The 2023 Red Sea International Film Festival took place from November 30 to December 9, 2023, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and marked the third edition of the film festival. The Red Sea jury was headed by Baz Luhrmann; it selected 17 films from Asia, Africa, and the Arab world for competition. In Flames, directed Zarrar Kahn, won the Golden Yusr for best feature film.
In addition to screening films for competition, the film festival also hosted talks and discussions, galas and parties, and other events for the industry, most of which were held at the Ritz-Carlton.
Jury
Features
Baz Luhrmann Joel Kinnaman Freida Pinto Amina Khalil Paz Vega
Shorts
Hana Alomair Assaad Bouab Fatih Akin
Official selection The festival lineup was announced on November 6, 2023.
Red Sea International Film Festival: In Competition TitleDirector(s)Production countryInshallah a BoyAhmjad Al RashidJordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, France, QatarBehind the MountainsMohamed Ben AttiaTunisia, France, Belgium, Italy, Saudi Arabia, QatarNorahTawfik AlzaidiSaudi ArabiaBackstageAfef Ben Mahmoud, Khalil BenkiraneMorocco, Tunisia, Belgium, France, Qatar, Norway, Saudi ArabiaThe TeacherFarah NabulsiUnited Kingdom, Palestine, QatarDalmaHumaid AlsuwaidiUnited Arab EmiratesMandoobAli KalthamiSaudi ArabiaSix Feet OverKarim BensalahAlgeria, FranceDear JassiTarsem Singh DhandwarIndiaIn FlamesZarrar KahnPakistan, CanadaWakhriIram Parveen BilalPakistan, United StatesSundayShokir KholikovUzbekistanTiger StripesAmanda Nell EuMalaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, France, Germany, Netherlands, Indonesia, QatarRoxanaParviz ShahbaziIranOmenBalojiBelgium, Netherlands, Democratic Republic of the CongoEvil Does Not ExistRyusuke HamaguchiJapan
Special Screenings TitleDirector(s)Production countryTo My SonDhaffer L'AbidineSaudi Arabia, United Arab EmiratesJeanne du BarryMaïwennFrance, Saudi Arabia
Red Sea International Film Festival: Arab Spectacular TitleDirector(s)Production countryFour DaughtersKaouther Ben HaniaFrance, Saudi Arabia, Germany, TunisiaHajjanAbu Bakr ShawkySaudi Arabia, EgyptKhaled El Sheikh Between Two Fires, Art and PoliticsJamal KutbiSaudi ArabiaFever DreamFarus GodisSaudi ArabiaThreeNayla Al KhajaUnited Arab Emirates, ThailandHWJNYasir AlyasiriSaudi Arabia, United Arab EmiratesBack to AlexandriaTamer RuggliFrance, Switzerland, EgyptNAGAMeshal AljaserSaudi ArabiaShamareekhAmr SalamaEgyptYesterday After TomorrowAbdulghani AlsaighSaudi ArabiaA Nose and Three EyesAmir RamsesEgypt, United Arab EmiratesI Am Al-IttihadHamza TarzanSaudi Arabia
Awards +AwardWinnerGolden Yusr Award—Best Feature FilmIn Flames, dir. Zarrar KahnSilver Yusr Award—Best Feature FilmDear Jassi, dir. Tarsem SinghFilm AlUla Audience Award—Best FilmHopeless, dir. Kim Chang-hoonFilm AlUla Audience Award—Best Saudi FilmNorah, dir. Tawfik AlzaidiBest DocumentaryFour Daughters, dir. Kaouther Ben HaniaChopard Rising Talent TrophyNour AlkhadraBest Cinematic ContributionOmen, dir. BalojiBest ActorSaleh Bakri in The TeacherBest ActressMouna Hawa in Inshallah a BoyBest ScreenplaySix Feet Over, written by Karim Bensalah and Jamal BelmahiBest DirectorShokir Kholikov for SundayJury PrizeFarah Nabulsi for The TeacherRed Sea Honorary AwardNicolas CageGolden Yusr—Best Short FilmSomewhere in Between, dir. Dahlia NemlichSilver Yusr—Best Short FilmSuitcase, dir. Saman Hosseinpuor and Ako Zandkarimi
References