The 2025 Red Sea International Film Festival took place from December 4 to 13, 2025, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and marked the fifth edition of the film festival. It was held in the newly built Cultural Square venue in the Al-Balad district of Jeddah.
The Red Sea jury was headed by Sean Baker; 16 films were selected for competition.
In addition to screening films for competition, the film festival also hosted talks and discussions, galas and parties, and other events for the industry.
Jury
Features
Sean Baker Nadine Labaki Riz Ahmed Naomie Harris Olga Kurylenko
Official selection The festival lineup was announced on November 4, 2025.
In Competition TitleDirector(s)Production countryA Sad and Beautiful WorldCyril ArisLebanon, United States, Germany, Saudi Arabia, QatarAll That's Left of YouCherien DabisGermany, Greece, Jordan, Cyprus, PalestineAllah Is Not ObligedZaven NajjarFrance, Luxembourg, Belgium, Canada, Saudi ArabiaBarniMohammed SheikhSomalia, Djibouti, United StatesBlack Rabbit, White RabbitShahram MokriTajikistan, United Arab EmiratesHijraShahad AmeenSaudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt, United KingdomIrkalla: Gilgamesh's DreamMohamed Al-DaradjiIraq, United Kingdom, France, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, QatarLost LandAkio FujimotoJapan, France, Malaysia, GermanyNighttime SoundsZhang ZhongchenChinaRoqiaYanis KoussimFrance, Algeria, Qatar, Saudi ArabiaSinkZain DuraieJordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, FranceThe StoriesAbu Bakr ShawkyEgypt, France, Austria, SwedenThe World of LoveYoon Ga-eunSouth KoreaTruck MamaZippy NyaruriKenya, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, NetherlandsTwo Seasons, Two StrangersShô MiyakeJapanYunanAmeer Fakher EldinGermany, Canada, Italy, Palestine, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia
Arab Spectacular TitleDirector(s)Production countryA Matter of Life and DeathAnas Ba-TahafSaudi ArabiaPalestine 36Annemarie JacirPalestine, United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, JordanThe FakenappingAmine LakhnechSaudi ArabiaUnidentifiedHaifaa al-MansourSaudi ArabiaWedding RehearsalAmira DiabEgypt
International Spectacular TitleDirector(s)Production countryCoutureAlice WinocourFrance, United StatesDesert WarriorRupert WyattSaudi ArabiaFarruquitoSanti Aguado, Reuben AtlasSpain, United StatesScarletMamoru HosodaJapanThe Wizard of the KremlinOlivier AssayasFrance
Shorts Competition TitleDirector(s)Production countryWith the WindInes LehaireCoyotesSaid ZaghaJeem 1983Jorj Abou MhayaIrtizazSara BalghonaimDroplessAnamika PalIn the ValleyLim Han LoongThe Seventh MonthAizada AmangeldyThe Sea Remembers My NameHussein HossamUmbilical Cord (film)Ahmed Hassan AhmedVulturesDian WeysWhat RemainsXiao YanFour Wise MonkeysXin WangGuardian of the WellBentley Brown, Tahir Mahamat ZeneOpening CeremonyHussain Al MutlaqShe's SwimmingLiliane RahalThe Men's LandMariam KhatchvaniBeyond the MindLanya NooralddinCold CallingYuzana WinNsalaMickael-Sltan MbanzaOur BrotherShandra ApondiQuo Vadis, Meryem!Amine ZeriouhWhat If They Bomb Here Tonight?Samir SyrianiEmpty LandsKarim Eldin Elalfy
New Saudi Cinema Shorts TitleDirector(s)Production countryThe SceneLana KomsanyAzurAbdulwahab Bin ShaddadAntagonistAbdulkarim BawazirGuardian of HistoryAli AlsumayinMarket DynamoAli Baqir AlabdullahThe CradleMamdouh Salem BaajajahUnknownIbrahim Al-BakiriAshura's VoiceZaki AlabdullahEscKhaled NadershahThe Golden FishMeria SaimaldeherThe Man Who Stumbled By His WordsMubarak Al-ZawbaFirst Funeral DayNawaf Al HoshanWajoomMaan Yeslam Al-SiariSharshuraAhmed AlnasserBusiness BagRwad KhalidMidnight SnackAbdulmalik BukhariMubhamMuhannad Al ZahraniScream of An AntLujain SalaamSerial WriterEslam Shaker, Khaled AbdelfatahMoms Cry TooRmas Al Hazmi
New Vision TitleDirector(s)Production countrySomewhere ElseHaya AlghanimEarly DaysPriyankar PatraIndia, SingaporeIf I Had Legs I'd Kick YouMary BronsteinIn-I: In MotionJuliette BinocheRose of NevadaMark JenkinThe FinaleRodolphe ChedidCleanse the StreetsAysha ShahaltoughJareesh SalamZahra Mohammed, Tala AlharbiNo Land in SightEiman AlkhalifaOf Burning Memories & WoundsSuha Belal
Families and Children TitleDirector(s)Production countryDoraemon: Nobita's Art World TalesYukiyo TeramotoThe SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePantsDerek DrymonGhost SchoolSeemab Gul
Families and Children TitleDirector(s)Production countryAidaAhmed BadrakhanNashid al-AmalAhmed BadrakhanSilent SpectacularCharlie Chaplin, Leo McCareySpellboundAlfred HitchcockThe Big BlueLuc BessonUmrao JaanMuzaffar Ali
Series TitleDirector(s)Production countryEl'SardinesZoulikha Tahar
Special Screenings TitleDirector(s)Production countryHuman TideDavid WardCircles of LifeKhaled Al-DusaimaniBeyond the Shifting SandsAbdullah Al-HamdiSeven SummitsAmir El-ShenawyNoorOmar Almuqarri
Voices of Tomorrow TitleDirector(s)Production countryTwo Out of TenAbdulaziz Sultan AlzahraniThe Precious GiftAbdulrahman SultanAloneYazan Ahmad Eesa QisiFriends GameZeyad Khalid BakoorJust a ToneAacer Ayman Aladnani
Special Screenings TitleDirector(s)Production countryThe Voice of Hind RajabKaouther Ben HaniaTunisia, FranceSirātOliver LaxeSpain, FranceKill Bill: The Whole Bloody AffairQuentin Tarantino
Awards +AwardWinnerGolden Yusr Award—Best Feature FilmLost Land, dir. Akio FujimotoSilver Yusr Award—Best Feature FilmAll That's Left of You, dir. Cherien DabisFilm AlUla Audience Award—Best FilmMy Father's Scent, dir. Mohamed SiamFilm AlUla Audience Award—Best Saudi FilmHijra, dir. Shahad AmeenBest DocumentaryIn-I: In Motion, dir. Juliette BinocheCinematic AchievementNighttime Sounds, dir. Zhang ZhongchenBest ActorGeorges Khabbaz for YunanBest ActressSeo Su-bin for The World of LoveBest ScreenplayA Sad and Beautiful World, written by Cyril ArisBest DirectorAmeer Fakher Eldin for YunanJury PrizeHijra, dir. Shahad AmeenGolden Yusr—Best Short FilmCoyotes, dir. Said ZaghaSilver Yusr—Best Short FilmEmpty Lands, dir. Karim Eldin ElalfyShort Special MentionJeem 1983, dir. Jorj Abou Mhaya
Weather On December 9, 2025, torrential rains struck Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, prompting film festival organizers to notify attendees to "shelter in place" and suspend programming for the rest of the day.
References