The recognition of these films highlights the Red Sea Film Foundation’s ongoing dedication to supporting unique voices through the Red Sea Fund.
At the 2025 Berlin International Film Festival, three films backed by the Red Sea Film Foundation—Têtes Brûlées, The Heart is a Muscle and Yalla Parkour—received awards, underscoring the Foundation’s role in fostering impactful storytelling on the global stage.
The Heart Is a Muscle was awarded the Ecumenical Jury Prize in the Panorama section. The film follows Ryan, a father whose five-year-old son briefly goes missing at a barbecue. His intense reaction to the incident triggers a series of events that uncover long-buried secrets and set him on a path of self-discovery.
Yalla Parkour secured the Panorama Documentary Audience Award (Second Prize). Directed by Areeb Zuaiter in her debut feature, the documentary captures her return to Gaza—a place she first visited as a child with her Palestinian mother. After her mother’s passing, a deep longing for her homeland resurfaces when she discovers a video of young men in Gaza practising parkour amidst the turmoil of explosions.
Têtes Brûlées received a Special Mention for Best Film in the youth-focused Generation 14plus category. The story revolves around 12-year-old Eya, who struggles to cope with the sudden loss of her older brother, Younès. Through resilience and the support of Younès’ friends, she embarks on an emotional journey to navigate her grief.
In addition to these achievements, The Sun Sees Everything, a film in development by Wissam Tanios and produced by Christian Eid, won the World Cinema Fund Audience Strategies Award at the Berlinale Co-Production Market.
Shivani Pandya Malhotra, Managing Director of the Red Sea Film Foundation, said: “Congratulations to these incredible filmmakers whose unique perspectives have been recognized on the prestigious stage of the Berlin International Film Festival. Their success underscores the universal power that great storytelling holds and reinforces our dedication to nurturing independent cinema across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. At the Red Sea Film Foundation, we are proud to empower filmmakers and look forward to continuing our work bringing diverse, compelling stories to new audiences worldwide.
