JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA ( November 11, 2024 ) -

The Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) has announced details of this year’s selection of films screening in its prestigious Red Sea: Competition strand, the projects which will vie for the coveted Yusr Awards.

The Competition values 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” will have its MENA premiere, a powerful drama that traces the heartbreaking story of two Palestinian refugees stranded in Athens that received funding from RSIFF. Also debuting as MENA premieres are “Sima’s Song” directed by Afghan filmmaker Roya Sadat, a drama that explores the evolution of women’s rights during the Russian occupation in the 1970s, 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.

The strand presents challenging cinematic works with innovative filmmaking and great storytelling by emerging and established voices, including the Red Sea FF-funded “To Kill A Mongolian Horse” by Xiaoxuan Jiang, a film that examines the profound bond between humans and horses in Mongolian culture and addresses themes of gentrification and rapid societal change. Also screening in its MENA premiere is narrative feature “Moon,” directed by Iraqi-Austrian filmmaker Kurdwin Ayub, which follows a former mixed martial arts champion in Austria who, looking for a fresh start, jumps at an unexpected offer to go to Jordan to train three teenage daughters of a dazzlingly rich family living in an isolated mansion.

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.”

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 5th – 14th, 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.

Red Sea: Competition:

“Superboys of Malegaon”

Reema Kagti (India)

“Superboys of Malegaon” is a film based on the life of Nasir Shaikh, an amateur filmmaker from the town of Malegaon. The residents of the town look to Bollywood cinema for a much-needed escape from daily drudgery. Nasir gets inspired to make a film for the people of Malegaon, by the people of Malegaon. He bands together his ragtag group of friends to bring his vision to life, thereby bringing a fresh lease of life into the town. The film is a poignant yet uplifting take on both filmmaking and friendship – and what happens when those two worlds collide.

“Hanami”

Denise Fernandes (Switzerland, Portugal, Cape Verde)

On a remote volcanic island from which everyone wants to leave, Nana learns to stay. Her mother Nia, who suffers from a mysterious illness, left shortly after her birth. When Nana comes down with a high fever, she is sent to the foot of a volcano for treatment. There, she encounters a world suspended between dreams and reality. Years later, when Nana is a teenager, Nia returns.

“To a Land Unknown”

Mahdi Fleifel (UK, Palestine, France, Greece, Netherlands, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia)

Chatila and Reda are saving to pay for fake passports to get out of Athens. But when Reda loses their hard-earned cash to his dangerous drug addiction, Chatila hatches an extreme plan, which involves them posing as smugglers and taking hostages in an effort to get him and his best friend out of their hopeless environment before it is too late.

“Moon”

Kurdwin Ayub (Austria, Jordan)

Former martial artist Sarah leaves Austria to train three sisters from a wealthy family in the Middle East. What sounds initially like a dream job soon becomes unsettling: the young women are cut off from the outside world and under constant surveillance. Sport doesn’t seem to interest them. So why has Sarah been hired?

“Songs of Adam”

Oday Rasheed (Iraq, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, USA)

In a remote Mesopotamian village on the banks of the Euphrates River, twelve-year-old Adam decides to stop time within himself. Only three people believe in his ability to defy time: Anki, his loyal best friend; Ali, his younger brother; and Iman, his cousin, whose dreams of a future with Adam are shattered. As time passes for everyone but Adam, those who love him grapple with the consequences of his decision.

“Red Path”

Lotfi Achour (Tunisia, France, Belgium, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Qatar)

Mghila Mountain, Tunisia, November 2015. When a jihadist group attacks two very young shepherds, 14-year-old Ashraf is forced to take a macabre message back to his family. Traumatized and trying not to lose his mind, Ashraf finds himself confronted with the powerlessness of his elders, abandoned by the authorities. Inspired by true events, “Red Path” is a dreamlike plunge into the wounded psyche of a child and his incredible ability to overcome trauma.

“Snow White”

Taghrid Abouelhassan (Egypt)

Both Iman and her younger sister dream of finding true love, within the strict parameters of life. For Iman, there is an obvious obstacle: she is a Little Person, only 119 centimeters tall, which puts her out of the running for an arranged marriage. Instead she goes online, hiding her size and compensating with her big laugh and big personality. Her sister has an offer of marriage, but Khaled’s family has second thoughts when they meet Iman. To put things off, the man’s mother insists on a top-of-the-range refrigerator as a dowry. A light-hearted but fascinating mix of issues around marriage, disability and sisterhood, with a magnetic star performance by Mariam Sherif at its very big heart.

“Bin U Bin, Border Elsewhere”

Mohamed Lakhdar Tati (Algeria, France)

In eastern Algeria, Saad, a failed professional and romantic filmmaker, has recently been living with his friend Fethi. The latter, a widower, is responsible for his entire family: his son, his parents, his younger sister and his big brother, the strange Ahmed. The family makes a living from smuggling fuel at the Tunisian border. Immersed in this universe that is foreign to him, Saad discovers a fascinating, almost self-sufficient world, where hope and brutality mingle. But the traffic gets tougher and forces the two friends to take more and more risks.

