S Viswanath

Giving a fillip, and a leg up to the Asian, African & Arab filmmakers, the Red Sea Film Foundation, is showcasing four of its funded films at the on-going premier 78^th Edition of the Cannes International Film Festival.

Likewise, the Red Sea Film Foundation, as part of its annual celebration of outstanding women who have shaped the global film landscape and discourse, is also hosting its Women in Cinema Gala at the Cannes International Film Festival.

Saudi Arabia’s participation highlights its commitment to establishing the Kingdom as an emerging player in the international film landscape.

The Saudi Film Commission’s presence at Cannes aligns with its broader mission to nurture local talent, cultivate a vibrant and sustainable film ecosystem, and ensure that Saudi cinema is showcased on the world’s most prestigious cultural platforms.

The Saudi Film Commission is making a significant impact at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, With a dedicated Saudi pavilion and a high-profile delegation representing key partners from the Kingdom’s cultural and investment sectors—including the Ministry of Investment, Film AlUla, Neom, Cultural Development Fund, MBC Studios, King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture (Ithra), and the Red Sea International Film Festival.

Incidentally, much to the delight and fervid expectations of cinephiles, the Red Sea International Film Festival, now in its fifth edition, makes a welcome return to its permanent homestead in the iconic Al-Balad Historic District of Jeddah.

The fifth edition of Red Sea International Film Festival will run from 4–13 December 2025 in the historic district of Al Balad, Jeddah.The four films that would be featured in the Cannes’ official and parallel sections, making their premier, are Aisha Can’t Fly, directed by Egypt’s Morad Mostafa in the Un Certain Regard which has been supported by Red Sea Labs and Red Sea Souk.

Promised Sky by Tunisian filmmaker Erige Sehiri, in Un Certain Regard supported by Red Sea Fund; the Dandelion’s Odyssey by Momoko Seto from Japan, as part of ‘Director’s Fortnight’ supported by Red Sea Soukand Life After Sihamby Egyptian filmmaker Namir Abdel Meseeh in the Cannes parallel section ACID supported by Red Sea Fund.

Aisha Can’t Fly follows Aisha 26-year-old Sudanese caregiver living in a neighbourhood in the heart of Cairo where she witnesses the tension between her fellow African migrants and local gangs.
Stuck between an undefined relationship with a young Egyptian cook, a gangster that blackmails her into an unethical deal in exchange for safety, and a new house she’s assigned to work in, Aisha struggles to cope with her fears and lost battles, causing her dreams to cross with reality and leading her to an impasse.

Following his I Promise You Paradise, the young filmmaker explores the intimate and political filmmaking by blending formal, contemplative, and silent style of filmmaking with a dash of a thriller element to present a a very unique perspective on migratory crisis as experienced in Egypt. Drawing from documentary filmmaking and magical realism, Morad’s film is described as an elegy, a platform for those who have been long overlooked to have their voices and stories heard.

“Promised Sky“(Promis le ciel)  is a drama that follows four generations of Ivorian immigrant women in Tunisia. It explores their relationships and challenges they face as they navigate their new lives. The film highlights the complex dynamics between women, their experiences with displacement and social inequality, and their search for a better future.The film follows fate of three women, a pastor, a student, and an exiled mother, whose delicate cohabitation shifts when they take in little four-year-old Kenza, rescued from a shipwreck.

Dandelion’s Odyssey is a silent animation film following Dendelion, Baraban, Léonto and Taraxa – four dandelion achenes that survive from a series of nuclear explosions destroying Earth – are propelled into the cosmos. After crash-landing on an unknown planet, they set out in search of soil where their species might survive. However, they must face countless obstacles: the elements, fauna, flora, the climate.

Life After Siham speaks of how when Siham passes away, Namir does not realize she has gone forever. For in a child’s mind, mothers are immortal… To keep her memory alive, Namir delves into his family history across Egypt and France. With the cinema of Youssef Chahine as his companion, a story of exile — and above all, of love — begins to unfold.

Besides, these four promising filmmakers, the seven women who will walk the Red Carpet and catch the paparazzi’s eyes are Amina Khalil (Egypt), Elham Ali (Saudi Arabia), Sarah Taibah (Saudi Arabia),  Engfa Waraha(Thailand), Jacqueline Fernandez (Sri Lanka), Gaya Jiji (Syria), filmmaker whose work explores themes of identity and womanhood; and Rungano Nyoni (Zambia/Wales), BAFTA-winning director renowned for her bold, thought-provoking films showcased at major international festivals.

