Red Sea International Film Festival to host a masterclass with legendary Egyptian director KhairyBeshara in Jeddah on 14 December

A Khairy Beshara retrospective featuring newly restored 4K versions of his classic films to play inJeddah,Riyadh and Dhahran from 14 – 16 December. Launch of a new biography on Beshara by film critic Mohammed Sayed Abdulraheem.

 

December 10th, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
 
The Red Sea International Film Festival will welcome legendary Egyptian filmmaker Khairy Beshara to Jeddahfor a masterclass, which will take place on Monday 14 December at Muvi, Mall of Arabia, Jeddah.
 
Beshara will share his professional experiences reshaping the Arab film industry over four decades in amasterclass moderated by Antoine Khalife, head of the Festival’s Arab Film Program. The conversation willdraw on Beshara’s innovative and inimitable filmmaking to consider:
 
“Renewing cinema through plots, story andperformances.”Masterclass attendees will also have the bonus of attending a book signing for a new biography on Beshara,The Rebel, written by film critic Mohammed Sayed Abdulraheem, that places Beshara at the centre of Arabcinema and features never-before-seen archival images.The masterclass and book launch will kick-start a three-day retrospective of Beshara’s acclaimed films that willtake place across Saudi Arabia in Dharan, Jeddah and Riyadh from 14-16 December.
 
The retrospective willfeature never-before-seen 4K versions of five of his most adored films that have been lovingly restored by theRed Sea Foundation. The celebration also marks the first time that these classic works of Arab cinema willscreen in cinemas in the Kingdom.Looking ahead to the masterclass, book launch and retrospective screenings, Beshara commented, “It’sinteresting to me, and perhaps to you, to recall and reflect on 57 years of my life in cinema and beyond.”
 
Born in 1947 in Tanta, Egypt, Beshara grew up in Cairo and began making short films and documentaries inthe 1970s, garnering him the title “Star of Documentary Cinema. In the 1980s, Beshara became a leadingfigure of the Egytpian “Neo-Realist” movement. He worked on films alongside many well-known writers such asAbdel Rahman el-Abnudi for The Collar and the Bracelet (1986) and Fayiz Ghaly for Sweet Day, Bitter Day(1988), and collaborated with film stars such as Ahmed Zaki, Sherihan and Faten Hamama. In the 1990s hewould gain further acclaim for instigating folk fantasy films into Arab cinema and was one of the first Arabdirectors to venture into digital filmmaking.
 
Retrospective – Five classics by Beshara in three citiesMuvi Theatres in Dhahran, Jeddah, and Riyadh will screen five classic Beshara films restored by the Red SeaFilm Festival Foundation in 4K. The screenings are the first cinematic presentations of Beshara’s work in SaudiArabia.
 
The retrospective will commence with one of the most iconic films in Egyptian cinema history, The Collar andthe Bracelet (1986), a searing dramatic thriller, acclaimed for its unflinching social commentary and poetic style.
 
Screening in Jeddah on Monday 14 December.Bitter Day, Sweet Day (1988) is a portrait of Egyptian society reshaped by the forces of globalization, throughthe story of widow Aisha, her five children, and a manipulative and controlling son-in-law. A moving look atpoverty and drastic social change on an individual’s values and ambitions. Screening in Riyadh and Dhahranon Tuesday 15 December.Ice Cream in Gleam (1992) is a film of hope against the odds, staring the legendary Amr Diab as Saif. Workingin a video rental store, Saif dreams of another life, making his name in music.
 
But fate seems to have otherplans – he’s fired and lands in jail. There, he meets and forms a trio with a songwriter and infamous musician,discovering his aspirations still reach the hardest of places. Screening in Dhahran, Jeddah, and Riyadh onTuesday 15 December.Set in 1973, Abracadabra America (1993) follows a hapless group as they flee Egypt after the October War,attempting to emigrate to America. Arriving at their first stop on the Hungarian border, they discover they’vebeen conned. To survive, they must learn to overcome their differences.
 
Screening in Dhahran and Riyadh onMonday 14 December; Jeddah on Tuesday 15 December.A remarkable film shot entirely on the busy streets of downtown Cairo, Traffic Light (1995) is a glimpse ofmid-90s Egyptian society, reeling from the changes of globalization.
 
