Jeddah welcomes global film stars at Red Sea International Film Festival
The Red Sea International Film Festival
opened its fifth edition on Thursday in Jeddah, welcoming a host of global
stars and industry leaders as Saudi Arabia continues to expand its footprint in
international cinema.
Running from 4 to 13 December, the
festival will screen more than 100 films from over 70 countries. Its flagship
“Red Sea: Competition” section features 16 narrative features, documentaries
and animated films from the Arab world, Asia and Africa, all competing for the
prestigious Yusr Awards to be presented at the closing ceremony.
Set in Jeddah’s historic Al-Balad district — a
UNESCO World Heritage site — the festival blends Saudi cultural heritage with
the energy of global filmmaking.
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This year’s jury is chaired by
Academy Award-winning filmmaker Sean Baker, whose
critically acclaimed film Anora earned him five Oscars. “It’s remarkable
how quickly this festival has grown,” Baker said. “It’s rare to see a festival
rise in importance and influence on world cinema in just five years.”
The opening-night film, Giant,
tells the story of British-Yemeni boxing icon Prince Naseem “Naz” Hamed. Amir
El-Masry stars as Hamed, with Pierce Brosnan playing his longtime trainer,
Brendan Ingle. The film is directed by British filmmaker Rowan Athale.
El-Masry said the role demanded
intense physical preparation, including four and a half weeks of training
during which he lost about eight kilograms. Athale described the project as
deeply personal: “Naz was a hero of mine growing up. I’ve always wanted to tell
his story. To premiere the film here, on this scale—it's unlike anything I’ve
seen, even at Cannes.”
Opening night drew an array of
Hollywood and Bollywood talent, with Adrien Brody, Sir Michael Caine, Ana de
Armas, Vin Diesel and others appearing on the red carpet. Veteran actor
Giancarlo Esposito, also in attendance, praised the festival for highlighting
cinema’s ability to bring people together.
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Founded by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry
of Culture and backed by the Red Sea Film Foundation, the festival is funded by
the Public Investment Fund alongside private sponsors. It aims to support
regional filmmakers, strengthen international industry ties and play a central
role in the cultural ambitions of Vision 2030.
The event also comes as Saudi Arabia
invests heavily in film, gaming, sports and other entertainment sectors as part
of its economic transformation. Rights groups, however, continue to criticize
these initiatives, arguing they are used to deflect attention from the
kingdom’s human rights record, including high execution rates and limits on
free expression.
Source: https://bangladeshpost.net
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