In an important step towards strengthening the status of the city of Jeddah, western Saudi Arabia, as a cultural and artistic center, the “Red Sea International Film Festival” launched its third session under the slogan “Your Story… Your Festival” in its new glory, in an opening ceremony that brought together prominent stars, directors and filmmakers from across the world. All over the world, to celebrate this important annual event.
The festival witnessed a remarkable presence of stars of art and cinema from various parts of the world, led by actor Will Smith, Johnny Depp, Catherine Deneuve, Sharon Stone, Sofia Vergara, Turkish star Burak Ozcivit, Nabila Obaid, Yousra, Laila Elwi, Sherine Reda, Hoda Hussein, and Karis. Bashar, Carmen Basbas, Nadine Njeim, Maggie Bou Ghosn, Gamal Sinan, Qusay Khouli, Daniela Rahma, and a number of stars.
Egyptian actress Sherine Reda (Photography: Adnan Mahdali)
The festival is considered a stage for the latest films, feature films, documentaries, short works, and animated films. The festival began on Thursday evening and will continue until December 9 of this year.
The third session of the festival comes in light of great aspirations and high expectations, as filmmakers compete for the festival awards and display their artistic works in this important cinematic race.
Turkish actress Hande Erçel (Red Sea Festival)
The festival has a wide range of accompanying events and performances, including seminars, lectures and workshops, which aim to enhance interaction and communication between filmmakers and the audience. It also includes more than 64 diverse films, including 36 long and short films from Saudi Arabia, and 11 films within the “Arabian Masterpieces” section. », and 17 films between fiction, documentaries and animation from all over Asia, Africa and the Arab world. The festival represents an ideal platform for new creators to showcase their work and learn about the latest innovations in the film industry.
Turkish star Burak Ozcivit (Red Sea Festival)
The launch of the Red Sea Film Festival this year is an indication of its continued success and growth, and the strengthening of its position as one of the most important film festivals in the world. This annual event reflects developments and innovations in the film industry, and also enhances communication and interaction between creators and the audience.
The current session of the festival aims to provide a distinguished and inspiring cinematic experience for attendees, and to encourage thinking and dialogue on the social and cultural issues raised by the participating films, while the festival is an opportunity to discover new talents and cinematic works that deserve attention and appreciation.
Saudi actress Sumaya Reda (Red Sea Festival)
The festival, which is hosted by Jeddah, opened its activities with the world premiere of the Saudi fantasy film “Hawjan” by director Yasser Al-Yasiri, starring Nour Al-Khadra, Baraa Alam, Nayef Al-Dhafiri, Al-Anoud Saud, Mohsen Mansour, and Shaima Al-Tayeb, and produced by “Image Nation Abu Dhabi” and “ MBC Studios and Fox Studios. This film was chosen to be one of the inaugural cinematic works that reflects the spirit of the festival and sheds light on young Saudi cinematic talents. It also witnessed the honoring of the Saudi artist Abdullah Al-Sadhan, who expressed his happiness at this major artistic celebration, and his anticipation for the screening of his film “Noura” within the days of the festival.
Actor Ed Westwick and actress Amy Jackson (Red Sea Festival)
In her speech during the opening ceremony, Jumana Al-Rashed, CEO of the Saudi Research and Media Group, said: “Today we are honored by the presence of distinguished talents not from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia alone… but from the Arab world, Africa, Asia and the entire world.”
Al-Rashed added that these talents, “through their art, will take us on a journey of self-discovery… and for moments we will be associated with their lives, their laughter, their passion, their attempts, their successes, and their failures, which seem like a real movie.”
The CEO of the Saudi Research and Media Group explained that the festival will witness the screening of 130 films from 77 countries in 47 languages, including 35 “premiere” films at the world level and 60 “premiere” films at the level of the Middle East and Africa, in “a week of cinematic genius.” ».
Jumana Al-Rashed, Swedish actor Joel Kinnaman, and Mohammed Al-Turki (Photography: Adnan Mahdali)
Al-Rashed said, “This festival, of course, is a platform for stories that have not been told before… and a platform for voices that have never been heard before… Now they find someone to listen to them, regardless of their identities or where they come from,” explaining that through the Red Sea Festival Fund, Funding 250 filmmakers around the world “to make 250 stories that have never been told before… by 250 filmmakers who might not have been discovered… but who might be able to change the world.”
The festival will conclude with the Middle East and North Africa premiere of the film “Ferrari” (2023), an Oscar-nominated biographical film directed by Michael Mann, starring Adam Driver and Penelope Cruz. The curtain will rise on the festival and its programs with a special screening of the film “ The Boy and the Heron (2023) by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli.
