Latest news with #RedSeaFund
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Saudi Arabian Film Pioneer Faisal Baltyuor Appointed Red Sea Film Foundation CEO
Saudi Arabian film industry pioneer Faisal Baltyuor has been appointed CEO of the Red Sea Foundation which oversees the Jeddah-based Red Sea Film Festival, the Red Sea Fund, and its year-round Red Sea Labs. He will replace acting CEO Mohammed Asseri effective June 1. More from Variety Hlynur Pálmason Finds 'Beauty in the Mundane' in 'The Love That Remains' and Calls for Change in Icelandic Film Industry Moritz Bleibtreu, Kida Khodr Ramadan Set to Play Gay Lovers in 'Hijiamat' With Arthood Entertainment Pre-Selling in Cannes (EXCLUSIVE) Playtime Launches Canneseries Winner Rafael Cobos' Debut Feature, 'Golpes' (EXCLUSIVE) Baltyour has been a driving force in the Saudi film industry ever since a religion-related ban on cinema was lifted in late 2017 holding posts as the first head of Ithra Cinema, which is financed by Saudi Aramco Oil Company, and then by founding and running Saudi distributor CineWaves Films, which has the biggest library of Saudi films, as well as holding the post of CEO at Muvi Studios, the production arm of Saudi' s biggest cinema chain. He recently opened Riyadh's first arthouse cinema called Cinehouse. As a producer Baltyour executive produced groundbreaking Saudi director Haifaa Al Mansour's 'The Perfect Candidate,' which launched from Venice in 2019, and Saudi concept comedy 'Sattar,' a local megahit. He is also a producer on the Saudi Netflix Original 'From the Ashes' which ranked among the top 10 most-watched films on the streamer across 40 countries. Baltyour also co-produced Sudanese director Mohamed Kordofani's 'Goodbye Julia' which won the Prix de la Liberté at Cannes in in 2023. 'From its inception, the Red Sea Film Foundation has been driven by a singular mission: to ignite a cinematic renaissance across Saudi Arabia and the broader region,' said Red Sea Film Foundation Chairwoman Jomana Al-Rashid in a statement. 'We are delighted to welcome Faisal to this transformative journey,' she added. 'His visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to unlocking the boundless potential of emerging talent will fuel not only artistic excellence but also the sustainable growth of our industry.' Commented Baltyour: 'I am deeply honoured to assume the position of CEO at the Red Sea Film Foundation, a leading institution at the forefront of Saudi Arabia's cultural and cinematic evolution. In a remarkably short time, the foundation has secured its place on the global festival map, and we are committed to building on this success. Through our diverse programmes, we will continue to support a thriving film industry both locally and internationally, in line with the ambitions of Vision 2030, which places the creative sector at the heart of national development.' The upcoming fifth edition of the Red Sea Film Festival will run Dec. 4-13 in Jeddah, on the Red Sea's eastern shore. Best 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
Broadcast Pro
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Red Sea Film Foundation brings four supported films to 78th Cannes
Tunisian film 'Promised Sky', supported by Red Sea Film Foundation, has been selected to open this year's Un Certain Regard section at the 78th Festival de Cannes. The Red Sea Film Foundation has announced its official participation in the 78th Cannes Film Festival, with four films backed by the Red Sea Fund, Red Sea Souk and Red Sea Labs featured in this year's lineup. The foundation's presence underscores its ongoing commitment to supporting and promoting cinema from Arab, Asian and African regions on the global stage. Among the highlights is Promised Sky, the latest feature by Tunisian filmmaker Erige Sehiri, which has been selected to open the Un Certain Regard section. Set in Tunisia and inspired by real events, the film explores the intertwining lives of three women—Marie, an Ivorian pastor and former journalist; Naney, a young mother in search of hope; and Jolie, a student grappling with family pressure. Their delicate bond is put to the test when a young orphan enters their lives, revealing the strength and fragility of solidarity in a society fraught with uncertainty. Egyptian director Morad Mostafa makes his Cannes debut with Aisha Can't Fly Away, which will also compete in Un Certain Regard. The film paints a raw portrait of life on the fringes of Cairo through the story of Aisha, a young Sudanese caretaker living in the impoverished Ain Shams district. Faced with growing danger, she turns to Zuka, a local gang leader, for protection, navigating a world shaped by desperation and survival. Japanese filmmaker Momoko Seto's Dandelion's Odyssey offers a stark contrast in genre and tone. The film follows four plant-like friends—Dendelion, Baraban, Léonto and Taraxa—who survive Earth's destruction by nuclear catastrophe and embark on a cosmic journey in search of a new home. Blending science fiction and environmental themes, the film is a poetic reflection on survival, identity, and belonging. Completing the lineup is Life After Siham, a deeply personal documentary by Egyptian director Namir Abdel-Messeeh. In the aftermath of his mother's passing, Abdel-Messeeh uses filmmaking as a way to preserve her memory and navigate his grief. The film documents his emotional journey, including his complex relationship with his father, ultimately transforming a personal loss into a profound meditation on love, memory, and the healing power of cinema. In addition to the screenings, the Red Sea Film Foundation will host activities at the Saudi Pavilion at the Marché du Film, including a 'Meet the Red Sea Team' panel on May 16.