According to Red Sea Film Foundation Managing Director Shivani Pandya Malhotra, “at Cannes, besides seeking to bridge cultures and connect communities, through supporting compelling films, celebrating women who have shaped the industry, and engaging with global filmmakers, RSFF continuesits mission to empower talent and expand the space for diverse cinematic voices to thrive.”

“This year’s spotlight honourees showcase the incredible talent that can be found across the Arab world, Africa and Asia – demonstrating how important it is to platform creatives from these regions. We’re proud to be highlighting them as role models for women both in front of and behind the camera – and creating connections across these vibrant film industries,” Ms Shivani added.

Similarly, Red Sea Film Foundation Chairperson Jomana Al-Rashid noted that “supporting women across all aspects of the film industry is one of Foundation’s cornerstones. Across our Fund, Labs and at our Festival, we are committed to platforming rising and established female talent on the global stage – having supported more than 230 female directors since 2019. The Gala is the perfect way to come together in celebration of the work of all women in cinema, as we continue to empower a new generation of female talent, creatives and storytellers.”

CineWaves Foundation Founder & a Saudi film industry pioneer Faisal Baltyourhas been appointed the Red Sea Film Foundation CEO taking over from acting CEO Mohammed Asseri effective June 1^st, 2025.

The RSIFF’s fifth anniversary promises to build on its legacy of championing cinematic excellence, fostering creativity, and supporting filmmakers from the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.

The 2024 edition of RSIFF saw record-breaking participation, with over 40,000 attendees and nearly 7,000 accredited guests, showcasing 122 films from 85 countries, including 61 premieres. A total of 302 screenings took place, with half of films being world or international premieres, including 46 world premieres, 15 international premieres, and 53 MENA premieres.

Meanwhile, the outgoing Executive Editor of Screen International Fionnuala Halligan took over as The Red Sea Film Foundation (Red Sea FF) new Director of International Programmes, and work alongside Director of Arab Programmes and Film Classics Antoine Khalife to shape and curate the burgeoning festival’s line-up.

A journalism graduate, Fionnuala was film critic for South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, for 12 years. She was a consultant to and international programmer for Macao International Film Festival for five years (2016 – 2021) alongside her work at Screen International. She is a member of London Film Critics’ Circle, BAFTA and European Film Academy.

Assuming charge she said I look forward to working closely with the team to further shape and expand the festival’s international programming.”

The Cannes Film Festival 2025 is witnessing a mixed melange of films from the MENA region, that explore resistance, identity, migration, and resilience and range from Iranian documentaries to Tunisian dramas, which offer a rich and necessary perspective on stories too often left untold.

Besides the four already highlighted above, the others include the Egyptian political thriller Eagles of the Republic, which is vying for the esteemed ‘Palme d’Or’, by director Tarik Saleh’s Cairo trilogy. The story following George Fahmy, an Egyptian actor forced to star in a dangerous, government-funded propaganda film. 

Iranian film It Was Just An Accident, by the famed and critically acclaimed Iranian auteur Jafar Panahi, whose synopsis is under the wraps. La Petite Dernière, by Tunisian-French director and actor Hafsia Herzi about Fatima, a young woman who leaves her family home to study philosophy in Paris, whose story is based on a novel.The Palestine fixture Once Upon A Time in Gaza, by Palestinian twin filmmakers Tarzan and Arab Nasser, about Yahya, a student, and his unlikely friendship with Osama, a bold but kind dealer. The documentary Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, which features film and video messages between Iranian filmmaker Sepideh Farsi and Gazan photojournalist Fatima Hassouna. The Iraqi film The President’s Cake, a debut by Hasan Hadi, which tells the story of nine-year-old Lamia, who faces “draw day” – a ritual in which students are chosen to participate to celebrate the then president, Saddam Hussein’s birthday. The story follows her defiance of the ritual, as she embarks on a mission of bravery and self-discovery. The film features in the 2025 Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes.

S VISWANATH is a veteran film critic who officiates as JURY at several National & International Film Festivals. He deputises as CHIEF CINEMA CURATOR/PROGRAMMER & CREATIVE ADVISOR for Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes). He also curates & advises on the selection of shorts & documentaries for Bengaluru International Short Film Festival (BISFF). Mr Viswanath is the author of “RANDOM REFLECTIONS: A Kaleidoscopic Musings on Kannada Cinema”.