The festival will include residency programs, workshops, masterclasses, and expertly curated panel discussions by internationally renowned programmers, showcasing the finest in Arab and world cinema, television, and VR.
By Helena Olori
The Red Sea International Film Festival (RedSeaIFF) is set to commence its third edition from November 30 to December 9, 2023, in Jeddah, western Saudi Arabia.
The lineup for this year includes 26 African films, featuring works such as Fantastic Tale from Nigeria, directed by Vincho Nchogu and produced by Josh Olaoluwa, Augure (Omen) by Belgian-Congolese director Bolaji, Hounds (Les Meutes) by Moroccan Kamal Lazraq, The Mother of All Lies (Morocco) directed by Asmae El Moudir, Tunisia’s entry for the Oscars, Four Daughters, Black Snake from Zimbabwe directed by Naishe Nyamubaya and produced by Sue-Ellen Chitunya, and Dusk (Senegal) directed by Awa Moctar Gueye, among others.
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Holding at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel with the theme: “Your Story, Your Festival”, the 10-day event will celebrate the best of local Saudi Arabian films and international filmmaking talents, showcasing over 134 films in 11 different film categories including the Red Sea: Competition, Festival Favorites, International Spectacular, and Red Sea: New Vision.
The festival will include residency programs, workshops, masterclasses, and expertly curated panel discussions by internationally renowned programmers, showcasing the finest in Arab and world cinema, television, and VR.
Ahead of the Thursday kickoff date, the RSIFF announced the jury for the feature film competition, led by Baz Luhrmann. He will be joined by Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire) Egyptian actress Amina Khalil, and Spanish actor Paz Vega. Saudi Arabian film critic Hana Alomair, French-Moroccan actor, Assaad Bouab and Turkish-German filmmaker, Fatih Akin will judge the Red Sea: Shorts competition.
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The Red Sea International Film Festival is a unique cinematic platform that brings together filmmakers, storytellers, film lovers, enthusiasts, distributors, and audiences from around the globe to celebrate the diversity, connecting cultures, and expanding horizons of filmmakers and film enthusiasts from all walks of life.
The RedSeaIFF, through its industry sidebars-Red Sea Souk, Red Sea Fund, and Red Sea Labs– empowers regional film industries, providing opportunities for participants to enhance skills and knowledge, and shop for films and underrepresented talents in the film market.