Under the slogan “Cinema has a new home” and with the participation of approximately 125 films from 50 countries, in addition to discussion sessions and honors, the activities of the fourth session of the Red Sea Film Festival will begin today, Thursday, December 5, in Jeddah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and will continue until the 14th of this month. .
In its fourth session, the festival offers various cinematic experiences, including feature films, documentaries, short and long films, in addition to its special shows that celebrate different cultures.
“Dhi” is a call for tolerance and the realization of the dream
The opening ceremony, which is being held today, will witness the screening of the Egyptian film “Dhay – The Biography of the People of Dhay,” written by Haitham Dabour and directed by Karim El-Shenawy. The film co-stars Mohamed Mamdouh, Sudanese actress Islam Mubarak, and Saudi actress Aseel Omran.
The film highlights profound human issues such as tolerance, ambition, and the role of music in shaping dreams. Its events revolve around an inspiring journey for the Nubian teenage boy “Dhay”, who suffers from albino disease (the enemy of the sun), and who embarks on an exceptional adventure from southern to northern Egypt, accompanied by his family and the music school to which he belongs, in order to achieve his big dream.
Human tales and stories in the official competition
The official competition covers a group of international films that present poignant stories about migration, self-exploration, and the suffering of daily life.
Among the most prominent participations, Palestinian director Mahdi Fleifel’s film “To an Unknown Land” will be shown for the first time in the Middle East, after it received wide attention at a number of international festivals, most notably the Cannes Film Festival.
The film tells the story of two Palestinian brothers, Shatila and Reda, who flee the Lebanese camps heading to northern Europe, hoping to find a better life and complete their asylum journey to Germany. But they face a different fate when they find themselves stranded in Athens.
The competition includes the Egyptian film “Searching for a Way Out for Mr. Rambo” by director Khaled Mansour, after the film participated in the Venice Film Festival. The film stars Rakeen Saad and Essam Omar, and its events revolve around Hassan, a young man in his thirties who tries to save his dog “Rambo” and rediscovers himself during a journey. Save the dog.
Also from Egypt, the movie “Snow White” directed by Taghreed Abu Al-Hassan is being shown. The events revolve around a girl who subscribes to a website for the purpose of marriage, and hides that she is of short stature in the hope that the groom will forgive her after he falls in love with her.
The film by Iraqi-Austrian director Cordwin Ayoub, “Moon,” will also be screened. Its events revolve around a former martial arts champion searching for the beginning of a new life. She goes to Jordan, where she meets 3 sisters who live with them in a secluded palace.
Co-produced by Iraq, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United States, and the Netherlands, the film “Blood Chants” directed by Uday Rashid revolves around the child Adam, who tries to stop the passage of time inside him, and at the same time continues to monitor the lives of those close to him.
The film “The Red Sons” by director Lotfi Ashour is a joint production between Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Belgium, and Poland. The film presents a psychological crisis for a young boy, “Ashraf,” who escapes into the world of imagination after witnessing the killing of his cousin.
The film “Aisha” by Tunisian director Mahdi Al-Barsawi is being screened as part of a joint Tunisian-Qatari production, which presents a humanitarian and philosophical vision. The events of the film revolve around Aya, who those around her believe that she lost her life in a tragic accident, while in reality she chooses to build a new identity and live a completely different life. This bold choice exposes it to great challenges and risks.
From Algeria, the film “Between and Between” by director Mohamed Lakhdar Tati is participating in the official competition. Its events take place in the world of smuggling on the Tunisian-Algerian border through the hero who is involved in operations that increase the risks around him.
The official competition includes a group of distinguished films from around the world, including the Saudi film “Summer” by director Wael Mansour, which takes viewers back to the late nineties of the last century. The film’s events revolve around a cassette tape dealer who discovers a tape containing sensitive secrets, which prompts him to blackmail an influential businessman.
The Indian film “The Incredible Boys of Malegaon” by director Reema Kagti also stands out, whose story is inspired by the life of Naseer Sheikh, the Indian filmmaker who, along with his friends, revived classic Bollywood films with an innovative touch.
