Latest news with #MacaoInternationalFilmFestival
Broadcast Pro
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Fionnuala Halligan joins Red Sea Film Foundation as Director of Int'l Programmes
Halligan succeeds critic Kaleem Aftab, who stepped down in March after serving as the Red Sea Festival's Director of International Programming for four years. The Red Sea Film Foundation has appointed Fionnuala Halligan, outgoing Executive Editor and Chief Critic of Screen International, as its new Director of International Programmes. In her new role, Halligan will work alongside Antoine Khalife, Director of Arab Programmes and Film Classics, to curate and shape the growing international slate of the Red Sea International Film Festival. Halligan has collaborated with the festival over the past three editions of Arab Stars of Tomorrow, a joint initiative with Screen highlighting emerging regional talent. Her extensive background includes more than a decade in Hong Kong as a film critic for the South China Morning Post, and five years as a consultant and programmer for the Macao International Film Festival. She is a recognised voice in global film criticism, with memberships in BAFTA, the London Film Critics' Circle, and the European Film Academy. Speaking about the new role, Fionnuala Halligan, Director of International Programmes at the Red Sea Film Festival, said: 'It's a privilege to be joining the Red Sea Film Foundation in this new role. As I complete my tenure at Screen, I look forward to fully taking on the role after the Cannes Film Festival and working closely with the team to further shape and expand the festival's international programming.' Shivani Pandya-Malhotra, Managing Director of the Red Sea Film Foundation, added: 'Finn has been a collaborator and supporter of ours from the beginning, and she has both impeccable taste and a deep appreciation for cinema from across the world – particularly in Asia, a region we've increasingly championed as an organisation as our remit broadens. We are so thrilled to have her joining us to head up our international offering, which has been a cornerstone of our festival and continues to gain prestige and stature on the global circuit with each edition.' Now in its fifth edition, the Red Sea International Film Festival has screened over 520 films from 85 countries, including more than 130 Saudi titles. The next edition will take place from December 4 to 13, 2025, in Jeddah's historic Al Balad district.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fionnuala Halligan Appointed Red Sea Film Festival Director of International Programs
Film critic Fionnuala Halligan has been appointed director of international programs at Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Film Festival. Fionnuala, who has long been chief critic for the U.K.'s Screen International, where she also served as executive editor, started her career in media as film critic for the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, where she was based for 12 years. She more recently worked as a programmer for the Macao International Film Festival for five years (2016 – 2021) alongside her work at Screen. Fionnula is a member of the London Film Critics' Circle, BAFTA and the European Film Academy, and a top-rated critic on Rotten Tomatoes. More from Variety 'Ida' and 'Corpus Christi' Stars Unite for 'The Time That Never Came' as Dystopian Melodrama Debuts First Look, Locks a Private View as Co-Producer (EXCLUSIVE) MPX Launches Sales on Michael Shannon Darts Comedy 'Bulls' in Cannes (EXCLUSIVE) Viola Davis' Ashé Ventures Boards Maria Farinha Filmes' Biopic of Trailblazing Black Gymnast Daiane dos Santos (EXCLUSIVE) Fionnuala will replace critic Kaleem Aftab who stepped down as the Red Sea fest's director of international programming in March following a four-year stint. She will be working alongside Red Sea's director of Arab programs and film classics Antoine Khalife to shape and curate the Jeddah-based fest's line-up. 'Finn has been a collaborator and supporter of ours from the beginning, and she has both impeccable taste and a deep appreciation for cinema from across the world – particularly in Asia, a region we've increasingly championed as an organisation as our remit broadens,' said Shivani Pandya-Malhotra, Managing Director of the Red Sea Film Foundation in a statement. 'We are so thrilled to have her joining us to head up our international offering, which has been a cornerstone of our festival and continues to gain prestige and stature on the global circuit with each edition.' Commented Halligan: 'It's a privilege to be joining the Red Sea Film Foundation in this new role. As I complete my tenure at Screen, I look forward to fully taking on the role after the Cannes Film Festival and working closely with the team to further shape and expand the festival's international programming.' The upcoming fifth edition of the Red Sea Film Festival will run Dec. 4-13 in Jeddah, on the Red Sea's eastern of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
