Red Sea Film Festival kicks off with international and Saudi productions

Featured films

The Red Sea Film Festival organisers have curated film screenings to create a rich array of diverse programs and classifications, offering visitors a chance to indulge in cinematic experiences tailored to their unique tastes and deep passion for the world of film.

In its third edition, the Red Sea Film Festival has announced the Red Sea: New Vision strand, designed as a platform to showcase films that embody a fresh cinematic perspective through creative direction in both Arab and global cinema.

The Red Sea: New Vision strand will bring six new films to Festival screens. The World Premiere of Iraq's Invisible Beauty and the acclaimed In the Shadow of Beirut, Ireland's nomination for the Oscars.

Adding to the cinematic extravaganza, the festival introduces the Red Sea Series, featuring four of the most significant international series for small-screen indulgence. Among them is the world premiere of the docu-series South Africa Eats, the sensational Korean thriller The Deal, and the compelling The Actor series.

The festival's lineup also boasts the Festival Favorites programme, showcasing some of this year's critical and commercial hits. Filmmakers and actors in the selection will include Anna Kendrick (Woman of the Hour), David Oyelowo (Producer of Allihopa: The Dalkurd Story), and Ellen Burstyn and Ewan McGregor (Mother Couch).

Moreover, the festival introduces the Red Sea: Treasures programme, highlighting chosen classic films that have been a wellspring of inspiration for filmmakers with two restorations made in partnership with Egyptian Media Production City: Victory of Youth, directed by Ahmed Badrakhan and starring Farid Al-Atrash and Asmahan, and My Wife's Goblin, directed by Fatin Abdel Wahab, with Shadia and artist Salah Zulfikar taking the lead.

Seeking to engage and spark the imaginations of younger audiences is an investment in the future of cinemagoers. The Families and Children strand at the Red Sea IFF will do so with five new films featuring the world premiere of After the Long Rains, the Arab premiere of Saleem, and the animated adventure Three Little Kungpoo Goats.

Additionally, the festival presents the Arab Spectacular strand featuring 11 films, each distinguished by its inspiring diversity of topics and genres. Tamer Ruggli's acclaimed debut Back to Alexandria, the humorous thriller NAGA, and Fever Dream (Ahlam Alasr) are among them.

Red Sea: Competition and Festival Awards

The prestigious Red Sea: Competition strand has now been unveiled as part of the third edition of the Red Sea IFF, spotlighting 17 diverse films, ranging from narratives and documentaries to animated wonders, hailing from Asia, Africa, and the Arab world.

These films showcase innovative talents in the art of cinema and storytelling. The coveted awards are in the hands of an international jury led by director Baz Luhrmann, known for the iconic films Elvis and Moulin Rouge.

Joining the panel are Swedish-American actor Joel Kinnaman, BAFTA-nominated star Freida Pinto, Egyptian actress Amina Khalil, and the captivating Spanish sensation Paz Vega.

The festival presents the prestigious Yusr Honorary Award, paying tribute to distinguished cinematic figures and icons who have played a pivotal role in shaping the history of cinema, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of audiences.

This award embodies the festival's deep respect and appreciation for individuals who have enriched the film industry worldwide.

This year's honorees include Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh, actress Diane Kruger, and artist Abdullah Al-Sadhan.

Short film extravaganza: A cinematic kaleidoscope

The Red Sea IFF dedicates multiple programmes to short films featuring the Red Sea International Film Festival Shorts Competition. This competition embraces works from film industry professionals across Asia and Africa, presenting 14 short films in their world or regional premieres.

This addition enhances the festival's cinematic lineup in its third edition, with notable entries like the Kazakhstani film The Late Wind, the South African film The Wait, the Armenian film The Courier, and the Senegalese film Dusk.

The festival also hosts the Arab Shorts in Competition, featuring a curated collection of short films that delve into rarely told narratives, offering captivating insights into the lives of people and places within the Arab world.

The competition features an exceptional collection of 11 short Arab films, including Smokey Eyes, Manity, The Key, and Amplified.

Heading the jury for the Red Sea International Film Festival Shorts Competition is Saudi film director and critic Hana Al-Omair, known for producing the Netflix original series Whispers. French-Moroccan actor Assaad Bouab and Turkish film director Fatih Akin are joining her on the judging panel.

Saudi films

The Saudi films featured in the third edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival showcase excellence, reflecting the significant progress made in the Kingdom's film industry.

The festival kicks off with the world premiere of the Saudi film Inheritance, directed by Yasir Al-Yasiri. Adapted from the fantasy novel by Saudi author Ibraheem Abbas, the film weaves a narrative blending elements of Arab folklore with contemporary themes.

This year, the festival proudly presents 36 Saudi films, both short and feature-length. The Saudi short films take centre stage in a dedicated programme, New Saudi/New Cinema: Shorts, celebrating the creativity and talent of Saudi filmmakers.

The selected 19 short films, ranging from 5 to 44 minutes, address a broad spectrum of topics, from countering extremism and social adaptation to overcoming personal conflicts. All films were produced by Saudi crews, handling most of the production, and the shooting processes were focused within the Kingdom.

