Selection Includes 24 Projects in Development, 8 Works-In-Progress and 8 Episodic Series
The Red Sea International Film Festival (Red Sea IFF) has selected 40 feature film and series projects for this year’s edition of the Red Sea Souk Project Market – the Festival’s platform designed to bolster international co-productions and grant access to new projects and talent.
24 of the selected titles are currently in development or production, 12 of which have been developed by the Red Sea Labs over the year as part of the Feature Film Program. This program is in partnership with Torino Film Lab and sponsored by Film Alula. The remaining 12 projects will receive pitch mentoring from Producer Anna Katchko, Script Consultant David Pope and Sales Agent Gabor Greiner. Also included in the final selection are 8 feature length works in progress, plus 8 episodic projects which are being developed through the Red Sea Labs – SeriesLab in partnership with Film Independent.
Following 2024’s opening of submissions to filmmakers across Asia for the first time, this year the proportion of selected projects from the region has grown to 35%. In addition, 18 filmmakers have had their debut features selected, and over 42% of the projects are created by female filmmakers. Alumni returning to the Souk with new projects this year are Arvin Belarmino, Wissam Charaf and Shokir Kholikov, who have previously screened titles as part of the Red Sea International Film Festival, demonstrating the ongoing commitment to the continued support and development of talented filmmakers as they grow their careers.
For 2025, 1900 applications were received across the Red Sea Souk and Labs, from the Festival’s focus regions of the Arab World, Asia and Africa.
Holly Daniel, Red Sea Souk Director, said: “Our Souk Project Market is a vital part of the Red Sea Film Foundation’s ecosystem – acting as a vibrant hub for new voices to collaborate on innovative projects and ideas. Celebrating a five year arc of this programme also means we are welcoming back previous alumni with new work, which is a mark of the growing legacy of the Souk. This year’s selection of titles is diverse, creative and powerful and provide huge opportunities for development, and we’re looking forward to introducing them to new potential industry partners at the fifth edition of the Festival in December.”
All selected projects will be considered for the Red Sea Souk Awards provided by the Red Sea Fund, alongside a number of award partners to be announced soon. These awards offer crucial financial support at various stages of a project’s lifecycle, including development, production, and post-production, as well as dedicated support for projects within the Lodge and SeriesLab.
Projects-in-Development and Production:
A NOBLE DEATH by Dalia Baeshen
Debut, Fiction
Saudi Arabia
A TIME TO WANDER by Rim Nakhli
Debut, Fiction
Tunisia
ABOUT LOVE AND SEPTEMBER LAWS by Mohamed Kordofani
Fiction
Sudan, France, Germany, Sweden
COLD ASHES CAN CAUSE FOREST FIRES by Ashmita Guha Neogi
Debut, Fiction
France, India
COUMBA by Mamadou Dia
Fiction
Senegal, France
DHEL by Dania Altayeb
Debut, Fiction
Saudi Arabia
DIAPHANOUS by Dornaz Hajiha
Fiction
Iran, Hong Kong, France, Norway, Mexico
FICTION by Anocha Suwichakornpong
Creative Documentary
Thailand
GREEN CORPSE by Khaled Zidan
Debut, Fiction
Saudi Arabia
HOLIDAY by Wissam Charaf
Fiction
France, Lebanon, Italy
INFIDELS byEli Jean Tahchi
Debut, Fiction
Lebanon, Canada
LEG byShokir Kholikov
Fiction
Kazakhstan, Italy
NKANAI by Bruno Tanya
Debut, Fiction
Kenya
PHILAX byRuken Tekes
Debut, Fiction
Turkey, Italy, Greece.
PLAYHOUSE byMaha Haj
Fiction
Palestine, Germany, France, Cyprus
POSITIVE by Hanaa Saleh Alfassi
Debut, Fiction
Saudi Arabia
PRICE OF EVIL byIbrahim Mursal
Debut, Fiction
Sudan, Norway
SALMA AND THE MOON AND THE STARSby Maram Taibah
Debut, Fiction
Saudi Arabia
SPACEMAN IN KONGO by Maisha Maene
Debut, Creative Documentary
Democratic Republic of the Congo, United Kingdom, Germany
STREET EDUCATION by Yaser B.
Fiction
Saudi Arabia
THE DAUGHTER by Tian Guan
Debut, Fiction
China, Taiwan, France
TO CATCH A FALLING SKYbyCheta Chukwu
Fiction
Nigeria, United Kingdom
UNHOLY byMohammad Reza Fahriyansyah
Fiction
Indonesia
VEIL WHISPERER byIris Lanhua Ma
Fiction
China
Works-in-Progress
A GIRL UNKNOWN by Jing Zou
Debut, Fiction
China, France
A MOON FOR EVERY RIVER by You Gu
Debut, Fiction
China, France
BENIMANA by Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo
Debut, Fiction
Rwanda, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, France, Norway
LA PYRAMIDE byCj ‘Fiery’ Obasi
Fiction
Nigeria, United Kingdom, United States of America, Senegal, Brazil
RIA byArvin Belarmino
Debut, Fiction
Philippines, Norway, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Japan
THE LAST DAYS OF RM by Amin Sidi-Boumédiène
Fiction
France, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar
THE PRODIGAL SON byRani Massalha
Fiction
Tunisia, France, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Qatar
YESTERDAY THE EYE DIDN’T SLEEP byRakan Mayasi
Debut, Fiction
Belgium, Palestine, Lebanon
SeriesLab:
DÉRIFT byZahra Zuhair
Saudi Arabia
FLASH bySooyoung Kim
South Korea
FLYWEIGHTS byEldar Shibanov
Kazakhstan
MAD BOUNTY AND THE MIDNIGHT GUN by Talemwa Pius
Uganda
MONEY TOWN by Tony Koros
Kenya
SIDE EFFECTS by Hind Metwalli
Egypt
SOCIETY bySushant Nagpal
India
TILL DEATH DO US PART by Tomi Folowosele
Nigeria
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.
