Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Jeddah Red Sea Film Festival marks historic moment for Saudi filmmakers

Jeddah Red Sea Film Festival marks historic moment for Saudi filmmakers

Saudis, Arabs, world stars and celebrities walked the red carpet in the conservative kingdom in a scene that no one could have imagined a few years ago.
The first film festival to take place in Saudi Arabia began in the Red Sea city of Jeddah on Dec. 6, almost four years after the ban on cinemas was lifted in efforts to modernize the kingdom.

The red carpet was rolled out to Arabs, Saudis, world stars, filmmakers, directors and producers in a scene that was not imaginable in the conservative kingdom where women wore only traditional black abayas in public up until a few years ago.

A series of reforms have been put in place since Mohammed bin Salman was appointed crown prince in 2017. Women are now allowed to drive. Mixed-gender concerts are allowed, and other steps are being taken to liberalize the country as it looks to diversify its economy and attract foreign investments.

The Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF), which started a day after Jeddah hosted its first Formula One Grand Prix, will last until Dec. 15 and screen 135 feature and short films from all over the world in a step taken by Saudi authorities to promote the kingdom's new image.

The festival honored at the opening ceremony an icon of French cinema, Catherine Deneuve; Egyptian actress Laila Elwi; and Saudi director and producer Haifaa Al-Mansour, who in 2012 made “Wadjda,” the first feature film to be shot entirely in Saudi Arabia.

Mansour, who won a number of international awards for her feature debut, expressed her happiness with the honor: “Cinema is the voice that I needed as a woman who was born and raised in Saudi Arabia during a time when women actresses and actors were out of the light; now we are in the spot[light], participating in writing a new page of the region's civilization, and we are witness to the change.”

Festival director Muhammad al-Turki described the event as a "historic day in the kingdom."

The honors come as the RSIFF celebrates the role of women in the film industry — movies directed by women constituted 38% of the festival's total screenings.

During the 2021 RSIFF, 135 films from 67 countries will be screened, including 48 Arab premieres, 27 Saudi films and 17 world premieres.

The kingdom, the birthplace of Islam, had cinemas about a half-century ago when they were first brought to the country by Westerners working for California State Oil Company (later named ARAMCO).

Saudi cinemas screened Egyptian, Indian and Turkish movies in the '70s. They were not considered un-Islamic, though they were seen as contrary to cultural norms. But the cinemas were shut down in the early '80s as the influence of hard-line Islamic clerics grew stronger.

Saudi actor Mohamed Salama said the festival is like a “dream” for all Saudi filmmakers, writers and others involved in the industry.

"We never imagined the day would come where a big event like this would be held in our country and bring international filmmakers and world movies to be screened in Saudi Arabia," he told Al-Monitor.

Salama added, "We are all proud of this move, which will help the film industry not only in Saudi Arabia, but also in Arab countries and in cooperation with other countries in the world."

In addition to screening films, the event also aims to support filmmakers, develop skills and encourage creativity through year-round programs.

Salama said the RSIFF established a program that will support and fund film production, which is a big step toward helping the industry whether in Saudi Arabia or other countries.

“Now Saudi actors and filmmakers have no excuses not to work and produce new movies. Previously, many ideas couldn’t come to light because of the lack of funding," he said.

Saudi television and radio presenter Bassam Abdullah told Al-Monitor the event is a great opportunity for all filmmakers, creative types and production companies to be in one place to produce new movies and series after the festival.

He expects Saudi Arabia's cinema production to be completely different after the event, whether in quality or quantity.

Saudi director Ahmed Al-Mulla, who has produced the annual Saudi Film Festival in the eastern city of Dammam since 2008, said that before the reopening of cinemas in 2018, the industry was underground and relied on individual efforts because of the lack of capabilities or financing, according to Agence France-Presse.

“There were no capabilities to film or get financing. It all depended on individual efforts,” he told AFP.

Mulla added, "Cinema is the soft power that can pave the way for the success of the social and economic changes that are underway in the kingdom."

But he believes cinema needs a high standard of freedom of expression, featuring women and the freedom of addressing different topics — something that might be challenging for the time being.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
Iran's Parliament Votes to Suspend Cooperation with Nuclear Watchdog
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Oman Set to Introduce Personal Income Tax, First in Gulf
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
×