Within the diverse array of Saudi contributions to the third edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival, in his discussion with Al Majalla, film critic and theatre expert Raja Al-Otaibi highlights that Saudi films still require development and support, stating, "Saudi cinema needs to meet global standards in acting, visuals, and production."

Cinematic critic Ahoud Hijazi, in her remarks to Al Majalla, acknowledges that "some Saudi films in the festival display high ambitions, showcasing renewed ideas and creativity in cinematography, providing opportunities for emerging actors. This indicates there is still much potential in the toolkit of Saudi filmmakers."

Read more: Saudi cinema poised for dramatic comeback

Nurturing talent

This year, the Red Sea IFF takes a unique approach, offering diverse programmes to nurture and support cinematic endeavours in the Arab and African regions. Through the Red Sea Souk initiative, these programmes showcase new cinematic creations and foster collaboration between international filmmakers and their counterparts in Saudi Arabia and beyond.

The Talent Days workshop series facilitates the exchange of experiences and ideas, featuring collaborations with renowned institutions such as the Tribeca Film Festival (New York), Amman International Film Festival, Venice International Film Festival, Netflix, NEOM, the Red Sea Fund, and the Doha Film Institute.

Red Sea Souk and Project Market and Work-in-Progress Showcase provide an opportunity to view a curated selection of 26 projects and six rough cuts from African and Arab directors, offering a glimpse into their stories and allowing prominent industry experts to assist in their successful completion.

Concurrently, the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation has partnered with Film AlUla, a film agency launched by the Royal Commission for AlUla in early 2020. Film AlUla will be the strategic sponsor of two awards at the Red Sea International Film Festival in this collaboration. Based on public votes, the Film AlUla Audience Award and the Film AlUla Best Saudi Film Award.

As the newly appointed strategic partner of the Red Sea Fund's third production cycle, Film AlUla has also partnered with the Red Sea Fund to offer a production grant to filmmakers with projects set in AlUla.

As part of their continuous collaboration with the Red Sea Film Foundation, Film AlUla also sponsors The Red Sea Lodge Residency, one of the Red Sea Lab's initiatives. It offers a transformative 10-month mentorship programme in collaboration with the Torino Film Lab.

Through the Lodge programme, 12 projects from new and exciting filmmaking voices are selected to receive access to industry knowledge and support from experts across all film industry sectors.

In addition to the grant, recipients will benefit from Film AlUla's team of experts providing on-the-ground support and troubleshooting in all production areas.

During the festival, assistance in applying to the Red Sea Fund and Red Sea Souk will be provided, and one project will be selected to receive an award of $200,000 to help kickstart it.

This aligns with another partnership formed by the Red Sea Film Foundation with NEOM, the sponsor of the Red Sea International Film Festival's third edition. This collaboration encompasses NEOM's support for all major festival events, including the Red Sea Souk initiative and the Talent Days Workshop.

Film critic Ahoud Hijazi emphasises the positive impact of initiatives supporting the film industry through the Red Sea International Film Festival.

"The substantial interest and extensive support for cultural projects in the Kingdom, including film festivals and cinematic critique conferences, play a crucial role in supporting the film industry on both national and global levels," she says.

"Such events provide a platform for stakeholders to collaborate, exchange mutual benefits, and enhance their upcoming projects, contributing significantly to the flourishing film sector due to impactful and supportive visions in practice."

Cinematic value

Since its debut in 2021, the Red Sea International Film Festival has embraced a mission to propel Arab cinema to the forefront of the global stage.

Operating as both a strong film market and a stage for film exhibitions, the festival caters to industry insiders. It not only showcases cinematic works but also introduces projects to professionals, acting as a platform to launch and support strategic initiatives that help the development of the industry and accelerate its growth.

Serving as a cultural hub, it spotlights cinematic creativity worldwide. To what extent has the festival, guided by this vision, carved out its place among the world's premier film festivals?

"Having delved into the intricacies of the Red Sea International Film Festival over the past two seasons, I witnessed its challenges and dreams up close. It has garnered remarkable respect and admiration from attendees and contributors worldwide," Raja Al-Otaibi says.

"The inaugural season signalled a powerful beginning, unveiling a festival with immense potential. By the second season, the film industry was unravelling the essence of this festival – its unique concept and identity. In its third season, the event stands poised for remarkable eminence and fierce competitiveness," he added.

He explains that the festival emerged independently to become a cinematic icon, a shining name in a world brimming with cinematic vitality. It has indeed achieved this status, buoyed by significant support from the state and the business sector, within an organised and secure environment led by the Ministry of Culture, relevant cultural and artistic entities, and the private sector.

He adds that the festival's "artistic value has instilled great confidence in global producers attending the Red Sea Festival. They witness the genuine direction led by a young state in cinema—a state advocating peace, coexistence, and a love for beauty and art."

He highlighted how the festival "has grown into a global stage and a crucial marketing platform for numerous cinematic filming locations in the Kingdom."

"These sites add artistic value to international films, aided by incentivising filming regulations within Saudi Arabia, such as a 40% reimbursement of film production costs. A compelling example is the film Kandahar, which was shot entirely in the AlUla region several months ago."

Hijazi shares this sentiment, affirming that the festival "is carving out a steady place among global film festivals." Highlighting the annual celebration and the interest it garners, she points to positive reviews and coverage in international newspapers and social media platforms.