Red Sea International Film Festival is back
2nd edition kicking off with Academy Award-winner Oliver Stone presiding over the jury
After its successful inauguration last year the Red Sea International Film Festival is back for its second edition running from December 1 to 10 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The 10-day celebration of cinema is packed this year with a program featuring 131 films and shorts from 61 countries, including 34 world premieres, 17 Arab premieres and 47 MENA premieres, and triple Academy Award-winning Director, Producer and Writer Oliver Stone presiding over the jury for the festival’s coveted Red Sea: Competition.
“The Red Sea International Film Festival is cementing its position as a unique and powerful platform for celebrating film, connecting cultures, and expanding our horizons,” said Mohammed Al Turki; CEO of the Red Sea IFF. “Film is Everything encapsulates the festival this year, a bold, cinematic, progressive, and cultural ten-day event for film lovers, storytellers, talent and industry professionals from around the globe,” he added.
This year’s Red Sea: Competition showcases a lineup of 26 shorts and 16 features with the esteemed jury led by legendary filmmaker Stone who is best known for iconic cinema history such as Scarface, Wall Street, Platoon, Nixon and Natural Born Killers.
Along with the competition the festival also includes Red Carpet Galas, Outdoor Screenings and Special Presentations as well as range of films categorised in sections: Festival Favorites, New Saudi/New Cinema, Red Sea; Treasures, Red Sea; Arab and International Spectacular, Red Sea; Family and Children, Red Sea; Virtual Reality, Red Sea; Series, and Red Sea; and New Vision.
“Our programmers have curated the best of Arab and international cinema, talent led galas of some of the most anticipated films of the year, and an exceptional selection from astonishing new Saudi talents who are paving the way in our country's flourishing industry,” said Al Turki.
“We are so grateful to the loyal support of our sponsors and the incredible dedication of our talented Red Sea IFF team, and we are excited to welcome everyone to Jeddah for our highly-anticipated second edition,” he added.