Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah has announced 38 feature film projects and, for the first time, a TV series to be featured at this year’s Red Sea Souk Project Market, with organizers claiming they demonstrate a “continued commitment” to advocacy Bold storytelling and exciting new voices in cinema.
They said this year’s selection, which includes seven series, highlights “diverse narratives and talent from across the globe”. The selected projects represent the culmination of Red Sea Lab’s annual development program at the Lodge, which is run in partnership with TorinoFilmLab and sponsored by Film Alula.
“For the first time, this year’s Open Air Market is calling for submissions from filmmakers across Asia, marking a significant expansion of the program, with productions from the continent accounting for 28% of the total number of entries,” the market team highlighted. Previously, the Open Air Market Open only to projects by directors from Africa or the Arab world.
An international panel of readers evaluates the submissions, and final selections are decided by a dedicated selection committee. Each project will receive tailored promotional guidance in front of the souk, providing creators with the opportunity to network with potential partners and investors.
“Reflecting Souk’s continued support of talent, Souk welcomes filmmakers Asmae Al Moudir, Sofia Alaoui and Harcourt Moos Halkawt Mustafa, whose previous feature film screened at the 2023 Red Sea International Film Festival, is back, and they will be showcasing exciting new projects they are developing during the Red Sea International Film Festival.
Holly Daniel, Director of Red Sea Souks, emphasized: “This year’s selection of Red Sea Souks project markets truly demonstrates our commitment to championing diverse voices and perspectives. As we open our project market to all of Asia for the first time, the 38 projects selected this year represent a diverse range of projects from across Asia. Some of the most original talent and stories from two continents.
“Blue Card”, provided by RSIFF
All selected projects will be considered for the Red Sea Souk and Red Sea Lab awards, as well as a number of partner awards to be announced later. These awards provide financial support for all stages of the project life cycle, including development, production and post-production, as well as dedicated support for projects within the Lodge and SeriesLab.
See the full project list below.
Series of laboratory projects
it’s over, Author: Noora Al Eidi and Shehreyar Ahsan
Saudi Arabia
Salia Osman doesn’t need a manby Eshtephan Khattar and Hiba Louis
lebanon
crazyAli Karim and Dania Altayeb
Iraq, Saudi Arabia
Generation AAuthor: Mona Ombogo – Mona Ombogo’s Best Works
Kenya
changeby Nathan Magura and Lucky Lola Atwin
Uganda
Unsolved Case 1 (Purukandan Murder Case)Author: Nithin Lukose and Hari Krishnan
India
Shani Bazaarby Karan Kabir and Nitin Kher
India
Red Sea Souk Development Project
“DO RE MIMI”, Fatima Al-Banawi
novel
Saudi Arabia
Farooq, by Halkawt Mustafa
Record
Iraq, Norway
Port of Hope, by Seemab Gul
debut, novel
Pakistan
Holy Cow (working title) by Asmae El Moudir
novel
Morocco
“It’s Okay, I’m Only Human” by Karim Ghorayeb and George Peter Barbari
Record
lebanon, france
LA PYRAMIDE by Cj ‘Fiery’ Obasi
novel
United States, Brazil, Senegal, United Kingdom, Nigeria
Maybe the mother, Sonny Calvinto
novel
Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan
The Robbery of Beirut by Katia Jarjoura
debut, novel
lebanon, france
TAHMINA by Aboozar Amini
novel
Netherlands, Canada, Afghanistan, Germany
“Light-Skinned Loneliness” by Baloji Tshiani
novel
Belgium, France, Netherlands, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa
“The Sea Was Blue” by Mohamad El-Hadidi
debut, novel
Egypt, France
Watch It Burn by Makbul Mubarak
novel
Indonesia
Hotel project
“Asa, the Fish in the Bowl” by Dahlia Nemlich
debut, novel
lebanon
Blue Card, by Mohammed Alomda
debut, novel
sudan, egypt
I Didn’t Sign Up for This by Lana Komsany
debut, novel
Saudi Arabia
HADD by Jamal Kutbi
debut, novel
Saudi Arabia
“Close Rose Close”, photo by Rulan Hasan
debut, novel
Saudi Arabia
“I Will Smile in September” by Aakash Chhabra
debut, novel
India
JAYSAN by Aisha Sultanbekova
debut, novel
Kyrgyzstan
The Silent One, by Jawahine Zentar
debut, novel
Morocco
PEPO KALI, author: Lydia Matata
debut, novel
Kenya
Tafaya, designed by Sofia Alavi
novel
Morocco
Tebakar, by Shelby Kho
debut, novel
Indonesia, Singapore
MANJANO, author: Omar Hamza
debut, novel
Kenya
Souk on the Red Sea in progress
The winner is visible from the start, by Zhannat Alshanova
debut, novel
France, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Lithuania
Allah Has No Obligations, by Zaven Najjar
debut, animation
France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Canada
The Odyssey of Dandelion, by Momoko Seto
debut, animation
Japan, France, Belgium
FUXI, by Qiu Jiongjiong
novel
Taiwan/Hong Kong
Gurria, Levan Kugashvili
novel
Georgia, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Türkiye
“The Memory of Princess Mumby” by Damien Hauseu
novel
Switzerland, Kenya
“The Wanderer” by Amartei Armar
debut, novel
Ghana
