Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival has unveiled it 2023 line-up and theme because it maintains its third version towards the backdrop of the escalating Israel-Gaza Conflict. (scroll down for full checklist)
The version, working from November 30 to December 9 within the port metropolis of Jeddah, will unfold below the theme of “Your Story, Your Festival”.
Among the important thing sections introduced on Monday was the Red Sea International Film Festival: In Competition part which is able to showcase 17 narrative and documentary options from Asia, Africa, and the Arab world.
Contenders embrace Farah Nabulsi critically acclaimed West Bank-set first characteristic The Teacher, Afef Ben Mahmoud and Khalil Benkirane’s Atlas Mountains-set, theatre troupe street film Backstage, Tawfik Alzaidi’s AlUla-shot drama Norah, and Iranian director Parviz Shahbazi’s drama Roxana.
The competition’s Special Screenings sidebar options Johnny Depp starring costume romance Jeanne du Barry in addition to Kaouther Ben Hania’s hybrid work Four Daughters, co-winner of Cannes’ L’Oeil d’Or documentary prize and Tunisia’s submission for Best International movie this yr.
In different key sections, the 11-title Arab Spectacular sidebar will showcase Tamer Ruggli’s acclaimed mom and daughter drama Back to Alexandria, Iraqi Dubai-based director Yasir Al Yasiri’s groundbreaking fantasy HWJN, and Meshal Al Jaser’s humorous thriller NAGA.
The announcement dispels questions over whether or not the occasion may cancel as a result of escalating Israel-Hamas battle, sparked by the latter’s terror assaults on Southern Israel on October 7, through which 1,400 folks had been killed and greater than 240 hostages had been taken.
Multiple Middle East and North African movie festivals have deserted their 2023 fall editions in current weeks out of solidarity for the inhabitants of Gaza, the place greater than 9,000 folks have been killed by Israel’s retaliatory navy marketing campaign aimed toward eradicating Hamas and bringing dwelling the hostages.
Red Sea Foundation CEO Mohammed Al-Turki and Managing Director Shivani Pandya Malhotra didn’t allude to the occasions unfolding within the backdrop of their assertion accompanying right this moment’s announcement, focusing as a substitute on the theme and choice.
“We feel it is particularly timely to use the medium of film to look at what connects us, and to give a platform to the voices and experiences of people in our region and beyond to foster insight, understanding and compassion. We look forward to once again welcoming the global film community in Jeddah for our third edition.”
Kaleem Aftab, Director of International Programs, stated movies chosen for the Red Sea: Competition had been “a stark reminder of the various points dealing with humanity right this moment.
With three weeks to go and no signal of an abatement within the Israel-Hamas confiict, it stays to be seen what number of regional and worldwide professionals will make the journey to Jeddah this yr.
One of the professionals canvassed by Deadline forward of Monday’s announcement, stated it was vital for the competition to go forward, within the face of the loss of life and ache on each side.
“Life should and must go on,” they stated.
Launched in 2021, within the wake of Saudi Arabia’s opening as much as the world below its 2030 Vision aimed toward transferring its financial system away from a reliance on oil, the RSIFF is a cornerstone of the nation’s technique to rework itself into the main inventive industries hub within the area.
In simply two editions, it has established itself as one of many area’s glitziest movie occasions, with a raft of high-profile stars hitting the pink carpet, many in return for hefty charges.
High-profile company making the journey final yr included Oliver Stone, Sharon Stone, Spike Lee and Guy Ritchie alongside Bollywood stars Shah Rubk Khan, Hrithik Roshan and Priyanka Chopra, in addition to Bruno Mars, who carried out a set on the opening evening.
Special Screenings
TO MY SON (World Premiere)
Dir Dhafer L’abidine
Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
JEANNE DU BARRY
Dir Maïwenn
France, Saudi Arabia
Red Sea International Film Festival: Arab Spectacular
FOUR DAUGHTERS
Dir Kaouther Ben Hania
France, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Tunisia
HAJJAN
Dir Abu Bakr Shawky
Saudi Arabia, Egypt
KHALED EL SHEIKH BETWEEN TWO FIRES, ART AND POLITICS (World Premiere)
Dir Jamal Kutbi
Saudi Arabia
FEVER DREAM (World Premiere)
Dir Faris Godus
Saudi Arabia
THREE (World Premiere)
Dir Nayla Alkhaja
United Arab Emirates, Thailand
HWJN (World Premiere)
Dir Yasir Alyasiri
Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
BACK TO ALEXANDRIA
Dir Tamer Ruggli
France, Switzerland, Egypt
NAGA
Dir Meshal Aljaser
Saudi Arabia
SHAMAREEKH (World Premiere)
Dir Amr Salama
Egypt
YESTERDAY AFTER TOMORROW (World Premiere)
Dir Abdulghani Alsaigh
Saudi Arabia
A NOSE AND THREE EYES (World Premiere)
Dir Amir Ramses
Egypt, United Arab Emirates
I AM AL-ITTIHAD (World Premiere)
Dir Hamza Tarzan
Saudi Arabia
Red Sea International Film Festival: In Competition
INSHALLAH A BOY
Dir Amjad Al Rashid
Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, France, Qatar
BEHIND THE MOUNTAINS
Dir Mohamed Ben Attia
Tunisia, France, Belgium, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Qatar
NORAH (World Premiere)
Dir Tawfik Alzaidi
Saudi Arabia
HIDING SADDAM HUSSEIN
Dir Halkawt Mustafa
Norway, Iraq
BACKSTAGE
Dir Afef Ben Mahmoud, Khalil Benkirane
Morocco, Tunisia, Belgium, France, Qatar, Norway, Saudi Arabia
THE TEACHER
Dir Farah Naboulsi
United Kingdom, Palestine, Qatar
DALMA (World Premiere)
Dir Humaid Alsuwaidi
United Arab Emirates
MANDOOB
Dir Ali Kalthami
Saudi Arabia
SIX FEET OVER
Dir Karim Bensalah
Algeria, France
DEAR JASSI
Dir Tarsem Singh Dhandwar
India
IN FLAMES
Dir Zarra Khan
Pakistan, Canada
WAKHRI (ONE OF A KIND) (World Premiere)
Dir Iram Parveen Bilal
Pakistan, USA
SUNDAY (YAKSHANBA)
Dir Shokir Kholikov
Uzbekistan
TIGER STRIPES
Dir Amanda Nell Eu
Malaysia, Taiwan R.O.C., Singapore, France, Germany, Netherlands, Indonesia, Qatar
ROXANA
Dir Parviz Shahbazi
Iran
OMEN (AUGURE)
Dir Baloji
Belgium, Netherlands, Democratic Republic of the Congo
EVIL DOES NOT EXIST
Dir Ryûsuke Hamaguchi
Discussion about this post