- 15 teams selected from a record 127 submissions.
- Ahmed Baageel, Zain Duraie and Mohamed Rashad to lead workshops in production design, filmmaking and screenwriting.
- Mentorship workshops take place on 17–18 July, with the official screening and awards ceremony to follow later this year.
The Red Sea Film Foundation has announced the 15 teams selected to participate in the sixth edition of the Red Sea 48Hr Film Challenge, following a record 127 submissions from emerging filmmakers across the Kingdom.
Presented in collaboration with Alliance Française and the Consulate General of France in Jeddah, the annual challenge gives Saudi nationals and residents of the Kingdom aged 18 to 25 the opportunity to experience the complete filmmaking process, from idea development and screenwriting to production, editing and final delivery, within an intensive and collaborative environment.
The selected teams will begin their journey with mentorship and training workshops led by three accomplished filmmakers and creative practitioners.
Saudi architect, production designer and art director Ahmed Baageel, whose credits include The Book of Sun and Desert Warrior, will lead the production design workshop.
Jordanian writer-director Zain Duraie will lead the filmmaking workshop. Her debut feature, Sink, was developed through Red Sea Labs’ Feature Films Program, formerly known as The Lodge, and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2025.
Egyptian writer, director and producer Mohamed Rashad will lead the screenwriting workshop. His debut feature, The Settlement, premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2025.
Following the workshops, the teams will have 48 hours to write, shoot and edit an original short film based on designated themes. Each film must also incorporate a surprise production-design or prop element, which will be revealed shortly before the challenge begins.
Selected Teams
- ManHaj
Amin Fussi, Team Leader; AbdulMohsen A. Ahmed; Firas Almoallim; Rital Bashammakh; Maya Madani. - Cinephiles
Maan Yeslam, Team Leader; Saeed Binafif; Fahad Alamri; Yousef AlQahtani; Abdulmajeed Kamal. - Shaarie 60
Omar Alshehri, Team Leader; Reem Alalmai; Rana Alharbi. - Rouh
Shaima Srour, Team Leader; Sara Fadel; Seba Bafail; Rema AlShehri. - Cool Guys
Yousef Alrashoud, Team Leader; Rama Altukhaim; Abdulwahab Alshuqayran; Lamar Samarkandi. - 3 TAMAM
Abdulelah Alzahrani, Team Leader; Jasmine Muhammed; Saud Aljuwaied. - Drop Outs
Mohammed Almsmoum, Team Leader; Jouri Bajouda; Abdullah Shaheen; Talal Alshammari; Mohammed Albegami. - Always Be Late
Rakan Alotaibi, Team Leader; Mohammed Alzahrani; Omar Afif; Mohammed Alobeid; Raed Alotaibi. - Westrich
Hassan Alradhi, Team Leader; Rayan Alsinan; Abdulrahman Almojil; Abdullah Shaaban. - Whatever Happens
Nasser Alotaibi, Team Leader; Nasser Saud; Radwan Osama; Faisal Fahad; Fahad Almutairi. - The Vibers
Noor Alqurashi, Team Leader; Nahran Alasiri; Wadad Sabbah; Hayat Alharthy. - SHATAT
Tariq Nasser, Team Leader; Abdullah Alshidani; Abdulrahman Abdullah; Eyad Alzahrani; Saud Alharbi. - Celluloid
Omar Rambo, Team Leader; Wejdan Hashim; Muath Bahattab; Bashar Obaid; Ahmed Alshomrani. - Triumphant
Maya Binjahlan, Team Leader; Yousef Bin Jahlan; Shahad Almoshrif; Bander Ajah. - Aks
Hamza Imran, Team Leader; Maria Ismaeel; Zohair Zaki; Misha Khan; Abdulrahman Ismail.
The completed films will be reviewed by a jury whose members will be announced at a later date. The challenge will conclude later this year with Professional Days featuring talks, workshops, networking opportunities and film screenings, followed by the official screening and awards ceremony.
Two winning teams will receive Red Sea 48Hr Film Challenge trophies. The leader of each winning team will also be awarded an international residency opportunity in France in 2027, while the two winning films will screen at the next edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival.
The Red Sea 48Hr Film Challenge forms part of the Red Sea Film Foundation’s year-round commitment to developing young talent in the Kingdom. By combining practical training, professional mentorship, collaborative production and international exposure, the Challenge helps participants strengthen their creative voices, build professional experience and take their first steps into the film industry
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