Release Date
22 December, 2025
Client
Shahed/MBC/Thaqafiyah
Category
Documentary
Location
Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
- about the project
The Premise
Artisans of Al Ahsa is a 45-minute documentary that captures the spirit of Al Ahsa through ten of its most iconic crafts, from the traditional bisht and egal to Hasawi slippers, palm-tree weaving, pottery, wood carving, misbaha (prayer beads), tailoring, oud making, and jewellery crafting.
The film follows master artisans and their children, the next generation, as they carry on the family legacy. They are not only preserving the past; they are bringing in new ideas, blending tradition with technology, design, and creativity to shape the future of these crafts.
- Ten iconic Hasawi crafts
- Master artisans and their families
- Heritage passed to the next generation
- the approach
How
Shot entirely in Al Ahsa, one of the most historic and culturally rich regions of Saudi Arabia and a UNESCO World Heritage site, the film sits with families who have passed their craft down through generations. It shows sons and daughters learning directly from parents and grandparents, keeping the traditions alive while finding their own voice, and using design, technology, and social media to carry the craft forward.
The finished film runs to 45 minutes in 4K, shot on RED Helium, RED Komodo, and Sony FX3 and FX6 cameras, with Phantom high-speed footage and aerial photography by drone. It is carried by English narration, with the artisans speaking for themselves in Arabic, subtitled in English.
- the result
Final Video
More than anything, Artisans of Al Ahsa is about love: for craft, for family, and for culture. It is a tribute to the people who quietly preserve beauty in their everyday work, and to the pride they carry in sharing it with the world. The finished film has been broadcast on Shahid, MBC, and Al Thaqafiyah.
- Quality Assurance
- Color Grading
- Broadcast Delivery
Credits
Executive Director: Mossa Onsori
Producer: Richard Wilding
Directors of Photography: Jac Mulder and Markus Ilschner
Assistant Director: Abby Elezi
Senior Editor: EASTA
