Abdulaziz Alshlahei

Abdulaziz Al-Shalahi is a Saudi director and screenwriter. He began his cinematic career by directing short films in 2016, and attracted attention with his directing style that combines realism and the human dimension. His real breakthrough was with the film "The Departed", after which his long novel works followed, which dealt with social issues with a deep artistic dimension. Among his most prominent films are “The Zero Distance” (2019), “Had Al-Tar” (2020), which represented Saudi Arabia in the Oscar nominations, and “Hoopal” (2025), which was filmed in NEOM. Al-Shalahi is considered one of the most prominent directors of the new wave in Saudi cinema, and is distinguished by his frequent cooperation with screenwriter Mufarrej Al-Mujaffal.