The fourth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) concluded in style in Jeddah on Friday, December 13, celebrating a diverse selection of films, global icons and innovative initiatives. The event showcased 122 films from 85 countries, providing a transformative platform for global cinema and honoring icons Viola Davis and Priyanka Chopra Jonas.
The closing evening of the fourth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival was marked by the awards ceremony and the gala screening of the film directed by Johnny Depp. The feature film, titled Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madnessis a project funded by Red Sea Film Financing.
Celebrating global icons and the spirit of cinema
Festival honorees Viola Davis and Priyanka Chopra Jonas received their awards during a star-studded ceremony. Davis’ award was presented by director Hanaa Alomair, while Chopra Jonas’ award was presented by actress Sarah Jessica Parker. These two figures join a list of 2024 honorees including Emily Blunt, Mona Zaki, Vin Diesel, Aamir Khan and Dev Patel, alongside guests such as Nick Jonas, Ameer Karara, Eiza González and Meshal Al Jaser.
The festival also highlighted global cinematic achievements, showcasing films from emerging voices and established directors. The central theme, Homebrought together 16 feature films in competition, accompanied by 48 films distributed in various categories, including New Saudi Cinema, New Cinema, Arab Shorts et International Shorts.
Awards and winners
The Golden Yusr for best feature film was awarded to Red Pathdirected by Lotfi Achour, a moving story exploring the psyche of a child in a war zone. The film, presented for the first time at the Locarno Festival in Switzerland, illustrates the development of Tunisian cinema.
The exhaustive list of rewards
Prize for best documentary in competition (Asharq Documentary Award) ($10,000): State of Silence – Directed by Santiago Mazar
Chopard Trophy for emerging talent: Roula Dakheellahah
Audience Award for the film AlUla: Little Jaffna – Directed by Lawrence Valin
AlUla Film Prize for Best Saudi Film ($50,000): Hobbal – Directed by Abdulaziz Alshlahei
Short film competition
Silver Yusr for Best Short Film ($12,500): Alazar – Directed by Baiza Hailu Lemma
Golden Yusr for best short film ($25,000): Hatch – Directed by Alireza Kazemipour and Panta Mosleh
Feature films
Best Cinematographic Contribution: To Kill a Mongolian Horse – Directed by Tao Qiu
Best Actor: Mahmoud Bakri – To a Land Unknown
Best Actress: Mariam Sherif – Snow White
Best screenplay ($10,000): Songs of Adam – Written by Oday Rasheed
Best Director ($10,000): Lotfi Achour – Red Path
Jury Prize ($10,000): Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo – Directed by Khaled Mansour
Silver Yusr for best feature film ($30,000): To a Land Unknown – Directed by Mahdi Fleifel
Golden Yusr for best feature film ($100,000): Red Path – Directed by Lotfi Achour
Festival highlights and successes
The film directed by Johnny Depp, Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madnessset in World War I Paris, follows Italian artist Modigliani in his desperate quest to find a home for his art. This year, the festival welcomed more than 6,700 accredited guests and sold more than 30,000 tickets, marking its largest edition to date.
Jomana al-Rashid, President of the Red Sea Film Foundation, said: “We are honored to have welcomed the whole world to this new House of Cinema here in Jeddah, hosted for the first time at our new iconic house in Al Balad . Over the past eight days, we have celebrated the transformative power of cinema and supported diverse stories from around the world.”
Shivani Pandya Malhotra, general director of RSIFF, highlighted the importance of previews, specifying that half of the films screened this year were world or international premieres. “This festival continues to assert itself as the new House of Cinema,” she said. “With 46 world premieres, 15 international premieres and 53 MENA premieres, the festival provides a global stage for groundbreaking storytelling.”
Mohammed Asseri, CEO of the Red Sea Film Foundation, added: “This edition has laid the foundations for new partnerships and initiatives to support emerging voices in new regions, the impact of which will be felt in future editions of the festival. ”
A vision focused on the future
The Red Sea International Film Festival 2024 celebrated cinematic excellence and encouraged global collaborations, cementing its role as an international hub for cinema. With its transformative vision, RSIFF continues to shape a promising future for cinema, both regionally and globally.