At a stop sign, on hold for a passing VIP, agroup finds themselves at emotional and social ‘crossroads’ – a love story blossoms, a baby is due, and a manis on fire. Screening in Dhahran, Jeddah, and Riyadh on Wednesday 16 December.
 
Please find below the full schedule for film screenings and locations.
 
JEDDAH: Mall of Arabia
 
Monday 14 December 21:30 The Collar and the Bracelet
 
Tuesday  15 December 19:00 Abracadabra America
 
Tuesday 15 December 22:00 Ice Cream With Gleam
 
Wednesday 16 December 19:00 Traffic Light
 
 
RIYADH: Nakheel Mall
 
Monday 14 December 21:30 Abracadabra America Tuesday 15
 
December 19:00 Ice Cream With Gleam Tuesday 15
 
December 22:00 Bitter Day, Sweet Day Wednesday 16
 
December 19:00 Traffic Light
 
DHARAN: Mall of Dhahran, Shargiya
 
Monday 14 December 21:30 Abracadabra America Tuesday 15
 
December 19:00 Ice Cream With Gleam Tuesday 15
 
December 22:00 Bitter Day, Sweet Day Wednesday 16
 
December 19:00 Traffic Light
 
For registration & more information please visit redseafilmfest.com
 

The Red Sea International Film Festival in Collaboration with the Misk Art Week Present: Safouh AlNaamani: Preserving Time – an exhibition of photography and world premiere of a restored archival documentary.

December, 2nd, 2020 – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,

 

The Red Sea Film Festival Foundation will host an exhibition celebrating the work of photographer and cinematographer Safouh AlNaamani (1926-2016) and a screening program of contemporary Saudi and Arab cinema as part of Misk Art Week 2020, taking place December 3–7, in Riyadh at Prince Faisal bin Fahad Fine Arts Gallery. 

 

The exhibition, Safouh AlNaamani: Preserving Time, which will remain open until the 10th of January 2021, presents rare photographs and restored archive films dating from the 1950s and 1960s, charting a significant period in Saudi’s urban and cultural development.  

 

At Misk Art Week 2020, the Red Sea International Film Festival will publicly present the world premier of the restoration of “The Pilgrimage to Mecca,” AlNaamani’s remarkable 35-minute color documentary filmed during the 1963 Hajj season. 

 

Throughout Misk Art Week, the Red Sea International Film Festival will present contemporary feature and short films from Saudi Arabia and the Arab world with filmmaker Q&A sessions. On Thursday, 3rd of December, there will be a panel discussion moderated by Omar Almuqri who will be featuring filmmakers Abdulmohsen Aldhabaan, Hend Alfahad, and Abdulelah Alqurashi discussing whether locally produced films are reflective of regional culture and identity. 

 

The Red Sea Film Festival Foundation is proud to present photographs & restored films of Safouh AlNaamani, one of the pioneers of color photography in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as these wonderful contemporary Arab films at Misk ART Week 2020, which this year is exploring Culture Re-Cultivated. The collaboration is part of the Foundation’s commitment to the preservation of cultural heritage alongside contemporary expression. 

 

 

 

 

Film Program 

 

Panel discussion | Thursday, 3 December 19:15 – 19:45 

 

Do the characteristics of locally produced films reflect local culture and identity? 

Panelists are Abdulmohsen Aldhabaan, Hend Alfahad and Abdulelah Alqurashi. 

Moderated by Omar Almuqri. 

 

Last Visit | Thursday, 3 December 20:00 

 

A conflict between father and son played out across three generations looks at the generational divides reshaping Saudi society — the debut feature from film critic and producer Abdulmohsen Aldhabaan. 

 

1982 |  Friday, 4 December 20:00 

 

Oualid Mouaness’ touching debut set told through an 11-year-old schoolboy’s innocent gaze chronicles an afternoon in June 1982 when the onset of war forever changed Lebanese history. 

 

Short Film Program | Monday 6th & 7th December  20:00 

 

Goin’ South 

Newlyweds pay their first visit to the groom’s hometown, only to discover they come from different worlds. 

 

Barakat 

An ageing man prepares for his grandson’s wedding in an ever-changing Beirut – a city he no longer recognizes. 

