Red Sea International Film Festival

The Red Sea International Film Festival (Arabic: مهرجان البحر الأحمر السينمائي الدولي) is a film festival launched in 2019 and held in Jeddah, western Saudi Arabia.[1][2] The festival mainly focuses on new storytelling trends, as well as emerging talents from Saudi Arabia, the Arab world and the rest of the Global South.[3] The festival looks at establishing a solid foundation for the film industry in Saudi Arabia that may contribute to diversifying the income of the country.[4] The first edition of the festival was held in the old town of Jeddah from the 6 December to 15 December 2021.[5] The second edition of the festival was held between the 1st and the 10th of Dec 2022, and featured the best films from Saudi Arabia, the region and a curated selection of titles from around the world.[6]

Red Sea International Film Festival
مهرجان البحر الأحمر السينمائي الدولي
Opening filmCyrano by Joe Wright
Closing film83 by Kabir Khan
LocationArbaeen lagoon, Al Madinah Al Munawarah Road, old town Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Founded2019
Most recent2021
Film titles138 from 67 countries
Hosted byRed Sea Film Festival Foundation
Festival dateOpening: December 6, 2021 (2021-12-06)
Closing: December 15, 2021 (2021-12-15)
LanguageArabic
English
WebsiteRSFF

Organization

The festival is organized and operated by the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation, a non-profit cultural organization registered in Saudi Arabia.[3][1] The Foundation is chaired by Jomana Alrashid; Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Saudi Research and Media Group – SRMG."[7]

Festivals

2021 edition

2021 edition of the festival was opened on 6 December 2021 with Joe Wright’s Cyrano at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 138 films from 67 countries will be screened in the festival, which includes 16 films in competition section.[8] It closed on 15 December with the world premiere of Kabir Khan‘s film 83.[9] The event came after several boycott calls by the critics, who warned that the Saudi authorities were attempting to divert the international attention from the country's poor human rights records. The Kingdom was being accused of using culture to whitewash its image at a global level. One of the critics said that without freedom of speech, the festival descended into a propaganda.[10]

Red Sea Competition
Winners[11]
Best Film
  • Best Film: Brighton 4th by Levan Koguashvili – Georgia, Russia, Bulgaria, USA, Monaco.
Best Director
  • Best Director: Europa by Haider Rashid – Iraq, Italy, Kuwait
  • Jury Prize: Hit the Road by Panah Panahi – Iran
  • Best Actor: Adam Ali for Europa – Iraq, Italy, Kuwait
  • Best Actress: Arawinda Kirana for Yuni – Indonesia, Singapore, France, Australia
  • Best Saudi Film: Rupture by Hamzah K. Jamjoom – Saudi Arabia
  • Audience Award: You Resemble Me by Dina Amer – Egypt, France, U.S.
  • Immersive Silver Yusr: Samsara by Hsin-Chien Huang – Taiwan
  • Immersive Gold Yusr: End of Night by David Adler – Denmark, France
  • Short Competition Golden Yusr: Tala’Vision by Murad Abu Eisheh – Jordan, Germany
  • Special Mention: Farha by Darin J. Sallam – Jordan
  • Best Cinematic Contribution: Amin Jafari for Hit the Road – Iran
  • Best Screenplay: Neighbours by Mano Khalil – Syria, Switzerland

See also

References
  1. "Red Sea International Film Festival: Saudi Arabia announces new Jeddah event". The National. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  2. "Jeddah to host International Red Sea Film Festival in 2020". Saudigazette. 28 March 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  3. "By 2020, Jeddah Is Planning To Host the First-Ever International Red Sea Film Festival". About Her. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  4. "Jeddah to host International Red Sea Film Festival in 2020". Saudigazette. 28 March 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  5. "Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Film Festival announces dates and major appointments, releases trailer". The National. UAE. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  6. "The 2nd edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival announces the opening of its Box Office". Zawya. UAE. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  7. GOODFELLOW, Melanie. "Saudi Arabia launches Red Sea International Film Festival". Screen. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  8. Nancy Tartaglione (9 November 2021). "Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Film Festival Sets Inaugural Lineup; Joe Wright's 'Cyrano' Opens, Netflix's 'The Lost Daughter' Among Program – Full List". Deadline. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  9. Naman Ramachandran (29 November 2021). "Ranveer Singh's "83′ to Close Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Film Festival – Global Bulletin". Variety. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  10. Graham-Harrison, Emma (11 December 2021). "Saudi film festival is a 'whitewash' by authorities, say critics". The Observer. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  11. Naman Ramachandran (13 December 2021). "Saudi Arabia's Inaugural Red Sea Film Festival Gives Top Awards to 'Brighton 4th,' 'Rupture'". Variety. Retrieved 15 December 2021.


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