The Red Sea Souk has announced the winners of its Project Market during tonight\u2019s Souk Awards Ceremony, spotlighting standout projects from a curated selection of 40 feature films and series. The awards offer crucial financial support at various stages of a project’s lifecycle, including development, production, and post-production, as well as dedicated support for projects within the Lodge and SeriesLab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Red Sea Fund backed 10 jury-granted awards \u2013 two for works-in-progress, six for projects in development and two for series projects, and further cash and in-kind awards were presented by international award partners from across the film landscape including Arab Cinema Center, ART, Blue Bee Productions, CNC, DTS, Filmmore, Freshly Ground Stories & Fineprint, Habbar, Ithra, Leyth Production & Easy Distribution, MAD Solutions, Oticons and Shift Studios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faisal Baltyuor, CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation, said: \u201cThe Souk has been a growing force in the global film market with almost double the attendance from 2024, welcoming 166 exhibitors across 90 stands for this year\u2019s edition. We\u2019re proud to highlight the best of the new wave of projects emerging from both debut and established creators, and know that the support our awards provide will be invaluable to the talented filmmakers we\u2019re privileged to be championing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shivani Pandya Malhotra, Managing Director of the Red Sea Film Foundation, said: “Each year we are amazed by the talent and storytelling on display in our Souk Project Market \u2013 and this year\u2019s winners highlight some of the most exciting and innovative voices from the Arab World, Africa and Asia that are defining the future of cinema in these regions. We have seen projects that have won Souk Awards go on to dazzle audiences around the world, are proud to be offering support from across our ecosystem to help bring these incredible stories to life. A huge congratulations to tonight\u2019s winners and nominees!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Director of the Red Sea Souk Holly Daniel, said: \u201cThe Souk\u2019s Project Market is a vital part of our industry strand that champions the next generation of storytellers, and we have seen projects with incredible potential in our Awards this evening. It\u2019s testament to the importance of supporting these filmmakers that in this fifth edition of the festival, we\u2019re seeing projects like Zain Duraie\u2019s Sink <\/em>and Cyril Aris’s A Sad And Beautiful World <\/em>that were supported by the Souk now competing in our main Features Competition. Along with our Award partners, we are thrilled to be celebrating these talented filmmakers as we conclude this edition of our thriving programme.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n List of winners:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Arab Cinema Center (ACC)<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 supported place for an Arab producer on the International Film Festival Rotterdam<\/p>\n\n\n\n Producers Lab 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awarded by Arab Cinema Center<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: Fahd Samman producer of DHEL<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Arab Radio and Television Network (ART)<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2 x ART Award for one Saudi Project with a Production Grant $50,000 for a Project in<\/p>\n\n\n\n Development or Production<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awarded by ART<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: A NOBLE DEPARTURE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner:<\/strong> DHEL<\/p>\n\n\n\n ART Award for one Arab Project with a Production Grant $50,000 for a Project in<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Development or Production<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awarded by ART<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: PLAYHOUSE by Maha Haj<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n BLUE BEE PRODUCTIONS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Blue Bee Productions Award for one project with an amount of $10,000<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awarded by Blue Bee Productions<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: POSITIVE by Hanaa Saleh Alfassi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n CNC<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n CNC Award for one project with an amount of \u20ac10,000 ($11,600 equivalent)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awarded by the Red Sea Souk Projects in Development Jury<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: THE DAUGHTER by Tian Guan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n DTS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n DTS in-kind award consisting of sound post-production worth the equivalent of $30,000<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awarded by DTS<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: DHEL by Dania Altayeb<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Filmmore<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Filmmore in-kind award consisting of a full digital intermediate for a feature film worth<\/p>\n\n\n\n $32,500<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awarded by Filmmore<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: BEN’IMANA by Marie-Cl\u00e9mentine Dusabejambo<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Freshly Ground Stories & Fineprint<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Two In-Kind Awards of Professional Business and Legal support worth $5,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awarded by Freshly Ground Stories<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: TO CATCH A FALLING SKY by Cheta Chukwu<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: PHILAX by Ruken Tekes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Habbar<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Habbar cash $10,000 plus in-kind award worth $40,000 for marketing services<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awarded by Habbar<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: GREEN CORPSE by Khalid