The visionary Saudi filmmaker Ali Kalthami (@kalthami), is our third MOTY 2023 recipient. Captured through the lens of former GQ @gqmiddleeast
Middle East cover star @chndy_
Kalthami has been
bringing Riyadh to the global stage, by nurturing talent from the region, exploring themes that resonates worldwide and crafting compelling stories, whether through @telfaz11 or his first feature film, @mandoobfilm which premiered at Toronto International Film Festival.
If Saudi's creative community strikes you as network-driven, DIY, digital, and one of few scenes globally where comedy is so entwined with other forms of artistic and content production, then you shouldn't be too surprised. "The history of the Saudi people is that of a tribal society," says Kalthami. "This sense of companionship, of belonging to a group, of gathering, and of giving people chances comes from that mentality. It's been modernised, but you still see it in business."
Head to our website to read the full cover story with words by @vcamblin.
Photography: @chndy_
Editor-in-Chief: @ahmadaswaid
Multimedia Director: @edmund.jay
Senior Fashion Editor: @keanoushdarosa
Editor-at-Large: @samiralarouci
Digital Editor: @meeranmekkaoui
Styling: @wadaanilulua9
Project Manager: @waladkool
Photography assistant: @daddyaaz
Fashion Assistant: @teekomansour
Middle East cover star @chndy_
Kalthami has been
bringing Riyadh to the global stage, by nurturing talent from the region, exploring themes that resonates worldwide and crafting compelling stories, whether through @telfaz11 or his first feature film, @mandoobfilm which premiered at Toronto International Film Festival.
If Saudi's creative community strikes you as network-driven, DIY, digital, and one of few scenes globally where comedy is so entwined with other forms of artistic and content production, then you shouldn't be too surprised. "The history of the Saudi people is that of a tribal society," says Kalthami. "This sense of companionship, of belonging to a group, of gathering, and of giving people chances comes from that mentality. It's been modernised, but you still see it in business."
Head to our website to read the full cover story with words by @vcamblin.
Photography: @chndy_
Editor-in-Chief: @ahmadaswaid
Multimedia Director: @edmund.jay
Senior Fashion Editor: @keanoushdarosa
Editor-at-Large: @samiralarouci
Digital Editor: @meeranmekkaoui
Styling: @wadaanilulua9
Project Manager: @waladkool
Photography assistant: @daddyaaz
Fashion Assistant: @teekomansour