The fifth annual Red Sea International Film Festival is being held under the patronage of Minister of Culture Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan at Culture Square in Historic Jeddah under the theme "In Love with Cinema.”
It runs until December 13 with the wide participation of local and international film stars and creators.
In his opening speech, the minister welcomed the festival's guests, saying "Here in the beautiful city of Jeddah - alive with creativity, culture, and the arts - I am pleased to welcome those who have joined us in previous successful editions, as well as those attending for the first time to experience an event that reflects the energy of our youth and the richness of our culture.”
With the generous support of the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the minister noted that the cultural sector has witnessed an unprecedented renaissance, positioning culture as a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia's future.
The minister pointed out that over the past seven years, the Ministry of Culture has worked to preserve the Kingdom's diverse heritage and build a thriving cultural landscape encompassing the arts, language, music, handicrafts, and the film sector, affirming that cinema is one of the most powerful tools of cultural influence globally and plays a pivotal role in strengthening understanding among peoples.
He added that the Red Sea Film Foundation embodies the Kingdom's vision of empowering youth, supporting creatives, and reinforcing Saudi Arabia's presence as a promising cinematic destination.
The festival opened with the film "Giant" in its Middle East and North Africa premiere.
Red Sea Film Foundation Chief Executive Officer Faisal Baltyuor explained that the choice of opening film reflects the festival's vision of supporting voices and stories from the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, and bringing them to global audiences.
Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees for Red Sea Film Foundation Jomana Alrashid stated that the foundation has, over five years, helped build an effective ecosystem that enables filmmakers from Arab, Asian, and African countries to lead their projects.
She noted that seven films supported by the "Red Sea Fund" were nominated for the Oscars, and that this year's edition features 111 films from more than 70 countries, highlighting 38 female directors.
This year, the festival offers a diverse cinematic program featuring selected global screenings and Arab works shown for the first time, in addition to an official competition that attracts films from five continents, and a series of panel discussions and talent-support programs designed to empower new voices and strengthen Arab presence in the international cinematic landscape.
