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The creation of a film festival was considered significant as cinema was officially banned in Saudi Arabia until reforms under Crown Prince [[Mohammed bin Salman]] lifted restrictions with a screening of Marvel’s [[Black Panther (film)|Black Panther]] in April 2018. The Saudi Film Commission then announced a strategy designed to grow the film industry’s revenue to $500 million..<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-06 |title=What to expect from the first Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2021/12/06/What-to-expect-from-the-first-Red-Sea-International-Film-Festival-in-Jeddah |access-date=2025-12-11 |website=Al Arabiya English |language=en}}</ref> |
The creation of a film festival was considered significant as cinema was officially banned in Saudi Arabia until reforms under Crown Prince [[Mohammed bin Salman]] lifted restrictions with a screening of Marvel’s [[Black Panther (film)|Black Panther]] in April 2018. The Saudi Film Commission then announced a strategy designed to grow the film industry’s revenue to $500 million..<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-06 |title=What to expect from the first Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2021/12/06/What-to-expect-from-the-first-Red-Sea-International-Film-Festival-in-Jeddah |access-date=2025-12-11 |website=Al Arabiya English |language=en}}</ref> |
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The event came after several boycott calls by the critics, who warned that the Saudi authorities were attempting to divert the international attention from the country’s poor human rights records. The Kingdom was being accused of using culture to whitewash its image at a global level. One of the critics said that without freedom of speech, the festival descended into propaganda.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/11/critics-condemn-saudi-film-festival-as-a-whitewash|title=Saudi film festival is a ‘whitewash’ by authorities, say critics|access-date=11 December 2021|newspaper=The Observer|date=11 December 2021|last=Graham-Harrison|first=Emma}}</ref>The festival was originally conceived in 2019 with a plan to host the first festival in April 2020. However the COVID-19 pandemic pushed back the start by more than a year.<ref name=”:0″ /> |
The event came after several boycott calls by the critics, who warned that the Saudi authorities were attempting to divert the international attention from the country’s poor human rights records. The Kingdom was being accused of using culture to whitewash its image at a global level. One of the critics said that without freedom of speech, the festival descended into propaganda.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/11/critics-condemn-saudi-film-festival-as-a-whitewash|title=Saudi film festival is a ‘whitewash’ by authorities, say critics|access-date=11 December 2021|newspaper=The Observer|date=11 December 2021|last=Graham-Harrison|first=Emma}}</ref> |
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The festival was originally conceived in 2019 with a plan to host the first festival in April 2020. However the COVID-19 pandemic pushed back the start by more than a year.<ref name=”:0″ /> |
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== Red Sea Souk == |
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The Red Sea Souk, an industry marketplace, took place concurrently, attracting over 3,000 professionals.<ref name=”:1″>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-27 |title=THE RED SEA SOUK ANNOUNCES PROJECTS AND PARTICIPANTS FOR ITS SECOND EDITION |url=https://makkahnewspaper.com/article/1575329/english-opinion/the-red-sea-souk-announces-projects-and-participants-for-its-second-edition |access-date=2025-12-11 |website=صحيفة مكة |language=ar}}</ref> The Souk showcases a number of projects from the Middle East, Africa and other regions to connect them with support and financing. Of the slate from 2021, 10 of them were selected for international festivals, including Cannes Film Festival, Venice Film Festival and Locarno Film Festival.<ref name=”:1″ /> |
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== Juries == |
== Juries == |
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== Official Selection == |
== Official Selection == |
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The festival screened 138 films from 67 countries with 16 films in competition section.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy |date=9 November 2021 |title=Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival Sets Inaugural Lineup; Joe Wright’s ‘Cyrano’ Opens, Netflix’s ‘The Lost Daughter’ Among Program – Full List |url=https://deadline.com/2021/11/red-sea-international-film-festival-lineup-cyrano-mgm-netflix-full-list-1234870465/ |access-date=6 December 2021 |website=Deadline}}</ref> |
The festival screened 138 films from 67 countries with 16 films in competition section.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy |date=9 November 2021 |title=Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival Sets Inaugural Lineup; Joe Wright’s ‘Cyrano’ Opens, Netflix’s ‘The Lost Daughter’ Among Program – Full List |url=https://deadline.com/2021/11/red-sea-international-film-festival-lineup-cyrano-mgm-netflix-full-list-1234870465/ |access-date=6 December 2021 |website=Deadline}}</ref> |
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It opened on 6 December 2021 with [[Joe Wright]]’s ”[[Cyrano (film)|Cyrano]]” and closed on 15 December with the world premiere of [[Kabir Khan (director)|Kabir Khan]]’s film ”[[83 (film)|83]]”.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=29 November 2021 |title=Ranveer Singh’s ’83’ to Close Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival – Global Bulletin |url=https://www.variety.com/2021/film/news/red-sea-film-festival-83-ranveer-singh-deepika-padukone-1235121063/ |access-date=6 December 2021 |website=Variety}}</ref> |
