Egyptian star Mona Zaki and Oscar winner and four-time nominee Viola Davis — who will also be holding a master class highlighting her career — will be honored at this year’s Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, set to run from Dec. 5-14 on the Red Sea’s eastern shore under the theme “The New Home of Film.”
On Monday, the festival announced the main lineup of its fourth edition, which will open with the world premiere of Egyptian director Karim Shenawy’s musical drama “The Tale of Daye’s Family.”
The film follows an 11-year-old Nubian albino with a beautiful voice “who faces adversity due to his unique appearance,” per the synopsis.
“For us, this a perfect representation of where this region is headed and what’s happening here,” said the fest’s managing director Shivani Pandya Malhotra at a press conference, noting that the inspirational film is a co-production between Egypt and Saudi.
Jeddah's newly inaugurated Culture Square in the historic district of Al-Balad, which is a Unesco World Heritage site, is the main venue for this year’s event.
The site with its coral stone buildings and colorful rawasheen latticework offers a unique blend of heritage and modernity, creating an immersive cinematic experience.
Mohammed Asseri, RSIFF Acting CEO, said: “The new venue in Jeddah’s historic district blends modern design with rich history.”
RSIFF will showcase a lineup of 120 films from 81 territories and host a program of talks, screenings, and awards honoring luminaries in the film industry.
These include the West African island nation of Cape Verde, repped by Denise Fernandes’ magical realism coming-of-age story “Hanami,” and Bangladesh with Maksud Hossain’s “Saba,” about a young woman who is the sole caregiver for her paraplegic mother in Dhaka.
Johnny Depp-directed “‘Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madness” will be this year’s Awards Night Gala film while the fourth edition’s closing film will be “Better Man,” directed, co-written, and co-produced by Michael Gracey. The biopic reimagines the journey of British pop icon Robbie Williams—from boy band fame to tabloid scandal and his return to the spotlight.
Shivani Pandya Malhotra, managing director of the RSIFF, highlighted the foundation's comprehensive approach to supporting the film ecosystem, saying: "We're not just about the festival — we have a range of initiatives like the Red Sea Souk, which serves as an industry hub for business, connections, and discovering new films. Through Red Sea Labs, we provide vital support to regional filmmakers, offering programs like residency opportunities, feature film development, and collaborations with Film Independent for TV series projects. The Red Sea Fund further empowers filmmakers by offering partial financing for their films and TV series.”
Addressing the challenges regional filmmakers face in breaking into the international scene, Shivani emphasized the importance of telling authentic local stories from Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Africa, and Asia.
RSIFF will present a competitive lineup, including “Maria,” directed by Pablo Larrain and starring Angelina Jolie as opera star Maria Callas, and “We Live In Time,” featuring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield. Hollywood star Danny DeVito is expected to attend the gala screening of “A Sudden Case of Christmas.”
Kaleem Aftab, director of international programming at RSIFF, said, “When selecting films for the Red Sea Film Festival, I first look for emotional resonance, if a film connects with me personally, it often connects with audiences in Saudi Arabia. Our theme this year, The New Home of Film, draws inspiration from home, both literally and metaphorically. It's about finding films that embody that feeling of belonging. We also seek films that are culturally relevant, with themes of change and modernity, especially as Saudi Arabia undergoes its own transformation.”
The closing film is “Better Man,” which is screening as a gala event. Williams may be on hand, though this remains to be confirmed.
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