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The fifth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival, one of the Middle East’s largest film festivals, opened in the coastal city of Jeddah on Thursday, marking a significant moment for the kingdom’s growing film industry.
Running from 4 to 13 December, the Red Sea International Film Festival brings together filmmakers and talent from around the world, screening over 100 films from over 70 countries.
The festival’s prestigious “Red Sea: Competition” features a selection of 16 narrative features, animations and documentaries from the Arab world, Asia and Africa, competing for the top honor: the Yuser Award, which will be presented at the closing ceremony.
The festival takes place in Jeddah’s Al-Balad district – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – blending Saudi heritage with international cinema.
This year, the selection jury is being led by an Academy Award-winning filmmaker shaun beckerBest known for “Anora”, which won five Oscars, four of which went to Shawn Baker himself.
“This festival is really exciting because of how much it has grown over the last five years,” Baker said. “It’s rare that I see a festival explode in terms of importance and influence on world cinema.”
The festival opens with “Giant”, the true story of legendary British-Yemeni boxing champion Prince Naseem ‘Naz’ Hamed. The film stars Egyptian-British actor Amir El-Masry as Hamed and Pierce Brosnan as his Irish trainer Brendan Ingle, and is directed by British filmmaker Rowan Athale.
“It was probably one of the hardest roles I have ever done,” El-Masry said, adding that her preparation included four and a half weeks of training, during which she lost approximately eight kilos.
“This has been a passion project of mine for a long time,” Athale said. “I come from a similar neighborhood – within a few miles of Naz, actually. He was a hero to me, especially being multiracial in this area. I always wanted to make a movie about him. So it was a privilege to make it.”
Reflecting on the premiere, he said, “To have it here as the opening night film – I mean, look at it. I’ve never seen anything like it. Not in Cannes, not anywhere else. It’s challenging, it’s scary, but it’s an honor.”
The opening night was attended by many international stars, including Hollywood And Bollywood celebrities including Adrien Brody, Sir Michael Caine, Vin Diesel and Ana de Armas walked the red carpet.
veteran actor giancarlo espositoWhile also participating in the festival, he said that this gathering shows the unifying power of cinema. “This festival at the Red Sea Film Festival is really about celebrating film,” he said.
The Red Sea International Film Festival was established by the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia and supported by the Red Sea Film Foundation. It is funded by the state’s public investment fund Sovereign Wealth Fund and private sponsors. It aims to play an important role in promoting regional filmmakers and fostering global connections.
The festival is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, which include diversifying the economy, strengthening cultural infrastructure and promoting local creative talent.
The event comes as Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in sectors such as film, gaming and sports as part of its broader transformation efforts. However, various rights groups have criticized these actions, saying they serve to distract from the state’s human rights record, which includes high rates of executions and restrictions on free expression.