 

For more information please visit: 

redseafilmfest.com 

miskartinstitute.org 

The Red Sea International Film Festival To Showcase Exciting New Films Exclusive Tajreeb screenings debut online this month

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 18 November 2020   

The Red Sea International Film Festival is excited to announce digital screenings of its Tajreeb program. Originally chosen for the inaugural Red Sea Film Festival, Tajreeb aims to showcase the talent pool emerging in new Saudi cinema. 

 

Tajreeb is punk at its core; freeing filmmakers from any sense of constraint, allowing creatives the opportunity to do anything imaginable from behind the lens of the camera. Filmmakers accepted into the program find themselves surrounded by like-minded advocates of their craft and passions. Hailing from different regions of SAUDI ARABIA, these films are of different genres and lengths. 

 

The 11 selected films will screen online over the course of 2 weeks, running from the 18–30 November on the Red Sea Film Festival’s YouTube channel. Each film will be available for one week. 

  

The Tajreeb films will appear every other day from the 18th until the 30th of  November.  

 

The full schedule is detailed below: 

Wednesday 18th at 5 p.m. – Shame Directed By Abdulla AlBin Hamdha  

Wednesday 18th at 9 p.m. – A Diy Of A Dream 101 Directed By Qamar Abdulmalik  

Saturday 21st at 5 p.m. – Nonself Portrait Directed By Asad Badawi  

Saturday 21st at 9 p.m. – Extraction Of Lunar Directed By Lulua Al Dehaiemi  

Monday 23rd at 5 p.m. – The Time Has Come Directed By Ayman Al Ali 

Monday 23rd at 9 p.m. – Algari Directed By Ahmed AlHasawi  

Wednesday 25th at 5 p.m. – Dissonance Directed By Moodi AlZamil  

Wednesday 25th at 9 p.m. – A Breath Directed By Razan Alsagheer  

Saturday 28th at 5 p.m. – Remember Me Directed By Mohammed Hammad  

Saturday 28th at 9 p.m. – Color Of Sunset Directed By Haidar Daoud 

Monday 30th at 5 p.m. – The Sleep Sun Station Directed By Anhar Salem  

 

 

All times are in Arabian Standard Time (AST).  

 

  

To view the Tajreeb screenings, visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLPErMYhL4ikeIG982A9VHw 

 

The Red Sea International Film Festival is headquartered in Old Town Jeddah, a historic district in the Kingdom’s Western region. The Red Sea International Film Festival is a pivotal part of the growing worldwide interest in films made by Arab filmmakers. Through their various programs, they provide crucial funding, guidance, and visibility to the next generation of Saudi filmmakers. 

 

To learn more about the Red Sea International Film Festival, connect via @RedSeaFilm on Instagram and Twitter, or visit redseafilmfest.com 

 

 

 

Media Contact  

Rana Zedan, Red Sea International Film Festival PR Coordinator 

media@redseafilmfest.com 

New competition the 48Hr Film Challenge supports aspiring filmmakers to write, shoot and produce a short film in just two days

October 8, 2020, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 

The Red Sea International Film Festival has announced a new short film competition designed to challenge and support aspiring Saudis and Saudi-resident filmmakers to produce new works. The challenge will take place in October, with three days of mentorship followed by an intensive 48-hours where the selected teams will write, shoot, and edit their short film from scratch, working around a set theme and incorporating surprise elements. 

A collaboration between The Alliance Française, The Consulate General of France in Jeddah, The French Embassy in Riyadh, the Red Sea International Film Festival, and La Fémis, applications are invited from teams of Saudi-based creatives aged 18–25, with between two to five participants, led by a Saudi director or scriptwriter. The shortlisted teams will be selected, enjoying three days of workshops that will equip them with the knowledge and expertise to develop their film, from idea to final cut. 

 

Award winning actress and lawyer Hend Sabry will be the President of the Jury, among other jury members. Film director Lisa Sallustio, Film director, writer and teacher Brice Cauvin, award-winning writer/director Faizah Saleh Ambah, and film director/producer Mohammed Al hamoud. 

