The 2024 Red Sea International Film Festival wrapped on Thursday, 12 December, in Jeddah’s historic Al-Balad district with an awards ceremony honoring selections from the official competition. Tunisian filmmaker Lotfi Achour won the night’s biggest honor, the Golden Yusr for Best Feature Film, for his movie “Red Path,” a drama exploring the psychological trauma of a young boy living in a war zone who lives through a terrorist attack. The award comes with a USD $100,000 cash prize.

Achour also took home the Yusr for Best Director and its USD $10,000 prize. The festival’s jury president, renowned filmmaker Spike Lee, presented the award, pointing out that it happened to be Achour’s birthday. “Winning these awards is the best gift I could receive,” Achour remarked with emotion.

Lee oversaw a jury that included actress Tuba Buyukustun, actress Minnie Driver, actor Daniel Dae Kim, and filmmaker Abu Bakr Shawky.

In announcing the Best Director award, Driver praised Achour’s work, saying, “This director will live indelibly in my heart forever because it’s one of the most affecting, extraordinary, and inspiring films I’ve ever seen.”

Mahdi Fleifel’s “To a Land Unknown,” won the Silver Yusr for Best Feature Film along with its USD $30,000 prize. Fleifel said his refugee drama, set in Greece, was inspired by the works of Martin Scorsese. Mahmoud Bakri’s performance in the film earned him the Best Actor award.

Mariam Sherif was honored with the Best Actress prize for her role in “Snow White,” directed by Taghrid Aboulhassan. Sherif’s performance marks the first time an Egyptian movie featured a woman with dwarfism in a leading role.

The Yusr for Best Screenplay was presented to Oday Rasheed for “Songs of Adam,” and the Yusr for Cinematic Achievement was awarded to “To Kill a Mongolian Horse,” from director by Tao Qiu. Khaled Mansour took home the Jury Prize and its USD $10,000 check for his film “Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo.”

In the Shorts Competition, “Hatch,” directed by Alireza Kazemipour and Panta Mosleh, won the Golden Yusr and its USD $25,000 prize. The Silver Yusr went to “Alazar,” directed by Baiza Hailu Lemma. It comes with a USD $12,500 prize.

The Asharq Award for Best Documentary went to Santiago Mazar’s “State of Silence,” which earned it a UDS $10,000 prize. Emerging Saudi talent Roula Dakheellahah received the Chopard Emerging Talent Award.

The closing gala also celebrated two renown actresses, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Viola Davis, who received honorary awards for their contributions to cinema. Sarah Jessica Parker presented Chopra Jonas’ award, while Saudi director Hana Al-Omair honored Davis.

Davis earned a standing ovation during her acceptance speech after stating, “The greatest gift I can give as an artist is to allow the world to know that people who look like me, they matter too.”

Other noteworthy guests included Halle Berry, Alia Bhatt, John Boyega, Adrien Brody, Nick Jonas, Gwyneth Paltrow and Dev Patel. Of course, actor turned filmmaker Johnny Depp was also on hand as his sophomore directorial effort, “Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madness” was screening as the closing night film. The movie is about Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani during World War I.

Jomana Al-Rashid, Chairwoman of the Red Sea Film Foundation, noted that 122 films from 85 countries played over 300 screenings during the festival with attendees snapping up 30,000 tickets. “Over the past eight days, we have celebrated the transformative power of cinema and championed diverse narratives from across the globe,” she said.

“The Red Sea film festival represents a seismic shift in the landscape of cinema,” said Alrashid highlight the Red Sea Souk, a market that had 142 exhibitors and 1,730 delegates. “We are more than just a festival. We are a dynamic new hub that heralds the future of storytelling, emerging from the vibrant and complex landscapes of the Arab world, Asia and Africa. But our mission is clear – to amplify voices historically underserved, to create pathways for emerging talents, to redefine the traditional structures of cinema and to demonstrate that extraordinary stories can emerge from any corner of the world. As we approach our fifth year, we’re not merely celebrating a milestone. We are inspiring a generation of storytellers who will impact how humanity sees itself.”

Al-Rashid concluded by saying, “The future of film in the region is undeniably bright, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this exciting journey.”