Red Sea International Film Festival: Big Wins, Star-Studded Red Carpet, And More
The next generation of trailblazers
“Lights, Camera, Action,” the camera is rolling for the 2021 inaugural edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival to celebrate the art of filmmaking as well as nurture and spotlight a new cohort of budding talents in the scene.
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 11: Host Mohammed Al Turki speaks onstage at the “Ennio” red carpet during The Red Sea International Film Festival on December 11, 2021 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)
To mark the joyous occasion, regional and international celebrities are attending the prestigious event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 06: Enjy Kiwan attends the Cyrano premiere during the Red Sea International Film Festival on December 06, 2021 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 06: Alba Sofy attends the Cyrano premiere during the Red Sea International Film Festival on December 06, 2021 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 06: Sasha Luss attends the Cyrano premiere during the Red Sea International Film Festival on December 06, 2021 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 06: Hilary Swank attends the Opening Gala of the Red Sea International Film Festival on December 06, 2021 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images)
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 06: Candice Swanepoel and Mohammed Al Turki attend the Cyrano premiere during the Red Sea International Film Festival on December 06, 2021 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 06: Chantel Jeffries attends the Cyrano premiere during the Red Sea International Film Festival on December 06, 2021 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 06: Michele Morrone attends the Cyrano premiere during the Red Sea International Film Festival on December 06, 2021 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 06: Mila Alzahrani attends the Cyrano premiere during the Red Sea International Film Festival on December 06, 2021 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 06: Jury Member, Catherine Deneuve attends the Cyrano premiere during the Red Sea International Film Festival on December 06, 2021 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)
Red Sea International Film Festival welcomes 16 strong features, 18 short selections, and 21 ground-breaking global virtual reality experiences to tribute new films and cinematic storytelling by the Arab world and Africa, who are carving a name for themselves in the industry. The deciding jury for this year included the president of the Red Sea Features Competition, Academy award-winning Italian director and writer Giuseppe Tornatore, Tunisian actress Hend Sabry, Palestinian-American director, writer, actress, and producer Cherien Dabis, Mexican festival director and founder of the Morelia International Film Festival Daniela Michel and Saudi film director Abdulaziz Alshlahei.
“The nominees showcased an incredible range of talent across a diverse and fascinating breadth of themes. This has been an extraordinary experience, we have been moved, provoked and inspired by these films and it has demonstrated the exceptional filmmaking talent and compelling stories from the Arab world, Africa and Asia,” said Tornatore. “The quality of the nominated films made many of our decisions very difficult.”
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 13: Cherien Dabis, Daniela Michel, Giuseppe Tornatore, Mohammed Al Turki, Hend Sabry and Abdulaziz Al-Shelahi at The Red Sea International Film Festival on December 13, 2021 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)
The Red Sea: Shorts Competition Jury was headed by Egyptian director Marwan Hamed alongside Saudi Arabian actress and director Ahd Kamel and Finnish-Somali director and writer Khadar Ayderus.
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 13: (L-R) Ahd Kamel, Marwan Hamed and Khadar Ayderus receive the Short Competition Jury Honours from Mohammed Al Turki at the closing night Award Ceremony at The Red Sea International Film Festival on December 13, 2021 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)
Meet the winners for the following award categories at the film festival:
Best Saudi Film: RUPTURE by Hamzah K. Jamjoom – Saudi Arabia
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 13: (L-R) Aymen Khoja and Hamzah K Jamjoom are presented with the Best Saudi Film award for ‘Rupture’ by Mohammed Al Turki and Naomi Campbell at the closing night Award Ceremony at The Red Sea International Film Festival on December 13, 2021 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)
Audience Award: YOU RESEMBLE ME by Dina Amer – Egypt, France, USA
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 13: Djino Grimaudo (L), Dina Amer (2ndL), and Lorenza Grimaudo (R) pose with their Audience Award for ‘You Resemble Me’ at the closing night Award Ceremony at The Red Sea International Film Festival on December 13, 2021 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)
Red Sea: Immersive Silver Yusr: SAMSARA by Hsin-Chien Huang – Taiwan
Red Sea: Immersive Gold Yusr: END OF NIGHT by David Adler – Denmark, France
Red Sea: Short Competition Golden Yusr: TALA’VISION by Murad Abu Eisheh – Jordan, Germany
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 13: Murad Abu Eisheh poses with their Short Competition Golden Yusr award for ‘Tala’vision’ at the closing night Award Ceremony at The Red Sea International Film Festival on December 13, 2021 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)
Red Sea: Competition Special Mention: FARHA by Darin J. Sallam – Jordan
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 13: Darin Sallam (R) is presented the Competition Special Mention award for ‘Farha’ by Giuseppe Tornatore (L) and Rob Raco (C) at the closing night Award Ceremony at The Red Sea International Film Festival on December 13, 2021 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)
Red Sea: Competition Best Screenplay: NEIGHBOURS by Mano Khalil – Syria, Switzerland
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 13: Mano Khali (C) receives the Competition Best Screenplay award for ‘Neighbours’ from Giuseppe Tornatore (L) and Alejandra Oneiva (R) at the closing night Award Ceremony at The Red Sea International Film Festival on December 13, 2021 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)
Red Sea: Competition Best Actor: Adam Ali for his role in EUROPA – Iraq, Italy, Kuwait
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 13: Adam Ali poses with their Competition Best Actor award for their role in ‘Europa’ at the closing night Award Ceremony at The Red Sea International Film Festival on December 13, 2021 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)
Red Sea: Competition Best Cinematic Contribution: Amin Jafari for HIT THE ROAD – Iran
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 13: (R-L) Kaleem Aftab receives the Competition Best Cinematic Contribution award on behalf of Amin Jafari for ‘Hit the Road’ from Giuseppe Tornatore and Fatima Al-Banawi at the closing night Award Ceremony at The Red Sea International Film Festival on December 13, 2021, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)
Red Sea: Competition Best Actress: Arawinda Kirana for her role in: YUNI – Indonesia, Singapore, France, Australia
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 13: Arawinda Kirana poses with their Competition Best Actress Award for ‘Yuni’ at the closing night Award Ceremony at The Red Sea International Film Festival on December 13, 2021 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)
Red Sea: Competition Best Film: BRIGHTON 4TH by Levan Koguashvili – Georgia, Russia, Bulgaria, USA, Monaco
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 13: Levan Koguashvili (2ndL) receives the award for Competition Best Film for ‘Brighton 4th’ from Giuseppe Tornatore (L), Yousra (2ndR) and Mohammed Al Turki (R) at the closing night Award Ceremony at The Red Sea International Film Festival on December 13, 2021, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)
Red Sea: Competition Best Director: EUROPA by Haider Rashid – Iraq, Italy, Kuwait
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 13: (L-R) Haider Rashid and Adam Ali pose with their awards at the closing night Award Ceremony at The Red Sea International Film Festival on December 13, 2021 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)
Red Sea: Competition Jury Prize: HIT THE ROAD by Panah Panahi – Iran
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 13: Kaleem Aftab (R) receives the Competition Jury Prize on behalf of Panah Panahi for ‘Hit the Road’ from Giuseppe Tornatore (C) and a guest at the closing night Award Ceremony at The Red Sea International Film Festival on December 13, 2021 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival)
To know more about the films featured at the Red Sea International Film Festival, click here.
