As a seasoned film enthusiast with over three decades of immersion in the cinematic universe, I must say that the lineup for The Red Sea International Film Festival this year is nothing short of breathtaking. The diversity and richness of stories being told by these talented filmmakers from all corners of the globe are truly a testament to the power of cinema as a universal language.
This year’s Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia is revealing 38 film projects along with TV series projects for the first time. These will be displayed at the Red Sea Souk Project Market. The organizers are excited about this, stating that it represents their ongoing dedication to promoting daring storytelling and fresh cinematic voices.
2019’s chosen works showcase a “broad spectrum of stories and skill from various parts of the world,” featuring seven series, as stated. The chosen projects mark the completion of the Red Sea Labs annual development program held within the Lodge, a partnership between TorinoFilmLab, and sponsored by Film Alula.
For the initial time, the Souk has extended its application process to filmmakers residing in Asia, a move that signifies an increase in the program’s scope. This change resulted in approximately 28% of all submissions coming from Asian filmmakers, a notable shift from earlier when the Souk only accepted projects helmed by directors from Africa or the Arab world.
A global team of reviewers assessed the entries, and the ultimate decision was made by a specialized selection board. Each chosen project will receive personalized pitch guidance prior to the Marketplace to help creators ready themselves for opportunities to link up with possible collaborators and financiers.
The Souk continues to champion talent, as it invites back filmmakers Asmae Al Moudir, Sofia Alaoui, and Halkawt Mustafa. These creators, whose films were showcased at the 2023 Red Sea International Film Festival, will share their upcoming projects during the 2024 event,” organizers announced.
Holly Daniel, head of Red Sea Souk, expressed: “This year’s chosen projects for Red Sea Souk Project Market reflect our dedication to promoting a variety of voices and viewpoints. For the first time, we’ve expanded our Project Market to include Asia. The 38 projects selected this year showcase some of the most innovative talent and stories from both continents.
The chosen projects will be eligible for both the Red Sea Souk and Red Sea Labs Awards, along with additional partner awards to be announced at a later time. These awards provide financial assistance throughout different stages of a project, including development, production, and post-production, as well as specialized support for projects within the Lodge and SeriesLab.
Check out the full list of projects below.
THE SERIESLAB PROJECTS
B’itha, By Noorah Al Eidi & Shehreyar Ahsan
Saudi Arabia
Saria Othman Needs No Man, By Eshtephan Khattar & Hiba Louis
Lebanon
Pazuzu, By Ali Kareem & Dania Altayeb
Iraq, Saudi Arabia
Generation A, By Mona Ombogo & Louise Kamwangi
Kenya
Switch, By Nathan Magoola & Lucky Lora Atwine
Uganda
Cold Case-One (Pullukandam Murder Case), By Nithin Lukose & Hari Kirishnan
India
Shani Bazaar, By Karan Kabir & Nitin Koul
India
THE RED SEA SOUK PROJECTS-IN-DEVELOPMENT
DO RE MIMI, by Fatima Al-Banawi
Fiction
Saudi Arabia
FAROUK, by Halkawt Mustafa
Documentary
Iraq, Norway
HAVEN OF HOPE, by Seemab Gul
Debut, Fiction
Pakistan
HOLY COW (working title), by Asmae El Moudir
Fiction
Morocco
IT’S OKAY, I’M ONLY HUMAN, by Karim Ghorayeb and George Peter Barbari
Documentary
Lebanon, France
LA PYRAMIDE, by Cj ‘Fiery’ Obasi
Fiction
US, Brazil, Senegal, UK, Nigeria
MOTHER MAYBE, by Sonny Calvento
Fiction
Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan R.O.C.
ROBBING BEIRUT by Katia Jarjoura
Debut, Fiction
Lebanon, France
TAHMINA by Aboozar Amini
Fiction
The Netherlands, Canada, Afghanistan, Germany
“The Solitude of the Fair-Skinned One,” by Baloji Tshiani
THE SEA WAS ONCE BLUE by Mohamad El-Hadidi
Debut, Fiction
Egypt, France
WATCH IT BURN by Makbul Mubarak
Fiction
Indonesia
THE LODGE PROJECTS
ASSA, A FISH IN A BOWL, by Dahlia Nemlich
Debut, Fiction
Lebanon
BLUE CARD, by Mohammed Alomda
Debut, Fiction
Sudan, Egypt
I DIDN’T SIGN UP FOR THIS, by Lana Komsany
Debut, Fiction
Saudi Arabia
HADD, by Jamal Kutbi
Debut, Fiction
Saudi Arabia
CLOSE ROSE CLOSE, by Rulan Hasan
Debut, Fiction
Saudi Arabia
I’LL SMILE IN SEPTEMBER, by Aakash Chhabra
Debut, Fiction
India
JAYSAN, by Aisha Sultanbekova
Debut, Fiction
Kyrgyzstan
THE SILENT ONES, by Jawahine Zentar
Debut, Fiction
Morocco
PEPO KALI, by Lydia Matata
Debut, Fiction
Kenya
TARFAYA, by Sofia Alaoui
Fiction
Morocco
TERBAKAR, by Shelby Kho
Debut, Fiction
Indonesia, Singapore
MANJANO, by Omar Hamza
Debut, Fiction
Kenya
THE RED SEA SOUK WORKS-IN-PROGRESS
In my gaming world, it’s clear from the get-go who’s dominating: The Champion emerges swiftly. This tale unfolds across France, Kazakhstan, The Netherlands, and Lithuania. Fiction, but feels like a reality.
ALLAH IS NOT OBLIGED, by Zaven Najjar
Debut, Animation
France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Canada
DANDELION’S ODYSSEY, by Momoko Seto
Debut, Animation
Japan, France, Belgium
FUXI, by Qiu Jiongjiong
Fiction
Taiwan / Hong Kong
GURIA, Levan Kougashvili
Fiction
Georgia, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Türkiye
MEMORY OF PRINCESS MUMBI, by Damien Hauseu
Fiction
Switzerland, Kenya
VAGABONDS, by Amartei Armar
Debut, Fiction
Ghana
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2024-11-14 13:54