 

The challenge will culminate in November with screenings. The jury will award two teams 48Hr Film Challenge trophies designed by the artist Rabi Alakhras.The winning team leaders will go on to enjoy an educational and professional tailored-maid residency program with french renowned cinema operators, during 2021. 

 

“The competition is about creating new content, invigorating the burgeoning Saudi film community, and equipping the next generation with the knowledge and experience to create their own work. Despite the challenges of this year, it is vitally important to continue to inspire and push the next generation of filmmakers.” said Hend Sabry president of the jury. 

Hend Sabry Hend Sabry is an award winning actress, lawyer and a mother, she has starred in more than 30 awarded films across the Arab world. Her career began in 1994 when she starred in Silences of the Palaces winning the best actress award in Carthage film festival at the age of 15. Her latest works are NOURA’s dream and the Blue Elephant ( Part 2) Sabry is also a producer , she is also active in social and humanitarian work as the UN goodwill ambassador for the world food programme (WFP)  

Lisa Sallustio studied political science in Brussels at the age of 18 before entering INSAS in theatre staging in 2011. In September 2016, she integrated the filmmaking department at La Fémis. Lisa wrote theatrical forms and directed short films and documentaries. The last one, produced in Belgium by Dérives Asbl, has been released in 2020. 

 

Brice Cauvin is a film director, a writer and a teacher, Brice studied literature, linguistics and cinema. He has been in the film industry for 25 years in France and abroad. He has been teaching for more than 15 years at La Fémis and was appointed Head of the Directing department in 2017-2018. 

 

Faiza Saleh Ambah is an award-winning writer/director and former Washington Post correspondent. Her film MARIAM (2015) won numerous awards, including the Oscar qualifying prize at Athens Ohio Film Festival Faiza took part in the Rawi/Sundance labs and has a certificate in feature-film writing from UCLA and did a summer program at the USC cinema school. Faiza is currently editing her film NourShams, shot in Jeddah earlier this year. 

Mohammed Alhamoud  founded Last Scene Films, a Riyadh-based production house specialized in producing independent arthouse films such as Last Visit (2019), the first Arab film to be selected at the Karlovy Vary IFF’s East of the West Competition and winner of the Jury Award at Marrakech IFF. Currently, Alhamoud is developing Four Acts of Disruption, which recently won a development fund from the Red Sea Lodge. 

Full details and entry requirements can be found via redseafilmfest.com 

Red Sea International Film Festival I Red Sea Lodge announces the winners of it’s two production grants worth $500,000 each

September 25th, 2020, Jeddah , Saudi Arabia 

 

The Red Sea International Film Festival announced the selection of twelve projects for its first edition of the Red Sea Lodge: Script & Feature lab. Today, an eminent jury composed of Nadia Turincev, Meinolf Zurhorst and Yousry Nasrallah selected and announced the winners of the two $500,000 production grants. 

 

The Red Sea Lodge Production Grant for a Saudi Project was awarded to Sharshaf by Hind Alfahhad, written by Hana Alomair and produced by Talal Ayel. The jury said they were enamoured by the “Touching and strong female character, and the bonds in a relationship that can bring us together and tear us apart.” They were also intrigued that it was set in “A period of Saudi Arabia’s history the world knows so little about, unveiled to us by Hind Alfahhad.”  

 

Hind Alfahhad’s Sharshaf is set in 1978. Haila, the daughter of a conservative Imam, marries Mosa’ed,  the son of a rich and well-known fabric stores owner. The young couple spend their honeymoon in Cairo. Sharshaf is a romantic drama that follows Haila as she gets to know what she wants through the magic of cinema and how this discovery is challenged later as extremism invades the society. 

 

The Red Sea Lodge Award for an Arab Project was awarded to Bullets & Bread by Mohammad Hammad, produced by Kholoud Saad and Mohamed Hefzy. Mohammed Hammad’s Bullets & Bread is about Youssef, a conscript serving his compulsory military service on the Egyptian eastern desert border who dreams of becoming a writer. Awad is a dangerous bandit from one of those tribes roaming that remote desert region who dreams of giving a better life for his family in Cairo. Their paths were not meant to cross but a true friendship will grow between them. 

 

The jury enjoyed the dynamic at the film’s heart which they described as “Soldier and Gypsy; Laurel and Hardy; Friendship and Adversity. We can’t wait to be part of this road trip, this cinematic voyage.”  

