{"id":53460,"date":"2025-11-04T11:59:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T08:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/redseafilmfest.com\/?post_type=press&p=53460"},"modified":"2025-11-03T23:56:29","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T20:56:29","slug":"the-red-sea-international-film-festival-unveils-2025-films-in-competition","status":"publish","type":"press","link":"https:\/\/redseafilmfest.com\/en\/press\/the-red-sea-international-film-festival-unveils-2025-films-in-competition\/","title":{"rendered":"The Red Sea International Film Festival Unveils 2025 Films In Competition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

16 Projects from the Arab World, Asia and Africa Selected for Feature Competition<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea IFF)\u00a0has revealed the 16 films competing in its Red Sea: Competition strand for its fifth edition. The selected projects will screen at the\u00a0Festival\u00a0running\u00a0from\u00a04-13 December 2025, and\u00a0will be in contention for the prestigious Yusr Awards presented at the\u00a0Festival\u2019s\u00a0awards\u00a0ceremony.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The competition honours all cinematic forms, from narrative to animation and documentary, featuring films from Asia and Africa, including the Arab world. It showcases innovative cinematic works, distinguished by powerful storytelling from both emerging and established voices. These works are celebrated with generous prizes awarded by an international jury, in recognition of global excellence in cinema. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 This year\u2019s selection includes seven films supported by the Red Sea Film Foundation\u2019s ecosystem, including Saudi Arabia\u2019s 2025 Academy Award submission HIJRA<\/em>, directed by Shahad Ameen; A SAD AND BEAUTIFUL WORLD<\/em>, a powerful drama by Cyril Aris tracing the everlasting bond of love between childhood sweethearts; Zain Duraie\u2019s SINK<\/em>, a debut feature that follows a mother struggling with her son\u2019s unravelling mental state; and supernatural ROQIA<\/em> by Yanis Koussim, set in Algeria\u2019s Black Decade. Also supported by the Red Sea Film Foundation are the adult animation about an African child soldier ALLAH IS NOT OBLIGED, which premiered in Annecy, and the Kenyan documentary TRUCK MAMA.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additional highlights include the world premiere of BARNI, Mohammed Sheikh\u2019s debut drama set in Somalia about a missing child; the MENA premieres of TWO SEASONS, TWO STRANGERS, the Locarno Golden Leopard-winning Japanese drama from Sho Miyake; and LOST LAND, the first-ever Rohingya-language drama from Akio Fujimoto. Cherien Dabis\u2019 ALL THAT\u2019S LEFT OF YOU <\/em>tells the tale of a Palestinian teenager swept up into a West Bank protest from the perspective of his mother, while STORIES is the highly anticipated new film of Abu Bakr Shawky and the Iraqi drama IRKALLA GLIGAMESH\u2019S DREAM is directed by Mohamed Al-Daradji.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Antoine Khalife, Director of Arab Programmes and Film Classics, said: \u201cWe are expanding the perception of what Arab cinema can be with our 2025 Competition programme\u2013 selecting titles that are deeply rooted in their regions yet universal in feeling. We’re thrilled to be bringing the very best of filmmaking from the region, including the Saudi film Hijra, as part of a lineup that is reshaping our collective narrative by vital telling stories of resilience, migration, identity, and transformation with urgency and clarity. The filmmakers draw on their personal history and the history of their parents to tell us stories that span several years, stories about struggles, love of the land, love of music, their aspirations and those of their parents, and we are thus immersed in the history of the Arab world with all the transformations that have occurred over several decades.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fionnuala Halligan, Director Of International Programs, added: \u2018Focused as we are on films from Asia and Africa for our Competition selection, we see this year a theme of being lost and found \u2013 evidently in films like BARNI, from Somalia, which focuses on a missing girl, to the plight of the Rohingya in LOST LAND. We are delighted to welcome our first ever Korean film in Competition, THE WORLD OF LOVE, alongside titles from China, Tajikistan and Kenya, complementing our wider programme of films from across the globe and continuing our commitment to creating cultural exchange through the medium of film. Our selection celebrates filmmakers who push the boundaries and expand the language of cinema \u2013 showing how creativity thrives when cultures meet.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Red Sea: Competition <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A SAD AND BEAUTIFUL WORLD<\/em><\/strong> 
Country: Lebanon, United States, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Qatar 
Cyril Aris <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born during a tragic massacre in Beirut, Nino and Yasmina are cosmically bound from childhood. Through shared hardships \u2014 Nino\u2019s loss of his parents and Yasmina\u2019s parents\u2019 divorce \u2014 they forge an unbreakable bond. Yasmina, dreaming of escape, proposes a magical train ride to a remote island. Nino agrees, but their plan is shattered when she moves away. Fate reunites them 24 years later, and despite her cynical view of Beirut and life, Yasmina is captivated by Nino\u2019s optimism. She falls in love, abandoning her emigration plans, and is swept away by their connection. This is a powerful tale of longing, love and destiny, portrayed by performances that remind us of the beauty of life when viewed through love’s lens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALL THAT’S LEFT OF YOU<\/em><\/strong> 
Country: Germany, Greece, Jordan, Cyprus, Palestine 
Cherien Dabis <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This compelling family drama traces three generations of Palestinians from 1948-2022, revealing the profound impacts of the Nakba. The story begins in 1988 with Noor, a man who joins a protest that turns violent in the West Bank. Decades later his mother, Hanan, recounts her son\u2019s story, starting with the 1948 expulsion of his grandfather from Jaffa. Amid the hardship, the family holds on to the hope of returning to their ancestral home. A love story between Hanan and her husband Salim serves as a beacon of light. Through intimate, moving performances, this film explores how trauma and heritage shape the bonds between a grandfather, a father and son, while filled with moments of joy, love and humour. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALLAH IS NOT OBLIGED <\/em><\/strong> 
Country: France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Canada, Saudi Arabia 
Zaven Najjar <\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Animation <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Birahima, a 10-year-old boy, has lost both his parents. Orphaned and left to his own fate in Guinea, he sets out to find his aunt in Liberia, guided by Yacouba, a trickster griot. But their journey quickly plunges into the chaos of civil war. Caught between armed factions, superstition and religion, Birahima unwillingly becomes both a child soldier and a grigriman. With a raw voice, at once tragic and darkly humorous, he narrates without restraint the brutality of the world around him. Adapted from Ahmadou Kourouma\u2019s cult novel, Allah Is Not Obliged<\/em> is a powerful coming-of-age tale brought to life through bold animation, where irony and black humour shed light on violence, survival and the longing for freedom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

