Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — The Red Sea International Film Festival unveiled on Thursday the new date for its inaugural edition, which was initially set to be held in March 2020.

The festival, which will take place from Nov. 11 to 20, will reflect on the impact of cinema’s triumphant return to Saudi Arabia since 2019, the blossoming film culture, and explore how cinema can create an interface connecting a new, outward-looking Saudi and the world.

The 10-day festival, which will be held in Jeddah’s historic downtown Al-Balad, will shine a spotlight on how cinema has successfully adapted from analog to digital and to the new platforms delivering content.

Under the theme of “Metamorphosis," the festival will also focus on the changing role of women in cinema.

The festival’s current team is led by managing director Shivani Pandya and director of Arab programs and film classics Antoine Khalife, both formerly of the Dubai International Film Festival.

Film critic Kaleem Aftab has joined as director of international programming, while Jumana Zahid leads the Red Sea Lodge, the Red Sea Film Foundation’s incubator for Saudi and Arab filmmakers, now in its second edition.

The senior team, which has a 50/50 gender split, is completed by Ibrahim Modir, head of shared services.

The event looks to life beyond the coronavirus pandemic that postponed the festival’s debut in March 2020 and will bring together local film lovers, filmmakers, and international industry leaders. November’s event will be the largest annual celebration of cinema in the region.