2020/2021 Winners & Shortlists

Write a short summary of what happens in the film

Our story unfolds through the perspective of a spiny-tailed lizard, an endangered species suffering from rampant hunting (food/sport) and lumbering caused by humans who are positioned as the intruder to our protagonist’s environment. We go through our hero’s life from childhood and its relationship with its mentor and grandfather, to its first love story, its firstborn, and the inner/outer-harmony of the hero’s life and balance with the environment. Throughout this journey, the protagonist walks us through the importance of being in-tune with nature and the synergy between nature and the various life-forms it hosts. Tragedy strikes when the little daughter turns on the lights of their burrow, alerting humans to push them out of their dwelling using the common technique of gassing lizards. The story ends with the hero warning humans that if they stick to their evil ways, they will be the next on the extinction train.

Cultural / Context information for the jury

Rampant illegal hunting and lumbering are common practices in Saudi Arabia specifically and the gulf region in general, and although governments have instated strict laws against both practices (upwards of $13,000 and confiscation of the transgressor’s vehicle for specific species of animals and plants), there has been a general avoidance from citizens, given the cultural and tribal roots of those activities. The film was well received by viewers and was circulated by and within various government entities around the gulf, and following the release of the film, the Saudi Ministry of Environment Water and Agriculture put in place a new violation specifically for hunting spiny-tailed lizards.

Tell the jury anything relevant about the direction. Do not name the director.

The director comes from a tribal and traditional background and has been exposed to the rituals of rampant hunting and lumbering since his childhood. He understands the behaviour and psychology of people who participate in those practices and wanted to tell this story in an authentic way that reflects the reality of hunting and lumbering trips, and the language that is typically used by the target audience. The director also chose the voice actor for the protagonist because they’re known for their “traditional macho-man” persona that fits well with the people who usually go on hunting trips. Additionally, the director is typically interested in comedic and highly imaginative ideas, and insisted on building a miniature model of a human-like burrow and designing human-like situations to anthropomorphize the victims of rampant hunting and lumbering in an absurd comedic way that keeps the viewer interested