A Spectacular Recap of the 4th Red Sea International Film Festival
- Nada Armanious
The Red Sea International Film Festival made a grand impression this year, solidifying its reputation as a key player in the global film industry. Since its debut in 2019, the festival has elevated the cinematic landscape not just in Saudi Arabia but across the globe. The fourth edition was a stunning blend of artistic excellence, glamour, and a star-studded affair. Here’s a detailed recap of all that transpired at the 2024 festival.
Courtesy of Red Sea Film Foundation
Over ten days, Jeddah’s historic old town, “Al Balad,” transformed into a cultural and artistic hub, positioning itself as “The New Home of Film.” The festival attracted film stars, enthusiasts, filmmakers, and industry experts to celebrate the power of cinematic art. It offered an engaging mix of events, screenings, workshops, and accompanying parties that created an unforgettable atmosphere.
Courtesy of Red Sea Film Foundation
This year’s prestigious jury, led by Spike Lee, included renowned figures such as Abu Bakr Shawky, Minnie Driver, Tûba Büyüküstün, Daniel Dae Kim, Ke-Xi Wu, Ramata-Toulaye Sy, and Hamzah Jamjoom. Together, they awarded exceptional talents across various categories.
Courtesy of Red Sea Film Foundation
The competing films—unified under the theme “Home”—included titles such as To Kill A Mongolian Horse, To A Land Unknown, Superboys of Malegaon, Songs of Adam, Snow White, Sima’s Song, Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo, Saify, Saba, Red Path, My Friend An Delie, Moon, Hanami, Bin U Bin, Elsewhere the Border, Aïcha, and 6 AM.
Courtesy of Red Sea Film Foundation
Throughout the festival, the red carpet welcomed an array of stars, including Amir Karara, BRIGHT, Rebecca Patricia Armstrong, Freen, Olivia Wilde, Maria Bahrawi, Andria Tayeh, John Boyega, Wael Abumansour, Nour Alkhadra, producer Mohamed Alhamoud, Eiza González, Alessandra Ambrosio, and many others.
Courtesy of Red Sea Film Foundation
For the closing ceremony, Viola Davis and Priyanka Chopra Jonas were presented with Red Sea Honoree Awards, joining previous recipients Emily Blunt, Mona Zaki, Vin Diesel, and Aamir Khan. The awards were accepted by Hanaa Alomair and Sarah Jessica Parker.
Courtesy of Red Sea Film Foundation
The star-studded night was attended by notable celebrities, including Dev Patel, John Boyega, Abdullah Al-Sadhan, Ameer Karara, Eiza González, Mohamed Sami, Mai Omar, Nick Jonas, Faisal Aldokhi, Meshal Al Jaser, and Dhafer L’Abidine. Rising stars like Sarocha Chankimha (Freen) and Rebecca Patricia Armstrong (Becky) also graced the red carpet.
Courtesy of Red Sea Film Foundation
The festival’s jury awarded winners across 14 categories, celebrating exceptional talent and creativity in film. Santiago Mazar received the Asharq Documentary Prize for his film State of Silence, while Roula Dakhellahah was honored with the Chopard Rising Talent Trophy. The Film AlUla Audience Award went to Little Jaffna, and Hobal was recognized with the Film AlUla Best Saudi Award, accompanied by a $50,000 prize. In the short film category, Alazar won the Silver Yusr for Best Short Film, earning a $12,500 prize, and Hatch took home the Golden Yusr for Best Short Film, along with a $25,000 prize.
Courtesy of Red Sea Film Foundation
In the feature film category, To Kill a Mongolian Horse was awarded Best Cinematic Contribution. Mahmoud Bakri was named Best Actor for his performance in To A Land Unknown, while Mariam Sherif won Best Actress for her role in Snow White. Lotfi Achour won Best Director for Red Path, receiving a $10,000 prize. The Jury Prize went to Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo, which also earned a $10,000 prize. The Silver Yusr for Best Feature Film was awarded to To A Land Unknown, along with a $30,000 prize, and the prestigious Golden Yusr for Best Feature Film was presented to Tunisiam film Red Path, accompanied by a $100,000 monetary award.
The festival concluded with a special screening of the Johnny Depp-directed film, MODI: Three Days on the Wing of Madness, leaving audiences captivated by its brilliance.