 

The Jury also gave a special mention to the Saudi Project Four Acts of Disruption directed by Hussam AlHulwah and produced by Mohammad Alhamoud, which will be awarded $25,000 by the Red Sea Lodge for further development. The story is set in the 1930s while the newly formed Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is adjusting to the arrival of American oil prospectors. The jury gave special recognition to the project and stated “The film has huge potential and we hope that Hussam AlHulwah and Mohammad Alhamoud can continue to develop the project and bring it to fruition.”  

 

The six Saudi projects selected for the inaugural Red Sea Lodge: Basma written by Fatima Al-Banawi and directed by Ali Alsumayin, Practicing Polygamy directed by Malak Qouta, Four Acts of Disruption directed by Hussam AlHulwah, When The Star Goes Down directed by Mohammed Salman, Sharshaf directed by Hind Alfahhad and Hejj to Disney directed by Maha Al-saati.  

 

The six Arab projects: Scheherazade Goes Silent directed by Amira Diab, Inchalla A boy directed by Amjad Alrasheed, The Arabic Interpreter directed by Ali Kareem, Bullets & Bread directed by Mohammed Hammad, The Basement Notes directed by Hadi Ghandour, and I Am Arzé directed by Mira Shaib. 

 

In collaboration with the TorinoFilmLab, the Lodge hand-picked twelve emerging filmmakers, pairing each with an experienced mentor to support and enhance their work throughout the creative process.  

The comprehensive program is for directors and producers, with scriptwriters if on board, to hone and further all aspects of their vision. Every stage of filmmaking was explored, from script consultations to working with experts in the fields of directing, cinematography and sound, through to post-production as well as a commercial focus on financing, sales, and audience engagement.  

 

On another note of exciting news: Director Maha Al-Saati’s Red Sea Lodge project Hejj To Disney was selected for TIFF Filmmaker Lab, and for the upcoming development programmes at Malmo Arab Film Festival (MAFF) and El-Gouna Film Festival. Saudi director Al Saati will also participate in The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) Residency in 2021. 

Red Sea International Film Festival | Red Sea Lodge Announces Jury Awarding two production grants of $500,000 on September 25th, 2020

September 6th, 2020, Jeddah – Saudi Arabia  

Russian film producer Nadia Turincev, the highly-respected producer, commissioner and writer Meinolf Zurhorst and the award-winning Egyptian film director Yousry Nasrallah shall make up the jury presiding over the twelve projects taking part in the inaugural Red Sea Lodge Residency.  

 

The jury will award two production grants worth $500,000 each in an online ceremony that will take place on September 25..  

 

Nasrallah commented, “It is with great pleasure that I accept the responsibility to be part of the jury of the Red Sea Film Lodge. I sincerely hope that this generous production grant will help Arab filmmakers and Arab cinema reach new heights.” 

 

“As a commissioner for ARTE, I have overseen the development of between 200 and 300 films,” said Zurhorst. “In recent years”, I have been particularly enamoured with the inroads made by Arab films, which makes me excited at the prospect of learning about these exciting new projects from Saudi and the Arab world.”  

 

Turincev said, “The Red Sea Lodge production grant is a fantastic opportunity for Arab filmmakers to bring their projects to life, giving the world a chance to discover new emerging talents.” 

 

The Red Sea Lodge Residency resumes as a digital event on the 19th of October, The twelve projects, six from Saudi and six from the Arab world will take part in events leading up to the granting of the two production awards on September 25.  

 

All twelve of the selected projects will take part in the digital meetings, that shall prepare them to pitch their films to the TorinoFilmLab digital meeting, an International co-production forum featuring projects developed through the TFL programmes – ScriptLab, FeatureLab, SeriesLab and the Red Sea Lodge. The TorinoFilmLab digital meeting will take place in November 2020.  

 

In collaboration with the TorinoFilmLab, the Lodge hand-picked twelve emerging filmmakers and paired each with an experienced mentor to support and enhance their work throughout the creative process. Designed for projects at any stage of development, the comprehensive program is for directors and producers, with scriptwriters if onboard, to hone and further all aspects of their vision. 

