- WAJOOM by Maan Alsiari and MUBHAM by Muhannad Alzahrani honored with top awards at the fifth annual 48Hr Film Challenge, held in partnership with the Alliance Française and theFrench Consulate in Jeddah
- Khaled Kaseb and his team’s Next Time earned the jury’s Special Mention
- The award-winning films will be screened at the 2025 Red Sea International Film Festival in December; the filmmakers to participate in an exclusive film residency in France in 2026
The Red Sea Film Foundation, in collaboration with the Alliance Française and Consulate General of France in Jeddah, has announced the winners of the highly anticipated fifth annual 48Hr Film Challenge. The awards ceremony, championing young filmmaking talents in Saudi Arabia, took place at the Foundation’s headquarters in Historic Jeddah – Al Balad.
The competition’s jury brought together a distinguished panel of film luminaries: Saudi presenter and actor Yasser Al Saggaf, Lebanese actress and director Carmen Bsaibes, and French-Moroccan filmmaker and actor Ayoub Layoussifi. The ceremony was also attended by key figures, including Red Sea Film Foundation CEO Faisal Baltyuor, Mohammed Nehad, the Consul General of France in Saudi Arabia, and Shivani Malhotra Pandya, Managing Director of the Red Sea International Film Festival.
Organized in partnership with the Consulate General of France in Saudi Arabia, Alliance Française, and the Institut français, the 48Hr Film Challenge empowers aspiring Saudi and Saudi-resident filmmakers to write, shoot, and edit an original film in a demanding time-bound competition rooted in collaboration and innovation. Participants also benefit from specialized film workshops led by leading local and regional creative directors and filmmakers, aimed at strengthening their skills and capabilities.
WAJOOM, helmed by Maan Alsiari, and MUBHAM, led by Muhannad Alzahrani, received the top awards at the ceremony. The jury also recognized Khaled Kaseb and his team’s Next Time with a Special Mention. The award-winning films will be screened at the 2025 Red Sea International Film Festival in December, and the awardees will participate in an exclusive artist residency program at a leading film school in France in 2026.
The 48Hr Film Challenge was held on July 18-19, 2025, where participants had to conceptualize, script, film, and edit their original short films, all within a 48-hour timeframe. The participants applied the essential skills gained from intensive training sessions held on July 11-12, led by industry experts, including Iraqi director Ahmed Yassine Darradji (directing), Saudi filmmaker Ahd Kamel (screenwriting), and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences member Cyril Aris (editing).
The winners were selected for the exceptional artistic merit and technical excellence of their narratives. The jury was impressed with the high standard of submissions and commended the innovative storytelling, depth of talent, and cinematic ambition of the young filmmakers.
Faisal Baltyuor, CEO, Red Sea Film Foundation, said: “Our goal of cultivating a robust film ecosystem in Saudi Arabia aligns with the ambitious cultural and economic objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. The Red Sea Film Foundation is deeply invested in expanding the Kingdom’s film sector and building a pipeline of skilled filmmakers whose contributions will significantly enhance the creative economy and establish Saudi Arabia as a leading regional hub for film production and cinematic excellence. Initiatives like the 48Hr Film Challenge, developed in collaboration with our French partners, are crucial to this mission and in honing the skills of talented filmmakers and bringing their unique voices and perspectives to a wider audience.”
M. Mohammed Nehad, Consul General of France in Jeddah, added: “The 48Hr Film Challenge perfectly reflects the creativity and dynamism of Saudi youth. France is proud to support this initiative, which embodies our shared commitment to training, innovation, and intercultural dialogue. We are delighted with our partnership with the Red Sea Film Foundation, which allows us to open the way to artistic residencies in France and to international recognition, building strong bridges between our two countries through the universal language of cinema.”
Over the past five years, the 48Hr Film Challenge has empowered more than 70 Saudi filmmakers, paving the way for a number of emerging talents to advance their cinematic journeys. The fourth edition in 2024 crowned the teams AFEN, led by Nawaf Al-Kannani, and All in One Night (AION), led by Rawan Al-Ghamdi. Among the notable success stories is Tala Alharbi, whose film When Red Blooms was showcased at the Red Sea International Film Festival, screened at the 2023 Casablanca Film Festival, and later acquired by Netflix under its “New Saudi Voices” program. Abdullah Al-Maghrabi went on to participate in major regional and international festivals and joined MBC’s talent program, while Khaled Zidan, winner of the 2022 edition with his film The Child in His Own Closet, directed Mera Mera Mera, which premiered at the 2024 Red Sea International Film Festival and became the first Saudi film to screen at the prestigious Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival.
Red Sea Fund Backs 30 Projects As Cycle 1 Titles Take Cannes’ Caméra D’or And TIFF’s Platform Award
Red Sea Film Foundation Announces The Postponement Of The Sixth Edition Of The Red Sea International Film Festival To 2027
