The Red Sea Labs, the creative engine under the Red Sea Film Foundation (RSFF), is set to showcase its contributions to the Kingdom’s nascent film industry during the Festival’s fourth edition, taking place from December 5 to 14. The Red Sea Labs House will serve as a vibrant hub for a series of roundtables, masterclasses, and professional development activities during the Festival, highlighting its commitment to nurturing talent across film, episodic storytelling, animation, and gaming.
This year, the Labs House will host the culmination of two key long-term development programs: The Lodge, in partnership with TorinoFilmLab and sponsored by Film AlUla, and the Series Lab, in partnership with Film Independent. These programs bring together writers, directors, and producers from the Arab, African, and Asian regions to refine their pitches and participate in the Red Sea Souk, fostering a supportive ecosystem for concept development and professional growth, and providing a fast track to potential production.
Some of the speakers at the Red Sea Labs program are:
- Simon Franglen: Composer and producer known for his work on Avatar: The Way of Water
- Heather Berlin: Neuroscientist and clinical psychologist specializing in brain-behaviour relationships
- Mike Fischer: Interactive entertainment executive with experience at Amazon, Microsoft, and Square Enix
- Travis Blaise: Veteran animator and director with credits on Disney classics like Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin
- David Uslan: Producer and developer with credits on Batman Begins, Constantine, and Joker
- Luc Jacquet: French film director and screenwriter with credits on March of the Penguins, which won an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature in 2005
- Stan Chervin: Screenwriter nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the movie Moneyball.
Red Sea Labs’ year-round programs provide continuous support for emerging talent across various disciplines. Other programs hosted under the Labs umbrella throughout the year include ‘Music & Sound’, which cultivates the talents of emerging composers through mentorship opportunities. ‘MEMI’, a week-long workshop, provides a condensed version of the Middle East Media Initiative’s summer program, focusing on TV project development. And ‘INSPIRE!’ offers intimate sessions with global industry experts to inspire and educate participants in film, episodic storytelling, animation, and gaming.
Highlighting the Labs’ success, Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo, a project developed through The Lodge 2021, will premiere as part of Red Sea: competition.
“This year, we return with the Festival to Albalad, where the Labs House will be a vibrant nucleus for inspiration, where we will be offering opportunities to engage with world-class mentors and industry leaders for storytelling across film, episodic, animation, gaming, and music. The all-year-round program Inspire will present Masterclasses, debates and discussions. We will end the night with beautiful musical performances.
We have had an astonishing year filled with stories of success. Through programs like The Lodge, Series Lab, and Inspire, we empower storytellers to push boundaries, grow professionally, and share their voices with the world. Our success stories, such as Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo, premiering at this year’s Festival, are a testament to the impact of our initiatives. As we continue to grow, we remain dedicated to shaping the future of storytelling,” says Ryan Ashore, Head of Red Sea Labs.
Red Sea Labs will be based in Al Balad, near the Culture Square where the Festival is taking place. Red Sea Labs program is curated as part of the Festival’s commitment to complete cinematic immersion. Access is open to all Red Sea International Film Festival badge holders.
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