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 by Eli Jean Tahchi

Debut, Fiction

Lebanon, Canada

LEG by Shokir Kholikov

Fiction

Kazakhstan, Italy

NKANAI by Bruno Tanya

Debut, Fiction

Kenya

PHILAX by Ruken Tekes

Debut, Fiction

Turkey, Italy, Greece.

PLAYHOUSE by Maha Haj

Fiction

Palestine, Germany, France, Cyprus

POSITIVE by Hanaa Saleh Alfassi

Debut, Fiction

Saudi Arabia

PRICE OF EVIL by Ibrahim Mursal

Debut, Fiction

Sudan, Norway

SALMA AND THE MOON AND THE STARS by 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 SKY by Cheta Chukwu

Fiction

Nigeria, United Kingdom

UNHOLY by Mohammad Reza Fahriyansyah

Fiction

Indonesia

VEIL WHISPERER by Iris 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 by Cj 'Fiery' Obasi

Fiction
Nigeria, United Kingdom, United States of America, Senegal, Brazil

RIA by Arvin 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 by Rani Massalha
Fiction

Tunisia, France, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Qatar

YESTERDAY THE EYE DIDN'T SLEEP by Rakan Mayasi
Debut, Fiction

Belgium, Palestine, Lebanon 

SeriesLab:

DÉRIFT by Zahra Zuhair
Saudi Arabia

FLASH by Sooyoung Kim

South Korea

FLYWEIGHTS by Eldar 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 by Sushant 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.