The historic Old Town of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia is called Al-Balad, which literally means “the town.” The historic center of the country’s second-largest city is not only home to traditional houses with traditional wooden windows and balconies, but also the new headquarters of the Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) Cultural Plaza.
The venue aims to be the main hub for people attending screenings and souk participants during the fourth RSIFF, marking a return to Al-Balad, the venue for the first RSIFF.
“The fourth edition of the RSIFF Red Sea International Film Festival will return to its permanent home in Jeddah’s iconic Al-Balad district,” the Red Sea International Film Festival said on its website. “This year’s theme is ‘A New Home for Cinema,’ Designed to celebrate this historic venue, it welcomes filmmakers, industry professionals and film lovers from around the world to commemorate the transformative power of storytelling.”
Ballard was the site of the first RSIFF, but over the past two years the event has been moved to other parts of the city.
“We are very excited to be ready for the fourth edition of the event with a permanent headquarters in the Old City of Al-Balad,” said Shivani Pandya Malhotra, managing director of the festival. THR. “It’s a beautiful space. There are four cinemas in the square and an 800-seat theater auditorium. We will be able to host all the different workshops, panel discussions and other events during the festival and throughout the year. Since the festival is Our flagship, we will launch this space based on that.
The location and its traditional role reflect the mission of the festival and the Red Sea Foundation as a gathering place for people from different parts of the world. “The new headquarters truly reflects Jeddah and Saudi Arabia’s past,” Malhotra explained. “It’s a fusion of different cultures. It also reflects in everything we do because not only do we have the festival but the four pillars of the foundation, including markets and funds. We are a platform for Asia, Africa and the Arab world at the same time It’s still a very international festival and that’s the kind of film we want to champion.
She emphasized that Ballard also has a rich history as a place where “a lot of trade took place between different people from different parts of the world,” reflecting that mission. “If you look back at history, there are stories around every corner. It’s a place where cultures meet, so it really reflects who we are and who the foundation and the festival are.
RSIFF International Programming Director Kaleem Aftab emphasized the importance of creating a gathering place for festival attendees. “In all my experiences at film festivals, I’ve always loved film festivals where you feel like there’s a heartbeat, there’s a center, there’s something that not only draws you in, but also launches the story,” he told THR. “It’s important to find something that feels like a center, something that feels like everyone has a chance to mix, because I think one of the most important things about film festivals is that they can be very democratic. For someone who’s never made a film, who’s seen 10 films For people, they can be an opportunity to hear from the most experienced filmmakers, costume designers or actors and have the opportunity to do so.”
Such a central location is considered particularly important for Jeddah, given that the Saudi Arabian film industry is looking to cultivate and nurture more creators, craftsmen and film fans.
Importantly, the Cultural Plaza and RSIFF headquarters blend a traditional appearance with cutting-edge facilities. “Technically, it is modern and the screening quality is very high. However, the building also respects the community from an architectural perspective,” explains Antoine Khalife, RSIFF’s director of Arabic programming and film classics. THR. “As a result, the building respects the community and tradition while embracing modern technology.”
Jeddah Cultural Plaza
Provided by RSIFF
The Red Sea Souk will also become part of a new cultural center in Jeddah Old City. “We will be setting up our bespoke industry venue in Old Town, which is beautiful,” said Holly Daniel, director of Red Sea Souks. THR. “Overall, we will leave a very strong footprint in Jeddah Old Town” covering festivals, markets and other events.
Organizers also see the center as an opportunity to more effectively promote the art and magic of film in the city. “We are now in the heart of Jeddah and we are bringing films to the city and making the festival a bigger part of the city,” Daniel said.
