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Terms And Conditions

The Lodge program nurtures the next generation of filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Asia and Africa, in partnership with TorinoFilmLab.

After a successful fifth edition, The Lodge returns in 2025 with its intensive annual program devoted to emerging filmmakers on their first or second feature film; more established names with truly daring new concepts and approaches will be considered.

In 2025, the program will include five workshops – the first one exclusively addressed to selected Saudi teams, and the other four to all the selected projects.

Following the intensive development process over a year, teams will have the opportunity to pitch at the festival’s project market, and compete for the Lodge production Grant  Awards during the Red Sea International Film Festival.

Additional funding opportunities for the films will also be available. More information to be provided by the Red Sea Souk. Keep an eye out on our social media for more info.

Following the program, teams will have acquired a fully developed project including logline, synopsis, treatment, screenplay, budget, director’s statement, producer’s note, production and post-production schedule, financing strategy and a financing plan.

Each team will understand the process of project development and will be equipped with the necessary tools to fully realize this and also their future projects. With the confidence to work effectively in the international marketplace, it provides the filmmakers with the insight to move their careers to the next level and get their films made.

A maximum of 12 teams will be selected among projects coming from Saudi Arabia, the Arab World, Asia and Africa.

DEADLINE FOR SAUDI PROJECTS: NOVEMBER 24th

DEADLINE FOR ARAB-ASIAN-AFRICAN PROJECTS: DECEMBER 15TH

Full terms, conditions, and application requirements are outlined below. For further information contact: [email protected]

Who Can Apply?
  • Applications must be made in teams of Two or three, comprising:
    • A writer-director and producer, Or
    • A director, writer and producer
  • The director should be Saudi/Saudi Resident or of Arab nationality/origin or of African nationality, or of Asian nationality.
  • Aimed at first or second-time feature directors, applications from more established voices will be considered if they demonstrate daring new ideas and approaches.
  • The producer needs to have demonstrable production experience (previous work).
  • A screenwriter must have experience of realized scripts in any form, including shorts, TV, web series or theatre.
  • The team must confirm their full availability for all the workshops and sessions as per the schedule outlined below, as well as at the Red Sea International Film Festival, once the dates are announced.
  • The working language of the workshops, meetings, and events is English; therefore, English proficiency is a must.
What kind of film project
  • Arab projects, directed by an Arab director with an Arab story.
  • Saudi projects should be directed by a Saudi/Saudi Resident director, with a Saudi story.
  • African projects, directed by an African director with an African story.
  • Asian projects, directed by an Asian director with an Asian story.
  • Submissions can be for any film form – fiction, creative documentary, experimental, or any other.
  • Considering the prize award, the producers must be able to demonstrate suggested funding for the remainder.
The Program
  • Selected participants will follow an intensive project development program scheduled across 11 months. The program will explore projects from all perspectives including script consultations and work with experts in the fields of directing, cinematography, sound, editing post-production, financing and sales, and audience engagement. Producers will enjoy a dedicated program tailored to their development.
  • All training will take the form of group and one-to-one sessions, and include presentations, masterclasses, screenings and case studies.
  • All team members must commit to participating in the full duration of the training, which includes attending all sessions and meeting the program requirements. Participants should also be available to work on their projects between workshops and adhere to all deadlines. If a participant is unable to attend for any unforeseen reason, they should communicate with the Labs department to evaluate the situation and seek assistance.

Program Dates:

(Exact dates will be announced soon)

Prelude Workshop:
For Saudi projects only. Introduction to the key aspects of projects development. A wider number of projects will be selected for review, which will then result in narrowing the number of projects to be selected for the Full Duration of The Lodge program.

When?  January 2025 (online)

Where? online

Workshop One

Project Development & Production – An introduction to the program, the tutors and all the selected project teams (Saudi, Arab, Asian and African). Exploring dramatic potential of the projects; an overview of the role and business of the producer.

When? February, (7 days in person)

Where? In Person (Saudi Arabia)

Following the completion of this workshop participants will be given assignments to continue developing their projects to meet a deadline in advance of the next workshop.