 

TorinoFilmLab Executive Director Savina Neirotti says, “The collaboration with the Red    Sea Film Lodge has exceeded all expectations, even with the interruption caused by the unforeseeable global pandemic. The twelve projects have developed and evolved into fantastic projects and we are sure a large number of them will end up as films, whether they are awarded the production grant or not”.         

    

Every stage of filmmaking is explored, from script consultations to work with experts in the fields of directing, cinematography and sound, through to post-production as well as a commercial focus on financing, sales, and audience engagement. Structured around diverse, stimulating exchanges with colleagues and mentors, the program is designed to enrich projects through multiple approaches and perspectives. 

The final phase of the Lodge and the awarding of the grants was due to take place at the Red Sea International Film Festival in March, which was unable to take place due to coronavirus and the declaration of a global pandemic. 

Red Sea Film Festival Foundation | Community Relief Fund

June 29th, 2020, Jeddah , Saudi Arabia  37 Saudi and Saudi-based filmmakers supported by the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation | Community Relief Fund. Hardship grants totalling 93,100 SAR handed out to aid filmmakers adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic and suffering from financial difficulty.  

 

Launched on March 17th, in response to COVID-19 and the precautionary measures taken in the cultural sector, the 200,000 SAR Red Sea Film Festival Foundation | Community Relief Fund aids freelance Saudi filmmakers sustaining a financial loss resulting from cancelled/postponed gigs or lost opportunity during the ongoing pandemic.  

 

Thus far, Community Relief Fund recipients have awarded grants to 12 above-the-line filmmakers, and 25 below-the-line film industry workers. The split has been 70% males and 30% females. 

 

The total amount available from the fund to help filmmakers is 200,000 SAR.  

 

Filmmakers in difficulty can still apply to the fund by submitting applications on the festival’s website and are encouraged to do so. https://redseafilmfest.com/community-fund 

Red Sea International Film Festival announces Tamheed Fund award winners

The Red Sea International Film Festival has unveiled the two projects selected for the Tamheed Fund, each receiving production grants of $500,000. 

 

Two aspiring filmmakers, Faris Godus and Mohammed Alholayyil, will be supported to produce their first films, The Book Of Sun and Forty Years and a Night, respectively. 

 

Sohayb Godus joins his brother Faris’ project, The Book of Sun as the producer, while Abdulrahman Khawj will produce Forty Years and a Night. 

 

The competition received 24 submissions, two of which were by female directors. Projects covered diverse geographic and social environments, from major cities to villages and deserts. A range of schools and approaches were represented, including realism, neorealism, psychodrama, sci-fi, and fantasy, with one animation project. The entrants tackled various themes, exploring cultural heritage in the Kingdom, complicated family relationships, passion for art, as well as self-realization. Several films focused on the changes taking place in contemporary Saudi society, exploring and documenting its transformation. 

 

The Tamheed Fund was established to support the realization of Saudi-led feature films to premiere at the inaugural Red Sea International Film Festival, taking place in March 2020. The open call targeted filmmakers from Saudi and focused on films telling authentic local stories, with innovative visual approaches and daring narrative tools. 

 

The Fund is part of the Red Sea International Film Festival’s broad slate of programs and initiatives designed to support the rapidly developing Saudi film industry by encouraging a robust and sustainable infrastructure. It is added to the mentoring and development program including the Red Sea Lodge, as well as a special omnibus film project directed by the new wave of Saudi female directors. With further programs to be announced. 

 

Synopsis of the awarded films: 

Knowledge Sun tells the story of Hussam, a teenager set to graduate high school in 2010, until he becomes distracted by the wave of Saudi YouTube content creation reaching its peak. As he decides to make a no-budget feature film, he puts his whole educational future at risk. 

 

Forty Years and a Night is the story of a family gathered together on Eid al-Fitr, discovering deep secrets hidden from each other for decades. The revelations will poison relationships, threaten the stability of the family, transforming their memories forever. 

 

About the awarded filmmakers: 

The Godus Brothers 

Sohayb and Faris Godus came to fame through YouTube and digital media collective Telfaz11, working primarily in their Jeddah office. The brothers have also established their own pathways in film: Fares has created a name for himself directing and editing, while Sohayb developed his acting and production skills. Together, the Godus brothers made the short film Depressing Scene (2016) and recently participated in Another Planet, a TV series on Saudi TV for the 2019 Ramadan season. 

