Page 9 - CMN
P. 9
DAY 1
17 May 2022
RED SEA INTERNATIONAL
FILM FESTIVAL
THE first Red Sea International Film
© THUNDER ROAD PICTURES Festival took place in December 2021 industry for four days, and offered a packed
and is now growing under the guidance programme of events to foster co-production,
Kandahar is the highest-budget US film to shoot of new CEO, Mohammed Al Turki. international distribution and new business
in the desert location of AlUla “The inaugural edition of the Red Sea opportunities.
International Film Festival was deemed a huge 27 new Saudi films from a new wave of
and TV series at home and internationally.” success and the positive feedback from local and filmmakers were presented to the international
Situated in northwest Saudi Arabia, AlUla has also added international guests has been overwhelming,” Al audience.
significantly to the kingdom’s appeal for filmmakers, with Turki said. “We have a fantastic team who The Project Market included pitching and
its rich landscapes and strong international team of film worked extremely hard, along with the support meetings for a selection of 23 films in
executives. And it is hosting ever larger productions — to of our sponsors and the film community — the development, and Works-in-Progress Screenings,
date Kandahar is the highest budget US film to shoot festival exceeded expectations. As the first a selection of rough-cut screenings made up of
entirely there. international festival in the country, this was screenings of a selection of films in
Directed by Ric Roman Waugh, the film stars Gerard truly a landmark moment and evolved into post-production.
Butler, Ali Fazal, Nina Toussaint-White, Navid Negahban, something bigger than any of us could have More than $800,000 was awarded to the projects
Bahador Foladi, Vassilis Koukalani, Hakeem Jomah and imagined.” selected in the Red Sea Souk Awards.
Tom Rhys Harries. The action-thriller is being produced He added “Over 10 days the festival showcased The Festival also hosted Talent Days, a two-day
by Thunder Road Films and Capstone, and Capstone is 136 films representing 68 countries in 35 initiative designed to support the development
financing, along with MBC Studios. languages, including 28 World Premieres with of the next generation of Saudi and GCC (Gulf
Butler plays Tom Harris, an undercover CIA operative, 38% of the programme made up of female Cooperation Council) filmmakers.
stuck in hostile territory in Afghanistan. He must fight his filmmakers, and 27 home-grown features and The Red Sea Lodge is in its third edition for
way out, alongside his Afghan translator, to an extraction shorts from exciting new Saudi voices. Saudi and Arab directors, producers and
point in Kandahar, while avoiding the elite special forces “To see emerging local filmmakers present their scriptwriters, and nurtures the next generation
tasked with hunting them down. films alongside international counterparts to of filmmakers from Saudi Arabia and the Arab
The shoot has been good for local business. The film full cinemas was truly extraordinary. We have world, in partnership with TorinoFilmLab. In
recruited 350 crew, 10% of which was made up of Saudi built a good foundation in our first year that 2022, the programme includes five workshops,
nationals who worked across various departments, promises a bright future for a new wave of three of which will be online and the other two
including production, SFX, location services, art, make-up talent, brings the very best of global and Arab will take place in Jeddah.
and hair. Over 350 local people from AlUla were recruited cinema to audiences, supports the thriving Red Sea Fund supports filmmakers from Saudi
as extras. Saudi film industry, and becomes a gateway for Arabia, the wider Arab region and Africa in
Apple’s Iraq war story Cherry also shot in AlUla. Directed business opportunities and collaboration.” bringing more diverse and authentic films to
by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, it stars Tom Holland, Screenings were presented in five purpose-built global audiences.
Ciara Bravo, Jack Reynor, Forrest Goodluck and Michael theatres in the extraordinary cultural heart of Last year the Red Sea Fund announced a $14m
Rispoli. The story revolves around Cherry, a young man Jeddah’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, the initiative which to date has supported 97
who drifts from college dropout to army medic in Iraq, historic quarter Al-Balad. projects from Africa and the Arab world with
anchored only by his true love, Emily. But after returning Honoured ‘Women in Cinema’ included Saudi development and post-production in the form
from the war with PTSD, his life spirals into drugs and filmmaker Haifaa Al-Mansour, Egyptian actor of grants and funds to help bring their films to
crime as he struggles to find his place in the world. Laila Eloui and French actor Catherine Deneuve. global audiences.
