The fifth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival, one of the Middle East’s most prominent cinematic events, opened Thursday in Jeddah, marking another milestone in Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding film industry.
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Running from December 4 to 13, the festival hosts more than 100 films from over 70 countries, attracting global filmmakers, actors and industry professionals. Its flagship “Red Sea: Competition” lineup includes 16 narrative features, documentaries and animations representing the Arab world, Asia and Africa. These films will compete for the prestigious Yusr Awards, set to be announced at the closing ceremony.
Held in the historic Al-Balad district — a UNESCO World Heritage site — the festival blends Saudi cultural heritage with an international cinematic showcase.
This year’s jury is chaired by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Sean Baker, whose film Anora earned five Oscars. Praising the festival’s rapid rise, Baker said, “It’s rare to see a festival grow this quickly in importance and impact on world cinema.”
The event opened with Giant, based on the life of British-Yemeni boxing legend Prince Naseem “Naz” Hamed. Amir El-Masry stars as Hamed, with Pierce Brosnan portraying his renowned trainer, Brendan Ingle. Directed by Rowan Athale, the film has been a passion project for the filmmaker, who grew up near Hamed’s hometown. El-Masry said the role required intense preparation, including losing eight kilos over four and a half weeks of training.
Reflecting on the premiere, Athale said, “To have it as the opening night film here — I’ve never seen anything like this. Not at Cannes, not anywhere. It’s daunting, terrifying, but an honor.”
The opening night welcomed an array of global stars, including Adrien Brody, Sir Michael Caine, Vin Diesel, Ana de Armas and Aishwarya Rai, all walking the red carpet. Pakistani celebrities Atiqa Odho, Tauseeq Haider and Shehzad Nawaz also represented Pakistan at the festival.
Veteran actor Giancarlo Esposito highlighted the event’s unifying spirit, saying, “This celebration at the Red Sea Film Festival is really about celebrating film.”
Founded by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture and supported by the Red Sea Film Foundation, the festival is backed by the Public Investment Fund and private sponsors. It aims to support regional filmmakers and strengthen international industry ties, aligning closely with Saudi Vision 2030 goals to diversify the economy and develop the kingdom’s cultural landscape.
The festival comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in cinema, gaming and sports as part of its broader transformation. Critics, however, argue that such initiatives divert attention from ongoing human rights concerns, including restrictions on free expression and a high rate of executions.
