My name is Abdullah Al-Ahmari, CEO of the 'Saudi Konoz' initiative. Our film Horizon won two Platinum awards at the 2025 MUSE Creative Awards, in the Documentary Film and Cinematography categories.

Saudi Konoz, an initiative of Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Media, creates compelling visual content that resonates deeply with citizens and residents across the Kingdom. Our productions celebrate the rich diversity of Saudi society while staying true to our national identity—crafting authentic stories that reflect Saudi values, heritage, and cultural legacy.

Through the production of films, documentary series, and animated works targeting children and families, Saudi Konoz upholds the highest international standards in content creation. We ensure the delivery of distinguished works—both in form and content—that carry positive messages, contribute to public awareness, and strengthen a sense of belonging.

Additionally, we support Saudi talents by empowering them to create and participate in developing the local film sector, in alignment with Vision 2030.

Since 2020, I have proudly led this initiative, overseeing the launch of its first works. My leadership builds upon a diverse career in media and creative production—from serving as Production Manager at the Saudi Ministry of Media’s Government Communication Center (2018–2020), to earlier roles as Media Consultant for the Ministry and Artistic Producer at MBC, the largest media company in the Arab world.

These experiences have deepened my expertise in film and storytelling, equipping me to contribute meaningfully to this remarkable initiative.

At the Saudi Konoz initiative, we value and actively participate in this award program, which honor emerging talents and celebrate innovative creators making a difference.

I believe these two winning entries reflects our team’s commitment to quality and professionalism. It showcases our ability to inspire and create impact, motivates us to push further, and encourages us to take on more creative challenges.

Notably, this marks our second recognition at the MUSE Creative Awards—following the dual Platinum wins for our launch video in the Animation and Cultural Works categories—which further demonstrates our ongoing commitment to this meaningful platform.

The launch of Horizon marked a significant milestone in the Saudi Konoz initiative's journey toward international recognition. The concept for the film emerged from our belief in Saudi Arabia's extraordinary natural wealth and vast ecological diversity, as well as the importance of showcasing these treasures to the world through a professional documentary format.

The film highlights these natural wonders—from mountainsides and sand dunes to ocean depths and wildlife species rarely found elsewhere.

Our inspiration stemmed from a desire to present Saudi Arabia globally as both a cultural treasure and an environmentally diverse destination. Collaborating with major national partners enabled us to create a comprehensive vision with real impact and credibility, ultimately leading to the film's release on Netflix.

This work sets a new benchmark for Saudi documentaries and proves that we have stories and capabilities worthy of being seen in homes around the world.

What truly distinguished Horizon was its blend of visual beauty and scientific precision, capturing the Kingdom's spirit through compelling documentary storytelling.

Rather than simply showcasing stunning landscapes, we documented rare environmental treasures with distinctive cinematography while maintaining the highest global production standards—enabling us to compete in an international market filled with high-quality documentary content.

A key to the film's success was our collaboration with over ten specialized national entities, which lent scientific credibility and enriched the content. We also drew on the expertise of 13 Saudi wildlife researchers who helped develop and verify the scientific material, ensuring the film serves as an accurate reference work, not just a visual showcase.

The production spanned over 200 working days across 28 diverse locations—from ocean depths to mountain peaks—using advanced filming technology and a team of more than 50 specialists. Our strategy was straightforward: to showcase Saudi Arabia's natural heritage to the world through the universal language of nature.

Key challenges during the production of Horizon included unpredictable weather and environmental conditions across remote filming locations—from open deserts and mountains to deep seas. We navigated changing climate conditions, difficult site access, and carefully minimized our impact on wildlife throughout the filming process.

However, we overcame these challenges through meticulous planning, creating flexible filming schedules aligned with wildlife patterns, seasonal conditions, and partnerships with specialized Saudi researchers who had deep local environmental expertise. Their insights helped us navigate obstacles while maintaining exceptional visual and content quality.

This victory represents a significant milestone for the Saudi Konoz initiative—not merely as an artistic recognition, but as evidence that Saudi content can compete globally and make a lasting impact in documentary filmmaking.

Professionally, this achievement builds trust with partners and creates new collaboration opportunities with regional and international entities that value Saudi stories and environmental diversity. For our team, it serves as a powerful source of pride and motivation.

The reactions to Horizon and our win at the MUSE Creative Awards were truly remarkable. Among the most memorable responses were those from viewers outside Saudi Arabia, who expressed genuine astonishment at our country's environmental richness and ecological diversity—with many noting how the film transformed their perception of the Kingdom, proving the impact of authentic visual storytelling.

