The Red Sea International Film Festival promises to be one of the biggest film events in Saudi Arabia. Taking place in Jeddah’s UNESCO World Heritage Site old-town, Al Balad, brings together local and international filmmakers across December 6-15, and gives visitors the chance to watch 138 original films from 67 countries. We chatted to the curators about what we can expect from the landmark festival.
What’s been the response to Saudi Arabia’s first international film festival?
We were excited when we launched the call, we had a very positive response from filmmakers. All were eager to show their films and be in touch with the audience. This created a very close relationship between festival and talent. We have most of the region’s
prominent filmmakers.
How wide-ranging is your line-up?
There are films from 67 countries, including Saudi films, plus movies from Asia and Africa. We have films about tolerance, films that treat deep subjects in a funny way. There are movies dealing with memory, identity and social relationships. And we have a nice line-up of children’s films in the Next Generation category.
Tell us about the industry event, Red Sea Souk.
We’re dedicating events to film industry professionals to foster co-production, international distribution and new business opportunities. The aim is also to show the potential and future opportunities our region has to offer.
Is there scope for you to screen movies that might not get a release in commercial theatres?
It’s our mission to bring films that speak to the audience, even if they are indie and very creative; it’s essential for the festival in its first edition to bring something original and new, while at the same time [trying to] ensure a theatrical release for those films after the festival.
What are your current Saudi cinema tips?
We were proud last year to finance 40 Years and One Night by Mohamad Alholayil and The Carnaval City by Wael Abou Mansour. And this year we are happy to screen Becoming, a film fully produced by the foundation, plus Saudi suspense and action films that include psychological thriller Rupture by Hamza Jamjoum.
December 6-15. redseafilmfest.com
Click here to read about the history of cinema in Saudi Arabia.