“Saify”

Wael Abumansour (Saudi Arabia)

At 40 years old, Saify Muhammed is a washed-up confidence trickster who owes money to everyone, including his ex-wife. Now he is trying his hand at blackmail. The year is 2000; Saify has a dilapidated music shop selling cassette tapes, including recordings of banned Islamic sermons he mistakenly thinks will turn an illicit profit. His sermon supplier is Al-Mahdi, shady religious advisor to the local bigwig Sheikh Asaad Aman, who has a name as a philanthropist. When Saify finds one tape containing a scandalous recording of the influential Sheikh Asaad, he thinks he’s finally in the money.

“Aïcha”

Mehdi M. Barsaoui (Tunisia, France, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Qatar)

Aya, in her late twenties, still lives with her parents in southern Tunisia and feels trapped in a life without prospects. One day, the minivan in which she commutes daily between her town and the hotel where she works crashes. As the sole survivor of the accident, she realizes it could be her chance to start a new life. She flees to Tunis under a new identity, but everything is soon compromised when she becomes the main witness to a police blunder.

“Seeking Haven for Mr Rambo”

Khaled Mansour (Egypt, Saudi Arabia)

The story of Hassan and his dog, Rambo, as they go on a quest to save Rambo from Hassan’s vengeful landlord, whom the dog attacked. On his journey through Cairo to find a safe haven for Rambo, Hassan is forced to confront the fears of his past and rediscovers himself.

“Sima’s Song”

Roya Sadat (Netherlands, France, Spain, Taiwan R.O.C.)

Suraya and her inseparable friend, the talented singer Sima, try to cope in Afghanistan‘s unstable political landscape at the end of the 1970ies. From university halls to intimate gatherings, their contrasting visions of freedom clash and converge: Suraya, a wealthy advocate for communism, blinded by it‘s promise of equality, assumes a pivotal role within the pro-Russian faction, while Sima, a humble, conservative Muslim, skeptical of political power games, seeks refuge in tradition and gets married. Despite their differences, their shared conviction to women‘s rights still binds them in sisterhood.

“6 in the Morning”

Mehran Modiri (Iran, Turkey)

She is going to leave the country to continue on to higher education in Canada. Her family members are worried and act as if they have been already missing her. Before going to the airport, she attends a goodbye party at her friend’s house. Everyone is singing and having a good time when the morality police break in…

“To Kill a Mongolian Horse”

Xiaoxuan Jiang (Malaysia, Hong Kong, USA, South Korea, Japan, Thailand)

Amid the wintry steppes on the border of Mongolia and China, Saina, a Mongolian horseman turned cultural performer, tends his ranch during the day and performs horseback tricks for audiences at night. Unlike the majestic cavalryman he portrays in the show, Saina discovers that his herdsman’s life is on the verge of disintegration.

“Saba”

Maksud Hossain (Bangladesh)

In Dhaka, Bangladesh, twenty-five-year old Saba (Mehazabien Chowdhury) lives with and cares for her demanding mother, Shirin. As Shirin’s need for medical treatment increases, it falls on her daughter to find the money to pay for it. Securing a job at a local Shisha bar, Saba befriends the free-spirited Ankur and, for the first time, begins to envision what a life of her own could look like. This moving mother-daughter drama — and debut from filmmaker Maksud Hossain — offers a poignant look at the realities of end-of-life care and the delicate balance between love and guilt, codependence and autonomy.

“My Friend An Demie”

Zijian Dong (China)

The debut film from actor-turned-director Dong Zijian that flashes back and forth in time to tell a touching story of friendship and family strife. Following his father’s death, Limo (Liu Haoran) is flying back to his hometown in northeastern China, when he spots his childhood friend An Delie (played by director Zijian Dong) on the plane. When their flight is diverted because of heavy snow, the duo venture on a journey that brings back long-forgotten memories in which Limo must deal with the demons from his past.

The Festival is supported by Principal Sponsors: Visit Saudi, MBC, and Genesis Mohamad Yusuf AlNaghi; Official Sponsors: Film AlUla, SRMG, Chopard, SAUDIA, and TikTok; Strategic Sponsors of the Red Sea Souk: NEOM and Cultural Development Fund; and Support Sponsors Nova, Mermaid and Telfaz.

About the Red Sea International Film Festival
Red Sea International Film Festival provides a platform for Arab filmmakers and industry professionals from around the world to connect, host feature and short film competitions, and present a series of events, masterclasses, and workshops to support emerging talent. Running alongside the Festival is the Red Sea Souk, the Festival’s industry market, designed for global exchange and partnerships between the international and Saudi film industries. The four-day market will offer a packed Programme of curated events to foster co-production, international distribution, and new business opportunities. The Souk offers unbeatable access to the new vibrant Saudi scene, as well as the best of the Arab market, through pitching sessions, one-on-one meetings, screenings, industry talks, and networking events.