The 2024 Red Sea International Film Festival took place from December 4 to 13, 2025, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and marked the fifth edition of the film festival.[1] It was held in the newly built Cultural Square venue in the Al-Balad district of Jeddah.[2]
The Red Sea jury was headed by Sean Baker; 16 films were selected for competition.[3]
In addition to screening films for competition, the film festival also hosted talks and discussions, galas and parties, and other events for the industry.[4]
Jury
Features
Official selection
The festival lineup was announced on November 4, 2025.[1][6]
In Competition
| Title
|
Director(s)
|
Production country
|
| A Sad and Beautiful World
|
Cyril Aris
|
Lebanon, United States, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Qatar
|
| All That's Left of You
|
Cherien Dabis
|
Germany, Greece, Jordan, Cyprus, Palestine
|
| Allah Is Not Obliged
|
Zaven Najjar
|
France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Canada, Saudi Arabia
|
| Barni
|
Mohammed Sheikh
|
Somalia, Djibouti, United States
|
| Black Rabbit, White Rabbit
|
Shahram Mokri
|
Tajikistan, United Arab Emirates
|
| Hijra
|
Shahad Ameen
|
Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt, United Kingdom
|
| Irkalla: Gilgamesh's Dream
|
Mohamed Al-Daradji
|
Iraq, United Kingdom, France, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar
|
| Lost Land
|
Akio Fujimoto
|
Japan, France, Malaysia, Germany
|
| Nighttime Sounds
|
Zhang Zhongchen
|
China
|
| Roqia
|
Yanis Koussim
|
France, Algeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia
|
| Sink
|
Zain Duraie
|
Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, France
|
| The Stories
|
Abu Bakr Shawky
|
Egypt, France, Austria, Sweden
|
| The World of Love
|
Yoon Ga-eun
|
South Korea
|
| Truck Mama
|
Zippy Nyaruri
|
Kenya, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Netherlands
|
| Two Seasons, Two Strangers
|
Shô Miyake
|
Japan
|
| Yunan
|
Ameer Fakher Eldin
|
Germany, Canada, Italy, Palestine, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia
|
Arab Spectacular
International Spectacular
Shorts Competition
| Title
|
Director(s)
|
Production country
|
| With the Wind
|
Ines Lehaire
|
|
| Coyotes
|
Said Zagha
|
|
| Jeem 1983
|
Jorj Abou Mhaya
|
|
| Irtizaz
|
Sara Balghonaim
|
|
| Dropless
|
Anamika Pal
|
|
| In the Valley
|
Lim Han Loong
|
|
| The Seventh Month
|
Aizada Amangeldy
|
|
| The Sea Remembers My Name
|
Hussein Hossam
|
|
| Umbilical Cord (film)
|
Ahmed Hassan Ahmed
|
|
| Vultures
|
Dian Weys
|
|
| What Remains
|
Xiao Yan
|
|
| Four Wise Monkeys
|
Xin Wang
|
|
| Guardian of the Well
|
Bentley Brown, Tahir Mahamat Zene
|
|
| Opening Ceremony
|
Hussain Al Mutlaq
|
|
| She's Swimming
|
Liliane Rahal
|
|
| The Men's Land
|
Mariam Khatchvani
|
|
| Beyond the Mind
|
Lanya Nooralddin
|
|
| Cold Calling
|
Yuzana Win
|
|
| Nsala
|
Mickael-Sltan Mbanza
|
|
| Our Brother
|
Shandra Apondi
|
|
| Quo Vadis, Meryem!
|
Amine Zeriouh
|
|
| What If They Bomb Here Tonight?
|
Samir Syriani
|
|
| Empty Lands
|
Karim Eldin Elalfy
|
|
New Saudi Cinema Shorts
| Title
|
Director(s)
|
Production country
|
| The Scene
|
Lana Komsany
|
|
| Azur
|
Abdulwahab Bin Shaddad
|
|
| Antagonist
|
Abdulkarim Bawazir
|
|
| Guardian of History
|
Ali Alsumayin
|
|
| Market Dynamo
|
Ali Baqir Alabdullah
|
|
| The Cradle
|
Mamdouh Salem Baajajah
|
|
| Unknown
|
Ibrahim Al-Bakiri
|
|
| Ashura's Voice
|
Zaki Alabdullah
|
|
| Esc
|
Khaled Nadershah
|
|
| The Golden Fish
|
Meria Saimaldeher
|
|
| The Man Who Stumbled By His Words
|
Mubarak Al-Zawba
|
|
| First Funeral Day
|
Nawaf Al Hoshan
|
|
| Wajoom
|
Maan Yeslam Al-Siari
|
|
| Sharshura
|
Ahmed Alnasser
|
|
| Business Bag
|
Rwad Khalid
|
|
| Midnight Snack
|
Abdulmalik Bukhari
|
|
| Mubham
|
Muhannad Al Zahrani
|
|
| Scream of An Ant
|
Lujain Salaam
|
|
| Serial Writer
|
Eslam Shaker, Khaled Abdelfatah
|
|
| Moms Cry Too
|
Rmas Al Hazmi
|
|
New Vision
Families and Children
Families and Children
Series
Special Screenings
| Title
|
Director(s)
|
Production country
|
| Human Tide
|
David Ward
|
|
| Circles of Life
|
Khaled Al-Dusaimani
|
|
| Beyond the Shifting Sands
|
Abdullah Al-Hamdi
|
|
| Seven Summits
|
Amir El-Shenawy
|
|
| Noor
|
Omar Almuqarri
|
|
Voices of Tomorrow
| Title
|
Director(s)
|
Production country
|
| Two Out of Ten
|
Abdulaziz Sultan Alzahrani
|
|
| The Precious Gift
|
Abdulrahman Sultan
|
|
| Alone
|
Yazan Ahmad Eesa Qisi
|
|
| Friends Game
|
Zeyad Khalid Bakoor
|
|
| Just a Tone
|
Aacer Ayman Aladnani
|
|
Special Screenings
Awards
| Award[7]
|
Winner
|
| Golden Yusr Award—Best Feature Film
|
Lost Land, dir. Akio Fujimoto
|
| Silver Yusr Award—Best Feature Film
|
All That's Left of You, dir. Cherien Dabis
|
| Film AlUla Audience Award—Best Film
|
My Father's Scent, dir. Mohamed Siam
|
| Film AlUla Audience Award—Best Saudi Film
|
Hijra, dir. Shahad Ameen
|
| Best Documentary
|
In-I: In Motion, dir. Juliette Binoche
|
| Cinematic Achievement
|
Nighttime Sounds, dir. Zhang Zhongchen
|
| Best Actor
|
Georges Khabbaz for Yunan
|
| Best Actress
|
Seo Su-Bin for The World of Love
|
| Best Screenplay
|
A Sad and Beautiful World, written by Cyril Aris
|
| Best Director
|
Ameer Fakher Eldin for Yunan
|
| Jury Prize
|
Hijra, dir. Shahad Ameen
|
| Golden Yusr—Best Short Film
|
Coyotes, dir. Said Zagha
|
| Silver Yusr—Best Short Film
|
Empty Lands, dir. Karim Eldin Elalfy
|
| Short Special Mention
|
Jeem 1983, dir. Jorj Abou Mhaya
|
Weather
On December 9, 2025, torrential rains struck Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, prompting film festival organizers to notify attendees to "shelter in place" and suspend programming for the rest of the day.[8]
References