The Red Sea Film Foundation announces the second edition of “Cinema Nights”, a curated series of public screenings presented in partnership with the Diriyah Biennale Foundation as part of the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025. Held as part of the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 at the Western Hajj Terminal in Jeddah (January 25 – May 25), the screenings will run every Thursday from February 6 to May 22, featuring a diverse selection of 23 Saudi and international films, offering audiences a unique cinematic experience within the Biennale’s dynamic cultural program.
This year’s ‘Cinema Nights’ include a diverse lineup of Arab and international films showing every Thursday from February 6 to May 22; special appearances by filmmakers and actors for Q&A sessions; a Saudi Shorts Weekend celebrating local storytelling; and a food symposium day, celebrating films with food as their central theme.
The ongoing partnership between The Red Sea Film Foundation and Diriyah Biennale Foundation illustrates the combined efforts of Kingdom’s foremost cultural institutions to enrich the cinematic and cultural landscape by providing a platform for dialogue and offering a unique opportunity for art and culture enthusiasts to dive into captivating narrative worlds and explore unique cinematic horizons.
“Cinema Nights” launches on February 6th with a screening of the Saudi Film Saify, which was directed by Wael Abumansour and which screened in Competition at the 2024 Red Sea International Film Festival. The story revolves around a man in his 40s clinging to the dream of quick wealth, despite his poor skills, by holding on to his small cassette shop which sells banned religious sermons. The cast features Osama Alqess, Aixa Kay, Baraa Alem and Nour Alkhadra.
The screenings will conclude on May 22 with a showing of Snow White by the Egyptian director Taghrid Abouelhassan. “Snow White” is a light-hearted, fascinating mix of issues around marriage, disability and sisterhood, with a magnetic star performance by Mariam Sherif as Iman, a Little Person who stands 119 centimeters tall. Iman dreams of finding true love – but complications arise when her dream collides with that of her sister.
This year, four Saudi short films captivated audiences and critics alike, highlighting the depth and diversity of Saudi Arabia’s flourishing film scene. In addition, an Emirati short film “CHILDREN OF BARZAGH”, which received a Special Jury Mention, further emphasized the dynamic storytelling emerging from the Gulf. The recognition of these five films reflects the growing impact of regional cinema, with filmmakers offering compelling narratives that resonate with local and international audiences.
Shivani Pandya Malhotra, Red Sea Film Foundation Managing Director, said: “We are proud to continue our partnership with the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, and showcase a new roster of outstanding storytelling from across region. Through our partnership we aim to build and sustain a creative ecosystems that not only champions storytelling and creativity but also builds bridges between cultures, peoples and points of view.”
Antoine Khalife, Director of Arab Programs & Film Classics for the Red Sea International Film Festival, said: “With the title ‘And all that is in between,’ the second edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale will explore how faith is experienced. We wanted to meet the public of the Biennale with a program of films that reflects the aspirations of the filmmakers, their concerns, and of course, their vision—a program that will certainly not leave the public indifferent. ‘And all that is in between’ is the theme of the Biennale, and the earth is a theme aptly explored in the films programmed—the mother earth of all civilizations. Thus, we are faced with such essential themes: heritage, identity, respect for difference, family, and the search for oneself—expressed and celebrated through feeling, thinking, and making.”
More information about tickets and showtimes is available here.
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