The Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) has announced the first creative talents who will be speaking at the ‘In Conversation’ series at this year’s festival – including the star of the Festival’s opening film Giant, Amir El Masry and the director of Academy Award-nominated Four Daughters, Kaouther Ben Hania, whose film The Voice of Hind Rajab will be presented as a special screening this year, acclaimed Saudi actor Yaqoub Alfarhan with his film A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH; and iconic Egyptian star Lebleba.
The In Conversation series sees global filmmakers and actors sharing their stories and revealing their successes and challenges along the path that led them to taking the stage at RSIFF.
Joining El Masry and Ben Hania are Norah and AlGAID star Yacoub Alfarhan and acclaimed Armenian Egyptian actress, singer, and entertainer Lebleba, who will also be at the festival to present her most recent film, Wedding Rehearsal.
Amir El-Masry is a British Egyptian actor born in Cairo and raised in London. He gained early recognition in Egypt before attending the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) and achieving breakout success in the 2016 mini-series The Night Manager. He is known for his roles in projects such as Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Limbo (for which he won a BAFTA Award). He will also be at RSIFF 2025 to present his other recent film In Competition at the Festival, The Stories.
Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania studied cinema in Tunisia and Paris (FEMIS and La Sorbonne). She has directed several short films, feature films and documentaries, including The Man Who Sold His Skin, Beauty and the Dogs, Zaineb Hates the Snow and The Challat of Tunis. Her films have been featured at prestigious international festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Locarno, and the Academy Awards, including her acclaimed work Four Daughters – which was supported by the Red Sea Foundation.
Alfarhan is a prominent Saudi actor who began his artistic career in theater. He is known for several notable stage productions, including Quick Meal, Secret of Life, The Lucky One and Second Symphony. His television work features appearances in popular series such as Between You and Me, Women’s Play Is a Man and Girls’ Extension.
Lebleba began her career as a child prodigy in Egyptian cinema in the mid-1950s. Discovered by film director Niazi Mustafa for her impersonation skills at age five, she became known as “Lebleba,” meaning “quick and intelligent”. She has appeared in several films and TV series, under the most important Egyptian filmmakers such as Youssef Chahine, Atef El Tayebe, earning numerous awards, including her dramatic role in the 1995 film Laila Sakhina.
Download the RSIFF Mobile app on Apple App Store and Google Play or search ‘Red Sea Film app’ online to find out more about the In Conversation programme. For more about RSIFF 2025, visit www.redseafilmfest.com.
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