The selected projects, vying for the coveted Yusr Awards, include all cinematic forms, from narrative to animation and documentary, featuring films from Asia, Africa, and across the Arab world.
The Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) has revealed this year’s selection of films screening in its ‘Red Sea: Competition’ strand. The strand presents challenging cinematic works with innovative filmmaking and great storytelling by emerging and established voices. The selected projects, vying for the coveted Yusr Awards, include all cinematic forms, from narrative to animation and documentary, featuring films from Asia, Africa, and across the Arab world.
Mahdi Fleifel’s To A Land Unknown, a powerful drama that traces the heartbreaking story of two Palestinian refugees stranded in Athens, will have its MENA premiere. The film received funding from RSIFF. Also debuting as MENA premieres are Sima’s Song directed by Afghan filmmaker Roya Sadat, and Indian director Reema Kagti’s Superboys of Malegaon, a critically acclaimed comedy based on the true story of a group of amateur filmmakers who come together to create a film that honors their city. Narrative feature Moon, directed by Iraqi-Austrian filmmaker Kurdwin Ayub will also screen its MENA premiere.
Antoine Khalife, Director of Arab Programme and Film Classics, said: “We’re bringing some of the most
exciting films from across the Arab world, Asia and Africa to our New Home of Cinema, which all in some way speak themselves to the theme of home – from displacement to exploration, the quotidian to the existential are explored in this selection. This year, we’re also celebrating the revival of Egyptian cinema across our Programme, and we’re proud to be featuring two projects from Egypt Snow White and Seeking Haven For Mr. Rambo in our Competition strand – both of these represent the exciting future of filmmaking in Egypt.”
Other selected films include: To Kill A Mongolian Horse by Xiaoxuan Jiang (Malaysia, Hong Kong, USA, South Korea, Japan, Thailand); My Friend An Delie by Dong Zijian (China); Saba by Maksud Hossain (Bangladesh); 6 in the Morning by Mehran Modiri (Iran, Turkey); Aicha by Mehdi M. Barsaoui (Tunisia, France, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Qatar); Saify by Wael Abumansour (Saudi Arabia); Bin U Bin, Border Elsewhere by Mohamed Lakhdar Tati (Algeria, France); Red Path by Lotfi Achour (Tunisia, France, Belgium, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Qatar); Songs of Adam by Oday Rasheed (Iraq, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, USA); and Hanami by Denise Fernandes (Switzerland, Portugal, Cape Verde)
Kaleem Aftab, Director of International Programme, added: “Our Feature Competition for 2024 highlights the breadth of creativity from across our key regions, spotlighting filmmaking from a range of backgrounds and creating a truly varied slate with something for everyone. The Programme is an embodiment of our aim to create a point of connection between these regions at our festival and a platform for voices from these rich and varied cultures of cinema, and we’re look forward to celebrating this exceptional filmmaking in Jeddah.”
The fourth edition of the Red Sea IFF, running in Jeddah from December 5 to 14, provides a unique and powerful platform for celebrating film, connecting cultures, and expanding horizons by welcoming stories from all walks of life. Core ideas of resilience, connection, and unity are manifested in this year’s theme of Home, which illuminates the vast tapestry of the human experience through film.
