Projects by Oliver Laxe and Kaouther Ben Hania to Screen at Festival’s Fifth Edition
The Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea IFF) is presenting Special Screenings of two powerful films from Spain and Tunisia, which have each been selected for their significant impact on the cinematic landscape in 2025. Oliver Laxe’s SIRÂT and Kaouther Ben Hania’s THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB will receive special presentations at the Festival this year, marking their first screenings in Saudi Arabia.
Kaouther Ben Hania’s THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB is a harrowing dramatization that reconstructs the final hours of six-year-old Hind Rajab’s life in Gaza. In an innovative hybrid of documentary and drama, Ben Hania evokes a universal cry for justice, challenging viewers to confront the devastating human cost of conflict with a film that is echoing into the collective consciousness. Emotionally raw and politically fearless, the film has become one of the year’s most discussed and impactful works thus far.
Thriller feature SIRÂT, directed by Oliver Laxe, won the jury prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and is Spain’s Academy Awards submission for 2025. This pulsating story centers around a father and son who go in search of their daughter/sister, lost in Morocco’s craggy rave scene. Set against breathtaking landscapes, the film’s apocalyptic vision feels like a fever dream – and nightmare.
Faisal Baltyuor, CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation, commented: “The Special Screenings embody the Festival’s spirit — giving space to films that transcend artistic boundaries to explore deeply human stories. The Voice of Hind Rajab stands as a moving reminder of cinema’s power to reveal truth and stir collective conscience, while Sirât captivates with its striking visuals and profound philosophical depth.”
Special Screenings
THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB
Country: Tunisia, France
Kaouther Ben Hania
The Voice of Hind Rajab is an emotional and innovative hybrid of documentary and drama that recounts the heart-wrenching story of a six-year-old Palestinian girl killed during the Israel-Gaza war. In January 2024, Hind was trapped for hours in a car after it came under fire, squeezed between the bodies of her aunt, uncle and cousins, leaving her the sole survivor. For hours she remained in contact with Red Crescent volunteers, who navigated a maze of military and governmental approvals in an attempt to reach her. The film transcends traditional cinema, becoming a powerful act of resistance and a vital work of memory. Filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania delivers a haunting testament to the tragic reality of war, resonating with audiences long after the credits roll.
SIRÂT
Country: Spain, France
Oliver Laxe
‘Sirat’ is a term referring to the treacherous bridge between heaven and hell. Oliver Laxe’s film is certainly an odyssey and a sonic spectacular: his hypnotic rhythms carve a path for this temporal road movie in which Sergi López plays a father who has taken his son to search for their daughter/sister, missing in Morocco’s nomadic and quasi-feral rave scene. With an apocalypse taking place offscreen, the protagonist flees across a mythical landscape with a crew of non-professional actors. Sirât glimmers between sound and fury, pounds between loss and unfathomable grief, and leads audiences to what feels like the end of creation. Spain’s Oscar entry and 2025 Cannes jury prize winner is that rare cinematic achievement: an indelible gift of sound and vision.
About Red Sea International Film Festival
The Red Sea IFF is a grand celebration of film, bringing the best of world cinema to Jeddah. Over the past four editions, the Festival has premiered critically acclaimed award-winning filmmakers and films, classic cinema, and a spotlight on films from underrepresented voices underscoring the Festival’s commitment to cinematic excellence and bridging cultures.
The Festival has garnered significant recognition, winning many awards for best cultural and film events. It has achieved massive publicity, reaching millions of audiences worldwide, with thousands of press attendees. Regarded as Saudi Arabia’s highest-profile and most anticipated event, the Festival has captured the attention and acclaim of renowned industry figures worldwide and has been attended by tens of thousands of accredited visitors.
As the largest celebration of cinema and culture in the MENA region, the Festival features exciting new films on the big screen, alongside retrospective programs celebrating cinema masters, the latest Saudi films, feature and short film competitions, industry events, and masterclasses (In Conversations).
For ten exhilarating days (December 4-13), the Festival will transform the historic Jeddah Old Town, Al-Balad, into a cinematic wonderland, captivating film enthusiasts, industry professionals, and global audiences alike for its upcoming fifth edition. Al Balad is recognized as a UNESCO site that offers a captivating cultural experience reflecting the rich heritage of Saudi Arabia.
