The Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea IFF) will be welcoming iconic Indian actress Rekha (Bhanurekha Ganesan) to this year’s edition of the festival.Described by critics as one of India’s finest ever actresses, Rekha will attend the Festival to present her restored 1981 classic ‘Umrao Jaan’ in its international premiere.
Showing as part of the festival’s Treasures programme, the film is a beloved heritage work set in 1857 Lucknow and tells the sto...
12 titles revealed featuring Academy Awards Contenders, Action Stars, and Iconic Women from Shu Qi to Charlie XCX
The Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea IFF) has gathered together the best of 2025’s global festival circuit together for its Festival Favourites strand, which marks the MENA premieres of nine stand-out titles from the past year in film, and the Saudi premieres of two significant Egyptian films. Selections have been curated from festivals across the gl...
Selection Includes 24 Projects in Development, 8 Works-In-Progress and 8 Episodic Series
The Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea IFF) has selected 40 feature film and series projects for this year’s edition of the Red Sea Souk Project Market – the Festival’s platform designed to bolster international co-productions and grant access to new projects and talent.
24 of the selected titles are currently in development or production, 12 of which have been...
Projects by Oliver Laxe and Kaouther Ben Hania to Screen at Festival’s Fifth Edition
The Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea IFF) is presenting Special Screenings of two powerful films from Spain and Tunisia, which have each been selected for their significant impact on the cinematic landscape in 2025. Oliver Laxe’s SIRÂT and Kaouther Ben Hania’s THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB will receive special presentations at the Festival this year, marking their...
The Red Sea Film Foundation (Red Sea FF) has unveiled the programming team for the fifth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival, which takes place from 4–13 December 2025 in the historic district of Al Balad, Jeddah. The announcement comes on the eve of the Venice Film Festival, where the Red Sea Film Foundation is celebrating the premieres of five of the projects it has supported – Hijra (Venice Spotlight), Roqia (International Critics’ Week), Cotton Queen (Inter...
New Vision Lineup Brings Together Creative Perspectives from France, the US, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, the UK, India and More
Family-friendly screenings feature SpongeBob SquarePants, the first-ever theatrical release of a Doraemon film and the story of an Indian child investigating the closure of her school
The Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea IFF) has unveiled the lineups for its New Vision, Series and Families & Children strands, for the upcoming fifth ...
The Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea IFF) will present Rowan Athale’s biopic GIANT as its Opening Night gala film for its fifth edition. From the British-Indian filmmaker, GIANT tells the uplifting story of British-Yemeni boxing champion Prince Naseem ‘Naz’ Hamed, and will screen in its MENA premiere on 4th December 2025.
GIANT recounts the remarkable and inspiring true story of legendary British-Yemeni boxing champion Prince Naseem 'Naz' Hamed &nda...
Five years ago, December 2021,The Red Sea International Film Festival (https://redseafilmfest.com/en/ ) surprised the World with the launch of a mesmerizing and enchanting event. Located in Jeddah this has now become the must attend last big international film festival of the year.
A WAVE OF CHANGE!
For its 5th edition that will take place December 4 until December 13, the festival team has again assembled a fantastic line-up of films, none other than nine stand-out titles as well as t...
I take this opportunity to extend our warmest wishes for a beautiful holiday season and a successful new year on the festival circuit.
We are working hard on a new version of our platform to better serve our community.
Filmfestivals.com was established in 1995 before google existed, turned into a social network in 2006 with a blog platform welcoming festivals and film professionnals with some 120 000 articles.
In the meantime we are busy maintaining the old site and offering some visib...
Interview by Emmanuel Itier
SNOW WHITE screening at the Red Sea International Fim Festival
Interview with director: Taghrid Abouelhassan, Actress: Mariam Sherif and producer: Mohamed Agamy. By Emmanuel Itier
And the Award for Yusr Best Actress goes to: Mariam Sherif!
I was so happy for Mariam and the team of director Taghrid Abouelhassam and producer Mohamed Agamy, for such a WIN! Fantastic that this great actress is recognized for her talent and her humanity in this very touc...
LAIL NAHAR a Red Sea international film festival presentation.
Interview with the director: Abdulaziz Almuzaini by Emmanuel Itier
In this very surprising first film as a director, Abdulaziz Almuzaini explores the journey of opera singer Nahar and his quest to find the perfect wife as well as to find himself in order to give a true meaning to his existence. This is a film full of adrenaline and punches that always keeps you on the edge of your seat. We caught up with Adbulaz...
Red Path by Lofti Achour wins Best Feature Film at RSIFF
Yusr Award Winners Revealed, Icons Viola Davis and Priyanka Chopra Jonas Honoured.
Johnny Depp’s MODI, THREE DAYS ON THE WING OF MADNESS screened as Final Festival Gala.
The Fourth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) came to a crescendo with the naming of the winners of this year’s prestigious Yusr Awards, Red Sea Honouree Awards for icons Viola Davis and Pr...
SAIFY screening at Red Sea International Film Festival
Interview by Emmanuel Itier with director: Wael Abumansour, actors/actresses: Aixa Kay, Nour Alkhadra and Husam Alharthi
Director Wael Abumansour just delivered a very intelligent and wicked movie that follows a man in his 40’s trying to achieve a quick wealth while selling banned religious sermons in his small cassette shop. The warmth and the depth of his acting team deliver an emotional ride full of ...
