RSIFF: A Colourful Ocean of remarkable films at the Red Sea

A film festival named after the Red Sea? Where is the Red Sea? Let me see…it touches Eritrea, Djibouti, Egypt and Jeddah. A film festival in Jeddah? Ok, so Jeddah is by the sea, and a good location to hold a film festival. A film festival organised in Saudi Arabia? You will be surprised.

Incidentally, this was not the first edition, but the third. For me, though, it was the first.

Another surprise, to an Indian, was that a certain Ms. Shivani Pandya Malhotra was the Managing Director of the Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea IFF/RSIFF), one more Indian serving in a high capacity in the country, alongside such talent as Mohammed Al-Turki, CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation (whichi is the body that organises the festival), Kaleem Aftab, Director of International Programmes and Antoine Khalife, Director of Arab Programmes and Film Classics.

While it celebrates world cinema, RSIFF, has a special spot in its heart for films made in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. What about Saudi Arabian films? Does the Kingdom really make films? If so, how many of Saudi Arabia’s home productions were included in RSIFF 3? Was India represented? Yes, indeed. In fact, Dear Jassi was part of the competition selection. But more of that in a future instalment. The Arab Spectacular presented 11 titles: Swiss-Egyptian director Tamer Ruggli’s acclaimed debut, Back to Alexandria (known to the Egyptians as Iskandria), starring Nadine Labaki and Fanny Ardant, as a daughter and mother, overcoming estrangement. Music video director Yasir Alyasiri making his starry debut with HWJN, starring Baraa Alem and Nour Alkhadra. Meshal Al Jaser’s humorous thriller (what a lovely alloy!), with NAGA, which follows a teenage girl left stranded in a desert, racing against time to meet her curfew, pursued by a rabid…yes, camel, and the Godus Brothers’ presentation, Fever Dream, about a retired football star, and his daughter, searching for social media acclaim.

In the competition Section were 17 films, narrative and documentary, from Asia, Africa, and the Arab world. Presiding over the international jury wasdirector Baz Lurhmann of Australia.

Norah, the first production to be shot entirely in the AlUla region of Saudi Arabia, by Tawfik Alzaidi, held its world première, screening alongside Backstage, the feature debut by directorial duo Afef Ben Mahmoud and Khalil Benkirane. Farah Nabulsi presented her critically praised debut The Teacher, shot in the West Bank, starring Imogen Poots; Six Feet Over, from Karim Bensalah, about an Algerian diplomat who decides to work for Muslim funeral undertakers, while Parviz (often spelt Parvez in India) Shahbazi’s feature Roxana, from Iran. Hitherto known for its conservative attitude to women, Saudi Arabia broke the myth by screening projects from 31 female film-makers overall, backing its commitment to women in cinema.

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Dear Siraj,

We are thrilled to invite you to join us at the third edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) which will run from Thursday, 30 November – Saturday, 9 December 2023 in Jeddah, nestled on the eastern shore of the Red Sea. The festival aims to support a dynamic film community and is dedicated to showcasing the best in global cinema, alongside demonstrating the flourishing local industry and innovative filmmakers responsible for driving and bringing an exciting new vibrancy to Arab, African and Asian cinema. Running parallel to the film programme, the Red Sea Souk (market), will bring together the people, projects, and ideas defining the Saudi and Arab markets, including pitching sessions, one-on-one meetings, screenings, industry talks, and networking events. As a valued and respected member of the press, we would be honoured if you were able to join us to cover the Festival’s schedule of events including red carpet premieres, an unrivalled industry programme of events, panels, and interview opportunities with emerging and established talent from across the region and beyond. We would be pleased to provide economy class travel to and from Jeddah with accommodation at one of Jeddah’s premier hotels, should you be able to accept support with this. We look forward to hearing from you and hope to welcome you to the Festival in December. Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us via REDSEAFILMFEST@ddapr.com.

With kind regards,

Shivani Pandya Malhotra

Managing Director Red Sea International Film Festival

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A handful of journalists/critics represented the fourth estate of India, and they all were put up at the Crowne Plaza. We often met at the lavish breakfast buffet, between 8.30 and 10.30 am, and exchanged notes. They came from New Delhi and Mumbai. All were festival veterans, including those who made it to Cannes year after year. Such luck has eluded me so far, but maybe RSIFF is the first step in that direction. All set now for the opening at the Festival Gala’s three-storied hall, in Ritz Carlton, Near the Corniche (beach), 30 November 2023. Follow the story unfold, right here.