In addition, the competition includes various films from several countries, including the Swiss film “Hanami” by director Denis Fernandez, the Dutch film “Sima Song” directed by Roya Sadat, and the Iranian film “Six in the Morning” by director Mehran Modiri.
The list also includes the Malaysian film “To Kill a Mongolian Horse” directed by Xiaochuan Jiang, the Bangladeshi film “Saba” directed by Maqsood Hossain, and finally the Chinese film “My Friend An Daily” directed by Dong Zijian.
Special offers in Arabic masterpieces
The fourth session of the festival will witness special screenings of a number of distinguished Arab films. Among them is the Egyptian film “Abdo and Sania” by director Omar Bakri, which deals with the story of a couple from the Egyptian countryside who immigrate to New York, where they face challenges and conflicts in a world full of rebellion. The Saudi film “Salma and Moon” by director Ahed Kamel will also be screened, which tells the story of Salma, who suffers from the absence of her father and finds comfort in the friendship she has with her Sudanese driver.
Also from Saudi Arabia, the film “Hobal” by director Abdul Aziz Al-Shalahi is participating, which highlights a Bedouin family living in isolation in the middle of the desert, facing the threat of infectious diseases that kill one of its members. Meanwhile, the film “Night and Day” by director Abdel Aziz Al-Muzaini will be screened, which tells the story of a beloved opera singer whose life is subjected to great turmoil after a video accusing him of racism spreads.
Also participating is the Algerian film “The First Row” by director Merzak Allouache, which deals with the challenges faced by a family while spending a holiday at the sea.
International presentations and CVs
In a special program, the festival screens several films for the first time at the international level. Most notable is the film “Maria” directed by Pablo Larraín and starring Angelina Jolie, which embodies the life of the famous opera singer Maria Callas. The film “Modi – 3 Days on the Wing of Madness”, directed by Johnny Depp, which deals with the life of the Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani, will also be screened.
The closing film, “A Better Man,” showcases the biography of British pop star Robbie Williams. International screenings also include “Naples-New York” by director Gabriele Salvatores, based on a story by Federico Fellini, which tells the adventure of two children who hide on a ship heading to New York after World War II. In addition to the film “Forty Acres” by director RT Thorne, which tells the story of a mother struggling to protect her family from the effects of climate change, and the film “We Live in Time” starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh.
Restored treasures
The festival includes screenings of restored classic films, including “Laugh, the Picture Looks Good” by director Sherif Arafa and starring Ahmed Zaki and Laila Alawi, “Live and Salt” by director Hussein Fawzi and starring Naima Akef, and “Shafiqa and Metwally” by director Ali Badrakhan and starring Souad Hosni and Ahmed Zaki. The classic American film “Heat” by director Michael Mann, starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, will also be shown.
In a statement by Antoine Khalifa, Director of Arab Programs and Film Classics at the festival, he stressed that these films reflect the rich history of Egyptian and international cinema, and contribute to restoring the sparkle of immortal cinematic works.
Honors
This year, the festival honors a number of prominent names in the world of cinema. Among them are the American actress Viola Davis, in appreciation of her artistic career, and the Egyptian actress Mona Zaki, who commented on her Instagram account, “I express my sincere gratitude to the festival’s board of directors for their appreciation of my artistic journey.” Indian actor Aamir Khan is also being honored, who described this honor as an inspiring experience, and expressed his passion for cinema and his aspiration to learn from his creative colleagues.
British actress Emily Blunt expressed her pride in this honor and praised the festival’s efforts to support new talent and empower women in the film industry.
Discussion sessions
The festival will witness discussion sessions with an elite group of filmmakers, including Saudi actor Ibrahim Al-Hassawi, actor Meshal Al-Mutairi, Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh, American star Nick Jonas, and actress Olivia Wilde, in addition to sessions with the honorees to discuss their works and artistic experiences.
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