Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival kicks off its third edition with a mix of A-list stars and local talent

The Saudi Red Sea Film Festival kicked off its third edition on Thursday with a signature red carpet featuring stars like Michelle Williams, Johnny Depp, Sharon Stone and Will Smith.

The opening had more of a local flavor than the first two editions, but with an Arabic film, the fantasy adventure became HWJNwhich opened the festival for the first time.

Set against the backdrop of the festival’s hometown of Jeddah, the drama stars aspiring Saudi actress Baraa Alem as a lovely young djinn who falls in love with a young woman, played by aspiring actress Nour Alkhadra.

Its selection as the opening title is seen as a sign of the growing strength of Saudi Arabia’s film and television industry, just six years after the country’s 35-year ban on cinemas was lifted as part of the 2030 strategy to boosting the economy. away from oil.

The film was directed by Dubai-based Iraqi filmmaker Yasir Al YasiriHWJN is one of the most ambitious films to emerge from the production pact between UAE-based film company Image Nation and film giant VOX Cinemas and global media giant MBC Group.

“It feels surreal to me,” Al Yasiri told Deadline on the red carpet. “We are in the city where the story takes place … it feels like a fairy tale.”

The film will play out of competition in the Arab Spectacular sidebar, while a further 17 films from the MENA region and Africa will compete in the main competition. Elvis And Moulin Rouge! Director Baz Luhrmann leads the jury with Frieda Pinto, Joel Kinnaman and Amina Khalil.

Luhrmann told Deadline that he spent some time in Saudi Arabia before taking on the role of jury president to get to know the country firsthand.

“I came here quietly to do my own research… There was no cinema for thirty years, and then suddenly films are shown. “I got to know the studios, but what really impressed me were the young, aspiring filmmakers and how hungry they are to tell their stories,” he said.

“That’s why I’m here. At a time when politics is failing us, storytellers need to be heard, and we want to support that here.”

This year’s edition of the Red Sea Film Festival takes place against the backdrop of the global geopolitical tensions of the Israel-Hamas conflict and the end of the Hollywood actors’ strike.

These challenges have led the festival to release its high-profile guest list later than usual, and additional high-profile guests are expected to be announced over the course of the event.

Although the festival faces logistical challenges, industry insiders feel Saudi Arabia’s efforts to build a film business from the ground up over the past six years are quickly paying off.

Top-note French-Tunisian Tarak Ben Ammar, currently stars in Antoine Fuqua’s action film Denzel Washington The Equalizer 3iIn cinemas around the world, Saudi Arabia, in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment, has declared it to be “the place” for film and television in the region.

“I can’t be here. If you see this, my latest film equalizer “Since Denzel earned six million euros ($6.5 million) here and only two and a half ($2.7 million) in Spain or Italy, it shows that this market is growing exponentially,” he said.

“It’s fascinating and that’s where the difference lies. In the past, Arab filmmakers had to go to festivals to do co-productions. I wouldn’t say to beg, but to get money. [In Saudi Arabia] You have 38 million people, 70% of whom are under 30 years old. This is the place where Arab filmmakers, of course Saudis and others, can express themselves.”

He pointed out that the situation for film and television in Saudi Arabia is similar to that in Korea. “This is the model. They have the resources, they have their hunger, they have their passion,” he said.

The Red Sea International Film Festival takes place from 30 November to 9 December.