Upcoming Productions in AlUla include Norah, which is The Red Sea Souk, the festival’s industry market, The inaugural edition of the festival recorded
written and directed by Tawfik Alzaidi. Produced by welcomed the regional and international over 32,000 admissions and welcomed 3,115
Nebras Films and Black Sugar Pictures, principal film professionals and media representatives. ✦
photography has begun, and filming is set to get under
way next month with producers Paul Miller and Sharif Majali on board. Norah is the debut feature from Alzaidi FUNDING AVAILABLE
and is the first home-grown feature film to shoot entirely FOR LOCAL FILMS
in AlUla.
Norah is set in the 1990s, when conservatism is at its DAW FILM COMPETITION (SFC)
height in Saudi Arabia, and all forms of art and painting RED SEA FILM LODGE (RSIFF)
are banned. Norah is a young woman, living in a village, SAUDI FILM FESTIVAL
who finds out that Nader, a local man, is an artist. She MARKET (SFF)
determines to have her portrait painted by him and so NOMO FUND (NOMO)
begins a relationship of flourishing artistic discovery. SAUDI FILM DAYS (ITHRA)
Saudi actor Yagoub Al-Farhan has been cast in the role of ART JAMEEL CINEMA
Nader. COMPITITION (ART JAMEEL)
A number of projects are also filming in Neom — billed
as ‘a city of the future’ — a high-tech vision under
construction in Tabuk province, with a $500 billion
investment budget.
One project is Desert Warrior, directed by Rupert Wyatt.
The film stars Anthony Mackie, Sharlto Copley, Ben
Kingsley, Nabil Elouahabi and Aiysha Hart. Set in a period
of feuding tribes, it follows Hanzala, a mysterious rogue,
who makes himself an enemy of the Emperor Kisra after
he helps a fugitive king and princess. ✦
NEWS 9
17 May 2022
RED SEA INTERNATIONAL
FILM FESTIVAL
THE first Red Sea International Film
© THUNDER ROAD PICTURES Festival took place in December 2021 industry for four days, and offered a packed
and is now growing under the guidance programme of events to foster co-production,
Kandahar is the highest-budget US film to shoot of new CEO, Mohammed Al Turki. international distribution and new business
in the desert location of AlUla “The inaugural edition of the Red Sea opportunities.
International Film Festival was deemed a huge 27 new Saudi films from a new wave of
and TV series at home and internationally.” success and the positive feedback from local and filmmakers were presented to the international
Situated in northwest Saudi Arabia, AlUla has also added international guests has been overwhelming,” Al audience.
significantly to the kingdom’s appeal for filmmakers, with Turki said. “We have a fantastic team who The Project Market included pitching and
its rich landscapes and strong international team of film worked extremely hard, along with the support meetings for a selection of 23 films in
executives. And it is hosting ever larger productions — to of our sponsors and the film community — the development, and Works-in-Progress Screenings,
date Kandahar is the highest budget US film to shoot festival exceeded expectations. As the first a selection of rough-cut screenings made up of
entirely there. international festival in the country, this was screenings of a selection of films in
Directed by Ric Roman Waugh, the film stars Gerard truly a landmark moment and evolved into post-production.
Butler, Ali Fazal, Nina Toussaint-White, Navid Negahban, something bigger than any of us could have More than $800,000 was awarded to the projects
Bahador Foladi, Vassilis Koukalani, Hakeem Jomah and imagined.” selected in the Red Sea Souk Awards.
