Terms And Conditions
The Feature Films Program nurtures the next generation of filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Asia, and Africa.
After a successful sixth edition, the Feature Films Program returns in 2026 with its intensive annual program devoted to emerging filmmakers working on their first or second feature film; more established names with truly daring new concepts and approaches will be considered.
In 2026, the program will include six workshops – the first one exclusively addressed to selected Saudi teams, and the other five 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 awards at the Red Sea Souk during the Red Sea International Film Festival.
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.
APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR ALL PROJECTS: SEPTEMBER 20th, 2025
Full terms, conditions, and application requirements are outlined below. If you have a question that is not in the FAQs or if you need additional support, please contact labs@redseafilmfest.com.
- 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 or 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 theater.
- 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.
- 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, experimental, or any other.
- Considering the prize award, the producers must be able to demonstrate suggested funding for the remainder.
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.
Dates are subject to change
Prelude Workshop:
Jan, 2026
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
For Saudi projects only. Introduction to the key aspects of project 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 Feature Films program.
WORKSHOP ONE
Feb/April (Depending on when Ramadan 2026 will fall.)
Saudi Arabia
WORKSHOP TWO
June, 2026
Online
WORKSHOP THREE
Sep, 2026
International
WORKSHOP FOUR
Nov, 2026
Online
WORKSHOP FIVE
4-13 December, 2026 during the Red Sea International Film Festival
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 Feature Films 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:
- Projects that are developed at the Feature Films Program: Are committed to crediting the Feature Films Program in the film’s opening credits and verbally acknowledge the Feature Films Program 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.
- Projects that win awards at the Souk will give the Feature Films Program the credit agreed at the participation (co-producer credit).
Submission Requirements:
All submitted material must imperatively be presented in the English language. Only completed submissions as per the instructions will be reviewed. Failure to provide any of the mandatory elements will render the application ineligible.
- 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);
- Full budget;
- 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 and the producer, – video message from the director & producer presents themselves and their work (max 3 minutes) in English (if Arabic – subtitles must be provided); kindly note that the program will be held in english.
- 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);
- ‘Producer’s intention (The producer’s statement helps assess the project’s viability and reflects their belief in it. It should explain the producer’s role in driving the project forward, why they are committed to it, how they are supporting the creative team and their overall strategy);
- Script (optional) it is not necessary to have a script for the project to be considered by the FEATURE FILMS PROGRAM, however if one is already written, a copy may be submitted in English. 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.
