2020/2021 Winners & Shortlists

Write a short summary of what happens in the film

An ever-changing track that captures the changing nature of Saudi Culture. ‘Hay Hal Sot’ is a joint collaboration between track singer-composer Hussain Al Jassmi, along with Saudi Arabian poet, Prince Badr Bin Abdul Mohsin, commissioned by Pepsi. The song is a tribute to the Kingdom and its people. ‘Hay Hal Sot’ formed the starting point to the soundtrack of this commercial. It was re-imagined, re-worked and re-arranged to reflect a journey of musical discovery. The soundtrack changes in genre, instrumentation, ambience and style, as the characters travel through constantly changing cities, towns and landscapes. Script : Lyrics: “Hay Hal Sot.”

Cultural / Context information for the jury

This soundtrack of this film is designed specifically for the Saudi market and points to the fast-changing cultural context of music in the Kingdom. It features the main-stream popularity of Hussain Al Jassmi but also new, emerging musicians like violinist Abdelrahman Badr and Cosmicat - the first female Saudi DJ. The mix contrasts heavy stomp-style percussion with improvised instruments with the traditional rhythms of Saudi tabla drums and seamlessly transitions from lyrical piano to thumping drum and bass. Within a week, ‘Hay Hal Sot’, which the film’s soundtrack was based on, went to Number 1 in the Anghami music charts. The soundtrack evokes a mood that modern Saudi, while aware of its musical roots, has a thirst to discover the new.

Tell the jury about the creation of the original music track.

Symphonic took Hussain Al Jasmi track, rearranged and recomposed the structure of the song using a mix of genres and instruments to give content and texture to the film's journey.