In his relentless pursuit of “staying young” and staying connected with today’s digital-savvy generation, pioneering Saudi Arabian director and filmmaker Abdullah Al Muheisen has found a valuable ally in China to help him keep pace with rapid developments.

A signing ceremony was held on March 18 between World Of Sounds And Visions Company,  of which Al Muheisen is president, and Hong Kong-based pan-Asia movie services group Salon Films, of which Fred Wang Cheung-yue is chairman.

Al Muheisen said there had been discussions on making a hub in Saudi Arabia where facilities could be utilized to get talent from Asia “to work with us and transfer information and knowledge” and produce production programs “that suit the new generation”.

ALSO READ: Asian film sector uses AI to boost growth

Born in 1947, Al Muheisen, considered to be the first Saudi director, started making films in the 1970s. His 1975 documentary Development of Riyadh City is widely considered to be the first Saudi film.

At one of the forums that he attended after listening in to the presentations of various tech and artificial intelligence companies at the Hong Kong event, Al Muheisen suggested that film festivals should promote a category where films are shot using smartphones.

Meanwhile, speaking to China Daily in an exclusive interview after the signing ceremony, the Saudi filmmaker mentioned the increasing use of artificial intelligence technology in the movie industry.

READ MORE: Hong Kong’s pivot in a multipolar world

“I think anything new has got something inside it. Obviously, AI saves researchers time, to an extent. But they cannot leave their own research method,” he said, adding that “human touch” is important.

Participation in the Hong Kong industry event has allowed him to meet talents and develop commercial relations between his company and Chinese entities, he said.

“I have the golden opportunity, given to me by Mr Fred, to renew my knowledge,” Al Muheisen said, referring to the Salon Films chairman. “I like to be young always. And (being) young is not by age, but by updating your brain. If you update your brain, then you are young. You can communicate with today’s generation as a filmmaker. I cannot make films if I don’t understand society.”

With Saudi Arabia and the wider Asia having many talents and “too many cultures”, Al Muheisen believes they have a distinct strength and the potential to develop heritage-themed storytelling.

He noted that movie industries have done a lot on action and fantasy, and now it is high time the audiences “know about their heritage” as humans.

Cooperation between the Saudis and others in Asia can help deliver movies to the world “with the standard that … satisfies the audience and (also) become feasible … to produce”, said Al Muheisen.

Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland can be the link and the hub, he said, adding that talents can better communicate and contribute by working together in productions.

READ MORE: Asia film sector eyes a boost

“I, as a filmmaker, started from nothing. If I had (today’s) facilities with me at that time, I could do a lot of things… Today, I have a chance to redo some of my dreams,” said Al Muheisen.

The filmmaker is celebrating his golden anniversary in the industry this year. Over the years, he witnessed Saudi Arabia’s cinema ban, which lasted for nearly four decades until it was lifted in 2018. He believes the government’s decision at the time was “wise,” considering the political situation then.

He credited King Salman and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Al Saud for their visionary leadership in overturning the ban and implementing sweeping reforms in line with Vision 2030.