Tom Rhys Harries. The action-thriller is being produced He added “Over 10 days the festival showcased The Festival also hosted Talent Days, a two-day
by Thunder Road Films and Capstone, and Capstone is 136 films representing 68 countries in 35 initiative designed to support the development
financing, along with MBC Studios. languages, including 28 World Premieres with of the next generation of Saudi and GCC (Gulf
Butler plays Tom Harris, an undercover CIA operative, 38% of the programme made up of female Cooperation Council) filmmakers.
stuck in hostile territory in Afghanistan. He must fight his filmmakers, and 27 home-grown features and The Red Sea Lodge is in its third edition for
way out, alongside his Afghan translator, to an extraction shorts from exciting new Saudi voices. Saudi and Arab directors, producers and
point in Kandahar, while avoiding the elite special forces “To see emerging local filmmakers present their scriptwriters, and nurtures the next generation
tasked with hunting them down. films alongside international counterparts to of filmmakers from Saudi Arabia and the Arab
The shoot has been good for local business. The film full cinemas was truly extraordinary. We have world, in partnership with TorinoFilmLab. In
recruited 350 crew, 10% of which was made up of Saudi built a good foundation in our first year that 2022, the programme includes five workshops,
nationals who worked across various departments, promises a bright future for a new wave of three of which will be online and the other two
including production, SFX, location services, art, make-up talent, brings the very best of global and Arab will take place in Jeddah.
and hair. Over 350 local people from AlUla were recruited cinema to audiences, supports the thriving Red Sea Fund supports filmmakers from Saudi
as extras. Saudi film industry, and becomes a gateway for Arabia, the wider Arab region and Africa in
Apple’s Iraq war story Cherry also shot in AlUla. Directed business opportunities and collaboration.” bringing more diverse and authentic films to
by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, it stars Tom Holland, Screenings were presented in five purpose-built global audiences.
Ciara Bravo, Jack Reynor, Forrest Goodluck and Michael theatres in the extraordinary cultural heart of Last year the Red Sea Fund announced a $14m
Rispoli. The story revolves around Cherry, a young man Jeddah’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, the initiative which to date has supported 97
who drifts from college dropout to army medic in Iraq, historic quarter Al-Balad. projects from Africa and the Arab world with
anchored only by his true love, Emily. But after returning Honoured ‘Women in Cinema’ included Saudi development and post-production in the form
from the war with PTSD, his life spirals into drugs and filmmaker Haifaa Al-Mansour, Egyptian actor of grants and funds to help bring their films to
crime as he struggles to find his place in the world. Laila Eloui and French actor Catherine Deneuve. global audiences.
Upcoming Productions in AlUla include Norah, which is The Red Sea Souk, the festival’s industry market, The inaugural edition of the festival recorded
written and directed by Tawfik Alzaidi. Produced by welcomed the regional and international over 32,000 admissions and welcomed 3,115
Nebras Films and Black Sugar Pictures, principal film professionals and media representatives. ✦
photography has begun, and filming is set to get under
way next month with producers Paul Miller and Sharif Majali on board. Norah is the debut feature from Alzaidi FUNDING AVAILABLE
and is the first home-grown feature film to shoot entirely FOR LOCAL FILMS
in AlUla.
Norah is set in the 1990s, when conservatism is at its DAW FILM COMPETITION (SFC)
height in Saudi Arabia, and all forms of art and painting RED SEA FILM LODGE (RSIFF)
are banned. Norah is a young woman, living in a village, SAUDI FILM FESTIVAL
who finds out that Nader, a local man, is an artist. She MARKET (SFF)
determines to have her portrait painted by him and so NOMO FUND (NOMO)
begins a relationship of flourishing artistic discovery. SAUDI FILM DAYS (ITHRA)
Saudi actor Yagoub Al-Farhan has been cast in the role of ART JAMEEL CINEMA
Nader. COMPITITION (ART JAMEEL)
A number of projects are also filming in Neom — billed
as ‘a city of the future’ — a high-tech vision under
construction in Tabuk province, with a $500 billion
investment budget.
One project is Desert Warrior, directed by Rupert Wyatt.
The film stars Anthony Mackie, Sharlto Copley, Ben
Kingsley, Nabil Elouahabi and Aiysha Hart. Set in a period
of feuding tribes, it follows Hanzala, a mysterious rogue,
who makes himself an enemy of the Emperor Kisra after
he helps a fugitive king and princess. ✦
NEWS 9