Mohammed Alholayyil 

Born in 1997 in Al-Ahsa, the young writer and filmmaker has made several short films including Mator and 300KM. Screened in multiple Arab and regional film festivals to critical acclaim, his work is characterized by its in-depth analysis of issues with a dark sense of humor. 

Abdulrahman Khawj 

Among the pioneers of the independent Saudi film movement, Khawj founded Cinepoetics film production company in Jeddah. He has produced and directed two feature films: Poetry Bride (2017) and Physical Specifications of Coffee (2019). He has contributed to multiple short and feature films and lectures in screenwriting in Effat University. 

Media Alert | Red Sea Lodge | Tribeca Film Institute Network | Sharshaf April 21, 2020, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 

Hind Al Fahhad’s Red Sea Lodge Project Sharshaf got selected in Tribeca Film Institute (TFI) Network, in partnership with the Red Sea Film Festival.  

 

The Saudi film project, Sharshaf, has been chosen to partake in the Tribeca Film Institute (TFI) Virtual Network, in partnership with the Red Sea Film Festival. Sharshaf, directed by Hind Al Fahhad, written by Hana Alomair, and produced by Talal Ayeel, will represent Saudi Arabia at TFI Network, which will take place from the 27th of April till the 1st of May 2020. TFI Network will be conducted virtually this year due to the ongoing global crisis.  

 

Sharshaf is one of the inaugural Red Sea Lodge Projects. The Red Sea Lodge programme, launched as a partnership between the Red Sea Film Festival and Torino Film Lab where the 12 selected projects got to participate in 3 residency workshops; the first of which took place in November 2019. Six of the projects were from Saudi Arabia and six from the Arab world. The final workshop of the programme scheduled to take place in March has been postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus measures.  

 

TFI Network presented by AT&T is a filmmaker / industry market hosted each year during the Tribeca Film Festival® by TFI. These market meetings provide an opportunity for filmmakers to meet and make valuable connections with industry executives, financiers, producers, marketers, and other key parties who can potentially help their projects. 

 

43 projects will take part in the event, four of which are from the Arab region. These exceptional projects, chosen both through partnerships and the application pool, are in all stages of development, production or post-production. These filmmakers also receive year-round mentorship and professional guidance by the TFI Artist Programs department. 

 

Set in Riyadh in 1978, Sharshaf tells the story of a conservative Muslim woman “Haila“, who expands her understanding of the society around her and builds bridges in her new marriage after her eyes are opened to the magic of cinema.  

 

Director Hind Al Fahhad is a Saudi filmmaker who started directing in 2012. She began with short films which screened in local and international film festivals such as the Abu Dhabi International Film Festival, Dubai International Film Festival, and the Arab Film Festival in Arizona. She has also directed several television episodes.  

 

Producer Talal Ayeel has worked as a film director and producer since 2002 in Saudi Arabia.  

 

Screenwriter Hana Alomair is a Saudi writer, filmmaker and film critic. Her script Hadaf won Best Script in the Saudi Film Competition in 2008, and her second short film The Complaint won the award for Best Short Fiction Film in Saudi Film Competition in 2015.  

Red Sea International Film Festival Foundation Launches a Community Relief Fund to Support Saudi Filmmakers

March 17, 2020, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | The non-profit Red Sea International Film Festival Foundation announced a fund of SAR200,000 in the form of emergency community relief grants to support Saudi filmmakers.  

 

The fund aims to help freelance Saudi filmmakers who have sustained a financial loss resulting from cancelled/postponed gigs or opportunity directly related to the Coronavirus COVID-19 precautionary measures. All Saudis working in the film industry are eligible to the one-time emergency grant of up to SAR5,000 on merit basis. Applications will be open until the fund is exhausted. People who meet the criteria should apply here: https://redseafilmfest.com/community-fund 

 

The Red Sea Film Festival Foundation champions the Kingdom’s burgeoning cinema and cultural scene by nurturing audience engagement, supporting filmmakers and strengthening the film industry. Established in 2018, the Foundation chairman is the Minister of Culture, Prince Badr bin Farhan Al Saud.