BARNI<\/em><\/strong> 
Country: Somalia, Djibouti, United States of America (USA) 
Mohammed Sheikh <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barni<\/em>, the debut feature by Mohammed Sheikh, tells the poignant story of a nine-year-old girl who disappears after a wedding celebration in a quaint Somali village. Her 18-year-old sister, Amina, along with friends Hirsi and Geedi, embark on a courageous journey to the city to find her. The film explores the strength of family bonds, solidarity in adversity and the resilience of children in challenging social contexts. Through authentic storytelling, natural performances and a strong visual style, the film aims to immerse audiences in a world not often seen on screen. Barni<\/em> looks at daily life and the struggles faced by Somali communities. Its power lies in transforming a tragic disappearance into a celebration of courage, loyalty and humanity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

BLACK RABBIT, WHITE RABBIT<\/em><\/strong> 
Country: Tajikistan, United Arab Emirates 
Shahram Mokri <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iranian filmmaker Shahram Mokri develops multiple plots strands this engrossing, multilayered, playful and skilled drama centering around Sarah, the victim of a suspicious car crash who is swaddled in bandages and at odds with her controlling husband. What turns out to be a film-within-a-film-within-a-film zooms out to include the remake of a classic Iranian movie in Tajikistan, an armourer worried about a prop gun and an actress looking for her big break. Of course, their fates collide through multiple fluid, bravura circular takes, often covering the same time frame, bold touches of magical realism \u2014 or are they sight gags? \u2014 and an eternal mystery. This spinning story is Tajikistan\u2019s Oscar entry for this year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