It opened on 6 December 2021 with [[Joe Wright]]’s ”[[Cyrano (film)|Cyrano]]” and closed on 15 December with the world premiere of [[Kabir Khan (director)|Kabir Khan]]’s film ”[[83 (film)|83]]”.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=29 November 2021 |title=Ranveer Singh’s ’83’ to Close Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival – Global Bulletin |url=https://www.variety.com/2021/film/news/red-sea-film-festival-83-ranveer-singh-deepika-padukone-1235121063/ |access-date=6 December 2021 |website=Variety}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 12:49, 11 December 2025
Film festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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| Opening film | Cyrano, directed by Joe Wright |
|---|---|
| Closing film | 83, directed by Kabir Khan |
| Location | Arbaeen lagoon, Al Madinah Al Munawarah Road, old town Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Awards | The Yusr Awards |
| Film titles | 138 from 67 countries |
| Hosted by | Red Sea Film Festival Foundation |
| Festival date | Opening: 6 December 2021 (2021-12-06) Closing: 15 December 2021 (2021-12-15) |
| Language | Arabic English |
| Website | RSFF |
The 2021 Red Sea International Film Festival was the inaugural edition a film festival in the Middle East established by the Saudi Arabian government and set in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The creation of a film festival was considered significant as cinema was officially banned in Saudi Arabia until reforms under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman lifted restrictions with a screening of Marvel’s Black Panther in April 2018. The Saudi Film Commission then announced a strategy designed to grow the film industry’s revenue to $500 million..[1]
The event came after several boycott calls by the critics, who warned that the Saudi authorities were attempting to divert the international attention from the country’s poor human rights records. The Kingdom was being accused of using culture to whitewash its image at a global level. One of the critics said that without freedom of speech, the festival descended into propaganda.[2]
The festival was originally conceived in 2019 with a plan to host the first festival in April 2020. However the COVID-19 pandemic pushed back the start by more than a year.[1]’
Red Sea Souk
The Red Sea Souk, an industry marketplace, took place concurrently, attracting over 3,000 professionals.[3] The Souk showcases a number of projects from the Middle East, Africa and other regions to connect them with support and financing. Of the slate from 2021, 10 of them were selected for international festivals, including Cannes Film Festival, Venice Film Festival and Locarno Film Festival.[3]
Juries
Features competition
Shorts competition
- Marwan Hamed, Egyptian director – Jury President
- Ahd Kamel, Saudi Arabian actress and director
- Khadar Ayderus, Finnish-Somali director and writer
Official Selection
The festival screened 138 films from 67 countries with 16 films in the competition section.[4]
It opened on 6 December 2021 with Joe Wright‘s Cyrano and closed on 15 December with the world premiere of Kabir Khan‘s film 83.[5]
- Red Sea Competition
| English title | Original title | Director(s) | Production country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton 4th | მეოთხე ბრაიტონი | Levan Koguashvili | Georgia, Russia, Bulgaria, United States, Monaco |
| Communion | قربان (Qorban) | Nejib Belkadhi | Tunisia |
| PAKA (River of Blood) | പാകാ (നദിയുടെ രക്തം) | Nithin Lukose | India |
| Huda’s Salon | صالون هدى | Hany Abu-Assad | Palestine, Netherlands, Germany, Qatar, Egypt |
| Soula | سولا | Salah Issaad | Algeria, France |
| Europa | Europa | Haider Rashid | Iraq, Italy, Kuwait |
| Yuni | Yuni | Kamila Andini | Indonesia, Singapore, France, Australia |
| Saloum | Saloum | Jean Luc Herbulot | Senegal, France |
| Rupture | تمزُّق | Hamzah K. Jamjoom | Saudi Arabia |
| Rehana Maryam Noor | রেহানা মরিয়ম নূর | Abdullah Mohammad Saad | Bangladesh, Singapore, Qatar |
| Hit the Road | جاده خاکی | Panah Panahi | Iran |
| Life Suits Me Well | La vie me va bien | Al Hadi Ulad-Mohand | Morocco, France |
| Neighbours | Neighbours | Mano Khalil | Syria, Switzerland |
| Farha | فرحة | Darin J Sallam | Jordan |
| Sharaf | شرف | Samir Nasr | Germany, Tunisia, Egypt, Sweden, Luxembourg |
| The Alleys | الحارة | Bassel Ghandour | Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar |
Official Awards
- Winners [6]
| Award | Film | Original title | Director(s) | Production country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Film | Brighton 4th | მეოთხე ბრაიტონი | Levan Koguashvili | Georgia, Russia, Bulgaria, United States, Monaco |
| Best Director | Europa | Europa | Haider Rashid | Iraq, Italy, Kuwait |
| Jury Prize | Hit the Road | جاده خاکی | Panah Panahi | Iran |
| Best Actor | Europa | Europa | Adam Ali (performance); dir. Haider Rashid | Iraq, Italy, Kuwait |
| Best Actress | Yuni | Yuni | Arawinda Kirana (performance); dir. Kamila Andini | Indonesia, Singapore, France, Australia |
| Best Saudi Film | Rupture | تمزُّق | Hamzah K. Jamjoom | Saudi Arabia |
| Audience Award | You Resemble Me | You Resemble Me | Dina Amer | Egypt, France, United States |
| Immersive Silver Yusr | Samsara | Samsara | Hsin-Chien Huang | Taiwan |
| Immersive Gold Yusr | End of Night | End of Night | David Adler | Denmark, France |
| Short Competition Golden Yusr | Tala’Vision | Tala’Vision | Murad Abu Eisheh | Jordan, Germany |
| Special Mention | Farha | فرحة | Darin J Sallam | Jordan |
| Best Cinematic Contribution | Hit the Road | جاده خاکی | (Cinematography by Amin Jafari) | Iran |
| Best Screenplay | Neighbours | Neighbours | Mano Khalil | Syria, Switzerland |
