RED SEA FILM FOUNDATION CHAMPIONS ARAB AND AFRICAN CINEMA AT THE BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL WITH NINE SUPPORTED FILMS

Mid East Info

14-02-2025

Nine Red Sea-Supported Films to Screen at Berlinale, Including One in Competition.
The Red Sea Film Foundation presents nine supported films across six sections, including one in Competition, at the 75 th Berlin International Film Festival (13 – 23 February 2025), reinforcing its commitment to elevating Arab, African, and Asian cinema worldwide.
Yunan, supported by both the Red Sea Fund and the Red Sea Souk, is competing in the festival's Competition, vying for the Golden and Silver Bear awards alongside 20 other films. Two titles supported by The Red Sea Fund and Red Sea Lodge – The Settlement and The Sun Sees Everything – will be showcased as part of the Perspectives section for new filmmakers and the Berlinale Co-Production Market respectively.
Six films supported by the Red Sea Fund have earned a spot at the festival: The Heart is a Muscle and Yalla Parkour in the Panorama section; The Tale of Daye's Family and Têtes Brûlées in the Generation 14plus strand; Ancestral Visions of the Future in the Berlinale Speciale section; and Holiday in the Berlinale Co-Production Market. Alongside these films, The Red Sea Film Foundation will also participate in the Saudi Pavilion at the European Film Market (EFM) during the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, engaging in industry discussions and networking opportunities.
Shivani Pandya Malhotra, Managing Director of the Red Sea International Film Festival , said: 'The exciting new wave of Arab and African cinema is bringing wider attention to stories that resonate with a hard-earned humanity that is anchored in this region yet globally relatable. Our Red Sea-supported films at this year's festival showcase a breadth of talent that is as diverse, independent, and daring as the Berlinale itself. From across our Souk and Lodge programs and with our Fund, it's an honor to provide support to projects that spotlight established and emerging talent in Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Asia and Africa.'
Emad Eskander, Director of the Red Sea Fund, commented, 'As we continue to champion Arab and African storytelling, we are also deepening our commitment to Asian cinema. The Red Sea Fund is empowering diverse voices and introducing fresh perspectives to the global film industry. Our presence at Berlinale reflects our ambition to support bold and original storytelling, ensuring that filmmakers from the Arab world, Africa, and Asia have the resources and visibility they deserve.'
The Red Sea Fund has provided funding for 280+ projects from the Arab, Asian and African film worlds since 2021. The fund operates across four cycles, encompassing projects in development, production, and post-production. The Red Sea Souk is the international film market running alongside the Red Sea International Film Festival, providing comprehensive industry programs and embodying a platform for connection and networking. The Lodge is the Foundation's training program that takes projects from emerging Saudi, Arab, Asian and African filmmakers from idea to reality with creative and professional mentorship, development, and next-level industry opportunities.
Films Synopses:
Yunan is the second instalment in the 'Home' trilogy from the Syrian director Ameer Fakher Eldin . It depicts an exiled, suicidal Arab author whose instincts for life are reawakened by the quiet humanity of a devoted elderly woman at his modest hotel on the North Sea coast.
Writer-director Mohamed Rashad makes his feature film debut with The Settlement, a drama tackling labor abuses in Egypt and inspired by real-life events. The film centers on two brothers who as 'compensation' for the accidental death of their father are hired at a blade factory, where they find themselves working alongside the man responsible for their father's death.
The Sun Sees Everything, the second feature film from Lebanon's Wissam Tanios, is set in a crisis-stricken Beirut where, after the sudden death of her husband, a mother and her teenage daughter find themselves in a situation where they must swap roles to rebuild their fractured relationship and uncover their unspoken secrets.
A South Africa-Saudi Arabia co-production directed by Cape Town's Imran Hamdulay, The Heart is a Muscle will have its world premiere in Berlin. It follows a man's journey of self-discovery after his violent reaction to a near-tragedy at a family barbecue.
Yalla Parkour is a documentary from Areeb Zuaiter having its European premiere at the Berlinale – a story where the weight of the past meets an unpredictable future in a journey inspired by a parkour athlete in Gaza.
Following its world premiere at the Red Sea International Film Festival, The Tale of Daye's Family, from director Karim El Shenawy, will be marking its European premiere at the Berlinale. It tells the story of Daye, a 14-year-old Nubian albino with a golden voice who journeys to Cairo with his family so he can audition for The Voice.
Belgian film Têtes Brûlées will have its world premiere in Berlin and has already secured a worldwide distribution deal. The film follows a 12-year-old girl who draws on her creativity as she grieves the sudden death of her beloved older brother. The main cast of non-professional actors in their first roles was directed by Maja Ajmia Yde Zellama, with award-winning producers Nabil Ben Yadir and Marc Goyens.
Ancestral Visions of the Future is a documentary in which the Mosotho filmmaker Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese presents a poetic allegory of his childhood in southern Africa. Through fragmented narratives and mythic imagery he crafts a reflection on dislocation and belonging.
Holiday is directed by Lebanon's Wissam Charaf, who in 2022 became the first Arab director to win the Europa Cinemas Prize at the Venice International Film Festival. It is a coming-of-age story about a boy whose family is forced to flee unrest in West Beirut and take refuge with an aunt in southern Lebanon.
About The Red Sea Film Foundation:
The Red Sea Film Foundation is a rapidly emerging force in the global film industry. As an independent, non-profit organization, it fosters the film sector in Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Asia and Africa. Its initiatives are closely aligned with Saudi Arabia's plans for nurturing film and culture, emphasizing the pillars of a vibrant society and a thriving cultural scene. Leading the charge on the cultural and cinematic front, the Red Sea Film Foundation is transforming Saudi Arabia into a prominent global hub for film and a platform for storytellers. The Red Sea Film Foundation's flagship initiatives—the Red Sea Fund, Red Sea Labs, the Red Sea Souk, and the Red Sea International Film Festival—aim to champion and support filmmakers in bringing their visions to life and presenting their films on a global stage.
About the Red Sea Fund:
The Red Sea Fund is a pioneering initiative by the Red Sea Film Foundation, dedicated to nurturing talent and fostering growth in the global film industry. With a focus on supporting filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, the Arab region, and Africa, the fund provides crucial financial support, mentoring, and resources to bring diverse narratives and innovative ideas to life.