logo
Red Sea International Film Festival Announces 5th Edition Dates

Red Sea International Film Festival Announces 5th Edition Dates

CairoScene17-02-2025

Last year's festival showcased 125 films from 50 countries, with 49 regional premieres and 10 world premieres.
The fifth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) is officially set to take place in Jeddah's Al-Balad district from December 4th to the 13th, 2025.
Last year's round showcased 125 films from 50 countries, with 49 regional premieres and 10 world premieres. Notable films included 'The Red Sons', a Tunisian film by Lotfi Achour that won the Golden Crescent, and 'To an Unknown Land', a Palestinian film by Mahdi Fleifel that took home the Silver Crescent. High profile attendees included stars like Will Smith, Johnny Depp, and director Spike Lee, who served as the jury chair.
This year, the festival will continue focusing on filmmakers from the Middle East, Africa, and the Global South with a mix of screenings, panels, and networking events.
Both industry professionals and audiences alike will once again have the chance to view a wide range of films, including those from emerging voices in both regional and international cinema.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Inside Beirut and Beyond's First Music Production Residency in Cairo
Inside Beirut and Beyond's First Music Production Residency in Cairo

CairoScene

time3 days ago

  • CairoScene

Inside Beirut and Beyond's First Music Production Residency in Cairo

Inside Beirut and Beyond's First Music Production Residency in Cairo Back in April 2025, Beirut and Beyond, a Lebanese-bred organization and festival that has quickly grown into a sustainable platform for artist development, hosted a nine-day music production residency for the first time in Egypt. Led by Tunisian DJ and producer Deena Abdelwahed in partnership with Cairo-based WRST collective, the residency's core mission was to provide six selected participants of emerging Lebanese producers with a space for experimentation, learning and cultural exchange. This residency came as a second revisited edition of Beirut and Beyond's 'Rap & Beyond' initiative, an artistic residency which was launched in 2023 in collaboration with Sweden's World Culture Museums, inviting hip-hop womxn artists from the SWANA region to Beirut for one week to attend a series of workshops and collaborative music sessions, led by Noise Diva. Beirut and Beyond initially planned for the residency to take place in Lebanon in late 2024 as part of the MASAR, a two-year program supported by the FSPI grant from the Institut Français. However, due to the ongoing genocide in Palestine and the escalation of the Israeli attacks on Lebanon, the residency was relocated to Cairo instead. 'Cairo quickly was a natural fit for the residency, with its dynamic music scene, regional accessibility, and potential for building new networks and collaborations.' Yara Mrad, Program Manager, Beirut and Beyond, tells SceneNoise. However, the move proved beneficial, as participants were given the opportunity to immerse themselves in Cairo's musical landscape, attending a Zaar performance by the infamous group Mazaher. Egyptian multi-instrumentalist YUNIS joined the participants in WRST studio, where he shared his creative process and the inspirations behind his new record, and later invited them to attend his album launch party at Cairo Jazz Club. Deena Abdelwahed, a trailblazing producer herself who has been making waves in the electronic music scene across MENA, Europe and beyond –guided participants on everything, from composition and sound design to navigating the industry and building sustainable careers. Her approach wasn't about imposing a set method, but rather encouraging self-discovery. 'Rather than following a rigid curriculum, the program was designed based on an open-ended and discursive approach, allowing artists to define, or redefine, their artistic direction through dialogue, feedback, and creative trials,' Mrad notes. Collaboration with local music collectives and record labels in Cairo, particularly WRST collective, played a pivotal role in shaping the experience on the ground, providing the logistical support and direct connections needed within Egypt's music community. Participants got to attend a workshop with the lo-fi and electro-shaabi maestro, El Waili, right in his own studio, where he demystified his personal approach to beat-making and storytelling through production, further contributing to the residency's emphasis on practical knowledge sharing. Meanwhile, at Cairo Jazz Club, Egyptian sound engineer Nazli Reda also gave the participants a hands-on technical workshop on live performance, walking them through the D Day checklist and soundcheck technicalities. 'This helped the participants explore new ways of thinking about sound, audience, and community, allowing them to step outside of their usual context while remaining connected to the regional fabric that binds us.' Yara explains. But, beyond the technical skills, the residency encouraged participants to engage with deeper artistic questions 'Altogether, we wanted to emphasize process over product, supporting the participants in asking the difficult but essential questions around what makes their sound distinct, and how to keep evolving it with clarity and intention.' Yara shares with SceneNoise. This focus is crucial, especially for artists in the region who often don't have the privilege of dedicating uninterrupted time to their practice, as they struggle with financial instability and the need for stable side jobs, which frequently get in the way of creative exploration. As Yara puts it, 'Residencies like this one offer a much-needed space and time for artists to step away from their daily realities and focus solely on developing their music and sound.' Looking ahead, Beirut and Beyond plans to continue supporting the participants of the residency by showcasing their work and offering further opportunities. This Cairo residency is just the initial thread of a larger vision to build a network of residencies that, according to Yara Mrad, 'not only support individual artistic journeys but also contribute to a vibrant, interconnected cultural landscape throughout the MENA region.'