CairoScene
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Red Sea Film Foundation Returns to Cannes with Four Films
Red Sea Film Foundation returns to Cannes, spotlighting Arab, Asian, and African voices with four bold films and boundary-pushing stories. As the red carpet rolls out for the 78th Cannes Film Festival, the spotlight turns toward voices from the Arab world, Asia, and Africa. Among them, the Red Sea Film Foundation returns to Cannes, championing regional stories on a global stage. This year, the Foundation presents four films supported through its key initiatives: the Red Sea Fund, Red Sea Souk, and Red Sea Labs. These platforms are designed not only to finance projects but to help build a sustainable film ecosystem across the region. The selected titles include Promised Sky by Erige Sehiri, which follows three immigrant women in Tunisia whose fragile refuge is disrupted by the arrival of an orphan girl. Aisha Can't Fly Away by Morad Mostafa centres on a 26-year-old African caregiver in Cairo's Ain Shams neighbourhood, navigating violence, exploitation, and official neglect. Dandelion's Odyssey by Momoko Seto takes a surreal turn, following four seed-friends cast into space after a nuclear explosion as they search for a new home. Life After Siham by Namir Abdel Messeeh traces the director's journey through grief as he reconnects with his late mother through film. Together, these films explore themes of displacement, identity, memory, and resilience, offering distinct perspectives on the human experience. Beyond the screenings, the Foundation is also active at the Marché du Film, where the Saudi Pavilion has become a space for industry connections. On May 16, it will host a 'Meet the Red Sea Team' panel, allowing filmmakers and producers to engage with the team behind its vision.
Broadcast Pro
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Saudi film ‘Norah' to compete at Malmö Arab Film Festival 2025
'Norah' is the first Saudi feature film to be shot at AlUla with an all-Saudi cast and more than 40% Saudi crew. Malmö Arab Film Festival (MAFF) is set to screen the Saudi film Norah, directed by Tawfik Alzaidi and supported by the Red Sea Fund, on April 30. The screening will be a part of the Feature Film Competition. Norah recently premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, marking the first time a Saudi film has been selected for the festival's official lineup. The film earned a Special Mention from the Cannes jury in the category. The film was shot entirely in the historic city of AlUla in northwest Saudi Arabia. With 40% of the film crew consisting of Saudis, the production showcases the strong local support for the burgeoning Saudi film industry. Norah had its international premiere at the third annual Red Sea International Film Festival in December, where it won the Film AlUla Award for Best Saudi Feature Film. Set in Saudi Arabia in the 1990s, Norah is described as a moving narrative about the transformative power of art in inspiring and changing minds and hearts. Tawfik Alzaidi both penned and directed the film, making it the first Saudi Arabian feature entirely shot in the AlUla region of Saudi Arabia. The film centres around its titular character, portrayed by Saudi newcomer Maria Bahrawi, an illiterate orphaned young woman trapped in a remote village facing an arranged marriage. Her encounter with Nader, an artist turned schoolteacher played by Saudi star Yaqoub Alfarhan, ignites a profound passion for art and a yearning for a life beyond the confines of her village. Shot in AlUla, a vast expanse of Saudi desert and ancient city ruins, Norah received acclaim and financial support from the Saudi Film Commission's Daw Film Competition, an initiative launched in 2019 to nurture Saudi film talent and production. Produced by Alzaidi and US producer Paul Miller, alongside Jordanian producer Sharif Majali, Norah represents a collaborative effort between Saudi production companies Black Sugar Pictures and Nebras Films. Global rights to Norah were secured in December by TwentyOne Entertainment, a new Riyadh-based company launched by former Universal Pictures executive Paul Chesney, underscoring the film's international appeal and the growing recognition of Saudi talent in the global film industry.
Arab News
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Saudi-supported film to screen at Cannes parallel section ACID
DUBAI: ACID, a Cannes Film Festival parallel section, has announced the lineup for its 2025 edition, which includes the Red Sea Film Foundation-supported film 'Life After Siham' from Egyptian filmmaker Namir Abdel Messeeh. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ The autobiographical hybrid-documentary – supported by Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Fund – follows the director as he grieves his mother's death while dealing with a creative impasse as he leads a writing workshop in Egypt. A post shared by Red Sea Film Foundation (@redseafilm) The film follows two parallel tracks, mixing family footage the director shot before and after his mother's passing against the fictional backdrop of a creative retreat set at the late Egyptian director Youssef Chahine's one-time residence. 'The film will also be a portrait of contemporary Egypt,' Messeeh told Variety in an earlier interview. 'Depicting a younger generation as they develop their own creative projects in post-revolution Egypt. Through them we'll explore different facets of the modern country.'
