Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival exemplifies the nation’s resolute commitment to establishing itself as a major player in the film and TV industry, navigating regional conflicts, political turbulence, and societal shifts.
Despite the cancellations of various movie celebrations in the Arab world due to the Israel-Hamas war, including the Cairo Film Festival and Tunisia’s Carthage Film Days, the Red Sea Festival is moving forward with its third edition scheduled for Nov. 30-Dec. 9 in Jeddah.
After the war erupted in early October, organizers, led by CEO Mohammed Al Turki, consulted with filmmakers in the Middle East and North Africa for input. The decision to proceed was made, with a conscious effort to scale down some of the glamour to avoid appearing insensitive.
The festival’s managing director, Shivani Pandya Malhotra, emphasized the importance of providing a platform for filmmakers, both regionally and in Saudi Arabia, stressing that cancellation or postponement would not contribute to resolving the conflict.
Undeniably, the upcoming third iteration of the Red Sea Festival marks a significant milestone in a year that has witnessed substantial progress in the Saudi film industry. Following the second edition last year, the action comedy “Sattar” became the highest-grossing Saudi feature, earning $11 million and surpassing “Avatar: The Way of Water.”
Saudi Arabia, now the leading movie market in the Middle East and projected to reach a value of $1 billion by 2030, hosted the inaugural Saudi Film Confex in October, attracting regional and international producers and investors to Riyadh.
However, it is the Red Sea Film Festival and its associated components—the Red Sea Souk, Red Sea Lodge development program, and Red Sea Film Fund—that play a pivotal role in cultivating a local film culture and spearheading Saudi Arabia’s concerted effort to build a film and TV industry from scratch.
The festival’s impact is evident as the Red Sea Fund supported two of the three Saudi films showcased at the Toronto Film Festival this year, marking a breakthrough on the global festival circuit. Ali Al-Kalthami’s comedy “Mandoob” and Meshal Aljaser’s satirical thriller “Naga” are set to launch in the Middle East at the upcoming Red Sea edition.
The festival boasts 11 Saudi titles in the official selection this year, showcasing a diverse range of films. Antoine Khalife, the director of Arab programs and film classics, expresses pride in presenting films that tackle social, human, and political themes without self-censorship.
Among the notable films is “Norah,” a premiere by first-time director Tawfik Alzaidi, set in 1990s Saudi Arabia, highlighting societal conservatism. The film, shot in AlUla, explores the story of an artist who becomes a schoolteacher in a remote village, intersecting with an illiterate orphaned young woman facing an arranged marriage.
In terms of international films debuting in the Middle East at the Red Sea Festival, there is an increased focus on quality submissions. Kaleem Aftab, the festival’s director of international programming, highlights the presence of acclaimed directors such as Tarsem Singh with “Dear Jassi” and Ryusuke Hamaguchi with “Evil Does Not Exist.”
The lineup includes a diverse array of films, ranging from Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla” to Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah’s “Gangsta” and Jennifer Esposito’s directorial debut “Fresh Kills.” Aftab assures that none of the selected titles will be censored for Saudi audiences, emphasizing the festival’s commitment to pushing boundaries while being mindful of regional sensitivities.
The Red Sea Festival maintains strict criteria for film selection, prioritizing MENA premieres. A special screening of Maïwenn’s Cannes opener “Jeanne du Barry,” financed in part by the Red Sea International fund, is an exception to the premiere rule.
The Red Sea fund’s support extends beyond festivals, contributing to films like Johnny Depp-starrer “Modì,” currently in production in Budapest, where Saudi film students gain valuable experience on set.
For Mohammed Al Turki, the festival represents a dream come true for Saudi filmmakers, offering opportunities to collaborate with Hollywood stars and learn the craft of filmmaking. He envisions Saudi filmmakers working as producers on an international scale in the long run, highlighting the transformative impact of the burgeoning Saudi film industry.
