Neom supported Saudi
student brings laurels for the country
Saudi student has made history by becoming the first recipient of a Yugo BAFTA Student Award nomination in Los Angeles for her outstanding entry in the gaming category.
Rafif Kalantan, who
received support from NEOM to attend the National Film and Television School,
had her work assessed by a panel consisting of 140 BAFTA members. The panel
carefully selected the submissions that would advance to the next phase of the
program.
The Yugo BAFTA Student
Awards is an annual event that celebrates the achievements of talented young
storytellers from across the globe, showcasing their exceptional creativity and
skills.
Kalantan's submission,
titled "Eros Xavier's Love Solutions," is the culmination of two
years of intensive training across various disciplines, including directing,
composing, location sound recording, games design, and visual effects. The game
itself is a captivating 2.5D narrative-driven puzzle, where players assume the
role of Eros, a retired cupid who disrupts couples by manipulating objects in
their homes, rather than bringing them together.
This year's Yugo BAFTA
Student Awards received an impressive 754 submissions from 103 schools across
30 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Belgium, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Hong Kong, India, Mexico, South Africa, and the UAE.
Jon Wardle, director
at NFTS, expressed his admiration for Rafif's talent and dedication,
highlighting NEOM's support in her well-deserved recognition. Wardle stated
that "Eros Xavier's Love Solutions" exemplifies Rafif's exceptional
storytelling abilities in the gaming category, and he takes pride in the role
played by NFTS in nurturing emerging talent and shaping the future of the
diverse and dynamic gaming industry. He also sees Rafif's success as an
inspiration for aspiring game creators worldwide.
Wayne Borg, the managing director of Media Industries, Entertainment, and Culture at NEOM, expressed his delight in seeing Rafif Kalantan's extraordinary talent acknowledged by the esteemed organization, BAFTA, for her remarkable achievements in the field of gaming. Borg highlighted the significant growth of Saudi Arabia's gaming market in recent years, fueled by innovative and talented individuals like Rafif.
He emphasized the importance of NEOM's dedicated
programs in collaboration with the National Film and Television School, which
provide crucial support to the emerging talent pool, paving the way for
aspiring filmmakers and gamers, and aiming to establish NEOM as a world-class
global media hub.
NEOM's commitment to
ongoing training programs and mentorship initiatives serves to nurture and
empower local talent in the screen sector, reinforcing its cultural, social,
and economic impact.
Source: https://www.arabnews.com/
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