Mohammed Al-Turki has stepped down from his role as CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation and will transition to an advisor to the Foundation.
He will continue to support the leadership team while refocusing on his personal projects and career as an independent film producer and businessman.
In the interim, Mohammed Asseri, a former board member of the Red Sea Film Foundation, will step in as acting CEO as the search for Al-Turki’s successor is underway.
The announcement comes on the heels of a landmark Cannes Film Festival for the Foundation, which saw four titles supported by the organization selected for the festival. Among these was Tawfik Alzaidi’s “Norah,” which had its world premiere at the 2023 Red Sea International Film Festival.
“Norah” made history as the first Saudi film chosen for the festival’s Official Selection, receiving a Special Mention in the prestigious Un Certain Regard section.
Other notable projects included at Cannes were Mahdi Fleifel’s “To a Land Unknown” (Director’s Fortnight), Emma Benestan’s “Animale” (Cannes Critics Week), and Nada Riyadh and Ayman El Amir’s “The Brink of Dreams” (Cannes Critics Week), which won the L’Œil d’or (Golden Eye Award) for Best Documentary at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
Jomana Alrashid, Chairwoman of the Red Sea Film Foundation, reflected on this transition: “As we move forward, we acknowledge the relentless efforts of our team and express our gratitude to Mohammed Al-Turki for his pivotal role in leading the Foundation.”
“We look forward to his continued success as one of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent film executives and welcome new leadership to the Foundation, alongside our Managing Director Shivani Pandya Malhotra,” she added.
Al-Turki added: “Working with the Foundation through these three editions of the festival and establishing Saudi Arabia’s place on the global film industry stage has been an honor.”
“We have achieved so much, and as we approach our fourth edition, I feel it is the perfect time to transition. I am grateful for the bonds we have built and will continue to support my Red Sea Film Foundation family,” he noted.
The fourth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from December 5 to 14.
