Têtes Brûlées, The Heart Is a Muscle, and Yalla Parkour Shine at Berlinale with Red Sea Film Foundation’s Support.
At the 2025 Berlin International Film Festival, three films supported by the Red Sea Film Foundation—Têtes Brûlées, The Heart is a Muscle, and Yalla Parkour—were honored with prestigious awards, underscoring the Foundation’s role in fostering impactful storytelling.
“The Heart Is a Muscle’ was awarded the prestigious Ecumenical Jury Prize in the Panorama section. The film follows Ryan, whose five-year-old son briefly goes missing at a barbecue. His violent reaction to the incident sets off a chain of events, unearthing long-buried secrets and sparking a journey of self-discovery.
‘Yalla Parkour’ won the Panorama Documentary Audience Award (Second Prize). In her debut feature, filmmaker Areeb Zuaiter returns to Gaza, a place she first visited at age four with her Palestinian mother. After her mother’s passing, a deep nostalgia for her homeland resurfaces when she comes across a video of young men in Gaza practicing parkour amid the chaos of explosions.
‘Têtes Brûlées’ received a Special Mention for Best Film in the youth-focused Generation 14plus category. The film tells the story of 12-year-old Eya, who struggles to cope with the sudden loss of her older brother, Younès. Through resilience and the support of Younès’ friends, she navigates the intense grieving process.
Additionally, ‘The Sun Sees Everything’, a new film in development by Wissam Tanios and produced by Christian Eid, won the World Cinema Fund Audience Strategies Award at the Berlinale Co-Production Market.
Shivani Pandya Malhotra, Managing Director of the Red Sea Film Foundation, said: “Congratulations to these incredible filmmakers whose unique perspectives have been recognized on the prestigious stage of the Berlin International Film Festival. Their success underscores the universal power that great storytelling holds and reinforces our dedication to nurturing independent cinema across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. At the Red Sea Film Foundation, we are proud to empower filmmakers and look forward to continuing our work bringing diverse, compelling stories to new audiences worldwide.”
The depth and diversity of the award-winning films highlight the Red Sea Film Foundation’s dedication to supporting unique voices through the Red Sea Fund. Beyond rewarding the exceptional talent and creativity of the filmmakers, the accolades reaffirm the Foundation’s mission to amplify underrepresented narratives, champion bold new stories, and shape the future of cinema on the global stage.
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