HIJRA<\/em><\/strong> 
Country: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt, United Kingdom 
Shahad Ameen <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A grandmother and her two granddaughters\u2019 journey from Taif to Mecca. When the eldest granddaughter vanishes, the two remaining women travel north to find her, with their search highlighting the deep cultural and generational bonds between Saudi women. Set against the backdrop of the Hajj pilgrimage, Hijra<\/em> portrays the intimate and emotional odyssey of these women, which evolves into a spiritual quest. Their journey carries the weight of an entire heritage and offers an emotional, powerful and insightful look at identity. Shot across eight Saudi cities, the film provides a deep dive into the nation\u2019s rich cultural tapestry. Actress Khairia Nazmi infuses the story with profound emotion due to her strength and energy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

IRKALLA: GILGAMESH’S DREAM<\/em><\/strong> 
Country: Iraq, United Kingdom, France, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar 
Mohamed Jabarah Al-Daradji <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nine-year-old dreamer Chum-Chum and Moody, a tough 13-year-old, navigate the harsh streets of Baghdad. Moody is obsessed with escaping to the Netherlands with Chum-Chum and his sister, Sara. Things change when they meet Maryam, a fiery woman who has converted an old double-decker bus into a mobile school for street kids. After Maryam shows Chum-Chum an animation about the mythical hero Gilgamesh\u2019s journey to the underworld, a new obsession takes hold. But Chum-Chum\u2019s dream collides with a dark secret: Moody\u2019s alliance with a ruthless militia leader and his plot to bomb protestors. Chum-Chum must now confront a brutal reality. Can one child’s mythical quest save his friend, or will Moody\u2019s dark path consume them both? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

LOST LAND<\/em><\/strong> 
Country: Japan, France, Malaysia, Germany <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Akio Fujimoto <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this quietly powerful, first-ever Rohingya-language feature, Japanese filmmaker Akio Fujimoto offers a haunting, intimate portrait of two siblings fleeing persecution in Myanmar. With nothing but vague directions and each other, nine-year-old Somira and her younger brother Shafi begin a harrowing journey to join an uncle in Malaysia, crossing borders by sea and land and navigating a world shaped by smugglers, fear and exploitation. With a cast of non-professional actors, most of whom lived refugee experiences, the film blends realism with lyrical restraint. Eschewing melodrama for quiet observation, Fujimoto captures the disorientation of displacement and the uncertainty of fragile hopes. Lost Land<\/em> is a timely, deeply human reflection on survival, resilience and the Rohingya\u2019s eternal search for a place to call home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

NIGHTTIME SOUNDS<\/em><\/strong> 
Country: China 
Zhang Zhongchen <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nighttime Sounds<\/em> blends social realism with surrealist poetry to explore the emotional landscapes of women in rural China: their buried desires and muted cries for freedom, love and recognition. Eight-year-old Qing lives with her mother, while her father works in a distant city. One morning, Qing encounters a ghostly child searching for their missing mother. Through dreamlike imagery and a haunting soundscape, director Zhang Zhongchen weaves a powerful tale of memory, longing and the silence passed from one generation of women to the next. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ROQIA<\/em><\/strong> 
Country: France, Algeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia 
Yanis Koussim <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1993, a tragic car crash leaves Ahmed with amnesia. He returns to his home village where nothing seems familiar \u2014 even his family feel like strangers. His bandaged face terrifies his youngest child, while nocturnal visitors whispering litanies in an unknown language haunt him. Who are they? Why is Ahmed missing the index finger on his right hand? Why does his neighbor make him feel uncomfortable? In the present day, an aging Raqi (a Muslim exorcist) suffering from Alzheimer\u2019s disease also has a missing index finger on his right hand that trembles ominously. With a surge of unexplained violence and the possessed speaking an unknown language, his devoted disciple fears an ancient evil will be unleashed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