In celebration of female voices in the global film industry, the Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) hosted the 7th Women In Cinema Gala event this evening, shining a light on the achievements of women both on and behind the camera who are helping shape the film industry and inspire a new generation of talent in the Arab World, Africa, and Asia. The evening was MC-ed by celebrated Tunisian Egyptian actor and producer Hend Sabri (Four Daughters).
The Women In Cinema Gala ...
Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea IFF) will honour award winning actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas (Fashion, White Tiger, Heads of State) at its Awards Ceremony on 12th December.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas is one of the most celebrated actors in the world, with accolades including two National Film Awards and five Filmfare Awards. Honoured with the Padma Shri in 2016, she has also appeared on Time's 100 most influential people list and Forbes' World's 100 Most Powerful Wom...
The Red Sea Souk has announced the winners of its Project Market during today’s Souk Awards Ceremony, spotlighting standout projects from a curated selection of 31 feature films and 7 series. These remarkable projects, helmed by visionary directors from the Arab world, Africa, and Asia, were recognized with an impressive array of cash prizes and in-kind support.
Highlighting the evening, the Red Sea Fund backed nine awards—two for works-in-progress and seven for projects in develo...
RED PATH screening at Red Sea International Film Festival
Interview with: Director Lofti Achour and Producers Anissa Daoud and Sébastien Hussenot by Emmanuel Itier
RED PATH is without question one of the most moving film from the Festival. Director Lofti Achour and his team of brilliant creative producers and amazing maverick young actors will slap you in your soul with this “tour de force” picture exposing the harsh horrible reality faced by youn...
THE INEVITABLE JOURNEY TO FIND A WEDDING DRESS screening at Red Sea International Film Festival
Interview with the director Jaylan Auf by Emmanuel Itier
Egyptian director Jylan Auf has put together a charming jewel full of humanity and splendor. ‘The Inevitable journey to find a wedding dress’ follows ‘Warda’ who, on the eve of her wedding, has a disastrous incident with her gear. Then begins a journey across Cairo to find the perfect new dres...
THE LAST RONIN screening at Red Sea International Film Festival
Interview with director Maksim Shishkin and actress Diana Enakaeva by Emmanuel Itier
In an apocalyptic future where AK47 bullets have become the most expensive currency, a young girl, ‘Maria’, is hiring the killing services of ‘Ronin’ in order to get to her birthplace. In this manga like full of adrenaline, director Maksim Shishkin shows his creative skills with a rare dexterity. Young “bad...
MY DRIVER AND I screening at Red Sea International Film Festival 2024
With actress Roula Dakheelallah, actor Mustafa Shehata and producers Georgie Paget and Nils Astrand.
By Emmanuel Itier from Djeddah
From maverick director and actress, Ahd (‘La Sainteté’, ‘All of the old knives’, ‘Being’) comes a very emotional “ride”, inspired by the real life relationship between Ahd and her driver, a Sudanese immigrant, whe...
“BLACK DOG” directed by Guan Hu
Twelve films have been hand-picked as favourites this year, presenting global perspectives and shared human experiences through innovative storytelling techniques and fresh narratives.
The Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea IFF) revealed this year’s Festival Favourites — a selection of twelve standout films that have received accolades and awards while captivating audiences and critics around the globe. Thes...
RSIFF, 23, 13: Get Lodged in the Red Sea Labs, interact with agents and reagents and MAKE YOUR FILM!
The Red Sea Labs announced the open call for the 5th edition of The Lodge program. A long-term residency programme, in collaboration with Torino FilmLab, and sponsored by Film AlUla, offering an intensive creative and professional film development experience. AlUla is a happening city. Hollywood productions shot in AlUla include the Gerard Butler-led action-thriller Kandahar, directed by Ric R...
RSIFF, 11: The Origin-al Don Quixote, in a Ferrari
At an average length of 100 minutes, and a 14-hour day, which is what is available to an average person, after accounting for sleeping, eating, travel, etc., I should think four. Spot on. RSIFF allowed you to book 4 tickets a day, 48 hours in advance, as the clock clocks. But there are the riders, which mean, “but….”. Shows began only at four o’clock or a little before that, in the afternoon, and continued till late i...
RSIFF: Souk, the appetiser, and the dessert in the desert
In Arabic, Souk is market. In India we have a Film Bazaar at Goa during the International Film Festival of India, every year. Most major festivals in the world hold a film market, where film-makers and persons connected with the film industry set-up stalls or booths. A lot of business takes place here and a lot of projects are green-lighted. And the two halls, Violet and Orchid, at the Ritz Carlton, were just the place for RSIFF to loc...
RSIFF, 08: Keep counting the celebrities, and be blown over
Opening the act was Yasir Al Yasiri’s HWJN, with its world première and the screening was attended by the director and lead cast: Nour Alkhadra, Baraa Alem, Naif Aldaferi, Alanoud Saud, Mohsen Mansour and Shaimaa Al Tayeb. Jury President Baz Lurhmann was in attendance, with his jury - Joel Kinnaman, Freida Pinto, Amina Khalil, Paz Vega, Hana Alomair and Fatih Akin. So...
