‘Hijra’ Wins NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film at Venice Film Festival

Saudi film Hijra, by director Shahad Ameen, has officially won the NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival.

Competing in the festival’s Spotlight section, Hijra tells the story of two sisters and their grandmother embarking on the Hajj pilgrimage in 2001. When one of the sisters goes missing, the journey transforms into a powerful search across both physical landscapes and inner struggles.

Shot across nine Saudi locations (including Taif, Jeddah, AlUla, NEOM, and Tabuk), the film brings a deeply Saudi narrative to an international audience.

The award, presented by the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC), honours films that make a significant contribution to Asian cinema.