Workshop Two

Visualization - Taking the script from the page to the screen, working with film professionals including directors and cinematographers to understand how to visually realize the script.  Production program and script development work evolve in parallel.

When? June

Where? online

Following this workshop participants will continue to work on their treatments/scripts and production documents to meet a deadline in advance of the next workshop

Workshop Three

Production and Post-Production – Participants have the opportunity of discussing their projects with editors, sound-designers, and post-production specialists. Production program and script development work continues.

When? September (8 days in person)

Where? Location To be confirmed

Participants continue to work on the scripts, production documents and materials for the Book of Projects and the Red Sea Souk Competition.

Workshop Four

Pitching & Red Sea Festival Preparation – Participants will work on their pitches in preparation for the Festival and for the one-on-one meetings at the Red Sea Souk.

When? : end of November /beg. Of December (According to Red Sea International film Festival dates)

Where? Jeddah (Saudi Arabia)

Outcomes

  • By the end of the program the teams will have all the necessary documents to approach potential regional and international partners towards realizing their feature film project.
  • All the participants will have an in depth understanding of the project development process from creative, production and marketing perspectives and have developed skills and knowledge that they will be able to use in further projects.
  • At the end of the Lodge program, teams will present their projects to an audience of international producers, sales agents, and other film industry professionals at the Red Sea International Film Festival.
  • During the Festival, the teams will also have one-on-one meetings with key decision makers and will gain visibility through The Book of Projects and network.
  • The awards will be announced at The Red Sea Souk closing ceremony during the Red Sea International Film Festival.
  • A committee of international jurors will make the award selection.

Acknowledgement & Credits:

  1. Projects that are developed at the Lodge: Are committed to crediting the Lodge in the film’s opening credits and verbally acknowledge the Lodge at festivals, in awards speeches, or in any press engagements where the film is discussed. Will have the GCC premiere at the Red Sea International Film Festival.
  1. Projects that win the Lodge award and cash prize, or if they win any awards from the Red Sea Lodge’s Partners: The winning project will give the Lodge the credit agreed at the participation (co-producer credit).

Award winners from The Lodge official partners will list the Lodge as agreed at the participation acceptance. (Co-Producer).

Award winners will have the ARAB premiere at the Red Sea International Film Festival.

Submission Requirements:

All submitted material must be presented the in English Language, if documents are written in any other language,  a translated copy to English should be submitted alongside the original one. If your script is written in another language, submit it as is, however, you might be asked to translate it or a part of it at a later stage.

Please note if the below materials were NOT submitted in the English language, they will not be considered for review. Only completed online applications as per the instructions listed in the online application form will be reviewed. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

  • Synopsis (1,000 characters with space);
  • Treatment (5–10 pages, max 18,000 characters) that fully outlines the narrative of the project
  • Director’s vision represented by a mood board, a project-book (pages of a storyboard, a color script, a series of drawings, or photographs) or by a video (max 3 minutes). The moodboard Should visually complement the written concept and explain the project through images;
  • Biography and filmography of the director, writer, and the producer. The biography is a general written description about a person’s career and accomplishments; The filmography must comprise: all previous works including the title, year, length of the film, genre (documentary or fiction) and role in the production;
  • Casting idea (1 page, max 1,800 characters);
  • Budget sheet;
  • Financial Plan, the producers must include a Financial Strategy document which demonstrates additional funding sources for the remainder;
  • Production company profile;
  • Introductory Video by the director – video message from the director presents themselves and their work (max 3 minutes) in English or Arabic (if Arabic – subtitles must be provided);
  • Producer- Director agreement: Signed document between the producer and the director;
  • List of training courses and events where the project has previously circulated.
  • Director’s intention (Why do you want to tell the story);
  • Script (optional) it is not necessary to have a script for the project to be considered by the Lodge, however if one is already written, a copy may be submitted in English or Arabic. If a project is selected, during the initial stages of the program, participants will work in treatment form so make sure that your treatment is a good reflection of your script if you already have one.