TaleFlick opens doors to Saudi poets: A new era for storytelling

Embracing the essence of Saudi culture through poetry

TaleFlick, the innovative online story discovery platform, is expanding its horizons by welcoming poets into its fold. This move aims to capture the essence, history, and vibrant traditions of Saudi Arabian culture through the timeless art of poetry.

Bridging Saudi poetry and Hollywood

Storytelling in the Arab world has deep roots in oral history and poetry. By opening its platform to poets, TaleFlick seeks to create a bridge between Saudi poems and Hollywood, offering a unique opportunity for these poetic works to be adapted into films, TV series, and other forms of visual storytelling.

“Poetry is the heartbeat of Saudi Arabian culture, resonating deeply with its people and heritage,” said TaleFlick’s CEO. “By embracing poems, we aim to honor and elevate this beautiful art form, providing a platform to transform these stories into powerful visual narratives.”

A global stage for poets

TaleFlick’s expansion from fiction and non-fiction novels and screenplays into poetry will allow poets from Saudi Arabia and beyond to share their unique voices and stories with a global audience. The poems submitted to TaleFlick will be curated and showcased to a network of studios and producers, offering a unique opportunity for these poetic works to be adapted into films, TV series, and other forms of visual storytelling.

A multilingual approach

Saudi poems can be submitted in Arabic, as TaleFlick’s curation team includes translators and poets originally from the region. The submission process is free of charge, making it accessible to a wide range of poets.

One year ago, TaleFlick expanded its scope beyond the English-speaking world, also accepting submissions in Arabic, Spanish, Hindi, Japanese, and South Korean. This multilingual approach ensures that diverse voices from around the world can be heard and appreciated.

House of Poems: A reality TV show

TaleFlick’s next step in this initiative is to select participants from the poem submissions to the site, giving them an opportunity to take part in a reality TV show called “House of Poems.” This show will provide a platform for poets to showcase their talents and connect with a broader audience.

In the Middle East, there is already “The Million’s Poet,” a popular show that has been running since 2007 on Abu Dhabi TV. This show, often referred to as the “American Idol” for Arab region poets, has millions of viewers across the Arab world.

Poetry and cinema: A natural connection

The ties between poetry and cinema in the region are already well-established. A recent example of the intersection of poetry and film in Saudi Arabia is Mohamed Al Salman’s absurdist drama “Raven Song”. This film, which was Saudi’s submission for the Academy Awards last year, tells the story of a young man named Nasser, who, after being diagnosed with a brain tumor, is coaxed by his best friend to reach out to an enigmatic woman with whom he is infatuated by singing her a love poem.

A prolific producer with regional roots

TaleFlick’s CEO, who attended Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival last year and is planning to return, is a prolific producer best known for films like “Marjorie Prime”, “White Noise”, and “Tesla”. His upcoming projects reportedly include two films rooted in the region: Palestinian director Maysaloun Hamoud’s long-gestating female revenge thriller “Beretta” and British director Jon Amiel’s Saudi oil origins story “Sands of Fortune”.

Personal reflections for enthusiasts

For cinema, TV series, and music enthusiasts, this initiative by TaleFlick opens up a world of possibilities. Imagine the rich, evocative imagery of Saudi poetry brought to life on the big screen, or the intricate narratives of these poems woven into the fabric of a TV series. The potential for powerful, moving storytelling is immense.

As a lover of cinema and TV series, I am particularly excited about the prospect of seeing these poetic works adapted into visual narratives. The unique cultural perspectives and emotional depth that Saudi poetry offers can add a new dimension to storytelling, enriching the viewing experience for audiences worldwide.

For music enthusiasts, the intersection of poetry and music is another exciting avenue to explore. The lyrical quality of poetry lends itself beautifully to musical adaptation, creating a harmonious blend of words and melodies that can resonate deeply with listeners.

Explore more

To dive deeper into the world of Saudi poetry and its potential adaptations, check out the following links:

By embracing the rich tradition of Saudi poetry, TaleFlick is not only honoring a beautiful art form but also providing a platform for these stories to reach a global audience. This initiative has the potential to transform the landscape of storytelling, bringing new voices and perspectives to the forefront.