Jeddah: CEO of SPA News Training Academy Tariq AlShaikh emphasized that short films have become the new cross-continental currency, which can be created solely using mobile phones. He noted that the academy is leveraging these films in the SPA AI Bootcamp, where 146 young men and women from various universities across the Kingdom are competing. His remarks came at the seventh session on the second day of the 3rd edition of the Student Film Festival 2025, hosted by the Faculty of Communication and Media at King Abdulaziz University.

According to Saudi Press Agency, he also highlighted the academy's celebration of 24 young participants who have joined a specialized media business incubator. Al-Sheikh expressed his satisfaction with the achievements of the academy's Media Innovation Incubator members, who secured top positions in the Best AI-Produced Films category.

He pointed out the media system's commitment to offering multiple bootcamps and opportunities to empower the next generation of future media professionals, noting the timing of the Student Film Festival, which precedes the Red Sea Film Festival, as an opportunity to prepare students and harness their skills and talents to tell national stories.