RSIFF: Keep counting the celebrities, and be blown over

Opening the act was Yasir Al Yasiri’s HWJN, with its world première and the screening was attended by the director and lead cast: Nour Alkhadra, Baraa Alem, Naif Aldaferi, Alanoud Saud, Mohsen Mansour and Shaimaa Al Tayeb. Jury President Baz Lurhmann was in attendance, with his jury - Joel Kinnaman, Freida Pinto, Amina Khalil, Paz Vega, Hana Alomair and Fatih Akin. Some members of the jury are very familiar to Indian audiences, and I am some more will get familiar soon.

The Masters of Ceremonies for the Opening Night were the Lebanese beauty, Raya Abi Rached and Ibrahim Alhajaj. Hajjaj is extremely popular

for his work in Let's Roll (2019), The Family (2020), Balcony Hotel (2021), Rashash (2021), Alkhallat+ (2022) and Sattar (2022). No performer has had a more memorable year than Ibrahim Al-Hajjaj, with his starring role in the record-shattering film, Sattar; hosted by Jomana-Al Rashid, Chairwoman, Red Sea Foundation and Mohammed Al Turki, CEO, Red Sea International Film Festival. Three honourary awards were presented on the occasion, to Abdullah Al-Sadhan, presented by Mohammed Al Turki, Diane Kruger, presented by juror Fatih Akin, and Ranveer Singh, presented by Sharon Stone, and a welcome address from festival leadership, and actor Sofia Vergara.

Perhaps some audiences out of Saudi Arabia might not be too familiar with his name, but in there, his is a name to contend with. An actor, writer, and producer, Abdullah Al-Sadhan was born in Shaqra in 1958, he studied at the Faculty of Agriculture, at King Saud University, and began acting at University theatre, and then moved to television, in which he starred in several series, like Up and Down, We're the Village Kids, A Bit of Salt, and The Palace. However, many consider his best work to be the comedy series, No Big Deal, which aired for 18 years on Saudi television, and was a fruitful collaboration with actor Nasser Al Qasabi.

Jomana-Al Rashid, Chairwoman, Red Sea Film Foundation said: “In the next 10 days, festival-goers will experience a journey of global cinematic brilliance. We will screen 126 films from 77 countries, in over 47 languages, from talented directors, actors, producers, and filmmakers from every corner of the globe. At the Red Sea Film Foundation, we believe film is a transformative force, and we're committed to empowering film-makers. Our Festival exists to provide a platform for stories that can change the world."

Al-Rashid assumed her current role in October 2020. In 2021, a Saudi-listed company rebranded from Saudi Research and Marketing Group to Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG), and launched Manga Arabia. It also acquired a 51% stake in the Arabic podcast platform, Thmanyah and expanded into publishing with the launch of Raff Publishing. It is present in 11 countries, with 25 websites and 30 titles. Before joining SRMG, Al-Rashid served as a senior media advisor, and was posted to the Saudi Embassy in London, as communications director, heading the embassy’s media department. She also holds the position of chairman of Thmanyah Publishing and Distribution, she sits on the Board of the Argaam Investment Company, and serves as the chairman of the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation.Mohammed Al Turki, CEO of the RSIFF, is an international Saudi film-maker and producer. He is CEO of the Red Sea International Film Festival and has produced several award-winning Hollywood films that have premiered at prestigious international film festivals. At the inauguration of RSIFF, he commented: “The Red Sea IFF is entering its third edition with a film which demonstrates the progressive collaboration of creative voices and kicks off ten days of incredible work, from every corner of the globe – as well as our thriving industry incubator, Souk (which means ‘market’ In Arabic), and master-classes from celebrated entertainment leaders, through our In Conversations strand. We are excited to once again welcome the world of cinema to Jeddah – and see our theme of Your Story, Your Festival come to life.”

Turki has produced many films in Hollywood (Adult World, At Any Price, The Imperialists Are Still Alive! Crisis, Innocent, What Maisie Knew) and some of his films were screened at RSIFF too. After a 12-year career as a producer in Hollywood, Mohammed Al Turki returned to Saudi Arabia, as his homeland lifted a 35-year ban on cinemas. He listed his favourites for 

GQ MiIddle East: My dad is a John Wayne Western fan. Omar Sharif was a role model to me; knowing he made it in Hollywood made me realise anything is possible. I admire Federico Fellini, and the fountain scene in La Dolce Vita always sticks with me. Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Alfonso Cuarón, Christopher Nolan, Darren Aronofsky and Pedro Almodóvar are some of my favourite film-makers, along with Ramin Bahrani

The global film industry, in attendance at the Festival’s Opening Ceremony, from Saudi and Gulf Co-Operation Countries, GCC, included stars and film-makers such as: Yaacoub Alfarhan, Sara Taibah, Abdullah Alsadhan, Hira Mahmoud, Fatima Al-Banawi, Summer Shesha, Nayla Alkhaja, Hakeem Jomah, Hira Mahmood, Yasser Alsoghaf, Faysal Aldokhei, Ayman Khoja, Majed Z. Samman, Tawfik Alzaidi and many more.

Get to know Sara (sometimes spelt SarahTaibah in her own words: “My name is Sara Taibah, I am 27 years old, born and raised in Saudi Arabia. I had my MFA degree in illustration and printmaking from Academy of Art University in San Francisco and then I went back to Saudi, where I founded Rasma and Kilma house, for illustrations and designs. My work mostly reflects personal experiences; it is more of a diary. Everything I draw or write is connected in a way. I admire experimenting with a lot of materials and mixing different interests: Illustration, poetry, song writing and performance. Mixed media gives every project I work on an extra flavour, they explain the surreal thoughts in my head.” Known as one of the most Saudi’s rising stars, Sarah Taibah has risen to fame with her lead role in films and TV series, like Zaina’s Cake, Roll’em, Madeenat Al Malahi, Rolm, Number 2, Very Beautiful, a Deliverance: A Woman’s Revolt and Jameel Jeddan.

From the wider Arab world came Yousri Nasrallah, Nabila Obeid, Lebleba, Laila Eloui, Adel Karem, Burak Ozcivit, Kosai Khauli, Nicolas Mouawad, and many more.

International talents included: Baz Luhrmann, Frieda Pinto, Joel Kinnaman, Amina Khalil, Johnny Depp, Sharon Stone, Diane Kruger, Ranveer Singh, Paz Vega, Maiwenn, Zoe Saldana, Will Smith, Michelle Williams, Catherine Martin, Lucas Bravo, Alessandra Ambrosio, Ed Westwick, Amy Jackson, Rita Ora, and, more were to arrive later.

The Yusr Awards recognise and celebrate boldness and innovation in film, awarding the biggest prizes in the region, to both emerging and established voices, across the formats of fiction, documentary, and animation. They are presented before an international audience of industry professionals, and stakeholders, that brings together the very best of world-wide talents in film. The awards also shine a light on films from Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Asia and Africa, ensuring that the Red Sea International Film Festival encompasses a reach that is across the region and beyond. The awards are presented by an international jury of world-renowned film-makers and industry veterans in screenwriting, acting and directing; previous recipients include Catherine Deneuve, Shah Rukh Khan, Jacques Lang and Guy Ritchie. This year? Coming-up!

-Siraj Syed