Acclaimed Saudi Film ‘Hobal' Now Streaming on Shahid
Acclaimed Saudi Film ‘Hobal' Now Streaming on Shahid

CairoScene

time12-06-2025

  • CairoScene

Acclaimed Saudi Film ‘Hobal' Now Streaming on Shahid

Blending stark desert visuals with tightly wound family drama, 'Hobal' is the latest Saudi feature to land on Shahid, adding to the growing wave of locally made psychological thrillers. Saudi feature film 'Hobal' is now streaming on Shahid, bringing director Abdulaziz Alshlahei's latest psychological drama to audiences across the region. Set against the desolate expanse of the Saudi desert, the film centres on a Bedouin family whose strict isolation is upended by the arrival of a fugitive stranger. The film stars Mila Al Zahrani, Ibrahim Al-Hasawi and Fayez Bin Jurays, amongst others, with a screenplay written by Mufarrej Al-Majfel. As the family's fragile routine begins to unravel, 'Hobal' dives deep into the tensions of patriarchal power, generational control, and the psychological toll of solitude. The eldest son, left to lead in his father's absence, becomes a focal point for these shifting dynamics, navigating loyalty, authority, and threat in equal measure. Shot largely in AlUla, 'Hobal' originally premiered at the 2024 Red Sea International Film Festival, where it drew praise for its slow-burn suspense and sharply drawn characters. The film's release on Shahid marks its first wide streaming availability since its festival debut, as part of a broader push by MBC Studios to spotlight emerging Saudi storytellers on regional platforms.

Asser Yassin Joins Hend Sabry in "Dam ala Nahd" TV adaptation
Asser Yassin Joins Hend Sabry in "Dam ala Nahd" TV adaptation

See - Sada Elbalad

time07-06-2025

  • See - Sada Elbalad

Asser Yassin Joins Hend Sabry in "Dam ala Nahd" TV adaptation

Yara Sameh Egyptian actor Asser Yassin will once again team up with Tunisian actress Hend Sabry in the upcoming TV adaptation of writer and journalist Ibrahim Eissa's latest novel 'Dam ala Nahd." It marks the first collaboration between the two stars on the small screen and their second in 18 years after the 2007 film "'El Gezira." Mariam Ahmadi is directing the series from a script being adapted by Mohamed Hesham Obeya. "Dam ala Nahd" consists of 15 episodes and is produced by Sadek Al-Sabah. The novel follows Mai El Gebali, who had no idea that her exclusive interview with the "butcher" before his execution would turn her life upside down. With each meeting with the "butcher", he reveals secrets he never confessed before during the investigations. Along the way, El Gebali begins to question everything she'd previously believed in, disrupts her relationships, and puts her life in danger. Yassin was recently seen in the TV series "Alby We Moftaho" and Sabry in the hit Netflix TV series "Finding Ola" Season 2. Yassin, born February 25, 1981, began his career on the stage at the American University in Cairo. He was spotted by Director Khairy Beshara to play his first role in the 2006 TV series "Qalb Habiba", followed by the blockbuster "The Yacoubian Building" in 2007, and landed his first major role in a film "Zay El Naharda" in the following year. In the same year, he got his big break playing a leading role in the film "El Waad" (The Promise), starring opposite legendary actor and superstar Mahmoud Yassin. In 2010, Yassin played the leading role in Daoud Abdel Sayed's film "Messages from the Sea", which earned him the Best Actor award at the Carthage Film Festival and Malmö Arab Film Festival. read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store