The first ever Red Sea International Film Festival closed in style in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia recently. While there will be more screenings under the festival’s banner for a limited time, the closing ceremony was a star-studded event.
The festival award winners were announced at the event and officially close the inaugural film festival in the Kingdom, which only recently lifted a long-standing ban on cinema.
Mohamed Al-Turki, chairman of the festival committee commented at the closing ceremony: “I am touched by the reactions of many guests who have shared positive stories of the incredible warmth and hospitality they have received from the Saudi people. The future is now bright for the Saudi film industry.”
The red carpet was replete with stars led by American supermodel Naomi Campbell. Others in attendance included actors Ed Westwick; Maria Pedraza; president of the Arab World institute in Paris Jack Lang and director Giuseppe Tornatore.
Several actors from the Middle East were also present, these included: Hend Sabri, Maysa Maghrabi, Basem Khayat and Ahd Kamel.
The awards ceremony opened with the honours for Best Saudi Film, which was clinched by Rupture. The Red Sea International Film Festival organisers say that a substantial percentage of the 138 films screened during the festival were by female filmmakers. A fact that shatters stereotypes about the country and the region.
Screenings will continue until December 15.
