The Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) is delighted to announce the world premiere of “The Tale of Daye’s Family” as the opening night gala film for its fourth edition. The Egyptian-Saudi co-production is a poignant exploration of tolerance, ambition, and the transformative power of music, and underscores the Festival’s commitment to showcasing the best of Arab cinema.
“The Tale of Daye’s Family” tells the story of an 11-year-old Nubian albino with a beautiful voice, who faces adversity due to his unique appearance. Abandoned by his father and bullied by his peers, he dreams of following in the footsteps of his idol, singer and actor Mohamed Mounir. When he gets a chance to audition for “The Voice,” Daye and his family embark on a perilous journey from Aswan to Cairo.
Directed by the critically acclaimed Egyptian filmmaker Karim Shenawy, the film promises to bring a fresh and compelling vision to the screen. The selection of “The Tale of Daye’s Family” as the opening night film reinforces the Red Sea International Film Festival’s dedication to supporting and promoting Arab filmmakers and fostering the growth of the film industry in the wider region.
Saudi award-winning actress and singer Aseel Omran, renowned for her captivating presence and widespread popularity across the Arab world, embarks on a new chapter with her debut in Egyptian cinema with “The Tale of Daye’s Family.” The film is written by acclaimed Egyptian screenwriter Haitham Dabbour, whose notable experience in Saudi cinema includes the success of, “A Stand Worthy of Men,” which became Saudi Arabia’s highest-grossing film of 2021.
Shivani Pandya Malhotra, Managing Director for the Red Sea International Film Festival, said: “The Red Sea International Film Festival is delighted to present the world premiere of ‘The Tale of Daye’s Family’ as our opening night film. This moving story is set against the backdrop of the vibrant Egyptian independent cinematic resurgence – an undercurrent of this year’s Festival. The film’s universal themes of hope and resilience will undoubtedly resonate deeply with audiences and spark important conversations.”
Shenawy is an award-winning Egyptian film director with over 30 titles in TV, film, and documentaries. He earned his MA in Directing from Goldsmiths, University of London, in 2013. After his feature fiction debut “Gunshot,” Karim directed a number of TV series, including “Qabeel,” “Blood Oath,” “Take Care of Zizi,” “The Exchange,” and “The Seven-Year Itch.”
“The Tale of Daye’s Family” is an Egyptian-Saudi co-production from Blueprint Productions, Cinewaves, Synergy Films, Red Star Films and Misr International Films.
The Red Sea International Film Festival will run from 5 December-14 December, and tickets for all film screenings are on sale on the RSIFF website.
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 IFF)
The Red Sea IFF is a grand celebration of film, bringing the best of world cinema to Jeddah. Over the past three editions, the Festival has showcased films from 77 countries and a lineup representing 47 different languages. The carefully curated selection includes nominations for the 2024 Academy Awards from the region, critically acclaimed award-winning filmmakers and films, classic cinema, and a spotlight on films from underrepresented voices underscoring the Festival’s commitment to cinematic excellence and bridging cultures.
The Festival has garnered significant recognition, winning many awards for best cultural and film events. It has achieved massive publicity, reaching millions of audiences worldwide, with thousands of press attendees. Regarded as Saudi Arabia’s highest-profile and most anticipated event, the Festival has captured the attention and acclaim of renowned industry figures worldwide and has been attended by tens of thousands of accredited visitors.
As the largest celebration of cinema and culture in the MENA region, the Festival features exciting new films on the big screen, alongside retrospective programmes celebrating cinema masters, the latest Saudi films, feature and short film competitions, industry events, and masterclasses (In Conversations).
For ten exhilarating days (December 5-14), the Festival will transform the historic Jeddah Old Town, ‘Al-Balad’, into a cinematic wonderland, captivating film enthusiasts, industry professionals, and global audiences alike. “Al Balad,” is recognized as a UNESCO site that offers a captivating cultural experience reflecting the rich heritage of Saudi Arabia.