest film Hijra. Following her acclaimed debut with Scales in 2019, Ameen’s new feature premiered at this year’s Venice Film Festival and went on to win the NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film — a significant milestone for Saudi Arabian cinema.

Due to its critical acclaim and strong audience reception, Hijra has been selected as Saudi Arabia’s official submission for the 2025 Academy Awards. Notably, of the eight films Saudi Arabia has submitted to the Oscars since 2013, four have been directed by women — highlighting the growing influence of female filmmakers in the Kingdom’s burgeoning film industry.

Hijra tells the story of three women across generations. The narrative follows 12-year-old Jannat as she embarks on a pilgrimage to Mecca with her grandmother. Along the way, her older sister Sarah mysteriously disappears. As Jannat and her grandmother search for her, long-buried secrets from the grandmother’s past begin to surface, offering a poignant reflection on freedom, loss, and womanhood.

Speaking about the film, Ameen said: “As a filmmaker, my goal has always been to give voice to the unheard. With Hijra, I wanted to portray the stories of Saudi women and challenge the dominant narratives that exist about our society. The film explores how different generations of women define freedom in their own ways.”

Hijra is being hailed by critics and scholars alike as a turning point for Saudi Arabian cinema — both in terms of international recognition and its nuanced portrayal of the complexities within Saudi society, particularly regarding women’s roles and identities.