This year’s expanded five-day programme is set to offer an exceptional line-up of activities bringing together new talent, emerging filmmakers and established regional and international industry leaders.
The Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) has announced the dates for its industry event, the Red Sea Souk. The Souk will be held from December 7 to 11, 2024, in Jeddah’s vibrant Al Balad district. This year’s expanded five-day programme is set to offer an exceptional line-up of activities bringing together new talent, emerging filmmakers and established regional and international industry leaders for a series of events, talks and networking opportunities. The growing marketplace features 142 exhibitors from 32 countries this year.
Discussing this year’s event, Shivani Pandya Malhotra, RSIFF’s Managing Director, said: “The Souk is a vital part of the RSIFF experience, serving as a hub for collaboration, innovation, and opportunity. This year, we are more committed than ever to creating an environment where filmmakers, producers, and industry professionals can come together to share knowledge, forge meaningful connections, and shape the future of cinema. We are excited to present this year’s events and thankful to our partners and contributors who continue support our ambition to become the premier film market in the region.”
The Souk Talks segment will bring together international film professionals and invite them to connect with Souk audiences through a series of panel sessions. The Talks programme is a vibrant platform that has been curated in collaboration with CAA and is designed with producers at the core of its focus. It will offer inspiring conversations with unparalleled insights to the present and future of the Arab, African, Asian and global film industries, including their far-reaching impact on the global entertainment landscape. Speakers for this edition include Glen Basner (FilmNation – USA), Diana Williams, (Kinetic Energy Entertainment- USA), Seb Shorr (Fremantle – UK), Toni Kamau (We Are Not The Machine – Kenya), Ritesh Sidhwani (Excel Entertainment – India), Vincent Maraval (Wild Bunch International – France) Tima Shomali, (Producer, Director, Actor – Jordan) and Jeongin Hong (Plus M Entertainment – South Korea).
Inspire! Labs programme at the Red Sea Film Festival will offer events that empower filmmakers with unique perspectives in film, episodic storytelling, animation, and gaming. The intimate sessions will connect participants with global industry experts to demystify the creative process, foster talent development, and spark the imagination of participants.
