The Yusr Awards
The Yusr Awards recognize and celebrate boldness and innovation in film, awarding the biggest prizes in the region to both emerging and established voices across the formats of fiction, documentary, and animation. The Yusr Awards are presented to emerging talents before a truly international attendance that comprises the very best of worldwide talents in film.
The awards also shine a light on films from Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Asia and Africa, ensuring that the Red Sea International Film Festival encompasses a reach that is across the region and beyond.
The Story Behind the Yusr
Yusr, the Black Coral of the Red Sea, is a fascinating and enigmatic marine treasure that graces the depths of the vibrant underwater world. Endemic to the Red Sea, Yusr (meaning “wealth” in Arabic) stands out with its striking ebony hue, contrasting with the kaleidoscope of colors found in the coral reefs. This unique coral, scientifically known as Antipathes Dichotoma, thrives in the deeper, dimly lit regions of the sea, forming intricate colonies that provide shelter and habitat for various marine life. While the Yusr’s growth is considered slow, it enjoys an enduring and resilient nature. Despite this, the Black Coral faces the threats of climate change, overfishing, and habitat destruction, emphasizing the importance of conservation efforts to preserve this valuable component of the Red Sea’s biodiversity.
At the Red Sea International Film Festival, we take pride in celebrating and immortalizing our beautiful heritage of both superbly created human arts, and the breathtaking natural environment with which we have been blessed.
The awards are presented by an international jury of world-renowned filmmakers and industry veterans in screenwriting, acting and directing, and cover the following categories:
| ( | Golden Yusr Best Feature Film Trophy and 100,000 USD prize |
) |
HANGING GARDENS by Ahmed Yassin Al Daradji (Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia) | ||
| ( | Best Director
Trophy and 30,000 USD prize |
) |
Lotfy Nathan by For HARKA (Tunisia, France, Saudi Arabia) | ||
| ( | Jury Award
Trophy and 20,000 USD prize |
) |
WITHIN SAND by Mohammed Alatawi (Saudi Arabia) | ||
| ( | Best Screenplay
Trophy |
) |
A CHILDLESS VILLAGE (SONSUZ) by Reza Jamali (Iran) | ||
| ( | Best Actor
Trophy |
) |
Adam Bessa for HARKA (Tunisia, France, Saudi Arabia) | ||
| ( | Best Actress
Trophy |
) |
Adila Bendimerad for FOR THE LAST QUEEN (Algeria, France, Saudi Arabia) | ||
| ( | Best Cinematic Achievement
Trophy |
) |
Duraid Munajim for HANGING GARDENS (Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia) | ||
| ( | Golden Yusr Short Film Trophy and 25,000 USD prize |
) |
ON MY FATHER’S GRAVE by Jawahine Zentar (Morocco, France) | ||
| ( | Silver Yusr Short Film Trophy and 12,500 USD prize |
) |
WILL MY PARENTS COME TO SEE ME by Muhamed Bashiir Harawe (Somalia, Austria, Germany) | ||
| ( | Golden Yusr Virtual Reality Trophy and 10,000 USD prize |
) |
FROM THE MAIN SQUARE by Pedro Harres (Germany) | ||
| ( | Silver Yusr Virtual Reality Trophy |
) |
EURYDICE by Celine Daemen (Netherlands) | ||
| ( | Film AlUla Best Saudi Film Award
Trophy and 50,000 USD prize |
) |
HOW I GOT THERE by Zeyad Alhusaini (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia) | ||
| ( | Film AlUla Audience Award
50,000 USD prize |
) |
AJOOMMA by He Shuming (Singapore, South Korea) | ||
| ( | Chopard Award
Trophy |
) |
The Young Rising Star by Sara Taibah | ||
| ( | Golden Yusr Best Feature Film Trophy and 100,000 USD prize |
) |
HANGING GARDENS by Ahmed Yassin Al Daradji (Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia) | ||
| ( | Best Director
Trophy and 30,000 USD prize |
) |
Lotfy Nathan by For HARKA (Tunisia, France, Saudi Arabia) | ||
| ( | Jury Award
Trophy and 20,000 USD prize |
) |
WITHIN SAND by Mohammed Alatawi (Saudi Arabia) | ||
| ( | Best Screenplay
Trophy |
) |
A CHILDLESS VILLAGE (SONSUZ) by Reza Jamali (Iran) | ||
| ( | Best Actor
Trophy |
) |
Adam Bessa for HARKA (Tunisia, France, Saudi Arabia) | ||
| ( | Best Actress
Trophy |
) |
Adila Bendimerad for FOR THE LAST QUEEN (Algeria, France, Saudi Arabia) | ||
| ( | Best Cinematic Achievement
Trophy |
) |
Duraid Munajim for HANGING GARDENS (Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia) | ||
| ( | Golden Yusr Short Film Trophy and 25,000 USD prize |
) |
ON MY FATHER’S GRAVE by Jawahine Zentar (Morocco, France) | ||
| ( | Silver Yusr Short Film Trophy and 12,500 USD prize |
) |
WILL MY PARENTS COME TO SEE ME by Muhamed Bashiir Harawe (Somalia, Austria, Germany) | ||
| ( | Golden Yusr Virtual Reality Trophy and 10,000 USD prize |
) |
FROM THE MAIN SQUARE by Pedro Harres (Germany) | ||
| ( | Silver Yusr Virtual Reality Trophy |
) |
EURYDICE by Celine Daemen (Netherlands) | ||
| ( | Film AlUla Best Saudi Film Award
Trophy and 50,000 USD prize |
) |
HOW I GOT THERE by Zeyad Alhusaini (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia) (Germany) | ||
| ( | Film AlUla Audience Award
50,000 USD prize |
) |
AJOOMMA by He Shuming (Singapore, South Korea) | ||
| ( | Chopard Award
Trophy |
) |
The Young Rising Star by Sara Taibah | ||