Zidan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n ITHRA<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ithra cash award of 50,000 SAR ($13,333 USD) for a Saudi project<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awarded by Ithra<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: GREEN CORPSE by Khalid Zidan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n LEYTH PRODUCTION & EASY DISTRIBUTION<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Leyth Production in-kind award for editing worth 50,000 USD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awarded by Leyth Production<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: ABOUT LOVE AND SEPTEMBER LAWS by Mohamed Kordofani<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Easy Distribution in-kind award for Film distribution in Tunisia equivalent to $10,000<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awarded by Easy Distribution<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: THE PRODIGAL SON by Rani Massalha<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n MAD Solutions<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n MAD Solutions in-kind award worth 50,000 USD as MG dedicated to world sales rights<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awarded by MAD Solutions<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: INFIDELS by Eli Jean Tahchi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n OTICONS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One in-kind Award worth 10,000 USD consisting of Music Consulting services<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awarded by Oticons<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: RIA by Arvin Belarmino<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n SHIFT STUDIOS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 12,000 USD Shift Studios awards for a promotion package worth 12,000 USD<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2 Awards<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awarded by Shift Studios<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: A NOBLE DEPARTURE by Dahlia Baeshen<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: ABOUT LOVE & SEPTEMBER LAWS by Mohamed Kordofani<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 8,000 USD Shift Studios award consisting of a full DCP package worth 8,000 USD<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awarded by Shift Studios<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: POSITIVE by Hanaa Saleh Alfassi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Red Sea Souk Works in Progress Awards:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Red Sea Souk Post-Production Jury Special Mention Award with a grant of 15,000 USD<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awarded by Red Sea Souk WIP Jury<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: YESTERDAY THE EYE DIDN’T SLEEP by Rakan Mayasi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Red Sea Souk Post-Production Award with a grant of 40,000 USD<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awarded by Red Sea Souk WIP Jury<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: BEN’IMANA by Marie-Cl\u00e9mentine Dusabejambo<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Red Sea Souk Series Awards:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Two 10,000 USD Red Sea Souk Series Award<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awarded by Red Sea Souk SeriesLab Jury<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: MONEY TOWN by Tony Koros<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: SIDE EFFECTS by Hind Metwalli<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Red Sea Souk Projects in Development Awards:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 15,000 USD Red Sea Souk Jury Special Mention Award<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awarded by Red Sea Souk Projects in Development Jury<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: TO CATCH A FALLING SKY by Cheta Chukwu<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 20,000 USD Red Sea Souk Breakthrough Award (for a debut director)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awarded by Red Sea Souk Projects in Development Jury<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: COLD ASHES CAN CAUSE FOREST FIRES by Ashmita Guha Neosi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 25,000 USD Red Sea Souk Development Award<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awarded by Red Sea Souk Projects in Development Jury<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: PRICE OF EVIL by Ibrahim Mursal<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 25,000 USD Red Sea Souk Development Award<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awarded by Red Sea Souk Projects in Development Jury<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: ABOUT LOVE AND SEPTEMBER LAWS by Mohamed Kordofani<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 50,000 USD Red Sea Souk Production Award<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awarded by Red Sea Souk Projects in Development Jury<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: FICTION by Anocha Suwichakornpong<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 80,000 USD Red Sea Souk Production Award<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awarded by Red Sea Souk Projects in Development Jury<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winner: PLAYHOUSE by Maha Haj<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Red Sea Souk has announced the winners of its Project Market during tonight\u2019s Souk Awards Ceremony, spotlighting standout projects from a curated selection of 40 feature films and series. The awards offer crucial financial support at various stages of a project’s lifecycle, including development, production, and post-production, as well as dedicated support for projects […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":61467,"template":"","class_list":["post-61465","press","type-press","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/redseafilmfest.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press\/61465","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\/61467"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/redseafilmfest.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61465"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}