SINK<\/em><\/strong> 
Country: Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, France 
Zain Duraie <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Behind the facade of a perfect life, Nadia, a 40-year-old wife and mother of three, struggles with her marriage and a lost sense of self, leaving her emotionally detached. Her one true connection is with her eldest son, Basil, a brilliant but unsociable high school senior. When a violent outburst at school leads to his suspension, Nadia\u2019s world crumbles. On the verge of burnout, she attempts to care for him, but as she battles her own crisis, she’s pulled into his undiagnosed mental illness. As his condition spirals, Nadia’s struggle to prove that her son is normal intensifies. The film is an intimate look into a powerful maternal bond and a portrait of unconditional love in the face of chaos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE STORIES<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Country: Egypt, France, Austria, Sweden 
Abu Bakr Shawky <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the summer of 1967 in Egypt, aspiring pianist Ahmed begins a long-distance friendship with Liz, his Austrian pen-pal. Their bond, met with suspicion by relatives, helps drive Ahmed\u2019s pursuit of his dream: to perform in a public concert. As they navigate life\u2019s joys and heartaches, their connection and shared ambition endure through the war, family drama and societal opposition they face in Egypt during the 1980s. The film, like Yomeddine<\/em>, is infused with the director’s distinct personality, showing his talent for creating characters and dialogue that are touching and memorable. This is a vivid and authentic tribute to Egypt, capturing a love story filled with the innocence and ambition of a generation during a key period in Arab history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE WORLD OF LOVE<\/em><\/strong> 
Country: South Korea 
Yoon Ga-Eun <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do we rebuild our sense of self after deep emotional wounds? The World Of Love<\/em>, the latest from Korean director Yoon Ga-eun, offers a moving portrait of a teenager navigating trauma with unexpected honesty and detachment. Jooin (Seo Su-bin), appears cheerful and outspoken, but her confidence masks a more painful past. Rather than focusing on suffering, the film explores resilience and the subtle power of reclaiming one\u2019s own story. With understated direction and a remarkable performance from Chang Hyae-jin as Jooin\u2019s mother, Yoon brings a lyrical sensitivity to the emotional terrain of family relationships and adolescence. Grounded and quietly courageous, The World of Love<\/em> is a deeply human story of survival and the quiet triumph of emotional healing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

TRUCK MAMA<\/em><\/strong> 
Country: Kenya, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Netherlands 
Zippy Nyaruri <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Documentary) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Truck Mama follows Eva, a single mother and truck driver in Kenya, who navigates dangerous roads to provide for her family. In a male-dominated world, she balances long hauls \u2014 including from Kenya to Sudan \u2014 calls to her children and daily challenges. This vibrant documentary explores resilience, courage and a mother\u2019s unwavering love as she forges her own path. With breathtaking landscapes and a glimpse into East African life, Truck Mama is an inspiring tribute to women who defy obstacles to pursue their dreams.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWO SEASONS, TWO STRANGERS<\/em><\/strong> 
Country: Japan 
Sho Miyake <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adapted from Yoshiharu Tsuge\u2019s manga short stories from the 1960s, Two Seasons, Two Strangers<\/em> follows Li (Shim Eun-kyung), a creatively blocked Korean screenwriter adrift in Japan. As she imagines a bittersweet seaside tale of two lonely youths crossing paths, a film-within-a-film unfolds onscreen and we realise her own emotional journey is mirroring theirs. Months later, in a snowy mountain village, Li finds connection with a solitary innkeeper, and slowly reclaims her voice, rediscovering purpose and the beauty of the understated. Filmmaker Sho Miyake distills transformation into its quietest form, where meaning clings to the ordinary and unravels in near-silence. The film explores relationships born of chance \u2014 not romance or friendship, but something softer, stranger and just as essential. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

YUNAN<\/em><\/strong> 
Country: Germany, Canada, Italy, Palestine, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ameer Fakher Eldin <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Haunted by a cryptic family parable, Munir (Georges Khabbaz) flees to a remote island to contemplate a drastic decision. Here he encounters the enigmatic Valeska and her rough, loyal son, Karl. With few words exchanged and quiet acts of kindness, suspicion dissolves, easing Munir\u2019s burden and reigniting his desire to live. Much like the prophet Jonah, who was spit out by the sea and then returned to land, Munir finds himself a stranger in the world, struggling with alienation and aborted dreams. As his mother’s memory fades, he also struggles to recall a story about a cursed shepherd his mother told him. A captivating visual fable, the film immerses us in Munir’s consuming frustration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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16 Projects from the Arab World, Asia and Africa Selected for Feature Competition  The Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea IFF)\u00a0has revealed the 16 films competing in its Red Sea: Competition strand for its fifth edition. The selected projects will screen at the\u00a0Festival\u00a0running\u00a0from\u00a04-13 December 2025, and\u00a0will be in contention for the prestigious Yusr Awards presented at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":53461,"template":"","class_list":["post-53460","press","type-press","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/redseafilmfest.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press\/53460","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\/53461"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/redseafilmfest.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}