The Red Sea International Film Festival has partnered with VOX Cinemas, MBC GROUP and Saudia Airlines, has made its first inaugural Film Festival debut in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Old Town between December 6-15, 2021. The big festival opens with 138 feature films and shorts from 67 countries in 34 languages from both, featuring 27 new films from an exciting wave of Saudi filmmakers. The winners of the various film categories have officially been announced in this historical-making event.
This year’s jury had a diverse amount of well-established talent including: President of the Red Sea Features Competition and Academy Award-winning Italian director and writer Giuseppe Tornatore, Abdulaziz Alshlahei (Saudi Arabia, film director), Cherien Dabis (Palestine/USA, Actor/Producer), Hend Sabry (Tunisia, Actor), and Daniela Michel (founder of the Morelia International Film Festival).
The Red Sea: Shorts Competition Jury was led by Egyptian director Marwan Hamed and joined by Ahd Kamel (Saudi Arabia, actor & director) and Khadar Ayderus (Finland/Somalia, director & writer).
Giuseppe Tornatore, President of the Red Sea Features Competition, stated: “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. The quality of the nominated films made many of our decisions very difficult.”
Here are the winners announced at the Red Sea International Film Festival:
Best Saudi Film: RUPTURE by Hamzah K. Jamjoom – Saudi Arabia
Audience Award: YOU RESEMBLE ME by Dina Amer – Egypt, France, USA
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
Red Sea: Competition Special Mention: FARHA by Darin J. Sallam – Jordan
Red Sea: Competition Best Cinematic Contribution: Amin Jafari for HIT THE ROAD – Iran
Red Sea: Competition Best Screenplay: NEIGHBOURS by Mano Khalil – Syria, Switzerland
Red Sea: Competition Best Actor: Adam Ali for his role in EUROPA – Iraq, Italy, Kuwait
Red Sea: Competition Best Actress: Arawinda Kirana for her role in: YUNI – Indonesia, Singapore, France, Australia
Red Sea: Competition Best Director: EUROPA by Haider Rashid – Iraq, Italy, Kuwait
Red Sea: Competition Jury Prize: HIT THE ROAD by Panah Panahi – Iran
Red Sea: Competition Best Film: BRIGHTON 4TH by Levan Koguashvili – Georgia, Russia, Bulgaria, USA, Monaco.