{"id":52232,"date":"2025-10-07T08:46:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T08:46:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/redseafilmfest.com\/?post_type=press&#038;p=52232"},"modified":"2025-10-09T09:01:46","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T09:01:46","slug":"red-sea-international-film-festival-unveils-new-saudi-cinema-short-films-programme","status":"publish","type":"press","link":"https:\/\/redseafilmfest.com\/en\/press\/red-sea-international-film-festival-unveils-new-saudi-cinema-short-films-programme\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Sea International Film Festival Unveils \u2018new Saudi Cinema\u2019 Short Films Programme"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>First-look at annual programme\u2019s collection of specially chosen productions spotlights the latest wave of creative Saudi filmmakers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Line-up of 21 diverse films showcases growth of the Kingdom\u2019s vibrant, diverse, and burgeoning movie industry<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The 2025 edition of \u2018New Saudi Cinema\u2019 provides audiences with unique insight into topics such as cultural identity, ambition, and the societal trends taking shape across KSA<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) has unveiled the first highlights of its highly anticipated fifth edition, lifting the curtain on the <strong>\u201cNew Saudi Cinema\u201d <\/strong>short films programme. This curated selection presents a diverse array of standout short films from a new wave of Saudi talent, spotlighting exceptional directors, actors, and producers from across the Kingdom. These short films will screen alongside an impressive selection of regional and international titles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A spotlight on the rapidly maturing and evolving world of Saudi cinema, this year\u2019s programme will feature a collection of 21 of the best new films from KSA. With a diverse mix of genres, subjects, and themes, the films chosen to be part of 2025\u2019s \u2018New Saudi Cinema\u2019 programme include short fiction productions, documentaries, and animations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Representative of the creativity, energy, and ambition of Saudi talent working across the Kingdom\u2019s film industry, the <em>New Saudi Cinema<\/em> programme received more than 200 submissions from filmmakers this year, providing a unique platform for engagement with new audiences of movie fans while highlighting the ongoing rise of Saudi cinema on the global stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An expansive and eclectic collection of productions, the line-up includes authentic Saudi stories that reflect the depth of cultural identity and heritage within contemporary society. The films also delve into diverse themes while addressing some of the major current events shaping our world and region today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>List of selected films:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cAntagonist\u201d<\/strong><br>Directed by: Abdul Karim Bawazir<br>A philosophical film that portrays the character, Ali, through a series of everyday decisions \u2013 both good and bad \u2013 and their repercussions on daily life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cAshura\u2019s Voice\u201d<\/strong><br>Directed by: Zaki Alabdullah<br>Set during Ashura&#8217;s procession, a boy with a broken hearing aid \u2013 unable to repair it amid citywide closures \u2013 hauls a broken speaker through the crowds, driven by a human need to find belonging and meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cAzur\u201d<\/strong><br>Directed by: Abdulwahab Bin Shaddad<br>A grieving son rekindles a lost connection with his late father and their parental relationship after restoring, and finally riding, his dad\u2019s prized bicycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cBusiness Bag\u201d<\/strong><br>Directed by: Rwad Khaled<br>The story follows a young man struggling with work who finds himself chasing his flying bag across Riyadh, discovering the beauty of the city and how to restore balance in his life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cThe Cradle\u201d<\/strong><br>Directed by: Mamdouh Salem<br>The story of Alaa, a young boy who loses his father. Driven by innocence and longing, he discovers the power of love and draws strength from hope and faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cESC\u201d<\/strong><br>Directed by: Khaled Nadershah<br>Trapped by the burden of caring for her family and weighed down by the grief of losing her father, Hulum teeters between pain and the illusion of escape from her dark reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cFirst Funeral Day\u201d<\/strong><br>Directed by: Nawaf Al Hoshan<br>On the first funeral day a father returns to his former home, confronting his ex-wife and grown sons to uncover the truth behind his child\u2019s death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cThe Golden Fish\u201d<\/strong><br>Directed by: Meria Saimaldeher<br>In Jeddah, a fisherman embarks on a quest to capture a colossal golden fish. However, his journey takes an unexpected turn