Saudi Film Fest: From Ambitious Start to Global Powerhouse

The Red Sea International Film Festival has transformed from an ambitious start-up into a key player on the global festival circuit in just five years. Founded in 2019, the festival, along with its supporting Red Sea Film Foundation, has established a year-round engine to finance and nurture filmmakers. Its success is built on four pillars: the festival itself, the Red Sea Souk market, Red Sea Labs, and the Red Sea Fund, which has already backed 280 projects from across the Arab world, Africa, and Asia.

Since its debut in 2021, the festival has screened over 520 films from 85 countries, significantly boosting Saudi Arabia's nascent film industry and increasing local box office and production levels. The fifth edition, running from December 4-13, 2025, highlights the festival's "East meets West" initiative, featuring a diverse competition line-up and a rich program of talks with international stars and filmmakers. This focus aims to champion cinema from its targeted regions.

Managing director Shivani Pandya Malhotra emphasizes the foundation's commitment to building a sustainable film ecosystem in Saudi Arabia. While creative talent has adapted quickly, the industry still faces challenges in developing experienced crews. The foundation's Labs program actively addresses this by investing in targeted training and capacity-building initiatives. Looking ahead, success is measured by supported films achieving both artistic recognition and commercial viability, fostering a thriving and diverse film industry.