The new film adaptation of the late legendary writer Ihsan Abdel-Quddous' novel "Anf W Thalath Oyoun" (A Nose And Three Eyes) will world premiere at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival.
It was previously presented as a film in 1972 and was also made into a TV series in 1980.
The upcoming film hails from director Amir Ramses and screenwriter Wael Hamdy. It is scheduled to be released in theaters in 2023.
The film features an ensemble cast that includes Dhafer L’Abidine, Saba Mubarak, Salma Abu Deif, Amina Khalil, Sedky Sakhr, Gihan El Shamashergy, Salwa Mohamed Ali, Nabil Maher, Selim Mostafa, and more.
Dina El Sherbiny will also guest star in the film.
"Anf W Thalath Oyoun" follows the romantic life of mid-40 renowned plastic surgeon Hashem with 3 women, the ups and downs of love, and life changes.
The festival unveiled on Monday its 2023 lineup and theme ahead of its third edition despite the Israel-Hamas war that has caused cancellations of several movie celebrations across the Arab world. (scroll down for the full list).
The edition, running from November 30 to December 9 in the port city of Jeddah, will unfold under the theme of “Your Story, Your Festival.”
The Competition section will showcase 17 narrative and documentary features from Asia, Africa, and the Arab world.
Among the key sections contenders are UK-Palestinian director Farah Nabulsi's critically acclaimed West Bank-set first feature "The Teacher", Tunisian-Moroccan filmmaking couple Afef Ben Mahmoud and Khalil Benkirane the Atlas Mountains-set, theatre troupe road movie "Backstage", Tawfik Alzaidi’s "Norah", which is billed as the first Saudi feature shot in the country’s growing location hub of AlUla, and Iranian director Parviz Shahbazi’s drama "Roxana", for which its lead Yasna Mirtahmasb won the best actor in Tokyo last week.
As previously announced, Baz Luhrmann will serve as the jury president of the festival, which was first announced back in September. His jury has yet to be unveiled.
The festival’s Special Screenings feature French director Maïwenn’s Johnny Depp starring costume romance "Jeanne du Barry" (which was one of the first international films to be financed by the Red Sea Film Foundation) as well as Kaouther Ben Hania’s hybrid work "Four Daughters", co-winner of Cannes’ L’Oeil d’Or documentary prize and Tunisia’s submission for a Best International film this year.
In other key sections, the 11-title Arab Spectacular sidebar will showcase Tamer Ruggli’s acclaimed mother 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".
Monday’s announcement dispels speculations over whether the event would be canceled due to the Israel-Hamas conflict, in which 1,400 people were killed and more than 240 hostages were taken on October 7.
Multiple Middle East and North African film festivals have abandoned their 2023 fall editions in recent weeks out of solidarity for the population of Gaza, where more than 9,000 people have been killed by Israel’s retaliatory military campaign aimed at eradicating Hamas and bringing home the hostages.
In a statement, Red Sea Foundation CEO Mohammed Al-Turki and Managing Director Shivani Pandya Malhotra have opened up about the reason behind holding the festival despite the events unfolding in the backdrop.
“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,” they said.
Kaleem Aftab, Director of International Programs, said the films selected for the Red Sea: Competition were “a stark reminder of the many issues facing humanity today.”
Antoine Khalife, Director of Arab Programs and Film Classics, echoed these sentiments.
“The vibrancy of Arab cinema, particularly in Saudi Arabia, stands as a testament to the region’s flourishing film industry. Arab filmmakers boldly confront sensitive themes, weaving together narratives that explore family dynamics, patriotism, and the rediscovery of values. Arab cinema is increasingly mirroring the realities of everyday life,” he said.
Check out the lineups below.
Special Screenings
TO MY SON (World Premiere)
Dir. Dhafer L’abidine
Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
JEANNE DU BARRY
Dir. Maïwenn
France, Saudi Arabia
Arab Spectacular
FOUR DAUGHTERS
Dir. Kaouther Ben Hania
France, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Tunisia
HAJJA
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
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
Japan
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