The second cycle of the fund will enable filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, the wider Arab region, and Africa to secure access to crucial funding at the early stages of crafting an idea, exploring unique stories and script development.
The Red Sea Film Foundation has announced that the second cycle of the Red Sea Fund dedicated to the development stage will open for submissions until April 30, 2023, for Saudi, Arab, and African filmmakers.
The fund’s development cycle is aimed at supporting the creative visions to provide financial support to bold and innovative projects, from live-action to animation. With a focus on developing projects from treatments to production-ready screenplays, the Red Sea Fund is committed to empowering filmmakers and bringing their stories to life.
Red Sea Fund has funded 60 projects in the development stage since its inception, including 37 projects in 2021 and 23 projects in 2022, with an emphasis on supporting diverse voices and perspectives from around the world. Films in this series include feature fiction, feature documentaries, feature animations, episodic series, shorts, and immersive films made by Saudi, Arab, and African filmmakers.
Speaking about the development cycle, Emad Iskandar, Director of the Red Sea Fund, said: “We are thrilled to announce the start of this development cycle for the Red Sea Fund, which will continue to provide support to the vibrant and growing film industry in Saudi Arabia, as well as in the broader Arab and African regions. With this new cycle, we will continue to provide a platform for emerging and established filmmakers to develop and produce high-quality films that reflect unique and diverse cultures, histories, and traditions. Our mission is to create a thriving film industry, foster international collaborations, and showcase the talent and creativity of local filmmakers to the world. We look forward to receiving submissions and discovering the next generation of storytellers and visionaries who will be the driving force behind the future of cinema.”
