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Red Sea Film Foundation Celebrates Saudi Storytelling At The 11th Saudi Film Festival

April 17, 2025
April 17, 2025

  • RED SEA FUND TO PRESENT TWO SAR 25,000 AWARDS FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION. 
  • FIVE RED SEA FILM FOUNDATION BACKED FILMS FEATURED, INCLUDING THREE IN OFFICIAL COMPETITION. 

As part of its mission to champion the flourishing film industry in Saudi Arabia, the Red Sea Film Foundation announces its participation in the 11th edition of the Saudi Film Festival, taking place from 17 to 23 April 2025 at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) in Dhahran. 

Through the Red Sea Fund, the Foundation will present two competitive cash awards—each valued at SAR 25,000—for outstanding Saudi film projects in the Development and Production categories. These awards are part of the Foundation’s broader effort to empower emerging voices and advance world-class filmmaking across the Kingdom. 

This year, three films backed by the Red Sea Fund will be featured in the festival’s official competition: HOBAL by Abdulaziz Alshlahei, SONGS OF ADAM by Oday Rasheed, and MY DRIVER AND I by Ahd Kamel. In addition, two Saudi short films—AFEN by Nawaf Alkinani and HELLO MY DEAR by Ahmad Salam—will be showcased outside the official competition, offering audiences the opportunity to engage with a diverse slate of cinematic works nurtured through the Foundation’s initiatives. 

Reinforcing its leadership role in advancing the local film ecosystem, the Red Sea Film Foundation will host an exhibition booth at the festival’s Production Market. The booth will be hosted by representatives from Foundation programs, including the Red Sea Souk, Red Sea Labs, and the Red Sea Fund—each of which provides critical financial, educational, and logistical support to filmmakers across all stages of the creative and production journey. 

Since its inception in 2019, The Red Sea Film Foundation has participated in several prestigious local and international festivals, presenting a series of innovative programs and initiatives in the fields of production, distribution, education and training, in line with its mission of fostering the next generation of filmmakers and building a sustainable film industry in Saudi Arabia, Africa and Asia.