Our partners took pride in this achievement, especially as Netflix's global platform expanded our reach. Government and environmental organizations praised our documentary's accuracy, visual approach, and the great respect the film showed toward the environment and wildlife.

For our team, this success built confidence in Konoz's capabilities and inspired us to create more ambitious works that showcase Saudi Arabia not merely as a historical nation, but as a captivating natural destination worth exploring.

My primary advice is to work from genuine passion and a sincere desire to present something meaningful; awards aren't the goal, but rather the natural outcome of quality work with a clear message that resonates honestly with audiences.

From our Horizon experience, I've found that investing in research, attention to detail, and a committed team are crucial differentiators. Success requires blending creative vision with specialized expertise, particularly in documentaries. I recommend continuous improvement and awareness of global trends while preserving our cultural identity—true content power lies in authenticity and uniqueness.

Finally, embrace challenges—they build experience and add depth to your work. Success requires effort, but it comes when creativity serves your message. We believe that every local story has global potential.

I believe the creative industry's evolution offers immense opportunities for those bold enough to innovate while preserving their identity. We are living in an era where content is more diverse, audiences are more sophisticated, and platforms are open to different voices. This underscores the importance of creating authentic works that resonate universally while remaining both genuine and inspiring.

At the Saudi Konoz initiative, we believe in creating high-quality local content that meets global standards. We aim to lead efforts in reshaping perceptions of Saudi Arabia through innovative productions that authentically showcase our stories to the world.

Our ambition is to become a benchmark for Saudi artistic and documentary content while opening doors for national talents to create globally competitive work. We focus not just on technical excellence, but on depth, message, and impact. We believe the future belongs to meaningful creativity, and we're committed to actively shaping that future.

I emphasize to them: don't wait for your work to be perfect before moving forward. Every experience is a step in your career path and a priceless learning opportunity. Hesitation is natural, but breaking through this barrier is your first victory.

At Saudi Konoz, we initially entered competitions not just to win awards, but to benchmark our work, learn from competitors, and receive feedback. These experiences ultimately built our confidence and created new partnership opportunities beyond mere recognition.

I advise newcomers to view competitions as self-development opportunities rather than just contests. Artists should create authentic work that reflects their identity, as the world values originality—even with limited resources. The courage to participate, despite humble beginnings, is the true path to excellence.

My message to creative professionals in art and filmmaking: We aren't competitors but collaborators, building a diverse artistic landscape that welcomes all voices and experiences.

True creativity thrives on collaboration, not isolation. I urge my industry colleagues to inspire, challenge, and celebrate each other's successes—every individual achievement advances our entire creative community.

I remind everyone of the importance of preserving our authenticity and telling our own stories, in our own voice and style. Even as we draw inspiration from the world, we have what makes us unique, and that deserves to be heard and seen.

I dedicate this achievement to the Saudi Konoz initiative team—the beating heart of 'Horizon'—along with our dedicated researchers, production crews who braved natural challenges, and our editing and directing teams. Each member contributed their passion to make this possible.

I extend special thanks to our successful national partners who believed in this project and helped make it happen. The film's success stems from true collaboration across different specializations.

Above all, I dedicate this film to Saudi Arabia—the true star, with its rich environmental diversity and natural treasures that we proudly showcased to the world.

"Horizon is a visual manifesto from Saudi Arabia’s wilderness to the world—the Kingdom’s declaration of its identity as a land of beauty, diversity, and cultural heritage."

I chose this quotation because it encapsulates the film's essence—not just as environmental documentation, but as an invitation to discover a new Saudi Arabia: diverse in ecosystems, rich in wildlife, and committed to preserving natural treasures for future generations.

At the 'Saudi Konoz' initiative, our future is bright with ambition as we’ve begun work on 11 new productions for a 2025 release. This diverse lineup includes the film 'The Destination,' the animated film 'Hafrayat Al Majrra,' the animated series 'Al Rahebeen,' 'Mind, Soul, Body,' the documentary series 'New Wonders,' and documentary projects 'Sound and Motion' and '+966'—all reflecting our commitment to expanding content diversity.

These projects involve partnerships with nine national companies and are supported by over 2,600 talented professionals across production and logistics fields.

We strive to be the benchmark for inspiring Saudi content that documents our heritage and shares our stories globally with professional excellence. We promise our audience even more diverse content ahead, as Saudi Arabia's stories are just beginning—and the best is yet to be told.