as he encounters numerous challenges that drag him across the ocean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cGuardian of History\u201d<\/strong><br>Directed by: Ali Al-samin<br>At the National Museum, \u201cthe Lion\u201d transforms from a silent relic into a living icon. When a gang attempts to steal it, a tense chase unfolds through the galleries, revealing heritage as a powerful force that safeguards identity and connects past with present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cMarket Dynamo\u201d<\/strong><br>Directed by: Ali Baqir Alabdullah<br>A documentary focused on a day in the life of Bu Wahid, who devoted his retired life to the auction market. Through his sociable nature and sense of humour, he is exposed to funny and unexpected situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cMidnight Snack\u201d<\/strong><br>Directed by: Abdulmalik Bukhari<br>This short film follows the quirky and comedic journey of a lonely man uncovering the truth about his midnight cravings \u2013 a blend of lighthearted storytelling and meticulous 3D animation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cMoms Cry Too\u201d<\/strong><br>Directed by: Rmas Al-Hazmi<br>Layla, a new mother living in Florence, is consumed by postpartum depression. Isolated in her apartment while her husband moves through the city, she finds herself trapped between the echoes of her child and the possibility she may be losing herself entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cMubham\u201d<\/strong><br>Directed by: Muhannad Al-zahrani<br>A short psychological drama that dives into the mind of a troubled man, where reality overlaps with illusion and the truth remains mysterious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cThe Man Who Stumbled by His Words\u201d<\/strong><br>Directed by: Mubarak Zawba<br>A celebrated novelist searches for a cure for his writer\u2019s block, but what begins as a creative struggle soon unravels into a deeper crisis of memory, identity, and time itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cSarih\u201d<\/strong><br>Directed by: Abdullah Eskubi<br>A journey into the depths of a camel shepherd&#8217;s life, unveiling a unique bond between him and his environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cScream of an Ant\u201d<\/strong><br>Directed by: Lujain Salaam<br>A melodrama exploring themes of freedom, self-identity, and the complexities of family ties in contemporary Saudi society. It follows Roa, who leaves her family home in search of autonomy, only to find herself overwhelmed by independence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cSerial Writer\u201d<\/strong><br>Directed by: Eslam Shaker &amp; Khaled Abdulfatah<br>An experimental collaborative film written by 76 people who never met. Each added to what was written before them, without any pre-planned structure. A cinematic exercise in surrendering control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cSharshura (The Hearse)\u201d<\/strong><br>Directed by: Ahmed Alnasser<br>Mousa must come to terms with the hidden stories of his own past if he is to fully discover the truth about his life as an orphan and a hearse driver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cSarih\u201d<\/strong><br>Directed by: Abdullah Eskubi<br>A journey into the depths of a camel shepherd&#8217;s life, unveiling a unique bond between him and his environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cThe Scene\u201d<\/strong><br>Directed by: Lana Komsany<br>Yosef Khalil&#8217;s family are stuck under the rubble of their building that was bombed in Gaza for three days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cUnknown\u201d<\/strong><br>Directed by: Ibrahim Albkeri<br>In Taif, a young man working as an errand boy in a restaurant struggles to settle his late father\u2019s debts to bury him with dignity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u201cWajoom\u201d<\/strong><br>Wajoom is a visually driven psychological film that captures the moment of internal collapse under the pressure of expectations and the loss of identity, leaving the viewer stuck between question and silence.<br>Directed by: Maan Alsiari.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>First-look at annual programme\u2019s collection of specially chosen productions spotlights the latest wave of creative Saudi filmmakers Line-up of 21 diverse films showcases growth of the Kingdom\u2019s vibrant, diverse, and burgeoning movie industry The 2025 edition of \u2018New Saudi Cinema\u2019 provides audiences with unique insight into topics such as cultural identity, ambition, and the societal [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":52233,"template":"","class_list":["post-52232","press","type-press","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/redseafilmfest.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press\/52232","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/redseafilmfest.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/redseafilmfest.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/press"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/redseafilmfest.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/redseafilmfest.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}